SAMSON AGONISTES. SAMSON. LITTLE onward lend thy guiding hand To these dark steps, a little further on; For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade. There I am wont to sit, when any chance Relieves me from my task of servile toil, Daily in the common prison else enjoined me; The breath of heaven fresh blowing, pure and sweet, With day-spring born; here leave me to respire. This day a solemn feast the people hold To Dagon their sea-idol, and forbid ΙΟ ΣΑΜΨΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΗΣ. ΣΑΜΨΩΝ. Σε χειραγωγὸς ὀμματοστερῆ βάσιν πρόσω τί μοι ποίμαινε· τήνδ' ὄχθην κάτα ἔστιν τὰ καύματ ̓ ἀνταμείβεσθαι σκιᾶς, ΙΟ Laborious works-unwillingly this rest Their superstition yields me-hence, with leave This unfrequented place to find some ease Ease to the body some, none to the mind But rush upon me thronging, and present Of both my parents, all in flames ascended His godlike presence, and from some great act Why was my breeding ordered and prescribed, As of a person separate to God, Designed for great exploits, if I must die Betrayed, captived, and both my eyes put out, 20 30 δύσοιστον ἀπεκήρυξαν ἐν πόλει κόπον ἄκοντες οὖν, τὸ θεῖον εὐλαβούμενοι, ἐωσί μ ̓ ὧδε, δημίου κραυγῆς ἄπο, χώραν προσελθεῖν ἄβροτον, ἄμπαυλάν τινα, 20 30 Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze, To grind in brazen fetters under task With this Heaven-gifted strength? O glorious strength, Put to the labour of a beast, debased Lower than bondslave! Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver. Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him Eyeless in Gaza, at the mill with slaves, Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke. Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt Had been fulfilled but through mine own default ! Who, this high gift of strength committed to me, In what part lodged, how easily bereft me, O impotence of mind, in body strong! But what is strength without a double share 40 50 |