MESS. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n. MAN. Sad; but thou know'st to Israelites not saddest The desolation of a hostile city. MESS. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfeit. MAN. Relate by whom. MESS. By Samson. MAN. That still lessens 1565 The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. dead. [feated MAN. The worst indeed. O all my hope's deTo free him hence! but death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost! Yet ere I give the reins to grief, say first, How died he; death to life is crown or shame. 1562 Feed] Two Gent. of Verona, act iii. sc. 1. 'I have fed upon this woe already, And now excess of it will make me surfeit. Todd. 1575 All by him fell thou say'st, by whom fell he? 1580 What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? MESS. Unwounded of his enemies he fell. MAN. Wearied with slaughter then, or how? explain. MESS. By his own hands. MAN. Self-violence? what cause Brought him so soon at variance with himself MESS. Inevitable cause At once both to destroy and be destroy'd; 1585 1590 A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge. Eye-witness of what first or last was done, MESS. Occasions drew me early to this city, 1595 1600 Through each high-street. Little I had dispatch'd 1581 death's wound] Æn. xii. 322. 'Pressa est insignis gloria facti, Nec sese Æneæ jactavit vulnere quisquam.' games; Not to be absent at that spectacle. The building was a spacious theatre, Half-round, on two main pillars vaulted high, The other side was open, where the throng The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice 1605 1611 Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine, When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately Was Samson as a public servant brought, 1615 In their state livery clad; before him pipes And timbrels, on each side went armed guards, At length for intermission sake they led him 1620 1625 1630 With both his arms on those two massy pillars, At last with head erect thus cried aloud, 1640 1645 I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater, He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew CHOR. O dearly bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd The work for which thou wast foretold 1655 To Israel, and now liest victorious Among thy slain, self kill'd Not willingly, but tangled in the fold Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd 1665 SEMICHOR. While their hearts were jocund and sublime, Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, Among them he a spirit of frenzy sent, And urged them on with mad desire 1670 1675 1680 Their own destruction to come speedy upon them. So fond are mortal men Fall'n into wrath divine, As their own ruin on themselves to invite, And with blindness internal struck. SEMICHOR. But he, though blind of sight, Despis'd and thought extinguish'd quite, With inward eyes illuminated, 1689 inward] H. More, Song of the Soul, 1642. c. iii. st. 9. 'Our inward eyes that they be nothing bright.' 1685 |