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 some distance from the place of horror,
So in the sad event too much concerned.

Manoa. The accident was loud, and here before thee
With rueful cry; yet what it was we hear not.

No preface needs, thou seest we long to know.

1550

Messenger. It would burst forth; but I recover breath, 1555 And sense distract, to know well what I utter.

Manoa. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.

Messenger. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen,

All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen.

Manoa. Sad! but thou know'st to Israelites not saddest The desolation of a hostile city.

1561

Messenger. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfeit. Manoa. Relate by whom.

Messenger.

Manoa.

By Samson.

That still lessens

1565

The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

Messenger. Ah! Manoa, I refrain too suddenly

To utter what will come at last too soon,

Lest evil tidings, with too rude irruption

Hitting thy aged ear, should pierce too deep.

Manoa. Suspense in news is torture; speak them out. 1569 Messenger. Take then the worst in brief: Samson is dead. Manoa. The worst indeed! oh, all my hope's defeated

To free him hence! but Death who sets all free

Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceived,
Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost !

1575

Yet, ere I give the reins to grief, say first

How died he; death to life is crown or shame.

All by him fell, thou say'st; by whom fell he?
What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound?
Messenger. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

1580

Manoa. Wearied with slaughter, then, or how? explain.
Messenger. By his own hands.

At once both to destroy and be destroyed.
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pulled.

Manoa. Oh, lastly over-strong against thyself!

1590

A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.

More than enough we know; but, while things yet
Are in confusion, give us, if thou canst,

Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

Messenger. Occasions drew me early to this city,

And, as the gates I entered with sun-rise,

The morning trumpets festival proclaimed

Through each high street. Little I had dispatched,

When all abroad was rumoured that this day

1600

Samson should be brought forth, to show the people

Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games.

I sorrowed at his captive state, but minded
Not to be absent at that spectacle.

The building was a spacious theatre,

1605

Half-round, on two main pillars vaulted high,

With seats where all the lords, and each degree
Of sort, might sit in order to behold;

The other side was open, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand;

1610

I among these aloof obscurely stood.

The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice

Had filled their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine,

Was Samson as a public servant brought,

When to their sports they turned. Immediately

In their state livery clad; before him pipes

1615

And timbrels; on each side went armèd guards,
Both horse and foot; before him and behind
Archers and slingers, cataphracts and spears.
At sight 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 set before him,
Which without help of eye might be assayed,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still performed
All with incredible, stupendious force,
None daring to appear antagonist.

1620

1625

At length, for intermission sake, they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For so from such as nearer stood we heard),
As over-tired, to let him lean a while
With both his arms on those two massy pillars,
That to the archèd roof gave main support.
He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclined,

1630

1635

And eyes fast fixed, he stood, as one who prayed,

Or some great matter in his mind revolved.

At last, with head erect, thus cried aloud :

I have performed, as reason was, obeying,

Not without wonder or delight beheld;

Now of my own accord such other trial

I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater,
As with amaze shall strike all who behold.'

1645

This uttered, straining all his nerves, he bowed;

As with the force of winds and waters pent

When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars

With horrible convulsion to and fro

He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder,

1650

Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only

Of this, but each Philistian city round,
Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.
Samson, with these immixed, inevitably

1655

Pulled down the same destruction on himself;

The vulgar only scaped, who stood without.

Chorus. Oh, dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious!

1660

Semichorus. While their hearts were jocund and sublime,

1670

Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine,
And fat regorged of bulls and goats,
Chaunting their idol, and preferring
Before our living Dread, who dwells
In Silo, his bright sanctuary,

R

Among them he a spirit of phrenzy sent,
Who hurt their minds,

And urged them on with mad desire

To call in haste for their destroyer.

1675

Semichorus. But he, though blind of sight,

And, though her body die, her fame survives,
A secular bird, ages of lives.