Of that fort of Dramatick Poem which is call'd Tragedy.

hath been ever held the graveft, moraleft, and moft profitable of all other Poems: therefore faid by Ariftotle to be of power by railing pity and fear, or terror, to purge the mind of thofe and fuch like paffions, that is, to temper and reduce them to juft measure with a kind of delight, ftirr'd up by reading or feeing thofe paffions well imitated. Nor is Nature wanting in her own effects to: make good his affertion for fo in Phyfick things of melancholick hue and quality are us'd against melancholy, fowr againft fowr, falt to remove falt humours. Hence Philofophers and other graveft Writers, as Cicero, Plutarch and others, frequently cite out of Tragick Poets, both to adorn and illuftrate their difcourfe. The Apoftle St. Paul himself thought it not unworthy to infert a verfe of Euripides into the Text of Holy Scripture, I Cor. 15. 33. and Paraus commenting on the Revelation, divides, the whole Book as a Tragedy, into Acts diftinguifh'd each by a Chorus of Heavenly Harpings and Song between. Heretofore Men in highest dignity have labour'd not a little to be thought able to compose a Tragedy. Of

Of that fort of Dramatick Poems call'd Tragedy.

that honour Dionyfius the elder was no less ambitious, than before of his attaining to the Tyranny. Auguftus Cafar alfo had begun his Ajax, but unable to pleafe his own judgmen: with what he had begun, left it unfinisht. Seneca the Philofopher is by fome thought the Author of thofe Tragedies (at least the best of them) that go under that name. Gregory Nazianzen, a Father of the Church, thought it not unbefeeming the fanctity of his Perfon to write a Tragedy, which is intitl'd, Chrift suffering. This is mention'd to vindicate. Tragedy from the small efteem, or rather infamy, which in the account of many it undergoes at this day with other common interludes; hap'ning through the Poets error of intermixing Comick fluff with Tragick fadness and gravity; or introducing trivial and vulgar perfons, which by all judicious hath been counted abfurd ; and brought in without difcretion, corruptly to gratifie the people. And though ancient Tragedy ufe no Prologue, yet ufing fometimes, in cafe of felf-defence, or explanation, that which Martial calls an Epiftle; in behalf of this Tragedy coming forth after the ancient manner, much different from what among us paffes for beit, thus much before-hand may be Epiftl'd; that Chorus is here introduc'd after the Greek manner, not ancient only but modern, and still in ufe among the Italians. In the modelling therefore of this Poem, with good reason, the Ancients and alians are rather follow'd, as of much more Authority and Fame. The mea

Of that fort of Dramatick Poem call'd Tragedy.

fure of Verfe us'd in the Chorus is of all forts, call'd by the Greeks Monoftrophick, or rather, Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antiftrophe or Epod, which were a kind of Stanza's fram'd only for the Mufick, then us'd with the Chorus that fung; not effential to the Poem, and therefore not material; or being divided ito Stanza's or Paufes, they may be call'd Allaoftropha. Divifion into Act and Scene referring chiefly to the Stage (to which this work never was intended) is here omitted.

It fuffices if the whole Drama be found not produc'd beyond the fifth Act, of the style and uniformity, and that commonly call'd the Plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but fuch economy, or difpofition of the fable as may ftand beft with verifimilitude and decorum; they only will beft judge who are not unacquainted with Efchylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the three Tragick Poets unequall'd yet by any, and the best rule to all who endeavour to write Tragedy. The circumfcription of time wherein the whole Drama begins and ends is according to ancient rule, and best example, within the space of 24 hours.

巍醬

The Argument.

SAmfon made Captive, Blind, and now in the prifon at Gaza, there to labour as in a common work-house, on a Festival day, in the general ceffation from labour, comes forth into the open Air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who feek to comfort him what they can; then by his old Father Manoa, who endea vours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ranfom; and lastly, that this Feaft was proclaim'd by the Philiftins as a day of Thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoa then departs to profecute his endeavour with the Philiftian Lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and lastly by a publick Officer to require his coming to the Feast before the Lords and People, to play or Shew his Atrength in their prefence; he at first refuses, difmiffing the publick Officer with abfolute denial to come; at length perfwaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the fecond time with