By fome great act, or of my days the laft.

CHORUS.

In time thou haft refolv'd, the man returns.
OFFICE R.

1389

Samfon, this fecond meffage from our lords
To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our flave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,
And dar'st thou at our fending and command
Dispute thy coming? come without delay;
Or we shall find fuch engins to affail
And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,
Though thou wert firmlier faften'd than a rock.

SAMSON.

1395

1401

I could be well content to try their art, Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. Yet knowing their advantages too many, Because they shall not trail me through their streets Like a wild beast, I am content to go. Masters commands come with a pow'r resistless To fuch as owe them abfolute fubjection;

1495

And for a life who will not change his purpose?

(So

1404. Mafter's commands &c] tray'd itfelf had it not been cover'd This was a feint, but it had be- by ver. 1408.

Yet

(So mutable are all the ways of men) Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply

Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

OFFICER.

I praise thy refolution: doff these links: By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free. SAMSON.

1410

Brethren farewel; your company along I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415 Of me as of a common enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exafperate them,

I know not: lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feafted priest then fooneft fir'd
With zeal, if ought religion seem concern'd; 1420
No less the people on their holy-days

Impetuous, infolent unquenchable :

Happen what may, of me expect to hear
Nothing dishonorable, impure, unworthy

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself, 1425

The

Yet this be fure &c. Warburton. That is of going, not what he said 1410. I praise thy refolution] laft. Richardfon.

1463. That

The laft of me or no I cannot warrant.

CHORUS.

Go, and the Holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his name

Great among the Heathen round;

;

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand

Fast by thy fide, who from thy father's field
Rode up in flames after his meffage told

1430

Of thy conception, and be now a fhield

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

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

1435

1440

For never was from Heav'n imparted
Measure of ftrength fo great to mortal seed,
As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen.
But wherefore comes old Manoah in such hafte
With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while
He feems: fuppofing here to find his fon,

Or of him bringing to us some glad news?

Peace with

you,

MANO A Н.

Brethren; my inducement hither

Was

1463. That part most reverenc'd I doubt not, in this place indulges Dagon and his pries:] Milton, that inveterate fpleen, which he

always

Was not at present here to find

my fon,

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 should fee him forc'd to things unfeemly.
But that which mov'd my coming now was chiefly
To give ye part with me what hope I have
With good fuccefs to work his liberty.

CHORUS.

1454

That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; fay, reverend Sire, we thirst to hear. MANOA H.

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 ransome for my fon 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 reward, for which both God and State 1465 They

always had against public and eftablifh'd religion. He might alfo perhaps in this defcription of Manoah's

application for Samfon's deliverance glance at his own cafe after the Retoration. Thyer.

1490. It

They eafily would set 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 ransome were propos'd.

What noife or fhout was that? it tore the sky.
CHORUS.

Doubtless the people fhouting to behold

1470

Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of strength before them shown.

MANOAH.

His ranfome, if my whole inheritance

1476

May compass it, shall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I fhall choose

To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richest,
And he in that calamitous prison left.

1480

No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him.
For his redemption all

my patrimony,

1490. It shall be my delight &c] The character of a fond parent is extremely well fupported in the perfon of Manoah quite through the whole performance; but there is in my opinion fomething parti

If

cularly natural and moving in this fpeech. The circumftance of the old man's feeding and foothing his fancy with the thoughts of tending his fon and contemplating him ennobled with fo many fa

mous