Or at some proof of strength before them shown. And numbered down. Much rather I shall choose To live the poorest in my tribe, than richest And he in that calamitous prison left. No, I am fixed not to part hence without him. If need be, I am ready to forgo 1480 And quit. Not wanting him, I shall want nothing. Chor. Fathers are wont to lay up for their sons; Thou for thy son art bent to lay out all : 1491 Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age; 1500 God will restore him eye-sight to his strength. Chor. Thy hopes are not ill founded, nor seem vain, Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon Conceived, agreeable to a father's love; In both which we, as next, participate. Man. I know your friendly minds, and . . . O, what noise! Mercy of Heaven! what hideous noise was that? Chor. Noise call you it, or universal groan, 1510 Blood, death, and deathful deeds, are in that noise, Ruin, destruction at the utmost point. Man. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise. Oh! it continues; they have slain my son. Chor. Thy son is rather slaying them: that outcry From slaughter of one foe could not ascend. Man. Some dismal accident it needs must be. What shall we do stay here, or run and see? :1520 Chor. Best keep together here, lest, running thither, We unawares run into danger's mouth. This evil on the Philistines is fallen : From whom could else a general cry be heard? 1530 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 subscribe, and tempts belief. A little stay will bring some notice hither. Chor. Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner; For evil news rides post, while good news baits. And to our wish I see one hither speedingAn Ebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe. 1540 Messenger. O, whither shall I run, or which way fly The sight of this so horrid spectacle, Which erst my eyes beheld, and yet behold? For dire imagination still pursues me. 1550 Man. 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. Mess. It would burst forth; but I recover breath, And sense distract, to know well what I utter. Man. Tell us the sum; the circumstance defer. Gaza yet stands; but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. Man. Sad but thou know'st to Israelites not. saddest The desolation of a hostile city. 1560 Mess. Feed on that first; there may in grief be surfeit. Man. Relate by whom. Mess. Man. By Samson. That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. Lest evil tidings, with too rude irruption Mess. 1570 Man. The worst indeed! O, all my hope's defeated To free him hence! but Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring All by him fell, thou say'st; by whom fell he? 1580 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 At once both to destroy and be destroyed. 1590 Man. O lastly over-strong against thyself! Eye-witness of what first or last was done, Mess. Occasions drew me early to this city; I sorrowed at his captive state, but minded Not to be absent at that spectacle. The building was a spacious theatre, Half round on two main pillars vaulted high, Of sort, might sit in order to behold; The other side was open, where the throng 1600 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, In their state livery clad: before him pipes At length, for intermission sake, they led him With both his arms on those two massy pillars, 1620 1630 At last, with head erect, thus cried aloud :— I mean to show you of my strength yet greater |