THE ARGUMENT. Samfon made captive, blind, and now in the prifon at Gaza, there to labor as in a common workhouse, on a festival day, in the general ceffation from labor, comes forth into the open air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be vifited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who feek to comfort him what they can; then by his old father Manoah, who endevors the like, and withal tells him his laft purpose to procure his liberty by ransome; laftly, that this feast was proclam'd by the Philistines as a day of thankfgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samion, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to profecute his endevor with the Philiftine lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and laftly by a public officer to require his coming to the feaft before the lords and people, to play or show his ftrength in their prefence; he at firft refufes, difmiffing the public officer with abfolute denial to come; at length perfuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the fecond time with great threatnings to fetch him: The Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoah returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his fon's deliverance: in the midst of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in hafte, confusedly at firft, and afterward more diftinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philiftines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends. THE PERSONS. SAMSON. MANOAH, the Father of Samfon. DALILA, his Wife. HA ARAPHA of Gath. Public Officer. Meffenger. Chorus of Danites. The SCENE before the Prifon in Gaza, SAMSON AGONISTES. A SAMSON. Little onward lend thy guiding hand Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends, To Dagon their fea-idol, and forbid Their fuperftition yields me; hence with leave 20 O wherefore O wherefore was my birth from Heav'n foretold 25 His god-like prefence, and from fome great act Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd 30 As of a person separate to God, Defign'd for great exploits; if I must die Betray'd, captiv'd, and both my eyes put out, To grind in brazen fetters under task 35 With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious ftrength Put to the labor of a beast, debas'd Lower than bond-flave! Promise was that I 40 Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, 45 50 But But what is ftrength without a double share 55 By weakest fubtleties, not made to rule, But to fubferve where wisdom bears command! God, when he gave me strength, to show withal But peace, I must not quarrel with the will Of higheft difpenfation, which herein Haply had ends above my reach to know: And proves the fource of all my miseries; So O lofs of fight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, Light the prime work of God to me' is extinct, 60 Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd, Of man or worm; the vileft here excel me, Without all hope of day! 65 70 75 80 O first |