SAMSON

AGONISTES,

A

DRAMATIC PОЕМ.

THE AUTHOR

JOHN MILTON.

******

Ariftot. Poet. Cap. 6.

Tragoedia mimefis praxeos Spondaias, &c.

Tragœdia eft imitatio actionis seriæ, &c, per mifericordiam et metum perficiens talium affectuum

Where

Samfon 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 ceffation from labor, comes forth into the open air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek to comfort him what they can; 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 Philiflines as a day of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to profecute his endevor with the Philistian lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited 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 prefence; he at first refuses, dismissing the public officer with abfolute 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 fon's deliverance: in the midst of which discourse an Hebrew comes in haste, confusedly at first, and afterward more distinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends.

THE PERSONS.

SAMSON.

MANOAH, the Father of Samfon.

DALILA, his Wife.

HARAPHA of Gath.

Public Officer.

Meffenger.

Chorus of Danites.

The SCENE before the Prison in Gaza.

AGONISTES.

Little onward lend thy guiding hand
To these dark steps, a little further on;

For yonder bank hath choice of fun or shade:
There I am wont to fit, when any chance
Relieves me from my talk of servile toil,
Daily' in the common prison else injoin'd me,
Where I a prifoner chain'd, scarce freely draw
The air imprison'd also, close and damp,

5

Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends,
The breath of Heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet,
With day-spring born; here leave me to respire. 10
This day a folemn feast the people hold
To Dagon their sea-idol, and forbid

Laborious works; unwillingly this rest
Their superstition yields me; hence with leave
Retiring from the popular noise, I feek
This unfrequented place to find some ease,
Eafe to the body fome, none to the mind
From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm

15

Of hornets arm'd, no fooner found alone,

20

But rush upon me thronging, and present