We unawares run into danger's mouth. This evil on the Philistines is fallen; From whom could else a general cry be heard? He now be dealing dole among his foes, MANOAH. That were a joy presumptuous to be thought. CHORUS. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible For his people of old; what hinders now? MANOAH. He can, I know, but doubt to think he will; Yet hope would fain subscribe, and tempts belief. A little stay will bring some notice hither. CHORUS. Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner; 1530 κίνδυνον ἂν λάθοιμεν εἰσπεσόντες ἄν. ΜΑΝΩΣ. ὑπέρμετρον δὲ τοῦτο, καὶ παρ ̓ ἐλπίδα. ΧΟΡΟΣ. Θεὸς δὲ τοιάδ ̓ ἔσθ' ὅτ ̓ εἴργασται πάλαι πρὸς τῶν ἑαυτοῦ γ ̓, οὐδ ̓ ὁ κωλύσων πάρα. ΜΑΝΩΣ. δῆλος σθένων, ἄδηλος εἰ καὶ βούλεται. ὅμως δέ μ' ἐλπὶς ὥστε δέξασθαι τάδε σαίνει· μένουσι δ', ἄγγελος τάχ ̓ ἂν μέλοι. ΧΟΡΟΣ. φθάνει τὰ λύπρ ̓, ὡς ἐν τόσῃ γε συμφορᾷ 1590 1600 For evil news rides post, while good news baits. A Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe. MESSENGER. Oh, whither shall I run, or which way fly But providence or instinct of nature seems, MANOAH. The accident was loud, and here before thee MESSENGER. It would burst forth, but I recover breath 1540 1550 χρόνια τὰ τερπνὰ, τὸ δὲ κακὸν ταχύπτερον. προσέρχεται δ ̓ Ἑβραῖος, εἰκάσαι γ ̓ ἐμὲ, ὁμόφυλος ἡμῖν, καίριός τε συντυχών. ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ. φεῦ, φεύ, τίς ἄν μοι, ποῖ δραμόντι, καταφυγὴ σὲ μὲν κτύπῳ φθάσαντα καὶ λυγρῷ στόνῳ μαθεῖν προθύμοις, οὔ τι φροιμίου σε δεῖ. ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ. 1610 1620 οὐδ ̓ ἦν στέγειν τάδ', ἀλλά μ' ἀμπνεῦσαι χρεὼν And sense distract, to know well what I utter MANOAH. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer. MESSENGER. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. MANOAH, Sad; but thou knowest to Israelites not saddest MESSENGER. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfeit. MANOAH. Relate by whom. MESSENGER. By Samson. MANOAH. That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. MESSENGER. Ah, Manoah, I refrain too suddenly To utter what will come at last too soon; 1560 |