Or reason though disturb’d, and scarse consulted

  T’ have guided me aright, I know not how,

  To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these

  My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining,

  1550

  As at some distance from the place of horrour,

  So in the sad event too much concern’d.

  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.

  1555

  Messenger. It would burst forth, but I recover breath

  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 fall’n,

  All in a moment overwhelm’d and fall’n.

  1560

  Manoa. Sad, but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest

  The desolation of a Hostile City.

  Messenger. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet.

  Manoa. Relate by whom.

  Messenger. By Samson.

  Manoa. That still lessens

  The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

  1565

  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.

  1570

  Messenger. Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead.

  Manoa. 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.

  What windy21 joy this day had I conceiv’d

  1575

  Hopeful of his Delivery, which now proves

  Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring

  Nipt with the lagging rear of winters frost.

  Yet e’re I give the rains to grief, say first,

  How dy’d he? death to life is crown or shame.

  1580

  All by him fell thou say’st, by whom fell he,

  What glorious hand gave Samson his deaths wound?

  Messenger. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

  Manoa. Wearied with slaughter then or how? explain.

  Messenger. By his own hands.

  Manoa. Self-violence? what cause

  1585

  Brought him so soon at variance with himself

  Among his foes?

  Messenger. Inevitable cause

  At once both to destroy and be destroy’d;

  The Edifice where all were met to see him

  Upon thir heads and on his own he pull’d.

  1590

  Manoa. O lastly over-strong against thy self!

  A dreadful way thou took’st to thy revenge.

  More than anough we know; but while things yet

  Are in confusion, give us if thou canst,

  Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

  1595

  Relation more particular and distinct.

  Messenger. Occasions drew me early to this City,

  And as the gates I enter’d with Sun-rise,

  The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim’d

  Through each high street: little I had dispatch’t

  1600

  When all abroad was rumour’d that this day

  Samson should be brought forth to shew the people

  Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;

  I sorrow’d at his captive state, but minded22

  Not to be absent at that spectacle.

  1605

  The building was a spacious Theatre

  Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high,

  With seats where all the Lords and each degree

  Of sort,23 might sit in order to behold,

  The other side was op’n, where the throng

  1610

  On banks24 and scaffolds under Skie might stand;

  I among these aloof obscurely stood.

  The Feast and noon grew high, and Sacrifice

  Had fill’d thir hearts with mirth, high chear, and wine,

  When to thir sports they turn’d. Immediately

  1615

  Was Samson as a public servant brought,

  In thir state Livery clad; before him Pipes

  And Timbrels, on each side went armed guards,

  Both horse and foot before him and behind,

  Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears.25

  1620

  At sight of him the people with a shout

  Rifted the Air clamouring thir god with praise,

  Who had made thir dreadful enemy thir thrall.

  He patient but undaunted where they led him,

  Came to the place, and what was set before him

  1625

  Which without help of eye might be assay’d,

  To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform’d

  All with incredible, stupendious force,

  None daring to appear Antagonist.

  At length for intermission sake they led him

  1630

  Between the pillars; he his guide requested

  (For so from such as nearer stood we heard)

  As over-tir’d to let him lean a while

  With both his arms on those two massie Pillars

  That to the arched roof gave main support.

  1635

  He unsuspitious led him; which when Samson

  Felt in his arms, with head a while enclin’d,

  And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who pray’d,

  Or some great matter in his mind revolv’d.

  At last with head erect thus cry’d aloud,

  1640

  Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos’d

  I have perform’d, as reason was, obeying,

  Not without wonder or delight beheld.

  Now of my own accord such other tryal

  I mean to shew you of my strength, yet greater;

  1645

  As with amaze shall strike all who behold.

  This utter’d, straining all his nerves he bow’d;

  As with the force of winds and waters pent,

  When Mountains tremble, those two massie Pillars

  With horrible convulsion to and fro,

  1650

  He tugg’d, he shook, till down they came and drew

  The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder

  Upon the heads of all who sate beneath,

  Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests,

  Thir choice nobility and flower, not only

  1655

  Of this but each Philistian City round

  Met from all parts to solemnize this Feast.

  Samson with these immixt, inevitably

  Pull’d down the same destruction on himself;

  The vulgar only scap’d who stood without.

  1660

  Chorus. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious!

  Living or dying thou hast fulfill’d

  The work for which thou wast foretold

  To Israel, and now ly’st victorious

  Among thy slain self-kill’d

  1665

  Not willingly, but tangl’d in the fold

  Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin’d

  Thee with thy slaughter’d foes in number more

  Then all thy life had slain before.

  Semichorus. While thir hearts were jocund and sublime,26

  1670

  Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,

  And fat regorg’d of Bulls and Goats,

  Chaunting thir Idol, and preferring

  Before our living Dread who dwells

  In Silo27 his bright Sanctuary:

  1675

  A
mong them he a spirit of phrenzie sent,

  Who hurt thir minds,

  And urg’d them on with mad desire

  To call in hast for thir destroyer;

  They only set on sport and play

  1680

  Unweetingly importun’d

  Thir own destruction to come speedy upon them.

  So fond28 are mortal men

  Fall’n into wrath divine,

  As thir own ruin on themselves t’ invite,

  1685

  Insensate left, or to sense reprobate,29

  And with blindness internal struck.

  Semichorus. But he though blind of sight,

  Despis’d and thought extinguish’t quite,

  With inward eyes illuminated

  1690

  His fierie vertue rouz’d

  From under ashes into sudden flame,

  And as an ev’ning Dragon30 came,

  Assailant on the perched roosts,

  And nests in order rang’d

  1695

  Of tame villatic31 Fowl; but as an Eagle

  His cloudless thunder bolted on thir heads.32

  So vertue giv’n for lost,

  Deprest, and overthrown, as seem’d,

  Like that self-begott’n bird33

  1700

  In th’ Arabian woods embost,34

  That no second knows nor third,

  And lay e’re while a Holocaust,

  From out her ashie womb now teem’d,

  Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most

  1705

  When most unactive deem’d,

  And though her body die, her fame survives,

  A secular35 bird ages of lives.

  Manoa. Come, come, no time for lamentation now,

  Nor much more cause, Samson hath quit himself

  1710

  Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish’d

  A life Heroic, on his Enemies

  Fully reveng’d, hath left them years of mourning,

  And lamentation to the Sons of Caphtor

  Through all Philistian bounds. To Israel

  1715

  Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them

  Find courage to lay hold on this occasion,

  To himself and Fathers house eternal fame;

  And which is best and happiest yet, all this

  With God not parted from him, as was feard,

  1720

  But favouring and assisting 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 so noble.

  1725

  Let us go find the body where it lies

  Soak’t in his enemies blood, and from the stream

  With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off

  The clotted gore. I with what speed the while

  (Gaza is not in plight36 to say us nay)

  1730

  Will send for all my kindred, all my friends

  To fetch him hence and solemnly attend

  With silent obsequie and funeral train

  Home to his Fathers house: there will I build him

  A Monument, and plant it round with shade

  1735

  Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm,

  With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll’d

  In copious Legend, or sweet Lyric Song.

  Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,

  And from his memory inflame thir breasts

  1740

  To matchless valour, and adventures high:

  The Virgins also shall on feastful days

  Visit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing

  His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,

  From whence captivity and loss of eyes.

  1745

  Chorus. All is best, though we oft doubt,

  What th’ unsearchable dispose37

  Of highest wisdom brings about,

  And ever best found in the close.

  Oft he seems to hide his face,38

  1750

  But unexpectedly returns

  And to his faithful Champion hath in place

  Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns

  And all that band them to resist

  His uncontroulable intent;

  1755

  His servants he with new acquist39

  Of true experience from this great event

  With peace and consolation hath dismist,

  And calm of mind all passion spent.40

  (1646–48 ?; revised, 1653 or later ?)41

  * * *

  1 Drawn from Hebraic material (Judges xiii–xvi) and Greek tragic structure, the drama reflects both Christian traditions (see Krouse’s survey) and Hellenistic spirit (see Parker’s study). In “SA and Milton in Old Age,” p. 278, Hanford remarks, “by representing a clearly marked triumph of the human will over its own weakness, and by the substitution of Providence for blind fate as the power which overrules the action, the play provides material for a different understanding of catharsis from that contemplated by Aristode.” Based on Greek tragedy, Milton’s drama consists of five episodes each followed by a chorus (stasimon) in addition to Samson’s opening soliloquy (prologos) and a choral ode (parados) and a closing passage (exodos) in which is included a lament (kommos). As tragic hero, Samson has succumbed prior to the opening of the play to pride (hubris) and uxoriousness. His regeneration, the main “plot” of the play (although such regeneration is debated by critics), is developed through these five episodes, and thus forges the champion of truth indicated by the title. Samson must first overcome despair through fortitude in order to realize God’s providential ways. “Agonistes” implies one engaged in a struggle as well as an actor (in the drama of life).

  Biographical interpretations have been commonplace because of the element of blindness, but if the suggested earlier dating is correct, many allusions to contemporary and marital problems which have been inferred are invalidated.

  2 The principle of catharsis is described in Poetics, VI.

  3 “Evil communications corrupt good manners,” attributed also to Menander.

  4 David Pareus (1548–1622), a Calvinist theologian, in his Operum Theologicorum.

  5 tyrant of Syracuse, who wrote numerous literary works.

  6 See Suetonius, II, lxxxv.

  7 This was a common ascription, though wrong.

  8 a “defense” of the writing of the play, not the passage preceding the entrance of the chorus.

  9 explained by the next phrase.

  10 strophes of varying lengths.

  11 a principal city of the Philistines, lying on the eastern Mediterranean in Palestine.

  12 See Nativity Ode, n. 44.

  13 that which is appointed by God, but punning etymologically on its being “hung” in his hair (l. 59).

  14 require.

  15 the interval between the old and the new moons; during this period the moon was thought by the ancients to be “vacating” the night in a cave. The etymologies of “cave” and “vacant” emphasize the “emptiness” of darkness.

  16 susceptible (to something harmful).

  17 spread in all directions.

  18 too powerful to be resisted.

  19 Judges xiv. 5–6: “a young lion roared against him … and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand.”

  20 referring to natives of Pontus, on the Black Sea, known for their iron work.

  21 too powerful to be resisted.

  22 Ascalon was a Philistine coastal city; Judges xiv. 19.

  23 rage.

  24 also, “picked up at the crossroads.”

  25 uncircumcised Philistines; Judges xv. 15–17. The following exploit is found in Judges xvi. 3; Azza is a variant of Gaza. The giants are the children of Anak who were expelled from Hebron by Caleb (Judges i. 20).
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  26 Atlas.

  27 example of decline through loss of virtue, l. 173, common to men and government; Fortune’s wheel, l. 172, does not bring true glory.

  28 cities from which Manoah came in the coastal valley of Sorec (l. 229).

  29 meaning “swellings,” the word connotes the exaggeration or preoccupation arising from psychological disorder.

  30 an inscription on a coin.

  31 been equal.

  32 to thwart my intended use to God.

  33 See Judges xiv. 1–4; his association with Dalila is told in Judges xvi. 4 ff.

  34 a volley (as of gunfire).

  35 The Israelites are still subjugated by the Philistines.

  36 I did not walk about soliciting commendation for my deeds.

  37 a principal city of Philistia, standing for the whole.

  38 Compare Mammon’s words in PL II, 255–57.

  39 The cities of Succoth and Penuel refused to help the Hebrew general Gideon when he was pursuing the kings of Midian (Judges vii. 4–9).

  40 Judges xi. 12–23, xii. 1–6. The Ephraimites were detected and slain by Jephthah’s Gileadites when they could not pronounce the first syllable of “Shibboleth” correctly.

  41 my nation.

  42 Rev. xv. 3: “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord, God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

  43 both “unknown” and “in the darkness of ignorance.”

  44 Psalms xiv. 1: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

  45 the obligation of the Israelites not to marry outside their nation.

  46 deceitful.

  47 subordinate (to faith and revelation).

  48 full of concern.

  49 consider.

  50 strange.

  51 directed.

  52 That is, indicative of his present low state, he is lying down.

  53 arraign.

  54 impiously revealed.

  55 the answer to Samson’s riddle (Judges xiv. 12–18).

  56 “major,” “fatal,” and connected with the head.

  57 tired from being vigilant.

  58 distrust.