An Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe. MESS. 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, 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, 1550 So in the sad event too much concern'd. [thee MAN. The accident was loud, and here before With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not; No preface needs, thou seest we long to know.
MESS. It would burst forth, but I recover breath And sense distract, to know well what I utter
MAN. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer. MESS. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n. [fall'n, MAN. Sad; but thou know'st to Israelites not The desolation of a hostile city.
[saddest MESS. Feed on that first, there may in grief be MAN. Relate by whom.
1354 need's] Needs' is a neuter verb. See P. L. x. 80, and
1562 Feed Two Gent. of Verona, act iii. sc. L. 'I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfers.
The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. MESS. Ah! Manoa, I refrain too suddenly 1565 To utter what will come at last too soon; Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep. MAN. Suspense in news is torture, speak them [dead. MESS. Take then the worst in brief, Samson is MAN. The worst indeed. O! all my hopes
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 conceiv'd 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? 1580 What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound?
MESS. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.
MAN. Wearied with slaughter then, or how? exMESS. By his own hands.
MAN. Self-violence? what cause
Brought him so soon at variance with himself
1581 death's wound] Æn. xii, 322.
• Pressa est insignis gloria facti,
Nec sese Æneæ jactavit vulnere quisquam.'
Among his foes?
MESS. Inevitable cause
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! 1590 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 canʼst, Eye-witness of what first or last was done, Relation more particular and distinct.
MESS. 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 1600 Samson should be brought forth to show 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. 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 On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand; I among these aloof obscurely stood.
The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice 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, 1625 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, 1630 For so from such as nearer stood we heard, As over-tir'd to let him lean awhile
With both his arms on those two massy pillars, That to the arched roof gave main support. He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson Felt in his arms, with head awhile inclin'd, And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who pray'd, Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd: At last with head erect thus cried aloud, Hitherto, lords, what your commands impos'd I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying, Not without wonder or delight beheld: Now of my own accord such other trial
I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater; As with amaze shall strike all who behold. 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
He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew The whole roof after them, with burst of thunde 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 immixt, inevitably Pull'd down the same destruction on himself; The vulgar only scap'd who stood without.
CHOR. O dearly bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd
The work for which thou wast foretold
To Israel, and now liest victorious
Among thy slain, self-kill'd
Not willingly, but tangled in the fold
Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd Thee with thy slaughter'd foes in number more Than all thy life had slain before. [sublime 1. SEMICHOR. While their hearts were jocund an Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats, Chanting their idol, and preferring Before our living Dread who dwells
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