*Samson Agonistes: A Dramatic Poem
Samson9 A little onward lend thy guiding hand                               1
To these dark steps8 a little further on&                                    2
For yonder bank hath choice of Sun or shade8                                3
There I am wont to sit8 when any chance                                     4
Relieves me from my task of servile toil8                                   05
Daily in the common Prison else enjoin3d me8                                6
Where I a Prisoner chain3d8 scarce freely draw                             7
The air imrpison3d also8 close and damp8                                     8
Unwholesome draught5 but here I feel amends8                                9
The breath of Heav3n fresh blowing8 pure and sweet8                        10
With day-spring born& here leave me to respire9                             11
This day a solemn Feast the people hold                                    12
To Dagon their Sea-Idol8 and forbid                                      13
Laborious works8 unwillingly this rest                                      14
Their Superstition yields me& hence with leave                             15
Retiring from the popular noise8 I seek                                    16
This unfrequented place to find some ease&                                  17
Ease to the body some8 none to the mind                                     18
From restless thoughts8 that like a deadly swarm                            19
Of Hornets arm3d8 no sooner found alone8                                   20
But rush upon me thronging8 and present                                     21
Times past8 what once I was8 and what am now9                              22
O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold                              23
Twice by an Angel8 who at last in sight                                    24
Of both my Parents all in flames ascended                                  25
From off the Altar8 where an Off3ring burn3d8                             26
As in a fiery column charioting                                             27
His Godlike presence8 and from some great act                              28
Or benefit reveal3d to Abraham3s race/                                     29
Why was my breeding order3d and prescrib3d                                  30
As of a person separate to God8                                            31
Design3d for great exploits& ifI must die                                  32
Betray3d8 Captiv3d8 and both my eyes put out8                              33
Made of my Enemies the scorn and gaze&                                     34
To grind in Brazen Fetters under task                                     35
With this Heav3n-gifted strength/ O glorious strength                     36
Put to the labor of a Beast8 debas3t                                       37
Lower than bondslave\  Promise was that I                                 38
Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver&                               39
Ask for this great Deliverer now8 and find him                             40
Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves8                                  41
Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke&                                    42
Yet stay8 let me not rashly call in doubt                                   43
Divine Prediction& what if all foretold                                    44
Had been fulfill3d but through mine own default8                            45
Whom have I to complain of but myself/                                     46
Who this high gift of strength committed to me8                             47
In what part lodg3d8 how easily bereft me8                                  48
Under the Seal of silence could not keep8                                  49
But weakly to a woman must reveal it8                                       50
O3ercome with importunity and tears9                                        51
O impotence of mind8 in body strong\                                        52
But what is strength without a double share                                 53
Of wisdom/  Vast8 unwieldly8 burdensome8                                   54
Proudly secure8 yet liable to fall                                          55
By weakest subtleties8 not made to rule8                                    56
But to subserve where wisdom bears command9                                 57
God8 when he gave me strength8 to show withal                               58
How slight the gift was8 hung it in  my Hair9                              59
But peace8 I must not quarrel with the will                                60
Of highest dispensation8 which herein                                       61
Haply had ends above my reach to know5                                      62
Suffices that to me strength is my bane8                                    63
And proves the source of all my miseries&                                   64
So many8 and so huge8 that each apart                                       65
Would ask a life to wail8 but chief of all8                                 66
O loss of sight8 of thee I most complain\                                  67
Blind among enemies8 O worse than chains8                                  68
Dungeon8 or beggary8 or decrepit age\                                       69
Light the prime work of God to me is extinct8                              70
And all her various objects of delight                                      71
Annull3d8 which might in part my grief have eas3d8                          72
Inferior to the vilest now become                                           73
Of man or worm& the vilest here excel me8                                   74
They creep8 yet see& I dark in light expos3d                               75
To daily fraud8 contempt8 abuse and wrong8                                  76
Within doors8 or without8 still as a fool8                                  77
In power of others8 never in my own&                                        78
Scarce half I seem to live8 dead more than half9                           79
O dark8 dark8 dark8 amid the blaze of noon8                                 80
Irrecoverably dark8 total Eclipse                                          81
Without all hope of day\                                                    82
O first created Beam8 and thou great Word8                                83
7Let there be light8 and light was over all7&                               84
Why am I thus bereav3d thy prime decree/                                   85
The Sun to me is dark                                                      86
And silent as the Moon8                                                    87
When she deserts the night8                                                 88
Hid in her vacant interlunar cave9                                          89
Since light so necessary is to life8                                        90
And almost life itself8 if it be true                                       91
That light is in the Soul8                                                 92
She all in every part& why was the sight                                    93
To such a tender ball as th3 eye confin3d/                                  94
So obvious and so easy to be quench3t8                                      95
And not as feeling through all parts diffus3d8                              96
That she might look at will through every pore/                             97
Then had I not been thus exil3d from light&                                98
As in the land of darkness yet in light8                                    99
To live a life half dead8 a living death8                                  100
And buried& but O yet more miserable\                                     101
Myself my Sepulcher8 a moving Grave8                                     102
Buried8 yet not exempt                                                     103
By privilege of death and burial                                           104
From worst of other evils8 pains and wrongs8                               105
But made hereby obnoxious more                                             106
To all the miseries of life8                                               107
Life in captivity                                                          108
Among human foes9                                                          109
But who are these/ for with joint pace I hear                             110
The tread of many feet steering this way&                                  111
Perhaps my enemies who come to stare                                       112
At my affliction8 and perhaps to insult8                                   113
Their daily practice to afflict me more9                                   114
Chorus9  This8 this is he& softly a while8                                115
Let us not break in upon him&                                              116
O change beyond report8 thought8 or belief\                                117
See how he lies at random8 carelessly diffus3d8                            118
With languish3t head unpropt8                                              119
As one past hope8 abandon3d8                                               120
And by himself given over&                                                 121
In slavish habit8 ill-fitted weeds                                         122
O3erworn and soil3d&                                                       123
Or do my eyes misrepresent/ Can this be he8                               124
That Heroic8 that Renown3d8                                              125
Irresistible Samson/ whom unarm3d                                         126
No strength of man8 or fiercest wild beast could withstand&                127
Who tore the Lion8 as the Lion tears the Kid8                           128
Ran on embattled Armies clad in Iron8                                    129
And weaponless himself8                                                    130
Made Arms ridiculous8 useless the forgery                                 131
Of brazen shield and spear8 the hammer3d Cuirass8                         132
Chalybean temper3d steel8 and frock of mail                                133
Adamantean Proof&                                                         134
But safest he who stood aloof8                                             135
When insupportably his foot advanc3t8                                      136
In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools8                            137
Spurn3d them to death by Troops9  The bold Ascalonite                   138
Fled from his Lion ramp8 old Warriors turn3dd                            139
Their plated backs under his heel&                                         140
Or grov3ling soil3d their crested helmets in the dust9                     141
Then with what trivial weapon came to hand8                                142
The Jaw of a dead Ass8 his sword of bone8                                143
A thousand foreskins fell8 the flower of Palestine8                       144
In Ramath-lechi famous to this day5                                       145
Then by main force pull3d up8 and on his shoulders bore                    146
The Gates of Azza8 Post8 and massy Bar                                 147
Up to the Hill by Hebron8 seat of Giants old8                           148
No journey of a Sabbath day8 and loaded so&                               149
Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav3n9                          150
Which shall I first bewail8                                               151
Thy Bondage or lost Sight8                                               152
Prison within Prison                                                      153
Inseparably dark/                                                          154
Thou art become 1O worst imprisonment& 2                                  155
the dungeon of thyself& thy Soul                                           156
1Which Men enjoying sight oft without cause complain2                     157
Imprison3d now indeed8                                                     158
In real darkness of the body dwells8                                       159
Shut up from outward light                                                 160
To incorporate with gloomy night&                                          161
For inward light8 alas8                                                    162
Puts forth no visual beam9                                                 163
O mirror of our fickle state8                                              164
Since man on earth unparallel3d\                                           165
The rarer thy example stands8                                              166
By how much from the top of wonderous glory8                               167
Strongest of mortal men8                                                   168
To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall3n9                         169
For him I reckon not in high estate                                       170
Whom long descent of birth                                                 171
Or the sphere of fortune raises&                                           172
But thee whose strength8 while virtue was her mate8                        173
Might have subdu3d the Earth8                                             174
Universally crown3d with highest praises9                                  175
Samson9  I hear the sound of words8 their sense the air                   176
Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear9                                   177
Chorus9 He speaks8 let us draw nigh9 Matchless in might8                 178
The glory late of Israel8 now the grief&                                  179
We come thy friends and neighbors not unknown                              180
From 5eshtaol and Zora3s fruitful Vale                                   181
To visit or bewail thee8 or if better8                                     182
Counsel or Consolation we may bring8                                      183
Salve to thy Sores& apt words have power to swage                         184
The tumuors of a troubl3d mind8                                            185
And are as Balm to fester3d wounds9                                       186
Samson9  Your coming8 Friends8 revives me8 for I learn                  187
Now of my own experience not by talk8                                      188
How counterfeit a coin they are who friends                                189
Bear in their Superscription 1of the most                                 190
I would be understood& in prosperous days                                  191
They swarm8 but in adverse withdraw their head                             192
Not to be found8 though sought9 Ye see O friends&                        193
How many evils have enclos3d me round&                                     194
Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me8                        195
Blindness8 for had I sight8 confus3d with shame8                          196
How could I once look up8 or heave the head8                              197
Who like a foolish Pilot have shipwreck3t                                 198
My vessel trusted to me from above8                                        199
Gloriously rigg3d& and for a word8 a tear8                                 200
Fool8 have divulg3d the secret gift of God                                201
To a deceitful Woman5 tell me8 Friends8                                  202
Am I not sung and proverb3d for a Fool                                   203
In every street& do they not say8 7How well                               204
Are come upon him his deserts/7 yet why/                                   205
Immeasurable strength they might behold                                    206
In me8 of wisdom nothing more than mean&                                   207
This with the other should8 at least8 have pair3d8                         208
These two proportion3d ill drove me transverse9                            209
Chorus9  Tax not divine disposal& wisest Men                             210
Have err3d8 and by bad Women been deceiv3d&                               211
And shall again8 pretend they ne3er so wise9                               212
Deject not then so overmuch thyself8                                       213
Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides&                                  214
Yet truth to say8 I oft have heard men wonder                             215
Why thou shouldst wed Philistian woman rather                             216
Then of thine own Tribe fairer8 or as fair8                               217
At least of thy own Nation8 and as noble9                                 218
Samson9  The first I saw of Timna8 and she pleas3d                      219
Me8 not my Parents8 that I sought to wed8                                220
The daughter of an Infidel5 they knew not                                 221
That what I motion3d was of God& I knew                                 222
From intimate impulse8 and therefore urg3d                                 223
The Marriage on& that by occasion hence                                   224
I might begin Israel3s Deliverance8                                      225
The work to which I was divinely call3d&                                  226
She proving false8 the next I took to Wife                               227
1O that I never had& fond wish too late2                                  228
Was in the Vale of Sorec8 Dalila8                                       229
That specious Monster8 my accomplist snare9                               230
I thought it lawful from my former act8                                    231
And the same end& still watching to oppress                                232
Israel3s oppressors5 of what now I suffer                                 233
She was not the prime cause8 but I myself8                                234
Who vanquisht with a peal of words 1O weakness&2                          235
Gave up my fort of silence to a Woman9                                    236
Chorus9  In seeking just occasion to provoke                              237
The Philistine8 thy Country3s Enemy8                                    238
Thou never wast remiss8 I bear thee witness5                              239
Yet Israel still serves with all his Sons9                               240
Samson9  That fault I take not on me8 but transfer                       241
On Israel3s Governors8 and Heads of Tribes8                            242
Who seeing those great acts which God had done                            243
Singly by me against their Conquerors                                     244
Acknowledg3d not8 or not at all consider3d                                 245
Deliverance offer3d5 I on the other side                                  246
Us3d no ambition to commend my deeds8                                      247
The deeds themselves8 though mute8 spoke loud the doer&                    248
But they persisted deaf8 and would not seem                                249
To count them things worth notice8 till at length                          250
Their Lords8 the Philistines8 with gather3d powers                       251
Enter3d Judea seeking me8 who then                                        252
Safe to the rock of Etham was retir3d8                                    253
Not flying8 but forecasting in what place                                  254
To set upon them8 what advantag3d best&                                    255
Meanwhile the men of Judah to prevent                                     256
The harass of their Land8 beset me round&                                 257
I willingly on some conditions came                                        258
Into their hands8 and they as gladly yield me                              259
To the uncircumcis3d a welcome prey8                                       260
Bound with two cords& but cords to me were threads                         261
Toucht with the flame5 on their whole Host I flew                        262
Unarm3d8 and with a trivial weapon fell3d                                  263
Their choicest youth& they only liv3d who fled9                            264
Had Judah that day join3d8 or one whole Tribe8                           265
They had by this possess3d the Towers of Gath8                           266
And lorded over them whom now they serve&                                  267
But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt8                               268
And by their vices brought to servitude8                                   269
Than to love Bondage more than Liberty8                                  270
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty&                                  271
And to despise8 or envy8 or suspect                                        272
Whom God hath of his special favor rais3d                                 273
As their Deliverer& if he aught begin8                                    274
How frequent to desert him8 and at last                                    275
To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds0                                    276
Chorus9  Thy words to my remembrance bring                                277
How Succoth and the Fort of Penuel                                      278
Their great Deliverer contemn3d8                                          279
The matchless Gideon in pursuit                                           280
Of Madian and her vanquisht Kings5                                       281
And how ingrateful Ephrain                                                282
Had dealt with Jephtha8 who by argument8                                  283
Not worse than by his shield and spear                                     284
Defended Israel from the Ammonite8                                       285
And are as Balm to fester3d wounds9                                       286
In that sore battle when so many died                                      287
Without Reprieve adjudg3d to death8                                       288
For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth9                                  289
Samson9 Of such examples add me to the roll8                              290
Me easily indeed mine may neglect8                                         291
But God3s propos3d deliverance not so9                                    292
Chorus9  Just are the ways of God8                                       293
And justifiable to Men&                                                   294
Unless there be who think not God at all5                                 295
If any be8 they walk obscure&                                              296
For of such Doctrine never was there School8                             297
But the heart of the Fool8                                                298
And no man therein Doctor but himself9                                    299
4  yet more there be who doubt his ways not just8                           300
As to his own edicts8 found contradicting8                                 301
Then give the reins to wandering thought8                                  302
Regardless of his glory3s diminution&                                      303
Till by their own perplexities involv3d                                    304
They ravel more8 still less resolv3d8                                      305
But never find self-satisfying solution9                                   306
4  as if they would confine th3 interminable8                               307
And tie him to his own prescript8                                          308
Who made our Laws to bind us8  not himself8                               309
And hath full right to exempt                                              310
Whom so it pleases him by choice                                           311
From National obstriction8 without taint                                  312
Of sin8 or legal debt&                                                     313
For with his own Laws he can best dispense9                               314
4  he would not else who never wanted means8                                315
Nor in respect of th3enemy just cause                                      316
To set his people free8                                                    317
Have prompted this Heroic Nazarite8                                      318
Against his vow of strictest purity8                                       319
To seek in marriage that fallacious Bride8                                320
Unclean8 unchaste9                                                         321
Down Reason then8 at least vain reasonings down8                          322
Though 5reason here aver                                                   323
That moral verdict quits her of unclean5                                   324
Unchaste was subsequent8 her stain not his9                                325
4  but see here comes thy reverend Sire                                    326
With careful step8 Locks white as down8                                   327
Old Manoa5 advise                                                         328
Forthwith how thou ought3st to receive him9                                329
Samson9  Ay me8 another inward grief awak3t8                              330
With mention of that name renews th3assault9                               331
Manoa9  Brethren and men of Dan8 for such ye seem8                      332
Though in this uncouth place& if old respect                               333
As I suppose8 towards your once gloried friend8                           334
My Son now Captive8 hither hath inform3d                                 335
Your younger feet8 while mine cast back with age                           336
Came lagging after& say if he be here9                                     337
Chorus9  As signal now in low dejected state8                             338
As erst in highest8 behold him where he lies9                              339
Manoa9  O miserable change\  is this the man8                             340
That invincible Samson8 far renown3d8                                     341
The dread of Israel3s foes8 who with a strength                           342
Equivalent to Angels3 walk3d their streets8                               343
None offering fight& who single combatant                                  344
Duell3d their Armies rank3t in proud array8                               345
Himself an Army8 now unequal match                                        346
To save himself against a coward arm3d                                     347
At one spear3s length9  O ever failing trust                              348
In moral strength\ and oh8 what not in man                                 349
Deceivable and vain\  Nay8 what thing good                                350
Pray3d for8 but often proves our woe8 our bane1                            351
I pray3d for Children8 and thought barrenness                             352
In wedlock a reproach& I gain3d a Son8                                   353
And such a Son as all Men hail3d me happy&                               354
Who would  be now a Father in my stead/                                   355
O wherefore did God grant me my request8                                  356
And as a blessing with such pomp adorn3d/                                  357
Why are his gifts desirable& to tempt                                      358
Our earnest Prayers8 then8 given with solemn hand                         359
As Graces8 draw a Scorpion3s tail behind                                 360
For this did th3Angel twice descend/ for this                             361
Ordain3d thy nurture holy8 as of a Plant/                                 362
Select8 and Sacred8 Glorious for a while8                                363
The miracle of men5 then in an hour                                        364
Ensnar3d8 assaulted8 overcome8 led bound8                                  365
Thy Foes3 derision8 Captive8 Poor8 and Blind8                          366
Into a Dungeon thrust8 to work with Slaves/                              367
Alas\ methinks whom God hath chosen once                                  368
To worthiest deeds8 if he through frailty err8                             369
He should not so o3erwhelm8 and as a thrall                                370
Subject him to so foul indignities8                                        371
Be it but for honor3s sake of former deeds9                                372
Samson9  Appoint not heavenly disposition8 Father8                      373
Nothing of all these evils hath befall3n me                                374
But justly& I myself have brought them on8                                375
Sole Author I8 sole cause5 if aught seem vile8                           376
As vile hath been my folly8 who have profan3d                              377
The mystery of God given me under pledge                                  378
Of vow8 and have betray3d it to a woman                                    379
A Canaanite8 my faithless enemy9                                          380
This well I knew8 nor was at all surpris3d8                               381
But warn3d by oft experience5 did not she                                  382
Of Timna first betray me8 and reveal                                      383
The secret wrested from me in her height                                   384
Of Nuptial Love profest8 carrying it straight                            385
To them who had corrupted her8 my Spies8                                  386
And Rivals/  In this other was there found                               387
More Faith/  who also in her prime of love8                               388
Spousal embraces8 vitiated with Gold8                                     389
Though offer3d only8 by the scent conceiv3d                                390
Her spurious first-born& Treason against me/                              391
Thrice she assay3d with flattering prayers and sighs8                      392
And amorous reproaches to win from me                                      393
My capital secret8 in what part my strength                                394
Lay stor3d8 in what part summ3d8 that she might know5                      395
Thrice I deluded her8 and turn3d to sport                                 396
Her importunity8 each time perceiving                                      397
How openly8 and with what impudence                                        398
She purpos3d to betray me8 and 1which was worse                            399
Than undissembled hate2 with what contempt                                 400
She sought to make me Traitor to myself&                                  401
Yet the fourth time8 when must3ring all her wiles8                         402
With blandisht parleys8 feminine assaults8                                 403
Tongue batteries8 she surceas3d not day nor night                          404
To storm me over-watch3t8 and wearied out9                                 405
At times when men seek most repose and rest8                               406
I yielded8 and unlock3d her all my heart8                                  407
Who with a grain of manhood well resolv3d                                  408
Might easily have shook off all her snares5                                409
But foul effeminacy held me yok3t                                          410
Her Bondslave& O indignity8 O blot                                      411
To Honor and Religion\ servile mind                                      412
Rewarded well with servile punishment\                                     413
The base degree to which I now am fall3n8                                 414
These rags8 this grinding8 is not yet so base                              415
As was my former servitude8 ignoble                                        416
Unmanly8 ignominious8 infamous8                                            417
True slavery8 and that blindness worse than this8                          418
That saw not how degenerately I serv3d9                                   419
Manoa9 I cannot praise thy marriage choices8 Son8                        420
Rather approved them not but thou didst plead                              421
Divine impulsion prompting how thou might3st                               422
Find some occasion to infest our Foes9                                    423
I state not that& this I am sure& our Foes                               424
Found soon occasion thereby to make thee                                   425
Their captive8 and their triumph& thou the sooner                          426
Temptation found3st or over potent charms                                  427
To violate the sacred trust of silence                                     428
Deposited within thee& which to have kept                                  429
Tacit was in thy power8 true8 and thou bear3st                             430
Enough8 and more the burden of that fault&                                 431
Bitterly hast thou paid8 and still art paying                              432
That rigid score9  A worse thing yet remains9                             433
This day the Philistines a popular Feast                                 434
Here celebrate in Gaza& and proclaim                                      435
Great Pomp8 and Sacrifice8 and Praises loud                             436
To Dagon8 as their God who hath deliver3d                                437
Thee8 Samson8 bound and blind into their hands8                           438
Them out of thine8 who slew3st them many a slain9                          439
So Dagon shall be magnified8 and God                                     440
Besides whom is no God8 compar3d with Idols8                             441
Disglorified8 blasphem3d8 and had in scorn                                 442
By the idolatrous rout amidst their wine&                                  443
Which to have come to pass by means of thee8                               444
Samson8 of all thy sufferings think the heaviest8                          445
Of all reproach the most with shame that ever                              446
Could have befall3n thee and thy Father3s house9                          447
Samson9  Father8 I do acknowledge and confess                            448
That I this honor8 I this pomp have brought                              449
To Dagon8 and advanc3d his praises high                                   450
Among the Heathen round& to God have brought                             451
Dishonor8 obloquy8 and op3t the mouths                                     452
Of Idolists8 and Atheists& have brought scandal                          453
To Israel8 diffidence of God8 and doubt                                  454
In feeble hearts8 propense enough before                                   455
To waver8 or fall off and join with Idols5                                456
Which is my chief affliction8 shame and sorrow8                            457
The anguish of my Soul8 that suffers not                                  458
Mine eye to harbor sleep8 or thoughts to rest9                             459
This only hope relieves me8 that the strife                                460
With me hath end& all the contest is now                                   461
43Twixt God and Dagon& Dagon hath presum3d8                             462
Me overthrown8 to enter lists2 with God8                                  463
His Deity comparing and preferring                                        464
Before the God of Abraham9  He8 be sure8                                465
Will not connive8 or linger8 thus provok3d8                                466
But will arise and his great name assert5                                  467
Dagon must stoop8 and shall ere long receive                               468
Such a discomfit8 as shall quite despoil him                               469
Of all these boasted Trophies won on me8                                  470
And with confusion blank his Worshippers9                                 471
Manoa9  With cause this hope relieves thee8 and these words               472
I as a Prophecy receive5 for God8                                        473
Nothing more certain8 will not long defer                                  474
To vindicate the glory of his name                                         475
Against all competition8 nor will long                                     476
Endure it8 doubtful whether God be Lord8                                 477
Or Dagon9  But for thee what shall be done/                              478
Thou must not in the meanwhile here forgot                                 479
Lie in this miserable loathsome plight                                     480
Neglected9 I already have made way                                        481
To some Philistian Lords8 with whom to treat                             482
About thy ransom5 well they may by this                                    483
Have satisfied their utmost of revenge                                     484
By pains and slaveries8 worse than death inflicted                         485
On thee8 who now no more canst do them harm9                               486
Samson9 Spare that proposal8 Father8 spare the trouble                   487
Of that solicitation& let me here8                                         488
As I deserve8 pay on my punishment&                                       489
And expiate8 if possible8 my crime8                                        490
Shameful garrulity9  To have reveal3d                                     491
Secrets of men8 the secrets of a friend8                                   492
How heinous had the fact been8 how deserving                               493
Contempt8 and scorn of all8 to be excluded                                 494
All friendship8 and avoided as a blab8                                     495
The mark of fool set on his front/  But I                                496
God3s counsel have not kept8 his holy secret                               497
Presumptuously have publish3d8 impiously8                                  498
Weakly at least8 and shamefully5 A sin                                    499
That Gentiles in thir Parables condemn                                   500
To their abyss and horrid pains confin3d9                                  501
Manoa9  Be penitent and for thy fault contrite8                           502
But act not in thy own affliction8 Son&                                   503
Repent the sins8 but if the punishment                                     504
Thou canst avoid8 self-preservation bids&                                  505
Or th3 execution leave to high disposal8                                   506
And let another hand8 not thine8 exact                                     507
Thy penal forfeit from thyself& perhaps                                    508
God will relent8 and quit thee all his debt&                               509
Who evermore approves and more accepts                                     510
Best pleas3d with humble and filial submission2                            511
Him who imploring mercy sues for life8                                     512
Than who self-rigorous chooses death as due&                               513
Which argues over-just8 and self-displeas3d                                514
For self-offence8 more than for God offended9                             515
Reject not then what offer3d means8 who knows                              516
But God hath set before us8 to return thee                                517
Home to thy country and his sacred house8                                  518
Where thou mayst bring thy off3rings8 to avert                             519
His further ire8 with prayers and vows renew3d9                            520
Samson9 His pardon I implore& but as for life8                           521
To what end should I seek it when in strength                             522
All mortals I excell3d8 and great in hopes                                523
With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts                             524
Of birth from Heav3n foretold and high exploits8                          525
Full of divine instinct8 after some proof                                  526
Of acts indeed heroic8 far beyond                                          527
The Sons of Anak8 famous now and blaz3d8                                 528
Fearless of danger8 like a petty God                                      529
I walk3d about admir3d of all and dreaded                                  530
On hostile ground8 none daring my affront9                                 531
Then swoll3n with pride into the snare I fell                             532
Of fair fallacious looks8 venereal trains8                                 533
Soften3d with pleasure and voluptuous life&                                534
At length to lay my head and hallow3d pledge                               535
Of all my strength in the lascivious lap                                   536
Of a deceitful Concubine who shore me                                     537
Like a tame Wether8 all my precious fleece8                               538
Then turn3d me out ridiculous8 despoil3d8                                  539
Shav3n8 and disarm3d among my enemies9                                     540
Chorus9  Desire of wine and all delicious drinks8                         541
Which many a famous Warrior overturns8                                    542
Thou couldst repress8 nor did the dancing Ruby                            543
Sparkling8 outpour3d8 the flavor8 or the smell8                            544
Or taste that cheers the heart of Gods and men8                           545
Allure thee from the cool Crystalline stream9                             546
Samson9  Wherever fountain or fresh current flow3d                        547
Against the Eastern ray8 translucent8 pure8                               548
With touch ethereal of Heav3n3s fiery rod                                 549
I drank8 from the clear milky juice allaying                               550
Thirst8 and refresht& nor envied them the grape                            551
Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes9                        552
Chorus9  O madness8 to think use of strongest wines                       553
And strongest drinks our chief support of health8                          554
When God with these forbidd3n made choice to rear                         555
His mighty Champion8 strong above compare8                                556
Whose drink was only from the liquid brook9                                557
Samson9  But what avail3d this temperance8 not complete                   558
Agains2t another object more enticing/                                     559
What boots it at one gate to make defense8                                 560
And at another to let in the foe8                                          561
Effeminately vanquish3d/ by which means8                                   562
Now blind8 dishearten3d8 sham3d dishonor3d8 quell3d8                       563
To what can I be useful8 wherein serve                                    564
My Nation and the work from Heav3n impos3d8                              565
But to sit idle on the household hearth8                                   566
A burdenous drone/ to visitants a gaze8                                   567
Or pitied object8 these redundant locks                                    568
Robustious to no purpose clust3ring down8                                  569
Vain monument of strength& till length of years                            570
And sedentary numbness craze my limbs                                      571
To a contemptible old age obscure/                                         572
Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread8                               573
Till vermin or the draff of servile food                                   574
Consume me8 and oft-invocated death                                        575
Hasten the welcome end of all my pains9                                    576
Manoa9  Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift              577
Which was expressly given thee to annoy them/                              578
Better at home lie bedrid8 not only idle8                                  579
Inglorious8 unemploy3d8 with age outworn9                                  580
But God who caus3d a fountain at thy prayer                               581
From the dry ground to spring8 thy thirst to allay                         582
After the brunt of battle8 can as easy                                     583
Cause light again within thy eyes to spring8                               584
Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast&                              585
And I persuade me so& why else this strength                              586
Miraculous yet remaining in those locks                                    587
His might continues in thee not for naught8                                588
Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus9                            589
Samson9  All otherwise to me my thoughts portend8                         590
That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light8                       591
Nor th3 other light of life continue long8                                 592
But yield to double darkness nigh at hand5                                 593
So much I feel my genial spirits droop8                                   594
My hopes all flat8 nature within me seems                                  595
In all her functions weary of herself                                      596
My race of glory run8 and race& of shame8                                  597
And I shall shortly be with them that rest9                               598
Manoa9  Believe not these suggestions which proceed                       599
From anguish of the mind and humors black8                                 600
That mingle with thy fancy9  I however                                    601
Must not omit a Father3s timely care                                      602
To prosecute the means of thy deliverance                                  603
By ransom or how else5 meanwhile be calm8                                  604
And healing words from these thy friends admit9                            605
Samson9 O that torment should not be confin3d                             606
To the body3s wounds and sores                                             607
With maladies innumerable                                                  608
In heart8 head8 breast8 and reins&                                         609
But must secret passage find                                               610
To th3 inmost mind8                                                        611
There exercise all his fierce accidents8                                   612
And on her purest spirits prey8                                            613
As on entrails8 joints8 and limbs8                                         614
With answerable pains8 but more intense8                                   615
Though void of corporal sense9                                             616
My griefs not only pain me                                                617
As a ling3ring disease8                                                    618
But finding no redress8 ferment and rage8                                  619
Nor less than wounds immedicable                                           620
Rankle8 and fester8 and gangrene8                                          621
To black mortification                                                     622
Thoughts my Tormentors arm3d with deadly stings                           623
Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts8                                    624
Exasperate8 exulcerate8 and raise                                          625
Dire inflammation which no cooling herb                                    626
Or med3cinal liquor can assuage8                                           627
Nor breath of Vernal Air from snowy Alp9                                628
Sleep hath forsook8 and giv3n me o3er                                      629
To death3s benumbing Opium as my only cure9                               630
Thence faintings8 swoonings of despair8                                    631
And sense of Heav3n3s desertion9                                          632
I was his nursling once and choice delight8                                633
His destin3d from the womb8                                                634
Promis3d by Heavenly message twice descending9                            635
Under his special eye                                                      636
Abstemious I grew up and thriv3d amain                                    637
He led me on to mightiest deeds                                            638
Above the nerve of mortal arm                                              639
Against th3 uncircumcis3d8 our enemies9                                    640
But now hath cast me off as never known8                                   641
And to those cruel enemies8                                                642
Whom I by his appointment had provok3t8                                   643
Left me all helpless with th3 irreparable loss                             644
Of sight8 reserv3d alive to be repeated                                    645
The subject of their cruelty8 or scorn9                                    646
Nor am I in the list of them that hope&                                   647
Hopeless are all my evils8 all remediless                                  648
This one prayer yet remains8 might I be heard8                            649
No long petition8 speedy death8                                            650
The close of all my miseries8 and the balm9                                651
Chorus9  Many are the sayings of the wise                                 652
In ancient and in modern books enroll3d8                                   653
Extolling Patience as the truest fortitude8                               654
And to the bearing well of all calamities8                                 655
All chances incident to man3s frail life                                   656
Consolatories writ                                                         657
With studied argument8 and much persuasion sought                          658
Lenient of grief and anxious thought8                                      659
Bout with the afflicted in his pangs their sound                           660
Little prevails8 or rather seems a tune8                                   661
Harsh8 and of dissonant mood from his complaint8                           662
Unless he feel within                                                      663
Some source of consolation from above&                                     664
Secret refreshings8 that repair his strength8                              665
And fainting spirits uphold9                                               666
God of our Fathers8 what is man&                                          667
That thou toward him with hand so various8                                 668
Or might I say contrarious8                                               669
Temper3st thy providence through his short course8                         670
Not evenly8 as thou rul3st                                                 671
Th3Angelic orders and inferior creatures mute8                            672
Irrational and brute9                                                      673
Nor do I name of men the common rout8                                     674
That wand3ring loose about                                                 675
Grow up and perish8 as the summer fly8                                     676
Heads without name no more remember3d8                                     677
But such as thou hast solemnly elected8                                    678
With gifts and graces eminently adorn3d                                    679
To some great work8 thy glory8                                             680
And people3s safety8 which in part they effect5                            681
Yet toward these8 thus dignified thou oft8                                 682
Amidst their height of noon8                                               683
Changest thy count3nance and thy hand8 with no regard                      684
Of highest favors past                                                     685
From thee on them8 or them to thee of service9                             686
4  nor only dost degrade them8 or remit                                     687
To life obscur3d8 which were a fair dismission8                            688
But throw3st them lower than thou didst exalt them high8                   689
Unseemly falls in human eye8                                               690
Too grievous for the trespass or omission8                                 691
Oft leav3st them to the hostile sword                                      692
Of Heathen and profane8 thir carcases                                     693
To dogs and fowls a prey8 or else captiv3d5                                694
Or to the unjust tribunals8 under change of times8                         695
And condemnation of th3ingrateful multitude9                               696
If these they scape8 perhaps in poverty                                    697
With sickness and disease thou bow3st them down8                           698
Painful diseases and deform3d8                                             699
In crude old age&                                                          700
Though not disordinate8 yet causeless suff3ring                            701
The punishment of dissolute days5 in fine8                                 702
Just or unjust alike seem miserable8                                       703
For oft alike8 both come to evil end9                                      704
4  so deal not with this once thy glorious Champion8                       705
The Image of thy strength 8 and mighty minister9                          706
What do I beg/  how hast thou dealt already/                              707
Behold him in this state calamitous8 and turn                              708
His labors8 for thou canst8 to peaceful end9                               709
4  but who is this8 what thing of Sea or Land/                            710
Female of sex it seems8                                                    711
That so bedeckt8 ornate8 and gay8                                          712
Comes this way sailing                                                     713
Like a stately Ship                                                       714
Of Tarsus8 bound for th3 Isles2                                          715
Of Javan or Gadire                                                       716
With all her bravery on8 and tackle trim8                                  717
Sails fill3d8 and streamers waving                                         718
Courted by all the winds that hold them play8                              719
And Amber scent of odorous perfume                                        720
Her harbinger8 a damsel train behind&                                      721
Some rich Philistian Matron she may seem8                                722
And now at nearer view8 no other certain                                   723
Than Dalila thy wife9                                                     724
Samson9 My Wife8 my Traitress8 let her not come near me9                725
Chorus9  Yet on she moves8 now stands and eyes thee fixt8                 726
About t3have spoke8 but now8 with head declin3d                            727
Like a fair flower surcharg3d with dew8 she weeps                          728
And words addrest seem into tears dissolv3d8                               729
Wetting the borders of her silk3n veil&                                    730
But now again she makes address to speak9                                  731
Dalila9  With doubtful feet and wavering resolution                       732
I came8 still dreading thy displeasure8 Samson8                           733
Which to have merited8 without excuse8                                     734
I cannot but acknowldge& yet if tears                                      735
May expiate 1though the fact more evil drew                                736
In the perverse event than I foresaw2                                     737
My penance hath not slack3n3d8 though my pardon                            738
No way assur3d9 But conjugal affection8                                   739
Prevailing over fear and timorous doubt8                                   740
Hath led me on desirous to behold                                          741
Once more thy face8 and know of thy estate9                                742
If aught in my ability may serve                                           743
To light3n what thou suffer3st8 and appease                                744
Thy mind with what amends is in my power                                   745
Though late8 yet in some part to recompense                                746
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed9                                      747
Samson9  Out8 out Hyaena& these are thy wonted arts9                     748
And arts of every woman false like thee8                                   749
To break all faith8 all vows8 deceive8 betray8                             750
Then as repentant to submit8 beseech8                                      751
And reconcilement move with feign3d remorse8                               752
Confess8 and promise wonders in her change8                                753
Not truly penitent8 but chief to try                                       754
Her husband8 how far urg3d his patience bears8                             755
His virtue or weakness which way to assail5                                756
Then with more cautious and instructed skill                               757
Again transgresses8 and again submits&                                     758
That wisest and best men full oft beguil3d8                                759
With goodness principl3d not to reject                                     760
The penitent8 but ever to forgive8                                         761
Are drawn to wear out miserable days8                                      762
Entangl3d with a pois3nous bosom snake8                                    763
If not by quick destruction soon cut off                                   764
As I by thee8 to Ages an example9                                        765
Dalila9 Yet hear me Samson& not that I endeavor                         766
To lessen or extenuate my offence8                                         767
But that on th3other side if it be weigh3d                                 768
By itself8 with aggravations not surcharg3d8                               769
Or else with just allowance counterpois3d8                                 770
I may8 if possible8 thy pardon find                                        771
The easier towards me8 or thy hatred less9                                 772
First granting8 as I do8 it was a weakness                                773
In me8 but incident to all our sex8                                        774
Curiosity8 inquisitive8 importune                                          775
Of secrets8 then with like infirmity                                       776
To publish them8 both common female faults5                                777
Was it not weakness also to make known                                     778
For importunity8 that is for naught8                                       779
Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety/                             780
To what I did thou show3st me first the way9                              781
But I to enemies reveal3d8 and should not9                                782
Nor should3st thou have trusted that to woman3s frailty5                   783
Ere I to thee8 thou to thyself wast cruel9                                784
Let weakness then with weakness come to parle                              785
So near  related8 or the same of kind8                                     786
Thine forgive mine& that men may censure thine                             787
The gentler8 if severely thou exact not                                    788
More strength from me8 than in thyself was found9                          789
And what if Love8 which thou interpret3st hate8                           790
The jealousy of Love8 powerful of sway                                    791
In human hearts8 nor less in mine towards thee8                            792
Caus3d what I did/  I saw thee mutable                                   793
Of fancy8 fear3d lest one day thou wouldst leave me                        794
As her at Timna8 sought by all means therefore                           795
How to endear8 and hold thee to me firmest5                                796
No better way I saw then by importuning                                   797
To learn thy secrets8 get into my power                                    798
Thy key of strength and safety5 thou wilt say8                             799
Why then reveal3d/  I was assur3d by those                                800
Who tempted me8 that nothing was design3d                                  801
Against thee but safe custody8 and hold5                                   802
That made for me8 I knew that liberty                                     803
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises8                             804
While I at home sat full of cares and fears                               805
Wailing thy absence in my widow3d bed                                      806
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night                              807
Mine and Love3s prisoner8 not the Philistines38                          808
Whole to myself8 unhazarded abroad8                                        809
Fearless at home of partners in my love9                                   810
These reasons in Love3s law have pass3d for good8                         811
Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps5                                812
And Love hath oft8 well meaning8 wrought much woe8                        813
Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain3d9                                   814
Be not unlike all others8 not austere                                      815
As thou art strong8 inflexible as steel9                                   816
If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed8                               817
In uncompassionate anger do not so9                                        818
Samson9  How cunningly the sorceress displays                             819
Her own transgressions8 to upbraid me mine&                                820
That malice not repentance brought thee hither8                            821
By this appears5 I gave8 thou say3st8 th3example8                         822
I led the way& bitter reproach8 but true8                                  823
I to myself was false ere thou to me&                                      824
Such pardon therefore as I give my folly8                                 825
Take to thy wicked deed5 which when thou seest                             826
Impartial8 self-severe8 inexorable8                                        827
Thou wilt renounce thy seeking8 and much rather                            828
Confess it feign3d weakness is thy excuse8                                 829
And I believe it weakness to resist                                       830
Philistian gold5 if weakness may excuse8                                   831
What Murderer8 what Traitor8 Parricide8                                 832
Incestuous8 Sacrilegious8 but may plead it/                               833
All wickedness is weakness5 that plea therefore                            834
With God or Man will gain thee no remission9                             835
But Love constrain3d thee/ call it furious rage                          836
To satisfy thy lust5 Love seeks to have Love&                            837
My love how couldst thou hope8 who took3st the way                         838
To raise in me inexpiable hate8                                            839
Knowing8 as needs I must8 by thee betray3d/                               840
In vain thou striv3st to cover shame with shame8                           841
Or by evasions thy crime uncover3st more9                                  842
Dalila9  Since thou determin3st weakness for no plea                      843
In man or woman8 though to thy own condemning8                             844
Hear what assaults I had8 what snares besides8                            845
What sieges girt me round8 ere I consented&                               846
Which might have aw3d the best resolv3d of men8                            847
The constantest to have yielded without blame9                             848
It was not gold8 as to my charge thou lay3st8                              849
That wrought with me5 thou knowst the Magistrates                         850
And Princes of my country came in person8                                 851
Solicited8 commanded8 threat3n3d8 urg3d8                                   852
Adjur3d by all the bonds of civil Duty                                    853
And of Religion8 press3d how just it was8                                 854
How honorable8 how glorious to entrap                                      855
A common enemy8 who had destroy3d                                          856
Such numbers of our Nation5 and the Priest                               857
Was not behind8 but ever at my ear8                                        858
Preaching how meritorious with the gods                                    859
It would be to ensnare an irreligious                                      860
Dishonorer of Dagon5 what had I                                          861
To oppose against such powerful arguments                                  862
Only my love of thee held long debate8                                     863
And combated in silence all these reasons                                  864
With hard contest5 at length that grounded maxim                           865
So rife and celebrated in the mouths                                       866
Of wisest men8 that to the public good                                     867
Private respects must yield8 with grave authority                          868
Took full possession of me and prevail3d&                                  869
Virtue8 as I thought8 truth8 duty so enjoining9                           870
Samson9  I thought where all thy circling wiles would end&                871
In feign3d Religion8 smooth hypocrisy9                                    872
But had thy love8 still odiously pretended8                                873
Been8 as it ought8 sincere8 it would have taught thee                      874
Far other reasonings8 brought forth other deeds9                           875
I before all the daughters of my Tribe                                    876
And of my Nation chose thee from among                                    877
My enemies lov3d thee8 as too well thou knew3st8                           878
Too well8 unbosom3d all my secrets to thee8                                879
Not out of levity8 but overpower3d                                         880
By thy request8 who could deny thee nothing&                               881
Yet now am judg3d an enemy9  Why then                                     882
Didst thou at first receive me for thy husband8                            883
Then8 as since then8 thy country3s foe profest/                            884
Being once a wife8 for me thou wast to leave                               885
Parents and country& nor was I their subject8                             886
Nor under their protection but my own8                                     887
Thou mine8 not theirs5 if aught against my life                            888
Thy country sought of thee8 it sought unjustly8                            889
Against the law of nature8 law of nations8                                 890
No more thy country8 but an impious crew                                   891
Of men conspiring to uphold their state                                    892
By worse than hostile deeds8 vilolating the ends                           893
For which our country is a name so dear&                                   894
Not therefore to be obey3d9  But zeal mov3d thee&                         895
To please thy gods thou didst it& gods unable                              896
To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes                              897
But by ungodly deeds8 the contradiction                                    898
Of their own deity8 Gods cannot be5                                       899
Less therefore to be pleas3d8 obey3d or fear3d9                            900
These false pretexts and varnish3d colors failing8                         901
Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear/                               902
Dalila9 In argument with men a woman ever                                 903
Goes by the worse8 whatever be her cause9                                  904
Samson9  For want of words no doubt8 or lack of breath8                   905
Witness when I was worried with thy peals9                                906
Dalila9  I was a fool8 too rash8 and quite mistaken                       907
In what I thought would have succeeded best9                              908
Let me obtain forgiveness of thee8 Samson8                                909
Afford me to place to show what recompence                                 910
Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone8                           911
Misguided5 only what remains past cure                                     912
Bear not too sensibly8 nor still insist                                    913
To afflict thyself in vain5 though sight be lost8                          914
Life yet hath many solaces8 enjoy3d                                        915
Where other senses want not their delights                                 916
At home in leisure and domestic ease8                                      917
Exempt from many a care and chance to which                                918
Eyesight exposes daily men abroad9                                         919
I to the Lords will intercede8 not doubting                               920
Their favorable ear8 that I may fetch thee                                921
From forth this loathsome prison-house to abide                            922
With me8 where my redoubled love and care                                  923
With nursing diligence8 to me glad office                                  924
May ever tend about thee to old age                                        925
With all things grateful cheer3d8 and so supplied8                         926
That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss&                      927
Samson9 No8 no8 of my condition take no care                              928
It fits not& thou and I long since are twain&                             929
Nor think me so unwary or accurst                                          930
To bring my feet again into the snare                                      931
Where once I have been caught& I know thy trains                         932
Though dearly to my cost8 thy gins8 and toils&                             933
Thy fair enchanted cup8 and warbling charms                                934
No more on me have power8 their force is null3d8                           935
So much of Adder3s wisdom I have learn3t                                 936
To fence my ear against thy sorceries9                                     937
If in my flower of youth and strength8 when all men                        938
Lov3d8 honor3d8 fear3d me8 thou alone could hate me8                       939
Thy Husband8 slight me8 sell me8 and forgo me&                           940
How wouldst thou use me now8 blind8 and thereby                            941
Deceivable8 in most things as a child                                      942
Helpless8 thence easily contemn3d8 and scorn3d8                            943
And last neglected/  How wouldst thou insult                              744
When I must live uxorious to thy will                                     945
In perfect thraldom8 how again betray me8                                  946
Bearing my words and doings to the Lords                                  947
To gloss upon8 and censuring8 frown or smile/                              948
This Gaol I count the house of Liberty                                  949
To thine whose doors my feet shall never enter                             950
Dalila9 Let me approach at least8 and touch thy hand9                     951
Samson9  Not for thy life8 lest fierce remembrance wake                   952
My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint9                                953
At distance I forgive thee8 go with that                                  954
Bewail thy falsehood8 and the pious works                                  955
It hath brought forth to make thee memorable                               956
Among illustrious women8 faithful wives5                                   957
Cherish thy hasten@d widowhood with the gold                               958
Of Matrimonial treason5 so farewell9                                      959
Dalila9  I see thou art inplacable8 more deaf                             960
To prayers8 than winds and seas8 yet winds to seas                         961
Are reconcil3d at length8 and Sea to Shore5                              962
Thy anger8 unappeasable8 still rages8                                      963
Eternal tempest never to be calm3d9                                        964
Why do I humble thus myself8 and suing                                    965
For peace8 reap nothing but repulse and hate/                              966
Bid go with evil omen and the brand                                        967
Of infamy upon my name denounc3t/                                          968
To mix with thy cncernments I desist                                      969
Henceforth8 nor too much disapprove my own9                                970
Fame if not double-fac3t is double-mouth3d8                                971
And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds&                              972
On both his wings8 one black8 the other white8                             973
Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight9                              974
My name perhaps among the Circumcis3d                                     975
In Dan8 in Judah8 and the bordering Tribes8                             976
To all posterity may stand defam3d8                                        977
With malediction mention3d8 and the blot                                   978
Of falsehood most unconjugal traduc3t9                                     979
But in my country where I most desire8                                    980
In Ekron8 Gaza8 Asdod8 and in Gath                                     981
I shall be nam3d among the famousest                                       982
Of Women8 sung at solemn festivals8                                       983
Living and dead recorded8 who to save                                      984
Her country from a fierce destroyer8 chose                                 985
Above the faith of wedlock bands8 my tomb                                  986
With odors visited and annual flowers9                                     987
Not less renown3d than in Mount Ephraim8                                 988
Jael8 who with inhospitable guile                                          989
Smote Sisera sleeping through the Temples nail3d9                        990
Nor shall I count it heinous to enjoy                                     991
The public marks of honor and reward                                       992
Conferr3d upon me8 for the piety                                           993
Which to my country I was judg3d to have shown9                           994
At this who ever envies or repines                                         995
I leave him to his lot8 and like my own9                                   996
Chorus9  She3s gone8 a manifest Serpent by her sting                     997
Discover3d in the end8 till now conceal3d9                                 998
Samson9  So let her go8 God sent her to debase me8                       999
And aggravate my folly who committed                                      1000
To such a viper his most sacred trust                                     1001
Of secrecy8 my safety8 and my life9                                       1002
Chorus9 Yet beauty8 though injurious8 hath strange power8                1003
After offense returning8 to regain                                        1004
Love once possest8 nor can be easily                                      1005
Repuls3t8 without much inward passion felt                                1006
And secret sting of amorous remorse9                                      1007
Samson9  Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end8                      1008
Not wedlock treachery endangering life9                                   1009
Chorus9  It is not virtue8 wisdom8 valor8 wit8                           1010
Strength8 comeliness of shape8 or amplest merit                           1011
That woman3s love can win or long inherit&                                1012
But what it is8 hard is to say8                                           1013
Harder to hit8                                                            1014
1Which way soever men refer it2                                           1015
Much like thy riddle8 Samson8 in one day                                 1016
Or seven8 though one should musing sit&                                   1017
If any of these or all8 the Timnian bride                                1018
Had not so soon preferr3d                                                 1019
Thy Paranymph8 worthless to thee compar3d8                               1020
Successor in thy bed8                                                     1021
Nor both so loosely disallied                                             1022
Their nuptials8 nor this last so treacherously                            1023
Had shorn the fatal harvest of thy head9                                  1024
Is it for that such outward ornament                                      1025
Was lavish3d on their Sex8 that inward gifts                             1026
Were left for haste unfinish3t8 judgment scant8                           1027
Capacity not rais3d to apprehend                                          1028
Or value what is best                                                     1029
In choice8 but oftest to affect the wrong/                                1030
Or was too much of self-love mixt8                                        1031
Of constancy no root infixt8                                              1032
That either they love nothing8 or not long/                               1033
Whate3er it be8 to wisest men and best                                   1034
Seeming at first all heavenly under virgin veil8                          1035
Soft8 modest8 meek8 demure8                                               1036
Once join3d8 the contrary she proves8 a thorn                             1037
Intestine8 far within defensive arms                                      1038
A cleaving mischief8 in his way to virtue                                 1039
Adverse and turbulent8 or by her charms                                   1040
Draws him awry enslav3d                                                   1041
With dotage8 and his sense deprav3d                                       1042
To folly and shameful deeds which ruin ends9                              1043
What Pilot so expert but needs must wreck                                1044
Embark3d with such a Steers-mate at the Helm/                           1045
4  Favored of Heaven who finds                                           1046
One virtuous8 rarely found8                                               1047
That in domestic good combines5                                           1048
Happy that house\ his way is smooth5                                      1049
But virtue which breaks through all opposition8                           1050
And all temptation can remove8                                            1051
Most shines and most is acceptable above9                                 1052
Therefore God3s universal Law                                           1053
Gave to the man despotic power                                            1054
Over his female in due awe8                                               1055
Nor from that right to part an hour8                                      1056
Smile she or lour5                                                        1057
So shall he least confusion draw                                          1058
On his whole life8 not sway3d                                             1059
By female usurpation8 or dismay3d9                                        1060
But had we best retire8 I see a storm/                                   1061
Samson9  Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain9                    1062
Chorus9  But this another kind of tempest brings9                        1063
Samson9  Be less abstruse8 my riddling days are past9                    1064
Chorus9  Look now for no enchanting voice8 nor fear                      1065
The bait of honied words& a rougher tongue                                1066
Draws hitherward I know him by his stride8                               1067
The Giant Harapha of Gath8 his look                                    1068
Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud9                              1069
Comes he in peace/ what wind hath blown him hither                        1070
I less conjecture than when first I saw                                  1071
The sumptuous Dalila floating this way5                                  1072
His habit carries peace8 his brow defiance9                               1073
Samson9  Or peace or not8 alike to me he comes9                          1074
Chorus9  His fraught we soon shall know8 he now arrives9                 1075
Harapha9  I come not8 Samson8 to condole thy chance8                    1076
As these perhaps8 yet wish it had not been8                               1077
Though for no friendly intent9 I am of Gath&                            1078
Men call me Harapha8 of stock renown3d                                   1079
As Og or Anak and the Emims old                                        1080
That Kiriathaim held5 Thou knowst me now                                1081
If thou at all art known8 much i have heard                               1082
Of thy prodigious might and feats perform3d                               1083
Incredible to me8 in this displeas3d8                                     1084
That I was never present on the place                                    1085
Of those encounters8 where we might have tried                            1086
Each other3s force in camp or listed field&                               1087
And now am come to see of whom such noise                                 1088
Hath walk3d about8 and each limb to survey8                               1089
If thy appearance answer loud report9                                     1090
Samson9  The way to know were not to see but taste9                      1091
Harapha9 Dost thou already single me& I thought                         1092
Gyves and the Mill had tam3d thee/  O that fortune                      1093
Had brought me to the field where thou art fam3d                          1094
To have wrought such wonders with an Ass3s Jaw&                         1095
I should have forc3d thee soon wish other arms8                           1096
Or left thy carcase where the Ass lay thrown5                            1097
So had the glory of Prowess been recover3d                               1098
To Palestine8 won by a Philistine                                       1099
From the unforeskinn3d race8 of whom thou bear3st                         1100
The highest name for valiant Acts& that honor                            1101
Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee8                             1102
I lose8 prevented by thy eyes put out9                                    1103
Samson9  Boast not of what thou wouldst have done8 but do                1104
What then thou would3st8 thou seest it in thy hand9                       1105
Harapha9 To combat with a blind man I disdain8                          1106
And thou hast need much washing to be toucht9                             1107
Samson9  Such usage as your honorable Lords                             1108
Afford me assassinated and betray3d8                                      1109
Who durst not with their whole united powers                              1110
In fight withstand me single and unarm3d8                                 1111
Nor in the house with chamber Ambushes                                   1112
Close-banded durst attack me8 no not sleeping8                            1113
Till they had hir3d a woman with their gold8                              1114
Breaking her Marriage Faith to circumvent me9                           1115
Therefore without feign3d shifts let be assign3d                          1116
Some narrow place enclos3d8 where sight may give thee8                    1117
Or rather flight8 no great advantage on me&                               1118
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms8 thy Helmet                            1119
And Brigandine of brass8 thy broad Habergeon8                           1120
Vant-brace and Greaves8 and Gauntlet8 add thy Spear                    1121
A Weaver3s beam8 and seven-times-folded shield8                          1122
I only with an Oak3n staff will meet thee8                               1123
And raise such outcries on thy clatter3d Iron8                           1124
Which long shall not withhold me from thy head8                           1125
That in a little time8 while breath remains thee8                         1126
Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath to boast                             1127
Again in safety what thou wouldst have done                               1128
To Samson8 but shalt never see Gath more9                               1129
Harapha9  Thou durst not thus disparage glorious2 arms                   1130
Which greatest Heroes have in battle worn8                               1131
Their ornament and safety8 had not spells                                 1132
And black enchantments some Magician3s art                               1133
Arm3d thee or charm3d thee strong8 which thou from Heaven                1134
Feign3d3st at thy birth was giv3n thee in thy hair                        1135
Where strength can least abide8 though all thy hairs                      1136
Were bristles rang3d like those that ridge the back                       1137
Of chaf3t wild Boars8 or ruffl3d Porcupines9                            1138
Samson9 I know no spells8 use no forbidden Arts&                        1139
My trust is in the living God who gave me                                1140
At my Nativity this strength8 diffus3d                                   1141
No less through all my sinews8 joints and bones8                          1142
Than thine8 while I preserv3d these locks unshorn8                       1143
The pledge of my unviolated vow9                                          1144
For proof hereof8 if Dagon be thy god8                                   1145
Go to his Temple8 invocate his aid                                       1146
With solemnest devotion8 spread before him                                1147
How highly it concerns his glory now                                      1148
To frustrate and dissolve these Magic spells8                            1149
Which I to be the power of Israel3s God                                1150
Avow8 and challenge Dagon to the test8                                   1151
Offering to combat thee his Champion bold8                               1152
With th3utmost of his Godhead seconded5                                  1153
Then thou shalt see8 or rather to thy sorrow                              1154
Soon feel8 whose God is strongest8 thine or mine9                        1155
Harapha9  Presume not on thy God8 whate3er he be8                       1156
Thee he regards not8 owns not8 hath cut off                               1157
Quite from his people8 and delivered up                                   1158
Into thy Enemies3 hand8 permitted them                                   1159
To put out both thine eyes8 and fetter3d send thee                        1160
Into the common Prison8 there to grind                                   1161
Among the Slaves and Asses thy comrades8                                1162
As good for nothing else8 no better service                               1163
With those thy boist3rous locks8 no worthy match                          1164
For valor to assail8 nor by the sword                                     1165
Of noble Warrior8 so to stain his honor8                                 1166
But by the Barber3s razor best subdu3d9                                  1167
Samson9  All these indignities8 for such they are                        1168
From thine8 these evils I deserve and more8                              1169
Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me                                1170
Justly8 yet despair not of his final pardon                               1171
Whose ear is ever open& and his eye                                       1172
Gracious to re-admit the suppliant&                                       1173
In confidence whereof I once again                                       1174
Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight8                                   1175
By combat to decide whose god is God8                                    1176
Thine or whom I with Israel3s Sons adore9                              1177
Harapha9  Fair honor that thou dost thy God8 in trusting                1178
He will accept thee to defend his cause8                                  1179
A Murderer8 a Revolter8 and a Robber9                                  1180
Samson9  Tongue-doughty Giant8 how dost thou prove me these/            1181
Harapha9 Is not thy Nation subject to our Lords/                       1182
Their Magistrates confessed1 it8 when they took thee                     1183
As a League-breaker and deliver3d bound                                  1184
Into our hands5 for hadst thou not committed                              1185
Notorious murder on those thirty men                                      1186
At Askalon8 who never did thee harm8                                     1187
Then like a Robber stripp3dst them of their robes/                       1188
The Philistines8 when thou hadst broke the league8                       1189
Went up with armed powers thee only seeking8                              1190
To others did no violence nor spoil9                                      1192
Samson9  Among the Daughters of the Philistines                        1192
I chose a Wife8 which argu3d me no foe&                                  1193
And in your City held my Nuptial Feast5                                1194
But your ill-meaning Politician Lords8                                  1195
Under pretense of Bridal friends and guests8                             1196
Appointed to await me thirty spies8                                       1197
Who8 threat3ning cruel death8 constrain3d the bride                       1198
To wring from me and tell to them my secret8                              1199
That solv3d the riddle which I had propos3d9                             1200
When I perceiv3d all set on enmity8                                      1201
As on my enemies8 wherever chanc3d8                                       1202
I us3d hostility8 and took their spoil                                    1203
To pay my underminers in their coin9                                      1204
My Nation was subjected to your Lords9                                  1205
It was the force of Conquest& force with force                           1206
Is well ejected when the Conquer3d can9                                  1207
But I a private person8 whom my Country                                 1208
As a league-breaker gave up bound8 presum3d                               1209
Single Rebellion and did Hostile Acts9                                 1210
I was no private but a person rais3d                                      1211
With strength sufficient and command from Heav3n                         1212
To free my Country& if their servile minds                               1213
Me their Deliverer sent would not receive8                               1214
But to their Masters gave me up for nought8                              1215
Th3unworthier they& whence to this day they serve9                        1216
I was to do my part from Heav3n assign3d8                                1217
And had perform3d it if my known offense                                  1218
Had not disabl3d me8 not all your force5                                  1219
These shifts refuted8 answer thy appellant8                               1220
Though by his blindness maim3d for high attempts8                         1221
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight8                               1222
As a petty enterprise of small enforce9                                   1223
Harapha9 With thee a Man condemn3d8 a Slave enroll3d8                  1224
Due by the Law to capital punishment/                                    1225
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign9                             1226
Samson9  Cam3st thou for this8 vain boaster8 to survey me8               1227
To descant on my strength8 and give thy verdict/                          1228
Come nearer8 part not hence so slight inform3d&                           1229
But take good heed my hand survey not thee9                               1230
Harapha9 O Baal-zebub& can my ears unus3d                               1231
Hear these dishonors8 and not render death/                               1232
Samson9 No man withholds thee8 nothing from thy hand                     1233
Fear I incurable& bring up thy van8                                      1234
My heels are fetter3d8 but my fist is free9                               1235
Harapha9 This insolence other kind of answer fits9                       1236
Samson9 Go baffl3d coward8 lest I run upon thee8                        1237
Though in these chains8 bulk without spirit vast                          1238
And with one buffet lay thy structure low8                                1239
Or swing thee in the Air8 then dash thee down                            1240
To the hazard of thy brains and shatter3d sides9                          1241
Harapha9  By Astaroth8 ere long thou shalt lament                       1242
These braveries in Irons loaden on thee9                                 1243
Chorus9  His Giantship is gone somewhat crestfall3n8                    1244
Stalking with less unconsci3nable strides8                                1245
And lower looks8 but in a sultry chafe9                                   1246
Samson9 I dread him not8 nor all his Giant-brood8                       1247
Though Fame divulge him Father of five Sons                            1248
All of Gigantic size8 Goliath chief9                                    1249
Chorus9  He will directly to the Lords8 I fear8                        1250
And with malicious counsel stir them up                                   1251
Some way or other yet further to afflict thee9                            1252
Samson9  He must allege some cause8 and offer3d fight                    1253
Will not dare mention8 lest a question rise                               1254
Whether he durst accept the offer or not8                                 1255
And that he durst not plain enough appear3d9                              1256
Much more affliction than already felt                                    1257
They cannot well impose8 nor I sustain&                                  1258
If they intend advantage of my labors8                                    1259
The work of many hands8 which earns my keeping                            1260
With no small profit daily to my own&rs9                                  1261
But come what will8 my deadliest foe will prove                           1262
My speediest friend8 by death to rid me hence8                            1263
The worst that he can give8 to me the best9                               1264
Yet so it may fall out8 because their end                                 1265
Is hate8 not help to me8 it may with mine                                 1266
Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed9                                 1267
Chorus9  Oh how comely it is and how reviving                            1268
To the Spirits of just men long oppressed&                               1269
When God into the hands of their deliverer                               1270
Puts invincible might                                                     1271
To quell the mighty of the Earth8 th3oppressor8                          1272
The brute and bois3trous force of violent men                             1273
Hardy and industrious to support                                          1274
Tyrannic power8 but raging to pursue                                      1275
The righteous and all such as honor Truth&                               1276
He all their Ammunition                                                  1277
And feats of War defeats                                                 1278
With plain Heroic magnitude of mind                                      1279
And celestial vigor arm3d8                                                1280
Their Armories and Magazines contemns8                                  1281
Renders them useless8 while                                               1282
With winged expedition                                                    1283
Swift as the lightning glance he executes                                 1284
His errand on the wicked8 who surpris3d                                   1285
Lose their defense8 distracted and amaz3d9                                1286
4  but patience is more oft the exercise                                   1287
Of Saints8 the trial of their fortitude8                                 1288
Making them each his own Deliverer8                                      1289
And Victor over all                                                      1290
That tyranny or fortune can inflict9                                      1291
Either of these is in thy lot8                                            1292
Samson8 with might endu3d                                                 1293
Above the Sons of men& but sight bereav3d                                1294
May chance to number thee with those                                      1295
Whom patience finally must crown9                                         1296
This Idol3s day hath been to thee no day of rest                         1297
4  laboring thy mind                                                       1298
More than the working day thy hands9                                      1299
And yet perhaps more trouble is behind8                                   1300
For I descry this way                                                    1301
Some other tending8 in his hand                                           1302
A Scepter or quaint staff he bears8                                      1303
Comes on amain8 speed in his look9                                        1304
By his habit I discern him now                                           1305
A Public Officer8 and now at hand9                                      1306
His message will be short and voluble9                                    1307
Officer9  Ebrews8 the Pris3ner Samson here I seek9                    1308
Chorus9  His manacles remark him8 there he sits9                         1309
Officer9  Samson8 to thee our Lords thus bid me say&                    1310
This day to Dagon is a solemn Feast8                                    1311
With Sacrifices8 Triumph8 Pomp8 and Games&                            1312
Thy strength they know surpassing human rate9                             1313
And now some public proof thereof require                                 1314
To honor this great Feast8 and great Assembly&                          1315
Rise therefore with all speed and come along8                             1316
Where I will see thee heartn3d and fresh clad                            1317
To appear as fits before th3illustrious Lords9                           1318
Samson9  Thou knowst I am an Ebrew8 therefore tell them8               1319
Our law forbids at their Religious Rites                                1320
My presence& for that cause I cannot come9                               1321
Officer. This answer, be assured8 will not content them9                 1322
Samson9 Have they not Sword-players8 and ev3ry sort                     1323
Of Gymnic Artists8 Wrestlers8 Riders8 Runners8                       1324
Jugglers and Dancers8 Antics8 Mummers8 Mimics8                        1325
But they must pick mee out with shackles tir3d8                           1326
And over-labor3d at thir public Mill8                                    1327
To make them sport with blind activity/                                   1328
Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels                                 1329
On my refusal to distress me more8                                        1330
Or make a game of my calamities/                                          1331
Return the way thou cam3st8 I will not come9                             1332
Officer9  Regard thyself8 this will offend them highly9                  1333
Samson9  Myself/ my conscience and internal peace9                       1334
Can they think me so broken8 so debas3d                                   1335
With corporal servitude8 that my mind ever                                1336
Will condescend to such absurd commands/                                  1337
Although thir drudge8 to be thir fool or jester8                          1338
And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief                                 1339
To show them feats8 and play before thir god8                             1340
The worst of all indignities8 yet on me                                   1341
Join3d with extreme contempt/  I will not come9                          1342
Officer9  My message was impos3d on me with speed˜                       1343
Brooks no delay5 is this thy resolution/                                  1344
Samson9  So take it with what speed thy message needs9                   1345
Officer9  I am sorry what this stoutness will produce9                   1346
Samson9  Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed9                 1347
Chorus9  Consider8 Samson& matters now are strain3d                     1348
Up to the height8 whether to hold or break&                               1349
He3s gone8 and who knows how he may report                                1350
Thy words by adding fuel to the flame/                                    1351
Expect another message more imperious8                                    1352
More Lordly thund3ring than thou well wilt bear9                         1353
Samson9  Shall I abuse this Consecrated gift                           1354
3of strength8 again returning with my hair                                 1355
After my great transgression8 so requite                                  1356
Favor renew3d8 and add a greater sin                                      1357
By prostituting holy things to Idols&                                    1358
A Nazarite in place abominable                                           1359
Vaunting my strength in honor of their Dagon/                            1360
Besides8 how vile8 contemptible8 ridiculous8                              1361
What act more execrably unclean 8profane/                                 1362
Chorus9  Yet with this strength thou serv3st the Philistines8           1363
Idolatrous8 uncircumcis3d8 unclean9                                       1364
Samson9  Not in thir Idol-Worship8 but by labor                        1365
Honest and lawful to deserve my food                                      1366
Of those who have me in thir civil power9                                 1367
Chorus9  Where the heart joins not8 outward acts defile not9             1368
Samson9  Where outward force constrains8 the sentence holds&             1369
But who constrains me to the Temple of Dagon8                           1370
Not dragging/ the Philistian Lords command9                             1371
Commands are no constraints9  If I obey them8                           1372
I do it freely& venturing to displease                                    1373
God for the fear of Man8 and Man prefer8                                1374
Set God behind5 which in his jealousy                                    1375
Shall never8 unrepented8 find forgiveness9                                1376
Yet that he may dispense with me or thee                                  1377
Present in Temples at Idolatrous Rites                                 1378
For some important cause8 thou needst not doubt9                          1379
Chorus9  How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach9                 1380
Samson9  Be of good courage8 I begin to feel                            1381
Some rousing motions in me which dispose                                  1382
To something extraordinary my thoughts9                                   1383
I with this Messenger will go along8                                     1384
Nothing to do8 be sure8 that may dishonor                                 1385
Our Law8 or stain my vow of Nazarite9                                   1386
If there be aught of presage in the mind8                                 1387
This day will be remarkable in my life                                    1388
By some great act8 or of my days the last9                                1389
Chorus9  In time thou hast resolv3d8 the man returns9                    1390
Officer9 Samson8 this second message from our Lords                     1391
To thee I am bid say9  Art thou our Slave8                             1392
Our Captive8 at the public Mill our drudge8                             1393
And dar3st thou at our sending and command                                1394
Dispute thy coming/ come without delay&                                   1395
Or we shall find such Engines to assail                                  1396
And hamper thee8 as thou shalt come of force8                             1397
Though thou wert firmlier fast3n3d than a rock9                           1398
Samson9  I could be well content to try thir Art8                       1399
Which to no few of them would prove pernicious9                           1400
Yet knowing their advantages too many8                                    1401
Because they shall not trail me through their streets                     1402
Like a wild Beast8 I am content to go9                                  1403
Masters3 commands come with a power resistless                            1404
To such as owe them absolute subjection&                                  1405
And for a life who will not change his purpose/                           1406
41So mutable are all the ways of men2                                     1407
Yet this be sure8 in nothing to comply                                    1408
Scandalous or forbidden in our Law9                                      1409
Officer9  I praise thy resolution& doff these links5                     1410
By this compliance thou wilt win the Lords                               1411
To favor8 and perhaps to set thee free9                                   1412
Samson9  Brethren farewell8 your company along                           1413
I will not wish8 lest it perhaps offend them                              1414
To see me girt with Friends& and how the sight                           1415
Of me as of a common Enemy8                                              1416
So dreaded once8 may now exasperate them                                  1417
I know not9 Lords are Lordliest in their wine&                          1418
And the well-feasted Priest then soonest fir3d                           1419
With zeal8 if aught Religion seem concern3d5                             1420
No less the people on their Holy-days                                    1421
Impetuous8 insolent8 unquenchable9                                        1422
Happ3n what may8 of me expect to hear                                     1423
Nothing dishonorable8 impure8 unworthy                                    1424
Our God8 our Law8 my Nation8 or myself&                                1425
The last of me or no I cannot warrant9                                   1426
Chorus9  Go8 and the Holy One                                          1427
Of Israel be thy guide                                                   1428
To what may serve his glory best8 and spread his name                     1429
Great among the Heathen round5                                           1430
Send thee the Angel of thy Birth8 to stand                              1431
Fast by thy side8 who from thy Father3s field                            1432
Rode up in flames after his message told                                  1433
Of thy conception8 and be now a shield                                    1434
Of fire& that Spirit that first rusht on thee                            1435
In the camp of Dan                                                       1436
Be efficacious in thee now at need9                                       1437
For never was from Heaven imparted                                       1438
Measure of strength so great to mortal seed8                              1439
As in thy wond3rous actions hath been seen9                               1440
But wherefore comes old Manoa in such haste                              1441
With youthful steps/ much livelier than erewhile                          1442
He seems5 supposing here to find his Son8                                1443
Or of him bringing to us some glad news/                                  1444
Manoa9 Peace with you brethren& my inducement hither                     1445
Was not at present here to find my Son8                                  1446
By order of the Lords new parted hence                                   1447
To come and play before them at their Feast9                             1448
I heard all as I came8 the City rings8                                  1449
And numbers thither flock& I had no will8                                1450
Lest I should see him forc3t to things unseemly9                         1451
But that which mov3d my coming now8 was chiefly                           1452
To give ye part with me what hope I have                                 1453
With good success to work his liberty9                                    1454
Chorus9  That hope would much rejoice us to partake                      1455
With thee& say reverend Sire8 we thirst to hear9                         1456
Manoa9 I have attempted one by one the Lords                            1457
Either at home8 or through the high street passing8                       1458
With supplication prone and Father3s tears                               1459
To accept of ransom for my Son their pris3ner9                           1460
Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh8                             1461
Contemptuous 8proud8 set on revenge and spite&                            1462
That part most reverenc3d Dagon and his Priests5                        1463
Others more moderate seeming8 but their aim                               1464
Private reward8 for which both God and State                            1465
They easily would set to sale5 a third                                    1466
More generous far and civil8 who confess3d                                1467
They had enough reveng3d8 having reduc3t                                  1468
Their foe to misery beneath their fears8                                  1469
The rest was magnanimity to remit8                                        1470
If some convenient ransom were propos3d9                                  1471
What noise or shout was that/ it tore the Sky9                           1472
Chorus9  Doubtless the people shouting to behold                         1473
Their once great dread8 captive8 and blind before them89                  1474
Or at some proof of strength before them shown9                           1475
Manoa9  His ransom8 if my whole inheritance                              1476
May compass it8 shall willingly be paid                                   1477
And number3d down5 much rather I shall choose                            1478
To live the poorest in my Tribe8 than richest8                           1479
And he in that calamitous prison left9                                    1480
No8 I am fixt not to part hence without him9                             1481
For his redemption all my Patrimony 8                                    1482
If need be8 I am ready to forgo                                          1483
And quit5 not wanting him8 I shall want nothing9                         1484
Chorus9  Fathers are wont to lay up for their5sons8                      1485
Thou for thy Son are bent to lay out all&                                1486
Sons wont to nurse their Parents in old age9                             1487
Thou in old age car3st how to nurse thy Son8                             1488
Made older than thy age through eyesight lost9                            1489
Manoa9 It shall be my delight to tend his eyes9                          1490
And view him sitting in the house8 ennobl3d                               1491
With all those high exploits by him achiev3d8                             1492
And on his shoulders waving down those locks8                             1493
That of a Nation arm3d the strength contain3d5                           1494
And I persuade me God had not permitted                                 1495
His strength again to grow up with his hair                               1496
Garrison3d round about him like a Camp                                   1497
Of faithful Soldiery8 were not his purpose                               1498
To use him further yet in some great service8                             1499
Not to sit idle with so great a gift                                      1500
Useless8 and thence ridiculous about him9                                 1501
And since his strength with eyesight was not lost9                        1502
God will restore him eyesight to his strength9                            1503
Chorus9 Thy hopes are not ill founded8 nor seem vain8                    1504
Of his delivery8 and thy joy theron                                       1505
Conceiv3d8 agreeable to a Father3s love8                                 1506
In both which we8 as next8 participate9                                   1507
Manoa9  I know your friendly minds--O what noise\                       1508
Mercy of Heav3n028 what hideous noise was that/                          1509
Horribly loud8 unlike the former shout9                                   1510
Chorus9  Noise call you it or universal groan                            1511
As if the whole inhabitation perish3d/                                    1512
Blood8 death8 and deathful deeds are in that noise8                       1513
Ruin8 destruction at the utmost point9                                    1514
Manoa9  Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise8                     1515
Oh it continues8 they have slain my Son9                                 1516
Chorus9 Thy Son is rather slaying them& that outcry                     1517
From slaughter of one foe not ascend9                                     1518
Manoa9  Some dismal accident it needs must be&                           1519
What shall we do8 stay here or run and see/                               1520
Chorus9  Best keep together here8 lest8 running thither8                 1521
We unawares run into danger3s mouth9                                      1522
This evil on the Philistines is fall3n8                                  1523
From whom could else a general cry be heard/                              1524
The sufferers then will scarce molest us here8                            1525
From other hands we need not much to fear9                                1526
What if his eyesight 1for to Israel3s God                               1527
Nothing is hard2 by miracle restor3d8                                     1528
He now be dealing dole among his foes8                                    1529
And over heaps of slaughter3d walk his way/                               1530
Manoa9 That were a joy presumptuous to be thought9                       1531
Chorus9  Yet God hath wrought things as incredible                      1532
For his people of old& what hinders now/                                  1533
Manoa9 He can8 I know8 but doubt to think he will&                      1534
Yet Hope would fain subscribe8 and tempts Belief9                       1535
A little stay will bring some notice hither9                              1536
Chorus9  Of good or bad so great8 of bad the sooner&                     1537
For evil news rides post8 while good news baits9                          1538
And to our wish I see one hither speeding8                               1539
An  Ebrew8 as I guess8 and of our Tribe9                               1540
Messenger9  O whither shall I run8 or which way fly                     1541
The sight of this so horrid spectacle                                     1542
Which erst my eyes beheld and yet behold/                                 1543
For dire imagination still pursues me9                                    1544
But providence or instinct of nature seems8                               1545
Or reason though disturb3d8 and scarce consulted8                         1546
To have guided me aright8 I know not how8                                1547
To thee first8 reverend Manoa8  and to these                             1548
My Countrymen8 whom here I knew remaining8                              1549
As at some distance from the place of horror8                             1550
So in the sad event too much concern3d9                                   1551
Manoa9 The accident was loud8 and here before thee                       1552
With rueful cry8 yet what it was we hear not&                             1553
No Preface needs8 thou seest we long to know9                            1554
Messenger9  It would burst forth8 but I recover breath                  1555
And sense distract8 to know well what I utter9                           1556
manoa. Tell us the sum8 the circumstance defer9                           1557
Messenger9  Gaza yet stands8 but all her Sons are fall3n8               1558
All in a moment overwhelm3d and fall3n9                                   1559
Manoa9 Sad8 but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest                   1560
The desolation of a Hostile City9                                       1561
Messenger9 Feed on that first8 there may in grief be surfeit             1562
Manoa9 Relate by whom9                                                   1563
Messenger9 By Samson9                                                   1563
Manoa9 That still lessens                                                1563
The sorrow8 and converts it nigh to joy9                                  1564
Messenger9 Ah Manoa8 I refrain too suddenly                            1565
To utter what will come at last too soon&                                 1566
Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption                                 1567
Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep9                              1568
Manoa9  Suspense in news is torture8 speak them out9                     1569
Messenger9  Then take the worst in brief8 Samson is dead9               1570
Manoa9  The worst indeed\  O all my hope3s defeated                     1571
To free him hence\ but death who sets all free                            1572
Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge9                              1573
What windy joy this day had I conceiv3d                                  1574
Hopeful of his Delivery8 which now proves                                1575
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring                                1576
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter3s frost9                             1577
Yet ere I give the reins to grief8 say first8                            1578
How died he/  death to life is crown or shame9                            1579
All by him fell thou say3st8 by whom fell he8                             1580
What glorious hand gave Samson his death3s wound/                        1581
Messenger9  Unwounded of his enemies he fell9                            1582
Manoa9  Wearied with slaughter then or how/ explain9                     1583
Messenger9  By his own hands9                                            1584
Manoa9 Self-violence/ what cause                                         1584
Brought him so soon at variance with himself                              1585
Among his foes/                                                           1586
Messenger9 Inevitable cause                                              1586
At once both to destroy and be destroy3d&                                 1587
The Edifice where all were met to see him                                1588
Upon their heads and on his own he pull3d9                                1589
Manoa9  O lastly over-strong against thyself\                            1590
A dreadful way thou took3st to thy revenge9                               1591
More than enough we know& but while things yet                            1592
Are in confusion8 give us if thou canst8                                  1593
Eye-witness of what first or last was done8                               1594
Relation more particular and distinct9                                    1595
Messenger9 Occasions drew me early to this City8                        1596
And as the gates I enter3d with Sunrise8                                1597
The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim3d                                1598
Through each high street5 little I had dispatch3t                        1599
When all abroad was rumor3d that this day                                 1600
Samson should be brought forth to show the people                         1601
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games&                          1602
I sorrow3d at his captive state8 but minded                               1603
Not to be absent at that spectacle9                                       1604
The building was a spacious Theater                                      1605
Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high9                             1606
With seats where all the Lords and each degree                           1607
Of sort8 might sit in order to behold8                                    1608
The other side was op3n8 where the throng                                 1609
On banks and scaffolds under Sky might stand&                            1610
I among these aloof obscurely stood9                                      1611
The Feast and noon grew high and Sacrifice                              1612
Had filled thir hearts with mirth8 high cheer8 and wine8                  1613
When to their sports they turn3d9 Immediately                            1614
Was Samson as a public servant brought8                                  1615
In thir state Livery clad& before him Pipes                             1616
And Timbrels8 on each side went armed guards8                            1617
Both horse and foot before him and behind8                                1618
Archers8 and Slingers8 Cataphracts and Spears9                         1619
At sight of him the people with a shout                                   1620
Rifted the Air clamoring their god with praise8                          1621
Who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall9                           1622
He patient but undaunted where they led him8                              1623
Came to the place8 and what was set before him                            1624
Which without help of eye might be assay3d8                               1625
To heave8 pull8 draw8 or break8 he still perform3d                        1626
All with incredible8 stupendious force8                                   1627
None daring to appear Antagonist                                         1628
At length for intermission sake they led him                              1629
Between the pillars& he his guide requested                               1630
41For so from such as nearer stood we heard2                              1631
As overtir3d to let him lean a while                                      1632
With both his arms on those two massy Pillars                            1633
That to the arched roof gave main support9                                1634
He unsuspicious led him& which when Samson                               1635
Felt in his arms8 with head a while inclin3d8                             1636
And eyes fast fixt he stood8 as one who pray3d8                           1637
Or some great matter in his mind revolv3d9                                1638
At last with head erect thus cried aloud8                                 1639
4  7Hitherto8 Lords8 what your commands impos3d                          1640
I have perform3d8 as reason was8 obeying8                                 1641
Not without wonder or delight behold9                                     1642
Now of my own accord such other trial                                     1643
I mean to show you of my strength8 yet greater&                           1644
As with amaze shall strike all who behold97                               1645
This utter3d8 straining all his nerves he bow3d&                          1646
As with the force of winds and waters pent                                1647
When Mountains tremble8 those two massy Pillars                         1648
With horrible convulsion to and fro                                       1649
He tugg3d9 he shook8 till down they came8 and drew                        1650
The whole roof after them with burst of thunder                           1651
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath8                                    1652
Lords8 Ladies8 Captains8 Counsellors8 or Priests8                     1653
Their choice nobility and flower8 not only                                1654
Of this but each Philistian City round                                  1655
Met from all parts to solemnize this Feast9                              1656
Samson with these immixt8 inevitably                                      1657
Pull3d down the same destruction on himself&                              1658
The vulgar only scap3d who stood without9                                 1659
Chorus9 O dearly bought revenge8 yet glorious\                           1660
Living or dying thou hast fulfill3d                                       1661
The work for which thou wast foretold                                     1662
To Israel8 and now li3st victorious                                      1663
Among thy slain self-kill3d                                               1664
Not willingly8 but tangl3d in the fold                                    1665
Of dire necessity8 whose law in death conjoin3d                           1666
Thee wth thy slaughter3d foes in number more                              1667
Than all thy life had slain before9                                       1668
Semichorus9  While their hearts were jocund and sublime8                 1669
Drunk with Idolatry8 drunk with Wine8                                   1670
And fat regorg3d of Bulls and Goats8                                    1671
Chanting their Idol8 and preferring                                      1672
Before our living Dread who dwells                                       1673
In Silo his bright Sanctuary5                                           1674
Among them he a spirit of frenzy sent8                                    1675
Who hurt their minds8                                                     1676
And urg3d them on with mad desire                                         1677
To call in haste for their destroyer&                                     1678
They only set on sport and play                                           1679
Unweetingly importun3d                                                   1680
Their own destruction to come speedy upon them9                           1681
So fond are mortal men                                                    1682
Fall3n into wrath divine8                                                 1683
As their won ruin on themselves to invite8                                1684
Insensate left8 or to sense reprobate8                                    1685
And with blindness internal struck9                                       1686
Semichorus9  But he though blind of sight8                               1687
Despis3s and thought extinguish3t quite8                                  1688
With inward eyes illuminated                                              1689
His fiery virtue rous3d                                                   1690
From under ashes into sudden flame8                                       1691
And as an ev3ning Dragon came8                                           1692
Assailant on the perched roosts8                                          1693
And nests in order rang3d                                                 1694
Of tame villatic Fowl& but as an Eagle                                  1695
His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads9                              1696
So virtue giv3n for lost8                                                 1697
Deprest8 and overthrown8 as seem3d8                                       1698
Like that self-begott3n bird                                              1699
In the Arabian woods embost8                                             1700
That no second knows nor third8                                           1701
And lay erewhile a Holocaust8                                            1702
From out her ashy womb now teem3d8                                        1703
Revives8 reflourishes8 then vigorous most                                 1704
When most unactive deem3d8                                                1705
And though her body die8 her fame survives8                               1706
A secular bird ages of lives9                                             1707
Manoa9  Come8 come8 no time for lamentation now8                         1708
Nor much more cause5 Samson hath quit himself                            1709
Like Samson8 and heroicly hath finish3d                                  1710
A life Heroic8 on his Enemies                                           1711
Fully reveng3d hath left them years of mourning8                          1712
And lamentation to the Sons of Caphtor                                  1713
Through all Philistian bounds9  To Israel                              1714
Honor hath left8 and freedom8 let but them                                1715
Find courage to lay hold on this occasion&                                1716
To himself and Father3s house eternal fame&                              1717
And which is best and happiest yet8 all this                              1718
With God not parted from him8 as was fear3d8                             1719
But favoring and assisting to the end9                                    1720
Nothing is here for tears8 nothing to wail                                1721
Or knock the breast8 no weakness8 no contempt8                            1722
Dispraise8 or blame8 nothing but well and fair8                           1723
And what may quiet us in a death so noble9                                1724
Let us go find the body where it lies                                     1725
Soak3t in his enemies3 blood8 and from the stream                         1726
With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off                             1727
The clotted gore9  I with what speed the while                           1728
41Gaza is not in plight to say us nay2                                    1729
Will send for all my kindred8 all my friends                              1730
To fetch him hence and solemnly attend                                    1731
With silent obsequy and funeral train                                     1732
Home to his Father3s house5 there will I build him                      1733
A Monument8 and plant it round with shade                                1734
Of Laurel ever green8 and branching Palm8                               1735
With all his Trophies hung8 and Acts enroll3d                           1736
On copious Legend8 or sweet Lyric Song9                                1737
Thither shall all the valiant youth resort8                               1738
And from his memory inflame their breasts                                 1739
To matchless valor8 and adventures high5                                  1740
The Virgins also shall on feastful days                                  1741
Visit his Tomb with flowers8 only bewailing                              1742
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice8                                    1743
From whence captivity and loss of eyes9                                   1744
Chorus9 all is best8 though we oft doubt8                                 1745
?what the unsearchable dispose!
Of highest wisdom brings about8                                           1747
And ever best found in the close9                                         1748
Oft he seems to hide his face8                                            1749
But unexpectedly returns                                                  1750
And to his faithful Champion hath in place                               1751
Bore witness gloriously& whence Gaza mourn                               1752
And all that band them to resist                                          1753
His uncontrollable intent&                                                1754
His servants he with new acquist                                          1755
Of true experience from this great event                                  1756
With peace and consolation hath dismist8                                  1757
And calm of mind8 all passion spent9                                      1758
*The End