From whom could elfe a general cry be heard?
The fufferers then will scarce moleft us here,
From other hands we need not much to fear,
What if his eye-fight (for to Ifrael's God
Nothing is hard) by miracle reftor'd,
He now be dealing dole among his foes,
And over heaps of flaughter'd walk his way?

Man.That were a joy prefumptuous to be thought. Chor. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible For his people of old, what hinders now?

Man. He can I know, but doubt to think he will, Yet Hope would fain fubscribe and tempts Belief, A little stay will bring fome notice hither.

Chor. Of good or bad fo great, of bad the fooner; For evil news rides poft, while good news baits. And to our wifh I fee one hither fpeeding,

An Hebrew, as I guefs, and of our Tribe,

Meff. O whither fhall I run, or which way flie The fight of this fo horrid fpectacle Which earst my eyes beheld and yet behold? For dire imagination still pursues me.

But providence or inftinct of nature seems,

Or reason though disturb'd, and scarce confulted

To

To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these
My Countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at fame distance from the place of horror,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.

Man. The accident was loud,and heard before thee
With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not,
No Preface needs, thou feeft we long to know.
Meff. It would burst forth, but I recover breath
And sense distract, to know well what I utter.

Man. Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer. Meff. Gaza yet ftands, but all her Sons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

Man. Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddest The defolation of a Hoftile City.

Meff. Feed on that first, there may in griefbe furfeit. Ma. Relate by whom. Me. By Samfon. Ma. That [ftill leffens The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

Meff. Ah Manoa, I refrain, too fuddenly To utter what will come at last too soon; Least evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

Man, Sufpenfe in news is torture, fpeak them out.

Mess

Meff. Then take the worse in brief, Samfon is dead Man. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated To free him hence! but death who fets all free

Hath paid his ransome now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd
Hopeful of his Deliv'ry, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
Nipt with the lagging rere of winter's froft.
Yet e'er 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'st, by whom fell he,
What glorious hand gave Samfon his deaths wound?
Mess. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with flaughter then or how? ex

Meff. By his own hands.

Man. Self-violence? what cause

[plain.

Brought him fo foon at variance with himself
Among his Foes? Meff. Inevitable cause
At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The Edifice where all were met to fee him
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.
Man. O'laftly over-strong against thy felf!
A dreadful way thou took'ft to thy revenge.

More

More than enough we know, but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canst,
Eye-witnefs of what firft or laft was done,
Relation more particular and diftinct.

Meff. Occafions drew me early to this City,
And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rife,
The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd
Through each high street: little had I difpatch'd,
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day
Samfon should be brought forth to fhew the people
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
I forrow'd at his captive ftate, but minded
Not to be absent at that spectacle.

The building was a spacious Theatre
Half-round on two main Pillars vaulted high,
With feats where all the Lords and each degree
Of fort, might fit in order to behold,

The other fide was opin, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under Skie might ftand;
I among thofe aloof obfcurely ftood.

The Feaft and noon grew high, and Sacrifice
Had fill'd their hearts with mirth,high chear andwine,
When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately

Was

Was Samfon as a publick fervant brought,
In their state Livery clad; before him Pipes
And Timbrels, on each fide went armed guards,
Both horfe and foot before him and behind ·
Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears.
At fight of him the people with a shout
Rifted the Air clamouring their god with praise,
Who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.
He patient but undaunted where they led him,
Came to the place, and what was fet before him
Which without help of eye might be assay'd,
To heave, pull, draw, and break he still perform'd
All with incredible, ftupendious force,

None daring to appear Antagonist.

At length for intermiffion fake they led him
Between the Pillars; he his guide requested
(For fo from fuch as nearer stood we heard)
As over-tir'd to let him lean a while

With both his arms on those two maffie Pillars
That to the arched roof gave main support,
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samson
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd,
And eyes faft fixt he stood as one who pray'd,

Of