Of thy conception, and be now a shield

Of fire; that Spirit that first rusht on thee
In the camp of Dan

1435

Be efficacious in thee now at need:
For never was from Heav'n imparted
Measure of ftrength fo great to mortal feed,
As in thy wond'rous actions hath been feen.
But wherefore comes old Manoa in fuch hafte
With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while
He feems: fuppofing here to find his Son,

1440

Or of him bringing to us fome glad news? [hither Man. Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement Was not at present here to find my Son,

1446

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

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

But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly
To give you part with me what hope I have
With good fuccefs to work his liberty.

1454

Chor. That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee: fay, Reverend Sire; we thirst to hear.

Man. I have attempted one by one the Lords Either at home, or through the high street paffing, With fupplication prone, and Father's tears, T'accept of ransom for my Son their pris'ner. 1460 Some much averfe I found and wondrous harsh, Contemptuous, proud, fet on revenge and spite; That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests: Others more moderate feeming, but their aim

Private

Private reward, for which both God and State 1465
They eafily would fet to fale: a third

More generous far and civil, who confefs'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to misery beneath their fears,
The reft was magnanimity to remit,
If fome convenient ranfom was propos'd.
What noife or fhout was that? it tore the Skie.

1470

Chor. Doubtlefs the people fhouting, to behold Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, 1474 Or at fome proof of strength before them shown. Man. His ranfom, if my whole inheritance May compass it, fhall willingly be paid And number'd down: much rather I fhall chufe To live the pooreft in my Tribe, than richest, And he in that calamitous prison left.

1480 No, I am fixt not to part hence without him; For his redemption all my Patrimony,

If need be, I am ready to forego

And quit: not wanting him, I fhall want nothing. Chor. Fathers are wont to lay up for their Sons, Thou for thy Son art bent to lay out all;

1486

Sons went to nurfe their Parents in old age,
Thou in old age car'ft how to nurfe thy Son,
Made older than thy age through eye-fight loft.
Man. It fhall be my delight to tend his eyes, 1490
And view him fitting in the house, enobl'd
With all thofe high exploits by him atchiev'd,
And on his shoulders waving down those locks,
That of a Nation arm'd the ftrength contain'd:

G 5

And,

And, I perfuade 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 ufe him farther yet in fome great service;
Not to fit idle with fo great a gift

1500

Ufelefs, and thence ridiculous about him.
And fince his strength with eye-fight was not loft,
God will restore him eye-fight to his strength.

Chor. Thy hopes are not ill founded, nor feem vain Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon

Conceiv'd, agreeable to a Father's love;

In both which we, as next, participate.

1505

[noife!

Man. I know your friendly minds and---O what

Mercy of Heav'n, what hideous noife was that,
Horribly loud, unlike the former shout!

Chor. Noife call you it, or universal groan,

As if the whole inhabitation perish'd?

1510

Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise, Ruin, deftruction at the utmost point.

Man. Of ruin indeed me-thought I heard the noise: Oh! it continues; they have sain my Son.

1516

Chor. Thy Son is rather flaying them; that outcry From flaughter of one Foe could not afcend. Man. Some difmal accident it needs must be ;

What fhall we do? ftay here, or run and fee?

1520

Chor. Beft keep together here, left running thither

We unawares run into danger's mouth.
This evil on the Philiftins is fall'n;

From whom could elfe a general cry be heard?
The fufferers then will fearce moleft us here;

1525 From

From other hands we need not much to fear.
What if his eye-fight (for to Ifrael's God
Nothing is hard) by miracle reftor'd,

He now be dealing dole among his Foes,

And over heaps of slaughter'd walk his way? 1530 Man. That were a joy presumptuous to be thought.

Chor. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible For his people of old; what hinders now?

Man. He can, I know, but doubt to think he will Yet hope would fain subscribe and tempts belief: A little ftay will bring fome notice hither.

1336

Chor. Of good or bad fo great, of bad the fooner; For evil news rides poft, while good news baits. And to our wifh I fee one hither fpeeding,

An Hebrew, as I guefs, and of our Tribe.

1540

Me. O whither shall I run, or which way flie
The fight of this fo horrid fpectacle,

Which erft my eyes beheld, and yet behold?
For dire imagination ftill pursues me.

But Providence, or inftin&t of Nature feems, 1545
Or Reason, though difturb'd, and fcarce confulted
To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee firft, reverend Manoa, and to these
My countrymen; whom here I knew remaining,
As at fome distance from the place of horror,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.

1550

Man. The accident was loud, and here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not; No preface needs, thou feeft we long to know. Me. It would burst forth; but I recover breath And fenfe diftract, to know well what I utter. 1-556

Man.

Man. Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer. Meff. Gaza yet ftands, but all her Sons are fall'n; All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

Man. Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft The defolation of a hoftile City. 1561 Me. Feed on that first; there may in grief be furfeit. Man. Relate by whom. Mess. By Samson. Man. That ftill leffens

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Meff. Ah! Manoa, I refrain, too fuddenly 1565
To utter what will come at last too soon;
Left evil tidings, with too rude irruption
Hitting thy aged ear, fhould pierce too deep.
Man. Sufpenfe in news is torture; speak them out.
Me. Then take the worft in brief, Samfon is
dead.

1570

1575

Man. The worst indeed: O all my hopes defeated
To free him hence! but death, who sets all free,
Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd,
Hopeful of his Deliv'ry, which now proves
Abortive, as the firft-born bloom of Spring,
Nipt with the lagging reer of winter's frost?
Yet, ere I give the reins to grief, say first,
How dy'd he? death to life is crown or fhame.
All by him fell thou fay'ft; by whom fell he? 1580
What glorious hand gave Samfon his death's wound?
Me. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with flaughter then, or how? ex-
Me. By his own hands.

Man. Self-violence! what cause

[plain,

1585

Brought