He found his supper on the coals prepared,
And by the angel was bid rise and eat,
And eat the second time after repose,
The strength whereof sufficed him forty days:
Sometimes that with Elijah He partook,

3

Or as a guest with Daniel at his 3 pulse.

Thus wore out night; and now the herald lark
Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry
The morn's approach, and greet her with his song.
As lightly from His grassy couch up rose
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream ;
Fasting He went to sleep, and fasting waked.
Up to a hill anon His steps He rear'd,
From whose high top to ken the prospect round,
If cottage were in view, sheep-cote, or herd;
But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none He saw;
Only in a bottom saw a pleasant grove
With chant of tuneful birds resounding loud:
Thither He bent His way, determined there
To rest at noon, and enter'd soon the shade
High roof'd, and walks beneath, and alleys brown,
That open'd in the midst a woody scene;
Nature's own work it seem'd (nature taught art),
And, to a superstitious eye, the haunt

Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs.

Where, in the desert. juniper, an evergreen tree bearing berries used for making spirits, oil, and medicine.

and peas.

3

pulse, beans

4 herald lark, so called because he announces the

approach of day.

EXTRACT FROM "SAMSON AGONISTES.” "Samson Agonistes" is a dramatic work founded on the history of Samson as related in the Book of Judges. In the following scene a messenger relates to Manoah, father of Samson, the death of the latter.

MANOAH; to him enter MESSENGER.

Mess. Oh, whither shall I run, or which way fly
The sight of this so horrid spectacle,

Which erst my eyes beheld, and yet behold?
For dire imagination still pursues me.

But Providence or instinct of nature seems,
Or reason, though disturb'd, and scarce consulted,
To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first, reverend Manoah, and to these
My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at some distance from the place of horror,
Though in the sad event too much concern'd.
Man. The accident was loud, and here before thee,
With 2 rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not;
No preface needs, thou seest we long to know.
Mess. It would burst forth, but I recover breath,
And sense distract, to know well what I utter.

3

4

Man. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer. Mess. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fallen.

Man. Sad! but thou know'st to Israelites not saddest The desolation of a hostile city.

5

Mess. Feed on that first; there may in grief be 3 surfeit. Man. Relate by whom.

Mess.

Man.

By Samson,

That still lessens

The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Mess. Ah! Manoah, 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.

Man. Suspense in news is torture; speak them out.
Mess. Take then the worst in brief: Samson is dead.
Man. The worst indeed! Oh, all my hopes defeated
To free him hence! but death, who sets all free,
Hath paid his ransom now, and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceived,
Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring,
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost!
Yet ere I give the reins to grief, say, first,

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?

Mess. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with slaughter, then, or how? explain. Mess. By his own hands.

Man.

Self-violence? what cause

Brought him so soon at variance with himself
Among his foes?

At once both to destroy, and be destroy'd ;
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

Man. O, lastly over-strong against thyself!
A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.
More than enough we know; but while things yet
Are in confusion, give us, if thou canst,
Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct.

Mess. Occasions drew me early to this city;
And, as the gates I enter'd with sunrise,
The morning trumpets festival proclaim'd
Through each high street: little I had despatch'd,
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day
Samson should be brought forth to show the people
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
I sorrow'd 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 fill'd their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine
When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately

Was Samson as a public servant brought,

In their state livery clad: before him pipes

And timbrels; on each side went armèd guards,
Both horse and foot; before him and behind,
Archers, and slingers, cataphracts and spears.
At sight of him the people with a shout

8

7

Rifted the air, clamouring their god with praise,
Who had made their dreadful enemy their 10thrall.
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 assay'd,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd
All with incredible, stupendous force;

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length, for intermission's 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 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 fix'd, he stood, as one who pray'd, Or some great matter in his mind revolved: At last, with head erect, thus cried aloud :"Hitherto, lords, what your commands imposed I have perform'd, 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 utter'd, straining all his nerves, he bow'd, As with the force of winds and waters "pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro

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 sat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this, but each Philistian city round,
Met from all parts to solemnise this feast.
Samson, with these immix'd, inevitably