DEATH OF SAMSON. JOHN MILTON. Scene—In Gaza.

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 dispatched, 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 theater 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, high cheer, and wine, When to their sports they turned. Immediately Was Samson as a public servant brought, In their state livery clad; before him pipes And timbrels, on each side went armëd 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 essayed, 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, As over-tired, to let him lean awhile With both his arms on those two massy pillars, That to the archëd roof gave main support. He, unsuspicious, led him; which when Samson Felt in his arms, with head awhile inclined, And eyes fast fixed 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,— Lords, ladies, captains, counselors, or priests, Their choice nobility and flower, not only Of this, but each Philistian city round, Met from all parts to solemnize this feast. Samson, with these immixed, inevitably Pulled down the same destruction on himself; The vulgar only ’scaped who stood without. From “Samson Agonistes.”