Samson made captive, blind, and now in the prison at Gaza, there to labor as in a common work-house, on a festival day, in the general cessation from labor, comes forth into the open air, to a place nigh, somewhat retir'd, there to sit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek to comfort him wht they ca; then by his old father Manoah, who endevors the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ransome; lastly, that this feast was proclam'd by the Philistines as a day of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samson, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to prosecute his endevor with the Philistian lords for Samson's redemption; who in the mean while is visited by other persons; and lastly by a public officer to require his coming to the feast before the lords and people, to play or show his strength in their presence; he at first refuses, dismissing the public officer with absolute denial to come; at length persuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the second time with great threatnings to fetch him: the Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoah returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his son's deliverance: in the midst of which discourse an Hebrew comes in haste, confusedly at first, and afterward more distinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samson had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends.

SAMS. A Little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps, a little further on;

For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade:

There I am wont to sit, when any chance

Relieves me from my task of servile toil, 5

Daily' in the common prison else injoin'd me,

Where I a prisoner chain'd, scarce freely draw

The air imprison'd also, close and damp,

Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends,

The breath of Heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet, 10

With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.

This day a solemn feast the people hold

To Dagon their sea-idol, and forbid

Laborious works; unwillingly this rest

Their superstition yields me; hence with leave 15

Retiring from the popular noise, I seek

This unfrequented place to find some ease,

Ease to the body some, none to the mind

From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm

Of hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, 20

But rush upon me thronging, and present

Times past, what once I was, and what am now.

O wherefore was my birth from Heav'n foretold

Twice by an Angel, who at last in sight

Of both my parents all in flames ascended 25

From off the altar, where an offering burn'd,

As in a fiery column charioting

His god-like presence, and from some great act

Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race?

Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd 30

As of a person separate to God,

Design'd for great exploits; if I must die

Betray'd, captív'd, and both my eyes put out,

Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze;

To grind in brazen fetters under task 35

With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength

Put to the labor of a beast, debas'd

Lower than bondslave! Promise was that I

Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver;

Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him 40

Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves,

Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke:

Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt

Divine prediction; what if all foretold

Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, 45

Whom have I to complain of but myself:

Who this high gift of strength committed to me,

In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me,

Under the seal of silence could not keep,

But weakly to a woman must reveal it, 50

O'ercome with importunity and tears.

O impotence of mind, in body strong!

But what is strength without a double share

Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensome,

Proudly secure, yet liable to fall 55

By weakest subtleties, not made to rule,

But to subserve where wisdom bears command!

God, when he gave me strength, to show withal

How slight the gift was, hung it in my hair.

But peace, I must not quarrel with the will 60

Of highest dispensation, which herein

Haply had ends above my reach to know:

Suffices that to me strength is my bane,

And proves the source of all my miseries;

So many, and so huge, that each apart 65

Would ask a life to wail, but chief of all,

O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!

Blind among enemies, O worse than chains,

Dungeon, or beggery, or decrepit age!

Light the prime work of God to me' is extinct, 70

And all her various objects of delight

Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd,

Inferior to the vilest now become

Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me,

They creep, yet see, I dark in light expos'd 75

To daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong,

Within doors, or without, still as a fool,

In pow'r of others, never in my own;

Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half.

O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, 80

Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse

Without all hope of day

O first created Beam, and thou greatWord,

Let there be light, and light was over all;

Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree? 85

The sun to me is dark

And silent as the moon,

When she deserts the night

Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.

Since light so necessary is to life, 90

And almost life itself, if it be true

That light is in the soul,

She all in every part; why was the sight

To such a tender ball as th' eye confin'd,

So obvious and so easy to be quench'd? 95

And not as feeling through all parts diffus'd,

That she might look at will through every pore?

Then had I not been thus exil'd from light,

As in the land of darkness yet in light,

To live a life half dead, a living death, 100

And bury'd; but O yet more miserable!

Myself, my sepulchre, a moving grave,

Bury'd yet not exempt

By privilege of death and burial

From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs, 105

But made hereby obnoxious more

To all the miseries of life,

Life in captivity

Among inhuman foes.

But who are these? for with joint pace I hear 110

The tread of many feet steering this way;

Perhaps my enemies who come to stare

At my affliction, and perhaps t' insult,

Their daily practice to afflict me more.

Let us not break in upon him;

O change beyond report, thought, or belief!

See how he lies at random, carelesly diffus'd,

With languish'd head unpropt,

As one past hope, abandon'd, 120

And by himself given over;

In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds

O'er-worn and soil'd;

Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be he,

That heroic, that renown'd, 125

Irresistible Samson? whom unarm'd

No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast could withstand;

Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid,

Ran on imbattel'd armies clad in iron,

And weaponless himself 130

Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery

Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer'd cuirass,

Chaly´bean temper'd steel, and frock of mail

Adamantean proof;

But safest he who stood aloof, 135

When insupportably his foot advanc'd,

In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools,

Spurn'd them to death by troops. The bold Ascalonite

Fled from his lion ramp, old warriors turn'd

Their plated backs under his heel; 140

Or grov'ling soil'd their crested helmets in the dust.

Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,

The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone,

A thousand fore-skins fell, the flow'r of Palestine,

In Ramath-lechi famous to this day. 145

Then by main force pull'd up, and on his shoulders bore

The gates of Azza, post, and massy bar,

Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old,

No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so;

Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heaven. 150

Which shall I first bewail,

Thy bondage or lost sight,

Prison within prison

Inseparably dark?

Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) 155

The dungeon of thyself; thy soul

(Which men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)

Imprison'd now indeed,

In real darkness of the body dwells,

Shut up from outward light 160

T'incorporate with gloomy night;

For inward light alas

Puts forth no visual beam.

O mirror of our fickle state,

Since man on earth unparallel'd! 165

The rarer thy example stands,

By how much from the top of wondrous glory,

Strongest of mortal men,

To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n.

For him I reckon not in high estate 170

Whom long descent of birth

Or the sphere of fortune raises;

But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate,

Might have subdued the earth,

Universally crown'd with highest praises. 175

Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.

The glory late of Israel, now the grief;

We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown 180

From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale

To visit or bewail thee, or if better,

Counsel or consolation we may bring,

Salve to thy sores; apt words have pow'r to swage

The tumors of a troubled mind, 185

And are as balm to fester'd wounds.

Now of my own experience, not by talk,

How counterfeit a coin they are who friends

Bear in their superscription, (of the most 190

I would be understood) in prosp'rous days

They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head,

Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O Friends,

How many evils have inclos'd me round;

Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, 195

Blindness, for had I sight, confus'd with shame,

How could I once look up, or heave the head,

Who like a foolish pilot have shipwrack'd

My vessel trusted to me from above,

Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, 200

Fool, have divulg'd the secret gift of God

To a deceitful woman? tell me, Friends,

Am I not sung and proverb'd for a fool

In every street? do they not say, how well

Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? 205

Immeasurable strength they might behold

In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean;

This with the other should, at least, have pair'd,

These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse.

Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd;

And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise.

Deject not then so overmuch thyself,

Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides;

Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder 215

Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather

Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,

At least of thy own nation, and as noble.

Me, not my parents, that I sought to wed 220

The daughter of an infidel: they knew not

That what I motion'd was of God; I knew

From intimate impulse, and therefore urg'd

The marriage on; that by occasion hence

I might begin Israel's deliverance, 225

The work to which I was divinely call'd.

She proving false, the next I took to wife

(O that I never had! fond wish too late,)

Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,

That specious monster, my accomplish'd snare. 230

I thought it lawful from my former act,

And the same end; still watching to oppress

Israel's oppressors: of what now I suffer

She was not the prime cause, but I myself,

Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) 235

Gave up my fort of silence to a woman.

The Philistine, thy country's enemy,

Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:

Yet Israël still serves with all his sons. 240

On Israel's governors, and heads of tribes,

Who seeing those great acts, which God had done

Singly by me against their conquerors,

Acknowledg'd not, or not at all consider'd 245

Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other side

Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds,

The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the doer;

But they persisted deaf, and would not seem

To count them things worth notice, till at length 250

Their lords the Philistines with gather'd pow'rs

Enter'd Judea seeking me, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,

Not flying, but fore-casting in what place

To set upon them, what advantag'd best: 255

Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent

The harrass of their land, beset me round;

I willingly on some conditions came

Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me

To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey, 260

Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds

Touch'd with the flame: on their whole host I flew

Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd

Their choicest youth; they only liv'd who fled.

Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe, 265

They had by this possess'd the tow'rs of Gath,

And lorded over them whom now they serve:

But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,

And by their vices brought to servitude,

Than to love bondage more than liberty, 270

Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty;

And to despise, or envy, or suspect

Whom God hath of his special favor rais'd

As their deliverer; if he ought begin,

How frequent to desert him, and at last 275

To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds?

How Succoth and the fort of Penuel

Their great deliverer contemn'd,

The matchless Gideon in pursuit 280

Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings:

And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,

Not worse than by his shield and spear,

Defended Israel from the Ammonite, 285

Had not his prowess quell'd their pride

In that sore battel, when so many dy'd

Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,

For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

Me easily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's propos'd deliverance not so.

And justifiable to men;

Unless there be who think not God at all: 295

If any be, they walk obscure;

For of such doctrin never was there school,

But the heart of the fool,

And no man therein doctor but himself.

Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300

As to his own edicts found contradicting,

Then give the reins to wand'ring thought,

Regardless of his glory's diminution;

Till by their own perplexities involv'd

They ravel more, still less resolv'd, 305

But never find self-satisfying solution.

As if they would confine th' Interminable,

And tie him to his own prescript,

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,

And hath full right t'exempt 310

Whom so it pleases him by choice

From national obstriction, without taint

Of sin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can best dispense.

He would not else who never wanted means, 315

Nor in respect of th' enemy just cause

To set his people free,

Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,

Against his vow of strictest purity,

To seek in marriage that fallacious bride, 320

Unclean, unchaste.

Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down,

Though reason here aver

That moral verdict quits her of unclean:

Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his. 325

But see here comes thy reverend Sire

With careful step, locks white as down,

Old Manoah: advise

Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him.

With mention of that name renews th' assault.

Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,

As I suppose, tow'ards your once glory'd friend,

My Son now captive, hither hath inform'd 335

Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age

Came lagging after; say if he be here.

Yet now am judg'd an enemy. Why then

Didst thou at first receive me for thy husband,

Then, as since then, thy country's foe profess'd?

Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave 885

Parents and country; nor was I their subject,

Nor under their protection but my own,

Thou mine, not theirs: if ought against my life

Thy country sought of thee, it sought unjustly,

Against the law of nature, law of nations, 890

No more thy country, but an impious crew

Of men conspiring to uphold their state

By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends

For which our country is a name so dear;

Not therefore to be' obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee; 895

To please thy Gods thou didst it; Gods unable

T' acquit themselves and prosecute their foes

But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction

Of their own deity, Gods cannot be;

Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd. 900

These false pretexts and varnish'd colors failing,

Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear?

Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.

Witness when I was worried with thy peals.

In what I thought would have succeeded best.

Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson,

Afford me place to show what recompense 910

Tow'ards thee I intend for what I have misdone,

Misguided; only what remains past cure

Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist

T' afflict thyself in vain: though sight be lost,

Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd 915

Where other senses want not their delights

At home in leisure and domestic ease,

Exempt from many a care and chance to which

Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad.

I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 920

Their favorable ear, that I may fetch thee

From forth this loathsome prison-house, to abide

With me, where my redoubled love and care

With nursing diligence, to me glad office,

May ever tend about thee to old age 925

With all things grateful chear'd, and so supply'd,

That what by me thou' hast lost thou least shalt miss.

It fits not; thou and I long since are twain;

Nor think me so unwary or accurs'd, 930

To bring my feet again into the snare

Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains

Though dearly to my cost, thy gins, and toils;

Thy fair inchanted cup, and warbling charms

No more on me have pow'r, their force is null'd, 935

So much of adder's wisdom I have learn'd

To fence my ear against thy sorceries.

If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men

Lov'd, honor'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'st hate me

Thy husband, slight me, sell me, and forgo me; 940

How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby

Deceivable, in most things as a child

Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd,

And last neglected? How wouldst thou insult,

When I must live uxorious to thy will 945

In perfect thraldom, how again betray me,

Bearing my words and doings to the lords

To gloss upon, and censuring, frown or smile?

This jail I count the house of liberty

To thine, whose doors my feet shall never enter. 950

My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.

At distance I forgive thee, go with that;

Bewail thy falshood, and the pious works 955

It hath brought forth to make thee memorable

Among illustrious women, faithful wives:

Cherish thy hasten'd widowhood with the gold

Of matrimonial treason: so farewel.

To pray'rs, than winds and seas, yet winds to seas

Are reconcil'd at length, and sea to shore:

Thy anger, unappeasable, still rages,

Eternal tempest never to be calm'd.

Why do I humble myself, and suing 965

For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate?

Bid go with evil omen and the brand

Of infamy upon my name denounc'd?

To mix with thy concernments I desist

Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. 970

Fame if not double-fac'd is double-mouth'd,

And with contrary blast proclames most deeds;

On both his wings, one black, the other while

Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight.

My name perhaps among the circumcis'd 975

In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering tribes,

To all posterity may stand defam'd,

With malediction mention'd, and the blot

Of falshood most unconjugal traduc'd.

But in my country where I most desire, 980

In Ecron, Gaza, Asdod, and in Gath,

I shall be nam'd among the famousest

Of women, sung at solemn festivals,

Living and dead recorded, who to save

Her country from a fierce destroyer, chose 985

Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb

With odors visited and annual flowers;

Not less renown'd than in mount Ephraim

Jael, who with inhospitable guile

Smote Sisera sleeping through the temples nail'd. 990

Nor shall I count it hainous to enjoy

The public marks of honor and reward

Conferr'd upon me, for the piety

Which to my country I was judg'd to' have shown.

At this who ever envies or repines, 995

I leave him to his lot, and like my own.

Discover'd in the end, till now conceal'd.

And aggravate my folly, who committed 1000

To such a viper his most sacred trust

Of secresy, my safety, and my life.

After offense returning, to regain

Love once possess'd, nor can be easily 1005

Repuls'd, without much inward passion felt

And secret sting of amorous remorse.

Not wedlock-treachery indang'ring life.

Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit

That woman's love can win or long inherit;

But what it is, hard is to say,

Harder to hit,

(Which way soever men refer it) 1015

Much like thy riddle, Samson, in one day

Or sev'n, though one should musing sit.

If any of these or all, the Timnian bride

Had not so soon preferr'd

Thy paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd, 1020

Successor in thy bed,

Nor both so loosly disally'd

Their nuptials, nor this last so treacherously

Had shorn the fatal harvest of thy head.

Is it for that such outward ornament 1025

Was lavish'd on their sex, that inward gifts

Were left for haste unfinish'd, judgment scant,

Capacity not rais'd to apprehend

Or value what is best

In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong? 1030

Or was too much of self-love mix'd,

Of constancy no root infix'd,

That either they love nothing, or not long?

Whate'er it be, to wisest men and best

Seeming at first all heav'nly under virgin veil, 1035

Soft, modest, meek, demure,

Once join'd, the contrary she proves, a thorn

Intestin, far within defensive arms

A cleaving mischief, in his way to virtue

Adverse and turbulent, or by her charms 1040

Draws him awry inslav'd

With dotage, and his sense deprav'd

To folly' and shameful deeds which ruin ends.

What pilot so expert but needs must wreck

Imbark'd with such a steers-mate at the helm? 1045

Favor'd of Heav'n who finds

One virtuous rarely found,

That in domestic good combines:

Happy that house! his way to peace is smooth:

But virtue which breaks through all opposition, 1050

And all temptation can remove,

Most shines and most is acceptable above.

Therefore God's universal law

Gave to the man despotic power

Over his female in due awe, 1055

Nor from that right to part an hour,

Smile she or lour:

So shall he least confusion draw

On his whole life, not sway'd

By female usurpation, or dismay'd. 1060

But had we best retire, I see a storm?

The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue

Draws hitherward, I know him by his stride,

The giant Harapha of Gath, his look

Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud.

Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither 1070

I less conjecture than when first I saw

The sumptuous Dalila floting this way:

His habit carries peace, his brow defiance.

As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been,

Though for no friendly' intent. I am of Gath,

Men call me Harapha, of stock renown'd

As Og or Anak and the Emims old 1080

That Kiriathaim held, thou know'st me now

If thou at all art known. Much I have heard

Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd

Incredible to me, in this displeas'd,

That I was never present on the place 1085

Of those encounters, where we might have try'd

Each other's force in camp or listed field:

And now am come to see of whom such noise

Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey,

If thy appearance answer loud report. 1090

Gyves and the mill had tam'd thee. O that fortune

Had brought me to the field, where thou are fam'd

To' have wrought such wonders with an asses jaw; 1095

I should have forc'd thee soon wish other arms,

Or left thy carcass where the ass lay thrown:

So had the glory' of prowess been recover'd

To Palestine, won by a Philistine

From the unforeskin'd race, of whom thou bear'st 1100

The highest name for valiant acts; that honor

Certain to' have won by mortal duel from thee,

I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.

What then thou wouldst, thou seest it in thy hand. 1105

And thou hast need much washing to be touch'd.

Afford me' assassinated and betray'd,

Who durst not with their whole united powers 1110

In fight withstand me single and unarm'd,

Nor in the house with chamber ambushes

Close-banded durst attack me, no not sleeping,

Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold

Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me. 1115

Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd

Some narrow place inclos'd, where sight may give thee,

Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;

Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet

And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, 1120

Vant-brass and greves, and gauntlet, add thy spear,

A weaver's beam, and sev'n-times-folded shield,

I only with an oaken-staff will meet thee,

And raise such outcries on thy clatter'd iron,

Which long shall not withhold me from thy head, 1125

That in a little time while breath remains thee,

Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath to boast

Again in safety what thou wouldst have done

To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

Which greatest heroes have in battel worn,

Their ornament and safety, had not spells

And black inchantments, some magician's art,

Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Heaven

Feign'dst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, 1135

Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs

Were bristles rang'd like those that ridge the back

Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.

My trust is in the living God, who gave me 1140

At my nativity this strength, diffus'd

No less through all my sinews, joints and bones.

Than thine, while I preserv'd these locks unshorn,

The pledge of my unviolated vow.

For proof hereof, if Dagon by thy God, 1145

Go to his temple, invocate his aid

With solemnest devotion, spread before him

How highly it concerns his glory now

To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells,

Which I to be the power of Israel's God 1150

Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,

Offering to combat thee his champion bold,

With th' utmost of his Godhead seconded:

Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow

Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine. 1155

Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off

From thine, these evils I deserve and more,

Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me 1170

Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon

Whose ear is ever open, and his eye

Gracious to re-admit the suppliant;

In confidence whereof I once again

Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight, 1175

By combat to decide whose God is God,

Thine or whom I with Israel's sons adore.

He will accept thee to defend his cause,

A Murderer, a Revolter, and a Robber. 1180

Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee

As a league-breaker and deliver'd bound

Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed 1185

Notorious murder on those thirty men

As Ascalon, who never did thee harm,

Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes?

The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league,

Went up with armed pow'rs thee only seeking, 1190

To others did no violence nor spoil.

I chose a wife, which argues me no foe;

And in your city held my nuptial feast:

But your ill-meaning politician lords, 1195

Under pretence of bridal friends and guests,

Appointed to await me thirty spies,

Who threatning cruel death constrain'd the bride

To wring from me and tell to them my secret,

That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200

When I perceiv'd all set on enmity,

As on my enemies, wherever chanc'd,

I us'd hostility, and took their spoil

To pay my underminers in their coin.

My nation was subjected to your lords. 1205

It was the force of conquest; force with force

Is well ejected when the conquer'd can.

But I a private person, whom my country

As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum'd

Single rebellion and did hostile acts. 1210

I was no private but a person rais'd

With strength sufficient and command from Heaven

To free my country; if their servile minds

Me their deliverer sent would not receive,

But to their masters gave me up for nought, 1215

Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.

I was to do my part from Heav'n assign'd,

And had perform'd it, if my known offense

Had not disabled me, not all your force:

These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant 1220

Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts,

Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

Due by the law to capital punishment? 1225

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict?

Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd;

But take good heed my hand survey not thee. 1230

Hear these dishonors, and not render death?

Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,

My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free. 1235

Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,

And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down 1240

To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides.

These braveries in irons loaden on thee.

Stalking with less unconscionable strides, 1245

And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

Though fame divulge him father of five sons,

All of gigantic size, Goliah chief.

And with malicious counsel stir them up

Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

Will not dare mention, lest a question rise

Whether he durst accept the' offer or not, 1255

And that he durst not plain enough appear'd.

Much more affliction than already felt

They cannot well impose, nor I sustain;

If they intend advantage of my labors,

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping 1260

With no small profit daily to my owners.

But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove

My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence,

The worst that he can give, to me the best.

Yet so it may fell out, because their end 1265

Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine

Drawn their own ruin who attempt the deed.

To the spirits of just men long oppress'd!

When God into the hands of their deliverer 1270

Puts invincible might

To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppressor,

The brute and boist'rous force of violent men

Hardy and industrious to support

Tyrannic pow'r, but raging to pursue 1275

The righteous and all such as honor truth;

He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats

With plain heroic magnitude of mind

And celestial vigor arm'd, 1280

Their armories and magazines contemns,

Renders them useless, while

With winged expedition

Swift as the lightning glance he executed

His errand on the wicked, who surpris'd 1285

Lose their defense distracted and amaz'd.

But patience is more oft the exercise

Of saints, the trial of their fortitude,

Making them each his own deliverer,

And victor over all 1290

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.

Either of these is in thy lot,

Samson, with might indued

Above the sons of men; but sight bereav'd

May chance to number thee with those 1295

Whom patience finally must crown.

This idol's day hath been to thee no day of rest,

Laboring thy mind

More than the working day thy hands.

And yet perhaps more trouble is behind, 1300

For I descry this way

Some other tending, in his hand

A scepter or quaint staff he bears,

Comes on amain, speed in his look.

By his habit I discern him now 1305

A public Officer, and now at hand.

His message will be short and voluble.

This day to Dagon is a solemn feast,

With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games;

Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,

And now some public proof thereof require

To honor this great feast, and great assembly; 1315

Rise therefore with all speed and come along,

Where I will see thee hearten'd and fresh clad

To' appear as fits before th' illustrious lords.

Our Law forbids at their religious rites 1320

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners,

Juglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, 1325

But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd,

And over-labor'd at their public mill,

To make them sport with blind activity?

Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels

On my refusal to distress me more, 1330

Or make a game of my calamities?

Return the way thou cam'st, I will not come.

Can they think me so broken, so debas'd 1335

With corporal servitude, that my mindever

Will condescend to such absurd commands?

Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,

And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief

To show them feats, and play before their God, 1340

The worst of all indignities, yet on me

Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.

Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?

Up to the highth, whether to hold or break;

He's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350

Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

Expect another message more imperious,

More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.

Of strength, again returning with my hair 1355

After my great transgression, so requite

Favor renew'd, and add a greater sin

By prostituting holy things to idols;

A Nazarite in place abominable

Vaunting my strength in honor to their Dagon? 1360

Besides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,

What act more execrably unclean, profane?

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Honest and lawful to deserve my food

Of those who have me in their civil power.

But who constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, 1370

Not dragging? the Philistian lords command.

Commands are no constraints. If I obey them,

I do it freely, vent'ring to displease

God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer,

Set God behind: which in his jealousy 1375

Shall never,unrepented, find forgiveness.

Yet that he may dispense with me or thee

Present in the temples at idolatrous rites

For some important cause, thou need'st not doubt.

Some rousing motions in me which dispose

To something extraordinary my thoughts.

I with this messenger will go along,

Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonor 1385

Our Law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.

If there be ought of presage in the mind,

This day will be remarkable in my life

By some great act, or of my days the last.

To thee I am bid say. Art thou our slave,

Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,

And dar'st thou at our sending and command

Dispute thy coming? come without delay; 1395

Or we shall find such engins to assail

And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,

Though thou wert firmlier fasten'd than a rock.

Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. 1400

Yet knowing their advantages too many,

Because they shall not trail me through their streets

Like a wild beast, I am content to go.

Masters commands come with a pow'r resistless

To such as own them absolute subjection; 1405

And for a life who will not change his purpose?

(So mutable are all the ways of men)

Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply

Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

By this compliance thou wilt win the lords

To favor, and perhaps to set thee free.

I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them

To see me girt with friends; and how the sight 1415

Of me as of a common enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exasperate them

I know not; lords are lordliest in their wine;

And the well-feasted priest then soonest fir'd

With zeal, if ought religion seem concern'd; 1420

No less the people on their holy-days

Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable:

Happen what may, of me expect to hear

Nothing dishonorable, impure, unworthy

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself, 1425

The last of me or no I cannot warrant.

Of Israel be thy guide

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his name

Great among the Heathen round; 1430

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand

Fast by thy side, who from thy father's field

Rode up in flames after his message told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

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

In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

For never was from Heav'n imparted

Measure of strength so great to mortal seed,

As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen. 1440

But wherefore comes old Manoah in such haste

With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while

He seems: supposing here to find his son,

Or of him bringing to us some glad news?

Was not at present here to find my son,

By order of the lords new parted hence

To come and play before them at their feast.

I heard all as I came, the city rings,

And numbers thither flock, I had no will, 1450

Lest I should see him forc'd to things unseemly.

But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly

To give ye part with me what hope I have

With good success to work his liberty.

With thee; say, reverend Sire, we thirst to hear.

Either at home, or through the high street passing,

With supplication prone and father's tears,

T'accept of ransome for my son their pris'ner. 1460

Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh,

Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite;

That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests:

Others more moderate seeming, but their aim

Private reward, for which both God and State 1465

They easily would set to sale: a third

More generous far and civil, who confess'd

They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd

Their foe to misery beneath their fears,

The rest was magnanimity to remit, 1470

If some convenient ransome were propos'd.

What noise or shout was that? it tore the sky.

Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them,

Or at some proof of strength before them shown. 1475

My compass it, shall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I shall choose

To live the poorest in my tribe, than richest,

And he in that calamitous prison left. 1480

No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him.

For his redemption all my patrimony,

If need be, I am ready to forgo

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

Thou for thy son art bent to lay out all;

Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age,

Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy son

Made older than thy age through eye-sight lost.

And view him sitting in the house, ennobled

With all those high exploits by him achiev'd,

And on his shoulders waving down those locks,

That of a nation arm'd the strength contain'd:

And I persuade me God had not permitted 1495

His strength again to grow up with his hair

Garrison'd round about him like a camp

Of faithful soldiery, were not his purpose

To use him further yet in some great service,

Not to sit idle with so great a gift 1500

Useless, and thence ridiculous about him.

And since his strength with eye-sight was not lost,

God will restore him eye-sight to his strength.

Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon 1505

Conceiv'd, agreeable to a father's love,

In both which we, as next, participate.

Mercy of Heav'n, what hideous noise was that!

Horribly loud, unlike the former shout. 1510

As if the whole inhabitation perish'd!

Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise,

Ruin, destruction at the utmost point.

Oh it continues, they have slain my son.

From slaughter of one foe could not ascend.

What shall we do, stay here or run and see? 1520

We unawares run into danger's mouth.

This evil on the Philistines is fall'n;

From whom could else a general cry be heard?

The sufferers then will scarce molest us here, 1525

From other hands we need not much to fear.

What if his eye-sight (for to Israel's God

Nothing is hard) by miracle restor'd,

He now be dealing dole among his foes,

And over heaps of slaughter'd walk his way? 1530

For his people of old; what hinders now?

Yet hope would fain subscribe, and tempts belief. 1535

A little stay will bring some notice hither.

For evil news rides post, while good news baits.

And to our wish I see one hither speeding,

An Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe. 1540

The sight of this so horrid spectacle,

Which erst my eyes beheld and yet behold?

For dire imagination still pursues me.

But providence or instinct of nature seems, 1545

Or reason though disturb'd, and scarce consulted,

To' have guided me aright, I know not how,

To thee first reverend Manoah, and to these

My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,

As at some distance from the place of horror, 1550

So in the sad event too much concern'd.

All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

The desolation of a hostile city.

To utter what will come at last too soon;

Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption

Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

To free him hence! but death who sets all free

Hath paid his ransome now and full discharge.

What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd

Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves 1575

Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring

Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost!

Yet ere I give the reins to grief, say first,

How dy'd he; death to life is crown or shame.

All by him fell thou say'st, by whom fell he, 1580

What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound?

Brought him so soon at variance with himself 1585

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;

The edifice, where all were met to see him,

Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.

More than enough we know; but while things yet

Are in confusion, give us if thou canst,

Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct. 1595

And as the gates I enter'd with sun-rise,

The morning trumpets festival proclam'd

Through each high street: little I had dispatch'd,

When all abroad was rumor'd that this day 1600

Samson should be brought forth, to show the people

Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;

I sorrow'd at his captive state, but minded

Not to be absent at that spectacle.

The building was a spacious theatre 1605

Half-round on two main pillars vaulted high,

With seats where all the lords and each degree

Of sort, might sit in order to behold;

The other side was open, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand; 1610

I among these aloof obscurely stood.

The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice

Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear, and wine,

When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately

Was Samson as a public servant brought, 1615

In their state livery clad; before him pipes

And timbrels, on each side went armed guards,

Both horse and foot, before him and behind

Archers, and slingers, cataphracts and spears.

At sight of him the people with a shout 1620

Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praise,

Who' had made their dreadul enemy their thrall.

He patient but undaunted where they led him,

Came to the place, and what was set before him,

Which without help of eye might be assay'd, 1625

To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd

All with incredible, stupendious force,

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermission sake they led him

Between the pillars; he his guide requested 1630

(For so from such as nearer stood we heard)

As over-tir'd to let him lean a while

With both his arms on those two massy pillars,

That to the arched roof gave main support.

He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson 1635

Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd,

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

Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd:

At last with head erect thus cry'd aloud,

Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd 1640

I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,

Not without wonder or delight beheld:

Now of my own accord such other trial

I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater;

As with amaze shall strike all who behold. 1645

This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd,

As with the force of winds and waters pent,

When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars

With horrible convulsion to and fro,

He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew 1650

The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder

Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,

Their choice nobility and flow'r, not only

Of this but each Philistian city round 1655

Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.

Samson with these immix'd, inevitably

Pull'd down the same destruction on himself;

The vulgar only scap'd who stood without.

Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd

The work for which thou wast foretold

To Israel, and now ly'st victorious

Among thy slain self-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangled in the fold 1665

Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd

Thee with thy slaughter'd foes in number more

Than all thy life had slain before.

Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine 1670

And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats,

Chaunting their idol, and preferring

Before our living Dread who dwells

In Silo his bright sanctuary:

Among them he a spi'rit of phrenzy sent, 1675

Who hunt their minds,

And urg'd them on with mad desire

To call in haste for their destroyer;

They only set on sport and play

Unweetingly importun'd 1680

Their own destruction to come speedy upon them.

So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themselves t'invite,

Insensate left, or to sense reprobate, 1685

And with blindness internal struck.

Despis'd and thought extinguish'd quite,

With inward eyes illuminated,

His fiery virtue rous'd 1690

From under ashes into sudden flame,

And as an evening dragon came,

Assailant on the perched roosts,

And nests in order rang'd

Of tame villatic fowl' but as an eagle 1695

His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads.

So virtue giv'n for lost,

Depress'd, and overthrown, as seem'd,

Like that self-begotten bird

In the Arabian woods imbost, 1700

That no second knows nor third,

And lay ere while a holocaust,

From out her ashy womb now teem'd,

Revives, reflorishes, then vigorous most

When most unactive deem'd, 1705

And though her body die, he fame survives

A secular bird ages of lives.

Nor much more cause; Samson hath quit himself

Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd 1710

A life heroic, on his enemies

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,

And lamentation to the sons of Caphtor

Through all Philistian bounds; to Israel

Honor hath left, and freedom, let but them 1715

Find courage to lay hold on this occasion;

To' himself and father's house eternal fame;

And which is best and happiest yet, all this

With God not parted from him, as was fear'd,

But favoring and assisting to the end. 1720

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt,

Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair,

And what may quiet us in a death so noble.

Let us go find the body where it lies 1725

Sok'd in his enemies blood, and from the stream

With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off

The clotted gore. I with what speed the while

(Gaza is not in plight to say us nay)

Will send for all my kindred, all my friends, 1730

To fetch him hence, and solemnly attend

With silent obsequy and funeral train

Home to his father's house: there will I build him

A monument, and plant it round with shade

Of laurel ever green, and branching palm, 1735

With all his trophies hung, and acts inroll'd

In copious legend, or sweet lyric song.

Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,

And from his memory inflame their breasts

To matchless valor, and adventures high: 1740

The virgins also shall on feastful days

Visit his tomb with flow'rs, only bewailing

His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,

From whence captivity and loss of eyes.

What th' unsearchable dispose

Of highest wisdom brings about,

And ever best found in the close.

Oft he seems to hide his face,

But unexpectedly returns, 1750

And to his faithful champion hath in place

Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns

And all that band them to resist

His uncontrollable intent;

His servants he with new acquist 1755

Of true experience from this great event

With peace and consolation hath dismist,

And calm of mind all passion spent.