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For his people of old; what hinders now?
Man: He can I know, but doubt to think be will;
Yet Hope would fain subscribe, and tempts Belief.
A little stay will bring some notice hither.
Chor: Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner;
For evil news rides post, while good news baits.
And to our wish I see one hither speeding,
An Ebrew, as I guess, and of our Tribe. 1540
Mess: O whither shall I run, or which way flie
The sight of this so horrid spectacle
Which earst my eyes beheld and yet behold;
For dire imagination still persues me.
But providence or instinct of nature seems,
Or reason though disturb'd, and scarse consulted
To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these
My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at some distance from the place of horrour, 1550
So in the sad event too much concern'd.
Man: The accident was loud, & here before thee
With 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.
Man: Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.
Mess: Gaza yet stands, but all her Sons are fall'n,
All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.
Man: Sad, but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest 1560
The desolation of a Hostile City.
Mess: Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet.
Man: Relate by whom.
Mess: By Samson.
Man: That still lessens
The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.