See how he lies at random, carelessly diffused, With languished head unpropped, Or do my eyes misrepresent? can this be he, That heroic, that renowned, Irresistible Samson? whom unarmed No strength of man or fiercest wild beast could withstand; Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid, Ran on embattled armies clad in iron, And, weaponless himself, Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery Of brazen shield and spear, the hammered cuirass, Chalybean tempered steel, and frock of mail Adamantean proof; But safest he who stood aloof, When insupportably his foot advanced, In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools, Spurned them to death by troops. Their plated backs under his heel, Or, grovelling, soiled their crested helmets in the dust. Then with what trivial weapon came to hand, The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone, A thousand foreskins fell, the flower of Palestine In Ramath-lechi, famous to this day: Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore The gates of Azza, post, and massy bar, Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old, No journey of a Sabbath day, and loaded so; Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up heaven. Which shall I first bewail, By some great act, or of my days the last. Chor. In time thou hast re- To thee I am bid say. Art thou our slave, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge, And dar'st thou at our sending and command Dispute thy coming? come without delay; Or we shall find such engines to assail And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force, Though thou wert firmlier fastened than a rock. Sams. I could be well content to try their art, Which to no few of them would Occasions drew me early to this city, And as the gates I entered with sunrise, The morning trumpets festival proclaimed Through each high-street. - Little I had despatched When all abroad was rumored, that this day 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, 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; I among these aloof obscurely stood. The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice Had filled their hearts with mirth, Was Samson as a public servant brought. In their 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. At sight of him the people with a shout Rifted the air, clamoring 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 stupendous force, None daring to appear antagonist. 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 awhile With both his armis 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 awhile inclined, And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who prayed, Or some great matter in his mind revolved: At last with head erect thus cried aloud, "Hitherto, lords, what your commands imposed 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." 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 Upon the heads of all who sat beneath, |