nefs and gravity; or introducing trivial and vulgar perfons, which by all judicious hath been counted abfurd, and brought in without difcretion, corruptly to gratify the people. And though ancient tragedy ufe no prologue, yet ufing fometimes, in cafe of felf-defenfe, or explanation, that which Martial calls an epiftle; in behalf of this tragedy coming forth after the ancient manner, much different from what among us paffes for beft, thus much before-hand may be epiftled; that chorus is here introduc'd after the Greek manner, not ancient only but modern, and still in use among the Italians. In the modeling therefore of this poem, with good reafon, the Ancients and Italians are rather follow'd, as of much more authority and fame. The measure of verfe us'd in the chorus is of all forts, call'd by the Greeks Monoftrophic, or rather Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antiftrophe, or Epod, which were a kind of ftanzas fram'd only for the mufic, then us'd with the chorus that fung; not effential to the poem, and therefore not material; or, being divided into ftanzas or paufes, they may be call'd Allæoftropha. Divifion into act and fcene referring chiefly to the ftage (to which this work never was intended) is here omitted.

It fuffices if the whole drama be found not produc'd beyond the fifth act. Of the ftile and uniformity, and that commonly call'd the plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but fuch economy, or difpofition of the fable as may ftand beft with verfimilitude and decorum; they only will beft judge who are not unacquainted with fchylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the three tragic poets unequal'd yet by any, and the beft rule to all who endevor to write tragedy. The circumfcription of time, wherein the whole drama begins and ends, is according to ancient rule, and best example, within the space of twenty-four hours.

THE

THE ARGUMENT.

Samfon made captive, blind, and now in the prison 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 visited 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 last purpose to procure his liberty by ranfom; laftly, that this feast was proclam'd by the Philistines as a day of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to profecute his endevor with the Philistine 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 how 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 midft of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in hafte, confufedly at firft, and afterward more diftinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends.

THE PERSON S.

SAMSON.

MANOAH, the Father of Samfon.
DALILA, his Wife.

HARAPHA of Gath.
Public Officer.

Meflenger.

Chorus of Danites.

The SCENE before the Prifon in Gaza.

SAMSON

AGONISTES.

SAMSON.

A Little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps, a little further on;
For yonder bank hath choice of fun or shade:
There I am wont to fit, when any chance
Relieves me from my task of servile toil,
Daily' in the common prifon else injoin'd me,
Where I, a prifoner chain'd, scarce freely draw
The air imprison'd also, close and damp,

Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends,
The breath of Heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet,
With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.
This day a folemn feast the people hold

To Dagon their fea-idol, and forbid
Laborious works; unwillingly this rest
Their fuperftition yields me; hence with leave
Retiring from the popular noife, I seek
This unfrequented place to find fome ease,
Eafe to the body fome, none to the mind
From reftless thoughts, that, like a deadly swarm
Of hornets arm'd, no fooner found alone,
But rush upon me thronging, and prefen

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20

Times paft, what once I was, and what am now.
O wherefore

B 4

O wherefore was my birth from Heav'n foretold
Twice by an Angel, who at last in fight
Of both my parents all in flames afcended
From off the altar, where an offering burn'd,
As in a fiery column charioting

25

His god-like presence, and from some great act
Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race ?

Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd
As of a person separate to God,

30

Design'd for great exploits; if I must die

Betray'd, captív'd, and both my eyes put out,
Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze;
To grind in brazen fetters under task

35

With this Heav'n-gifted ftrength? O glorious ftrength
Put to the labor of a beast, debas'd

Lower than bond-flave! Promife was that I
Should Ifrael from Philistian yoke deliver;
Afk for this great deliverer now, and find him
Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with flaves,
Himself in bonds under Philiftian yoke :
Yet ftay, let me not rafhly call in doubt
Divine prediction; what if all foretold

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Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, 45
Whom have I to complain of but myself?
Who this high gift of strength committed to me,
In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me,
Under the feal of filence could not keep,
But weakly to a woman must reveal it,
O'ercome with importunity and tears.
O impotence of mind, in body strong!

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But