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JohnMilton.(1608–1674).CompletePoems.TheHarvardClassics.1909–14.SamsonAgonistes:Lines1-249(1667–1671)SAMSON.AlittleonwardlendthyguidinghandTothesedarksteps,alittlefurtheron;Foryonderbankhathchoiceofsunorshade.ThereIamwonttosit,whenanychanceRelievesmefrommytaskofserviletoil,5Dailyinthecommonprisonelseenjoinedme,WhereI,aprisonerchained,scarcefreelydrawTheair,imprisonedalso,closeanddamp,Unwholesomedraught.ButhereIfeelamends—ThebreathofHeavenfreshblowing,pureandsweet,10Withday-springborn;hereleavemetorespire.ThisdayasolemnfeastthepeopleholdToDagon,theirsea-idol,andforbidLaboriousworks.UnwillinglythisrestTheirsuperstitionyieldsme;hence,withleave15Retiringfromthepopularnoise,IseekThisunfrequentedplacetofindsomeease—Easetothebodysome,nonetothemindFromrestlessthoughts,that,likeadeadlyswarmOfhornetsarmed,nosoonerfoundalone20Butrushuponmethronging,andpresentTimespast,whatonceIwas,andwhatamnow.Oh,whereforewasmybirthfromHeavenforetoldTwicebyanAngel,whoatlast,insightOfbothmyparents,allinflamesascended25Fromoffthealtarwhereanofferingburned,AsinafierycolumnchariotingHisgodlikepresence,andfromsomegreatactOrbenefitrevealedtoAbraham’srace?Whywasmybreedingorderedandprescribed30AsofapersonseparatetoGod,Designedforgreatexploits,ifImustdieBetrayed,captived,andbothmyeyesputout,Madeofmyenemiesthescornandgaze,Togrindinbrazenfettersundertask35Withthisheaven-giftedstrength?Ogloriousstrength,Puttothelabourofabeast,debasedLowerthanbond-slave!PromisewasthatIShouldIsraelfromPhilistianyokedeliver!AskforthisgreatDeliverernow,andfindhim40EyelessinGaza,atthemillwithslaves,HimselfinbondsunderPhilistianyoke.Yetstay;letmenotrashlycallindoubtDivineprediction.WhatifallforetoldHadbeenfulfilledbutthroughmineowndefault?45WhomhaveItocomplainofbutmyself,Whothishighgiftofstrengthcommittedtome,Inwhatpartlodged,howeasilybereftme,Underthesealofsilencecouldnotkeep,Butweaklytoawomanmustrevealit,50O’ercomewithimportunityandtears?Oimpotenceofmindinbodystrong!ButwhatisstrengthwithoutadoubleshareOfwisdom?Vast,unwieldly,burdensome,Proudlysecure,yetliabletofall55Byweakestsubtleties;notmadetorule,Buttosubservewherewisdombearscommand.God,whenhegavemestrength,toshewwithalHowslightthegiftwas,hungitinmyhair.Butpeace!Imustnotquarrelwiththewill60Ofhighestdispensation,whichhereinHaplyhadendsabovemyreachtoknow.Sufficesthattomestrengthismybane,Andprovesthesourceofallmymiseries—Somany,andsohuge,thateachapart65Wouldaskalifetowail.But,chiefofall,Olossofsight,oftheeImostcomplain!Blindamongenemies!Oworsethanchains,Dungeon,orbeggary,ordecrepitage!Light,theprimeworkofGod,tomeisextinct,70AndallhervariousobjectsofdelightAnnulled,whichmightinpartmygriefhaveeased.InferiortothevilestnowbecomeOfmanorworm,thevilesthereexcelme:Theycreep,yetsee;I,darkinlight,exposed75Todailyfraud,contempt,abuseandwrong,Withindoors,orwithout,stillasafool,Inpowerofothers,neverinmyown—ScarcehalfIseemtolive,deadmorethanhalf.Odark,dark,dark,amidtheblazeofnoon,80Irrecoveráblydark,totaleclipseWithoutallhopeofday!Ofirst-createdBeam,andthougreatWord,“Lettherebelight,andlightwasoverall,”WhyamIthusbereavedthyprimedecree?85TheSuntomeisdarkAndsilentastheMoon,Whenshedesertsthenight,Hidinhervacantinterlunarcave.Sincelightsonecessaryistolife,90Andalmostlifeitself,ifitbetrueThatlightisinthesoul,Sheallineverypart,whywasthesightTosuchatenderballastheeyeconfined,Soobviousandsoeasytobequenched,95Andnot,asfeeling,throughallpartsdiffused,Thatshemightlookatwillthrougheverypore?ThenhadInotbeenthusexiledfromlight,Asinthelandofdarkness,yetinlight,Tolivealifehalfdead,alivingdeath,100Andburied;but,Oyetmoremiserable!Myselfmysepulchre,amovinggrave;Buried,yetnotexempt,Byprivilegeofdeathandburial,Fromworstofotherevils,pains,andwrongs;105ButmadeherebyobnoxiousmoreToallthemiseriesoflife,LifeincaptivityAmonginhumanfoes.Butwhoarethese?forwithjointpaceIhear110Thetreadofmanyfeetsteeringthisway;Perhapsmyenemies,whocometostareAtmyaffliction,andperhapstoinsult—Theirdailypracticetoafflictmemore.Chor.This,thisishe;softlyawhile;115Letusnotbreakinuponhim.Ochangebeyondreport,thought,orbelief!Seehowheliesatrandom,carelesslydiffused,Withlanguishedheadunpropt,Asonepasthope,abandoned,120Andbyhimselfgivenover,Inslavishhabit,ill-fittedweedsO’er-wornandsoiled.Ordomyeyesmisrepresent?Canthisbehe,Thatheroic,thatrenowned,125IrresistibleSamson?whom,unarmed,Nostrengthofman,orfiercestwildbeast,couldwithstand;Whotorethelionastheliontearsthekid;Ranonembattledarmiescladiniron,And,weaponlesshimself,130Madearmsridiculous,uselesstheforgeryOfbrazenshieldandspear,thehammeredcuirass,Chalybean-temperedsteel,andfrockofmailAdamanteanproof:Butsafesthewhostoodaloof,135Wheninsupportablyhisfootadvanced,Inscornoftheirproudarmsandwarliketools,Spurnedthemtodeathbytroops.TheboldAscaloniteFledfromhislionramp;oldwarriorsturnedTheirplatedbacksunderhisheel,140Orgrovellingsoiledtheircrestedhelmetsinthedust.Thenwithwhattrivialweaponcametohand,Thejawofadeadass,hisswordofbone,Athousandforeskinsfell,theflowerofPalestine,InRamath-lechi,famoustothisday:145Thenbymainforcepulledup,andonhisshoulder