CHORUS.

Oh how comely it is, and how reviving

To the spirits of just men long oppressed,

When God into the hands of their deliverer
Puts invincible might,

To quell the mighty of the earth, the oppressor,
The brute and boisterous force of violent men,

Hardy and industrious to support

Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue

The righteous, and all such as honour truth!

He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats,

With plain heroic magnitude of mind

And celestial vigour armed,

Their armouries and magazines contemns,

Renders them useless; while

With winged expedition,

Swift as the lightning glance, he executes

1270

1280

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

κάλλιστα, πιεζομέ

-νοις χρονισθείσῃ βία

οὐκ ἀδίκοισιν, πρόμαχον ἔ-δωκεν Θεὸς ἀστυφέλικτον,

ψυχὰς παραθέλγων, τὸν ὑπερφίαλον κρατύνοντ ̓ ἀνδρῶν κατέχειν, τρόπον θηρός του θορύβῳ μανέντα ἀψευδῶν κάτα καὶ δικαιων, τὰ τυραννίδος ἔκνομα αὐξάνειν σπεύδοντ ̓ ἄγαν.

τοῖος ἀρωγὸς πολεμικῶν

σκευῶν τ ̓ ἔργων θ ̓ ὑπερέσχεν

μεγαλόψυχος γὰρ

θυμόν τ ̓ ἀφελὴς ἅθ ̓ ἤρως,

ἵν ̓ ἀθάνατον σθένων,

θήκας ὁπλοφόρους παρ ̓ οὐδὲν
ἀχρείους ἔθετ ̓ ἐν δὲ τούτῳ

οἷον φλογώπες ἀστραπαί,
ὠκυπτέροις βουλεύμασι

1320

1330

His errand on the wicked, who surprised
Lose their defence, distracted and amazed.

But patience is more oft the exercise
Of Saints, the trial of their fortitude,
Making them each his own deliverer,
And victor over all

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.
Either of these is in thy lot,

Samson, with might endued

Above the sons of men; but sight bereaved

May chance to number thee with those

Whom patience finally must crown.

This idol's day hath been to thee no day of rest,

Labouring thy mind.

More than the working day thy hands.

.1290

And yet perhaps more trouble is behind;

1300

For I descry this way

Some other tending: in his hand

A sceptre or quaint staff he bears,

τοὺς ἀμπλακόντας

ἀδημονοῦντας ἀνεκφεύκτους

τὸ τεταγμένον οἱ θεήλατον δρᾷ.

θαμὰ δὲ βάσανος ὅσιον ἑλοῦσ ̓

ἄνδρα τινα, δοκιμάσασα τὸ ταλασίφρον νιν, τὸ λυπεῖσθαι λέγω, σωτῆρ ̓ αὐτὸν ἑαυτῷ παρέχει τύχας ἀπ ̓ ἢ τυράννων

σοὶ τῇδ ̓ ἂν ἦν καὶ θατέρᾳ, ὑπὲρ βροτοὺς ἐῤῥωμένῳ, Σάμψων· σὺ δ ̓ ὄσσων βλάβαις λάχοις ἐνὶ τούτοις ἂν οἷσι στέφανος τὸ καρτερῆσαι. φρενὶ δὲ πολύπονον ἡμέραν πολύθυτον ἔλαχες, ὡς τόσον χερσὶν οὐπώποτ ̓ ἤντληκας μόγον ἔτι δ ̓ ἐκ τούτων, ὡς μὲν ἔοικεν,

κάκ ̓ ἂν γένοιτο μείζω.

καὶ γάρ τιν ̓ ἄλλον δεῦρο πορευόμενον

λεύσσω, ποδῶν λαιψηροδρόμοις μελέταις σπερχθέντ' ἰδεῖν, καὶ

σκῆπτρόν τι νωμῶντα δαίδαλον.

1340

1350

1360

Comes on amain, speed in his look.

By his habit I discern him now
A public officer, and now at hand.

His message will be short and voluble.

OFFICER.

Hebrews, the prisoner Samson here I seek.

CHORUS.

His manacles remark him, there he sits.

OFFICER.

Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say:
This day to Dagon is a solemn feast,
With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games:
Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,
And now some public proof thereof require
To honour this great feast, and great assembly.
Rise therefore with all speed, and come along,
Where I will see thee heartened and fresh clad,
To appear as fits before the illustrious lords.

SAMSON.

Thou knowest I am a Hebrew, therefore tell them,

1310

Our law forbids at their religious rites

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

1320