(So mutable are all the ways of men) Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

OFFICE R.

I praise thy refolution: doff these links: By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free.

SAMSON.

Brethren farewel; your company along

1410

I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them
To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415
Of me as of a common enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exafperate them

I know not: lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feafted prieft then fooneft fir'd
With zeal, if ought religion feem concern'd; 1420
No lefs the people on their holy-days

Impetuous, infolent, unquenchable :

Happen what

may, of me expect to hear

Nothing dishonorable, impure, unworthy

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself,

1425

The

Yet this be fure &c. Warburton. That is of going, not what he said 1410. I praise thy refolution: ] last. Richardfon.

1463. That

The laft of me or no I cannot warrant.

CHORUS.

Go, and the Holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his name Great among the Heathen round

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand

Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field
Rode up in flames after his message told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

1439

Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee 1435

In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

For never was from Heav'n imparted

Measure of ftrength fo great to mortal feed,
As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen.

1440

But wherefore comes old Manoah in fuch hafte With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while He feems: fuppofing here to find his fon,

Or of him bringing to us fome glad news?

MANOAH.

Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement hither Was

1463. That part most reverenc'd I doubt not, in this place indulges Dagen and bis priefs:] Milton, that inveterate fpleen, which he

always

Vas not at present here to find my fon,

1446

by order of the lords new parted hence

To come and play before them at their feaft. heard all as I came, the city rings,

And numbers thither flock, I had no will,

1450

eft I fhould fee him forc'd to things unfeemly.

But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly To give ye part with me what hope I have

With good fuccefs to work his liberty.

CHORUS,

1454

That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; fay, reverend Sire, we thirft to hear.

MANOAH.

I have attempted one by one the lords

.

Either at home, or through the high ftreet paffing,
With fupplication prone and father's tears,
T'accept of ransome for my fon their pris'ner. 1460
Some much averfe I found and wondrous harsh,
Contemptuous, proud, fet on revenge and spite;

That
part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests:
Others more moderate feeming, but their aim
Private reward, for which both God and State 1465
They
application for Samfon's deliverance
glance at his own cafe after the
Restoration. Thyer.

always had against public and eftablifh'd religion. He might alfo perhaps in this defcription of Manoah's

They eafily would fet to fale: a third
More generous far and civil, who confess'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to misery beneath their fears,
The reft was magnanimity to remit,
If fome convenient ransome were propos'd.

What noise or fhout was that? it tore the sky.
CHORUS.

Doubtless the people shouting to behold

1470

Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of strength before them shown. MANOAH.

His ransome, if my whole inheritance

1476

May compass it, fhall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I fhall choose

To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richest,

1480

And he in that calamitous prifon left.

No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him.
For his redemption all my patrimony,

1490. It shall be my delight &c] The character of a fond parent is extremely well fupported in the perfon of Manoah quite through the whole performance; but there is in my opinion fomething parti

If

cularly natural and moving in this fpeech. The circumftance of the old man's feeding and foothing his fancy with the thoughts of tending his fon and contemplating him ennobled with fo many fa

mous

If need be, I am ready to forgo

And quit: not wanting him I shall want nothing. CHORUS.

Fathers are wont to lay up for their fons,

Thou for thy fon art bent to lay out all:
Sons wont to nurfe their parents in old age,
Thou in old age car'ft how to nurse thy fon
Made older than thy age through eye-fight loft.

MANŎAH.

It shall be my delight to tend his eyes,
And view him fitting in the house, ennobled
With all thofe high exploits by him achiev'd,
And on his shoulders waving down those locks,
That of a nation arm'd the ftrength contain'd:
And I perfuade me God had not permitted
His strength again to grow up with his hair
Garrifon'd round about him like a camp
Of faithful foldiery, were not his purpose
To use him further yet
in fome great fervice,

1485

1490

1495