SAMSON, made captive, blind, and now in the prison at Gaza, there to labour as in a
common workhouse, on a festival day, in the general cessation from labour, comes forth
into the open air, to a place nigh, somewhat retired, there to sit a while and bemoan his
condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his
tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek to comfort him what they can; then by his old
father, Manoa, who endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his
liberty by ransom; lastly, that this feast was proclaimed by the Philistines as a day of
thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samson -- which yet more troubles him.
Manoa then departs to prosecute his endeavour with the Philistian lords for Samson's
redemption: who, in the meanwhile, is visited by other persons, and, lastly, by a public
officer to require his coming to the feast before the lords and people, to play or show his
strength in their presence. He at first refuses, dismissing the public officer with absolute
denial to come; at length, persuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go
along with him, who came now the second time with great threatenings to fetch him.
The Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoa returns full of joyful hope to procure ere
long his son's deliverance; in the midst of which discourse an Ebrew comes in haste, con-
fusedly at first, and afterwards more distinctly, relating the catastrophe -- what Samson
had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the Tragedy ends.

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