We unawares run into Danger's mouth.

This evil on the Philistines is fallen;

From whom could else a general cry be heard?
The sufferers then will scarce molest us here,

1525

From other 1.ands we need not much to fear.

What if his eye-sight (for to Israel's God
Nothing is hard) by miracle restored,

He now be dealing dole among his foes,
And over heaps of slaughter'd walk his way?

1530

Man. That were a joy presumptuous to be thought. Chor. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible

For his people of old: what hinders now?

Man. He can I know, but doubt to think he will; Yet hope would fain subscribe, and tempts belief, A little stay will bring some notice hither.

1536

Chor. Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner; For evil news rides post, while good news baits. And to our wish I see one hither speeding, An Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe.

1540

Mes. O whither shall I run, or which way fly The sight of this so horrid spectacle,

Which erst my eyes beheld and yet behold?
For dire imagination still pursues me.

But Providence or instinct of nature seems,

1545

1550

Or reason though disturb'd, and scarce consulted,
To' have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first, reverend Manoah, and to these
My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at some distance from the place of horror,
Though in the sad event too much concern'd.
Man. The accident was loud, and here before thee
With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not;
No preface needs, thou seest we long to know.
Mes. It would burst forth, but I recover breath

And sense distract, to know well what I utter. 1556
Man. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.
Mes. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen,
All in a moment overwhelm'd and fallen.

Man. Sad, but thou know'st to Israelites not saddest The desolation of a hostile city. 1561

Mes. Feed on that first, there may in grief be sur Mun. Relate by whom.

1556. Distract, used also as an adjective by Shakspeare.

[feit.

Man.

That still lessens
The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Mes. Ah, Manoah, I refrain too suddenly
To utter what will come at last too soon;
Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption
Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

1565

1575

Man. Suspense in news is torture, speak them out. Mes. Take then the worst in brief, Samson is dead. Man. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated To free him hence! but Death who sets all free Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. What windy joy this day had I conceived Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves Abortive as the first-born bloom of Spring Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost! Yet ere I give the reins to grief, say first How died he; death to life is crown or shame. All by him fell thou say'st, by whom fell he, What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? Mes. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

1580

Man. Wearied with slaughter then, or how? exMes. By his own hands. [plain. Man. Self-violence? what cause Brought him so soon at variance with himself 1585 Among his foes?

Mes.

Inevitable cause

1590

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.
Man. O lastly over-strong against thyself!
A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.
More than enough we know; but while things yet
Are in confusion, give us if thou canst,

Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

Mes. Occasions drew me early to this city,

And as the gates I enter'd with sun-rise,
The morning trumpets festival proclaim'd

Through each high-street: little I had dispatch'd,
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day
Samson should be brought forth to shew the people
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
I sorrow'd at his captive state, but minded
Not to be absent at that spectacle.

1600

The building was a spacious theatre

Half-round on two main pillars vaulted high,

With seats where all the lords, and each degree

Of sort, might sit in order to behold;

The other side was open, where the throng

1005

On banks and scaffolds, under sky might stand; 1610 I among these aloof obscurely stood.

1615

1620

The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice [wine,
Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and
When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately
Was Samson as a public servant brought,
In their state livery clad; before him pipes
And timbrels, on each side went armed guards,
Both horse and foot, before him and behind
Archers, and slingers, cataphracts and spears.
At sight of him the people with a shout
Rifted the air, clamouring their god with praise,
Who' had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.
He patient but undaunted where they led him,
Came to the place, and what was set before him,
Which without help of eye might be assay'd
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd
All with incredible, stupendous force,
None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermission sake they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For so from such as nearer stood we heard)
As over-tired to let him lean a while

1625

1630

With both his arms on those two massy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main support.

He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson 1635 Felt in his arms, with head a while inclined,

And eyes fast fix'd, he stood, as one who pray'd,

Or some great matter in his mind revolved:

At last with head erect thus cry'd aloud,

'Hitherto, Lords, what your commands imposed 1640 I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying, Not without wonder or delight bebeld:

1605. Buildings are mentioned by Pliny the naturalist which were supported only by one pillar, and Dr. Shaw says in his Travels, that the eastern theatres are built in the form of an advanced cloister or penthouse, supported by one or two pillars in the front or centre. Supposing, therefore, that the house of Dagon was built, as is most probable, in this manner, the destruction which followed the exertion of Samson's strength was inevitable. 1619 Cataphracts, men er horses completely armed.

Now of my own accord such other trial

I mean to shew you of my strength, yet greater; As with amaze shall strike all who behold.'

1645

This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent
When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars
With horrible convulsion to and fro

1649
He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this, but each Philistian city round,
Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.
Samson with these immix'd, inevitably
Pull'd down the same destruction on himself;
The vulgar only 'scaped who stood without.

1635

Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! 1660 Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd

The work for which thou wast foretold

To Israel, and now ly'st victorious

Among thy slain self-kill'd,

Not willingly, but tangled in the fold

1665

Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd
Thee with thy slaughter'd foes, in number more
Than all thy life hath slain before.

[sublime,

1 Semichor. While their hearts were jocund and Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, And fat regorged of bulls and goats, Chaunting their idol, and preferring Before our living Dread who dwells In Silo, his bright sanctuary; Among them he a spirit of frenzy sent, Who hurt their minds,

1670

1675

Fallen into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themselves to' invite,

1667. Judg. xvi. 30.

1871. Silo, the tabernacle and ark were there at this time

Insensate left, or to sense reprobate,

1685

And with blindness internal struck.

2 Semichor. But he, though blind of sight,

And though her body die, her fame survives
A secular bird ages of lives.

Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more cause; Samson hath quit himself Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd

A life heroic, on his enemies

1710

Fully revenged, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the sons of Caphtor
Through all Philistian bounds, to Israel
Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occasion;
To himself and father's house eternal fame,
And, which is best and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was fear'd,
But favouring and assisting to the end.
Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

1715

1720

Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt,
Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair

1695. Villatic, domestic, from the Latin Villa. 1700. Imbost, embowered or concealed, from the Italian word imboscare, conjecture.-Spenser uses it. Faery Queen, B. 1. Can. 3. St. 24.

1713. Sons of Caphtor, Philistines from the island of Caphtor, who settled in Palestine.