Off. I praise thy refolution, doff these links: By this compliance thou wilt win the Lords To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.

Samf. Brethren farewell, your company along
I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them
To fee me girt with Friends; and how the fight
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 Prieft then fooneft fir'd
With zeal, if aught Religion feem concern'd:
No lefs the People on their Holy-days
Impetuous, infolent, unquenchable;
Happ'n what may, of me expect to hear
Nothing dishonourable, impure, unworthy
Our God, our Law; my Nation or my self,
The last of me or no I cannot warrant.

Chor. Go, and the Holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

To what may ferve his glory beft, and spread his name

Great among the Heathen round;

Send the Angel of thy Birth to stand

Faft by thy fide, who from thy Father's field

Rode

up in flames after his message told Of thy conception, and be now a fhield

Of fire; that Spirit that first rusht on thee
In the Camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need,
For never was from Heaven imparted
Measure of strength fo great to mortal feed;
As in thy wond'rous actions hath been seen.
But wherefore comes old Manoa in fuch haste
With youthful steps? much livelier than e'er while
He seems supposing here to find his Son,

Or of him bringing to us fome glad news?

[hither

Man. Peace with you, Brethren, my inducement

Was not at present here to find my Son,
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,

Left I should see him forc'd to things unfeemly.

But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly To give you part with me what hope I have

With good fuccefs to work his liberty.

Chor.

Chor. That hope would much rejoyce us to partake With thee; fay, reverend Sire, We thirst to hear.

Man. I have attempted one by one the Lords
Either at home, or through the high street paffing,
With fupplication prone and Fathers tears

T'accept of ransome for my Son their pris'ner.
Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh,
Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite;
That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests,
Others more moderate seeming, but their aim
Private reward, for which both God and State
They eafily would fet to fale, a third
More generous far and civil, who confess'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to misery beneath their fears,

The reft was magnanimity to remit,

If some convenient ransome was propos'd.

What noise or fhout was that? it tore the Skie. Chor. Doubtless the people shouting to behold Their once great dread,captive,and blind before them, Or at fome proof of strength before them shown. Man. His ransome, if my whole inheritance May compass it, fhall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I fhall chufe

To live the poorest in my Tribe, than richest,
And he in that calamitous prifon left.

No, I am fixt not to part hence without him
For his redemption all my Patrimony,
If need be, I am ready to forgo

And quit: not wanting him, I fhall want nothing.

Chor, Fathers are wont to lay up for their Sons,
Thou for thy Son art bent to lay out all;
Sons wont to nurse their Parents in old age,
Thou in old age car'ft how to nurse thy Son
Made older than thy age through eye-fight lost.

Man. It fhall be my delight to tend his eyes,
And view him fitting in the house, enobl❜d
With all thofe high exploits by him atchiev'd,
And on his shoulders waving down those locks,
That of a Nation arm'd the strength contain❜d:
And I perfuade me God hath not permitted
His ftrength again to grow up with his hair
Garrifon'd round about him like a Camp
Of faithful Soldiery, were not his purpose
To ufe him farther yet in fome great fervice,
Not to fit idle with fo great a gift

Ufelefs,

Ufelefs, and thence ridiculous about him.
And fince his strength with eye-fight was not loft,
God will restore him eye-fight to his ftrength.
Chor. Thy hopes are not ill founded nor seem vain
Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon
Conceiv'd, agreeable to a Father's love,

[noife!

In both which we, as next, participate.
Man, I know your friendly minds and-- Õ what
Mercy of Heav'n what hideous noise was that!
Horribly loud unlike the former shout.

Chor. Noife call you it or univerfal groan
As if the whole inhabitation perish'd,

Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise, Ruin, deftruction at the utmost point.

Man. Of ruin indeed me-thought I heard the noise, Oh it continues, they have flain my Son. Chor. Thy Son is rather flaying them, that outcry From flaughter of one Foe could not ascend. Man. Some dismal accident it needs must be; What shall we do, ftay here or run and fee? Chor. Beft keep together here,left running thither We unawares run into danger's mouth.

This evil on the Philiftins is fall'n,

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