None daring to appear antagonist.
At length for intermiffion-fake they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For fo from fuch 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 fupport.
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfont
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin❜d,
And eyes faft fixt he stood as one who pray'd,
Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd.
At last with head erect thus cry'd aloud,
Hitherto, lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform'd, as reafon was, obeying,
Nor without wonder or delight beheld:
Now of my own accord fuch other trial
I mean to fhew you of my ftrength, yet greater,
As with amaze shall strike all who behold.
This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves be bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, thofe two maffy pillars
With horrible confusion to and fro,
He tugg'd, he took, till down they came and drew
The whole roof after them, with burft of thunder
Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or pricfts,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this but each Philiftian city round
Met from all parts to folemnize this feaft.
Samfon with these inmixt, inevitably
Pull'd down the fame destruction on himself;
The vulgar only 'fcap'd who ftood without.
Chor. O dearly bought revenge, yet glorious!
Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd
The work for which thou waft foretold
To Ifrael, and now ly'st victorious
Among thy flain felf-kill'd
Not willingly, but tangled in the fold,
Of dire neceffity, whofe law in death conjoin'd
Thee with thy flaughter'd foes in number more
Than all thy life had flain before.
Semichor. While their hearts were jocund and fublime,
Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine,
And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats,
Chaunting their idol, and preferring
Before our living Dread who dwells
In Silo his bright fanctuary:
Among them he a fpirit of phrenzy fent,
Who hurt their minds,
And urg'd them on with mad desire
To call in hafte for their destroyer.
They only fet on fport and play,
Unweetingly importun'd
Their own deftruction to come speedy upon them.
So fond are mortal men,
Fall'n into wrath divine,
As their own ruin on themselves t' invite,
Infenfate left, or to fenfe reprobate,
And with blindness internal ftruck.
Semichor. But he though bind of fight,
Defpis'd and thought extinguifh'd quite,
With inward eyes illuminated,
His fiery virtue rous'd
From under afhes into fudden flame,
And as ev'ning dragon came,
Affailant on the perched roofts,
And nefts in order rang'd
Of tame villatic fowl; but as an eagle
His cloudlefs thunder bolted on their heads.
So virtue giv'n for loft,
Depreft, and overthrown, as feem'd,
Like that felf-begott❜n bird
In th' Arabian woods embost,
That no fecond knows nor third,
And lay ere while a holocauft,
From out her afhy womb now teem'd,
Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most
When most unactive deem'd,
And though her body die, her fame furvives,
A fecular bird ages of lives.
Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more caufe; Samfon hath quit himself Like Samfon, and heroicly hath finish'd
A life heroic, on his enemies
Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the fons of Chaptor
Through all Philiftian bounds: to Ifrael
Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occafion;
To himself and father's houfe eternal fame:
And which is best and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was fear'd.
But favouring and affifting to the end.
Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail
Or knock the breafts, no weakness, no contempt,
Difpraife, or blame, nothing but well and fair,
And what may quiet us in a death fo noble.
Let us on find the body where it lies
Soak'd in his enemies blood, and from the stream
With lavers pure and cleanfing herbs wash off
The clodded gore. I with what speed the while
(Gaza is not in plight to fay us nay)
Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends
To fetch him hence, and folemnly attend-
With filent obfequy and funeral train
Home to his father's houfe: there will I build him
A monument, and plant it round with fhade
Of laurel ever-green, and branching palm,
With all his trophies hung, and acts enroll'd
In copious legend, or fweet lyric fong.
Thither fball all the valiant youth refort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchlefs valour, and adventures high:
The virgins alfo fhall on feaftful days
Vifit his tomb with flowers, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and lofs of eyes.
Chor. All is beft, though we oft doubt
What th' unfearchable dispose
Of highest wisdom brings about,
And ever beft found in the close.
Oft he feems to hide his face,
But unexpectedly returns,
And to his faithful champion hath in place
Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns,
And all that band them to resist
His uncontroulable intent,
His fervant he with new acquist
Of true experience from this great event
With peace and confolation hath difmift
And calm of mind all paffion spent.
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