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Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd

The work for which thou waft foretold
To Ifrael, and now ly'ft victorious
Among thy flain felf-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangled in the fold

1665

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So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themfelves t' invite,

Infenfate left, or to sense reprobate,

And with blindness internal struck.

2 SEMICHOR. But he, though blind of fight,

Defpis'd and thought extinguifh'd quite,

With inward eyes illuminated,

His fiery virtue rous'd

1680

1685

1690

From

From under ashes into fudden flame,

And as an evening dragon came,

Affailant on the perched roofts,

And nefts in order rang'd

Of tame villatic fowl; but as an eagle

1695

His cloudlefs thunder bolted on their heads.

So virtue giv'n for loft,

Deprefs'd, and overthrown, as feem'd,

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MAN. Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more caufe; Samfon hath quit himself Like Samfon, and heroicly hath finish'd

A life heroic, on his enemies

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the fons of Caphtor
Through all Philiftian bounds, to Ifrael
Honor hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occafion;
To' himself and father's houfe eternal fame;
And which is beft and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was fear'd,
But favoring and affifting to the end.

3

1710

1715

1720 Nothing

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breaft, no weakness, no contempt,
Difpraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair,
And what may quiet us in a death fo noble.
Let as go find the body where it lies

Sok'd 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 plight to fay us nay)
Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends,
To fetch him hence, and folemnly attend
With filent obfequy and funeral train

1725

1730

1735

1740

Home to his father's houfe: there will I build him
A monument, and plant it round with shade
Of laurel ever green, and branching palm,
With all his trophies hung, and acts inroll'd
In copious legend, or sweet lyric fong.
Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchlefs valor, and adventures high:
The virgins alfo fhall on feastful days
Vifit his tomb with flowers, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and lofs of eyes.
CHO. All is beft, though we oft doubt,
What th' unfearchable dispose
Of highest wisdom brings about,
And ever beft found in the close.

Oft he seems to hide his face,

But unexpectedly returns,

VOL. XII.

1745

1750

F

And

And to his faithful champion hath in place

Borne witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns,

And all that band them to refift

His uncontrolable intent;

His fervants he with new acquist

Of true experience from this great event
With peace and confolation hath dismist,
And calm of mind, all paffion spent,

END OF SAMSON AGONISTES.

1755

1

POEM S

SEVERAL

UPON

OCCASIONS,

COMPOSED AT SEVERAL TIMES,

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MR. JOHN

BY

MILTON.

Baccare frontem

Cingite, ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro."

VIRGIL, Eclog. vii.

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