MANOA: Sad! but thou know'st to Israelites not saddest The desolation of a hostile city. MESSENGER: Feed on that first; there may in grief be surfeit. MANOA: Relate by whom. MESSENGER: By Samson. MANOA: That still lessens The sorrow and converts it nigh to joy. MESSENGER: Ah! Manoa, I refrain too suddenly To utter what will come at last too soon, Lest evil tidings, with too rude eruption Hitting thy aged ear, should pierce too deep. MANOA: Suspense in news is torture; speak them out. 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. How died he?--death to life is crown or shame. All by him fell, thou say'st; by whom fell he? What glorious hand gave Samson his death's 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 Brought him so soon at variance with himself Among his foes? MESSENGER: Inevitable cause-- At once both to destroy and be destroyed. The edifice, where all were met to see him, Upon their heads and on his own he pulled. 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. Immediately Was Samson as a public servant brought, In their state livery clad. 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, As over-tired, to let him lean awhile With both his arms on those two massy pillars, That to the arched 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, straightening all his nerves, he bowed. As with the force of winds and waters pent When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars