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.'

This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd;
As with the force of winds and waters pent,

1650

When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars,
With horrible convulsion to and fro

He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder

1655

Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this, but each Philistian city round,
Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.
Samson with these immixt, inevitably

1660

Pull'd down the same destruction on himself;

The vulgar only scap'd who stood without.

Chorus. O dearly bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd

1665

I Semichor. While their hearts were jocund and sublime,

Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine,

1675

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 spirit of phrenzy sent,
Who hurt their minds,

And urg'd them on with mad desire

To call in haste for their destroyer:

1680

2 Semichorus. But he, though blind of sight,

And, though her body die, her fame survives,

1710

A secular bird, ages of lives.

Manoa. Come, come, no time for lamentation now,

Nor much more cause; Samson hath quit himself
Like Samson, and heroically hath finish'd
A life heroic, on his enemies

1715

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the sons of Caphtor,

Through all Philistian bounds; to Israel
Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them

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 favouring and assisting to the end.
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

1720

1725

Soak't in his enemies' blood, and from the stream
With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off

1730

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

To fetch him hence, and solemnly attend

1735

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,
With all his trophies hung, and acts enroll'd
In copious legend, or sweet lyric song.
Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchless valour, and adventures high:
The virgins also shall on feastful days
Visit his tomb with flowers, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and loss of eyes.

1740

1745

Chorus. All is best, though we oft doubt, What th' unsearchable dispose

1750

Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns,
And all that band them to resist

His uncontrollable intent;

His servants he with new acquist

Of true experience from this great event,
With peace and consolation hath dismist,
And calm of mind, all passion spent.

1760