Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd.
At laft with Head erect thus cry'd aloud,
Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform❜d, as reason was, obeying,
Nor without wonder or delight beheld.
Now of my own accord fuch other tryal
I mean to fhew you of my ftrength, yet greater;
As with amaze fhall ftrike all who behold.

This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When Mountains tremble, thofe two maffie Pillars
With horrible confusion to and fro,

He tugg'd, he took, till down they came and drew
The whole roof after them, with burft of thunder
Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,
Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priefts,
Their choice Nobility and flower, not only
Of this but each Philiftian City round
Met from all parts to folemnize this Feaft.
Samfon with these immixt, inevitably
Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself,
The vulgar only fcap'd who stood without.

Chor

Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd

The work for which thou waft foretold

To Ifrael, and now ly'ft victorious
Among thy flain self-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangl'd in the fold,

Of dire neceflity, whose law in death conjoin'd
Thee with thy flaughter'd foes in number more
Than all thy life had flain before.

Semichor. While their hearts were jocond and [fublime,

Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,

And fat regorg'd of Bulls and Goats,

Chaunting their Idol, and preferring
Before our living Dread who dwells
In Silo his bright Sanctuary:

Among them he a spirit of phrenzie fent,
Who hurt their minds,

And urg'd them on with mad defire

To call in hafte for their destroyer;

They only fet on sport and play
Unweetingly importun'd

Their own destruction to come speedy upon them.

So fond are mortal men.

Fall'n

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themselves t' invite,
Infenfate left, or to sense reprobate,
And with blindness internal struck.
Semichor. But he though blind of fight,
Defpis'd and thought extinguish'd quite,
With inward eyes illuminated

His fiery virtue rouz'd

From under afhes into fudden flame,

And as ev'ning Dragon came,

Affailant on the perched roofts,

And nefts in order rang'd

Of tame villatick Fowl, but as an Eagle

His cloudlefs thunder bolted on their heads.

So virtue giv'n for loft,

Depreft, and overthrown, as feem'd,

Like that felf-begott'n Bird

In the Arabian woods emboft,

That no fecond knows nor third,

And lay e'er while a Holocauft,

From out her afhie womb now teem'd,

Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most

When most unactive deem'd,

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

And though her body die, her fame furvives,
A fecular Bird ages of lives.

Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now Nor much more cause, Samson hath quit himself Like Samfon, and heroickly hath finish'd

A life Heroick, on his Enemies

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the Sons of Chaptor
Through all Philiftian bounds. To Ifrael
Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occafion,
To himself and Father's houfe eternal fame,
And which is best and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was fear'd,
But favouring and affifting to the end.

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt,

Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair,

And what may quiet us in a death fo noble.

Let us go

find the body where it lies

Sok'd in his enemies blood, and from the stream

With lavers pure and cleanfing herbs wash off
The clodded gore. I with what speed the while

(Gaza

(Gaza is not in plight to say us nay)

Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends
To fetch him hence and folemnly attend

With filent obfequie and funeral train

Home to his Father's houfe: there will I build him,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

A Monument, and plant it round with shade
Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm,
With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll'd
In copious Legend, or sweet Lyrick Song.
Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchlefs valour, and adventures high:
The Virgins also shall on feastful days
Vifit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and loss of eyes.
Chor. All is best, though we oft doubt,

What th❜unsearchable dispose

Of highest wisdom brings about,
And ever best found in the clofe.

Oft he seems to hide his face,

But unexpectedly returns

And to his faithful Champion hath in place

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinua »