As at some distance from the place of horror, 1559 So in the fad event too much concern'd.

MANOAH.

The accident was loud, and here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not; No preface needs, thou feest we long to know,

MESSENGER.

It would burst forth, but I recover breath And sense distract, to know well what I utter. 1556

MANOAH.

Tell us the fum, the circumstance defer.

MESSENGER.

Gaza yet ftands, but all her fons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

MANOAH.

Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft

The defolation of a hoftile city.

MESSENGER.

1561

Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfeit.

1552. and here before thee] Here again the old error was carefully preferved through all the editions. In the firft edition it was printed and heard before thee; but we have corrected it, as Milton

MANOAH.

himself corrected it in the table of Errata, to which correction as well as the rest no regard was paid in any edition, though it improves the fenfe greatly.

1554. No preface needs,] No pre

face

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

MESSENGER.

Ah Manoah, I refrain too fuddenly
To utter what will come at last too foon ;
Left evil tidings with too rude irruption
Hitting thy aged ear fhould pierce too deep.
MANO A H.

Sufpenfe in news is torture, speak them out.

MESSENGER.

1565

Take then the worst in brief, Samson is dead.

MANOAH.

The worst indeed, O all my hopes defeated

To free him hence! but death who fets all free

1571

Hath

face is wanting. Needs is a verb tive in Shakefpear. Julius Cæfar

neuter here as in Paradife Loft X. 80. where fee the note.

1556. And fenfe diftrat,] The word is ufed likewife as an adjec

́ A& 4. Sc. 4.

1575

Hath paid his ranfome now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd
Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's froft!
Yet ere I give the reins to grief, fay first,
How dy'd he; death to life is crown or shame,
All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he, 1589
What glorious hand gave Samfon his death's wound?
MESSENGER,

Unwounded of his enemies he fell,

MANOAH.

Self-violence? what cause

Brought him fo foon at variance with himself 1585 Among his foes?

MESSENGER.

Inevitable cause

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.
MANOAH.

O laftly over-ftrong against thyself!

A dreadful thou took'ft to thy revenge.

way

1599

More than enough we know ; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canst,
Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

This is the state of man; to day
he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes, to
morrow bloffoms,
And bears his blufhing honors
thick upon him;
The third day comes a froft, a
killing froft;
And when he thinks, good easy
man, full furely
His greatness is a ripening, nips
'his root;

And then he falls, as I do.

Relation

Upon which Mr. Warburton remarks, that as fpring-frofts are not injurious to the roots of fruit-, trees, he should imagin the poet wrote boot, that is, the tender hoot on which are the young leaves and blooms. The comparifon, as well as expreffion of nips, is jufter too in this reading. Shakefpear has the fame thought in Love's Labor Loft.

Byron is like an envious fneaping froft

That

Relation more particular and distinct.

MESSENGER.

Occafions drew me early to this city,

And as the gates I enter'd with fun-rife,
The morning trumpets feftival proclam'd
Through each high-street: little I had dispatch'd,
When all abroad was rumor'd that this day

Samfon fhould be brought forth, to fhow the people
Proof of his mighty ftrength in feats and games;
I forrow'd at his captive ftate, but minded
Not to be abfent at that fpectacle.