RPO -- John Milton : Samson Agonistes

1] Milton had included the story of Samson in a list of subjects suitable for dramatic treatment, made after his return from Italy. Five themes were considered, but none of these was to be adopted exactly. Samson Agonistes was probably written after 1667 and was published in 1671, in the same volume with Paradise Regained. For the source of the story, see Judges, xiii-xvi. Milton says in his Preface: "In the modeling therefore of this poem, with good reason, the ancients and Italians are rather followed, as of much more authority and fame. The measure of verse used in the chorus is of all sorts, called by the Greeks Monostrophic, or rather Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antistrophe, or Epode, which were a kind of stanzas framed only for the music, then used with the chorus that sung; not essential to the poem, and therefore not material; or being divided into stanzas or pauses, they may be called Alloeostropha. Division into act and scene referring chiefly to the stage, to which this work never was intended, is here omitted .... The circumscription of time, wherein the whole drama begins and ends is, according to ancient rule and best example, within the space of twenty-four hours."
The Argument.
"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, confusedly 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."

13] Dagon. The god of the Philistines, commonly believed to have been a fish-god.

89] The time between the old and the new moons, when the moon was "silent" (not shining).

312] national obstriction. The obligation binding Samson as a Jew, not to marry a Gentile.

318] heroic Nazarite. Cf. Numbers, vi, 1-17. 321-325. Moody explains: "Dalila, being a heathen woman, is unclean, under the Mosaic law, and is to be held so in spite of reason, which sees no moral force in the judgment; her unchastity, which was subsequent to her marriage, Samson could not foresee, hence that forms no part of his venal stain in marrying her."

332] The Chorus was composed of friends and neighbours of Samson, belonging to the tribe of Dan.

528] sons of Anak. A race of giants found by the Israelites in Canaan. See Numbers, xiii, 33.
blaz'd. Much spoken of.

548] Against the eastern ray. Eastward. Waters flowing towards the east were believed to be especially pure.

612] accidents. Unfavourable symptoms; a medical term. Here, pains or sufferings.

692] Throughout the poem Milton seems to have in mind parallel personal and contemporary situations; this passage has been taken as referring to the trials and executions of the regicides and other important Commonwealth leaders, and the indignities to which the bodies of Cromwell and others were subjected.

701] Though not intemperate, yet suffering (without cause) the punishment of the dissolute.

715] Tarsus. Capital of the Roman province of Cilicia, and birthplace of St. Paul. Milton apparently identifies it with the unlocated Tarshish of the Old Testament, often mentioned for its great ships.

748] hyena. Editors compare Gosson's Schoole of Abuse: "Hyena speakes like a friend, and devoures like a foe."

1080] Og. See Deuteronomy, iii, 11.
Anak. See note to 1. 528.
Emims. Giants dwelling cast of the Dead Sea; defeated at Kiriathaim. See Genesis, xiv, 5 and Deuteronomy, ii, 10-11.

1227] descant. Extemporary variation, a musical term; here means "to enlarge upon".

1241] Astaroth. A Phoenician goddess. Cf. Nativity Ode, 200 and Paradise Lost, I, 438 ff.

1674] Silo. Shiloh where the ark of the covenant was established. See Joshua, xviii, 1.

1675] Alluding to the observation that "whom the gods would destroy they first make mad."

1692] Samson's coming was like that of a snake his sudden onslaught like an eagle's swoop.

1696] Cf. Sir Thomas Browne: "It is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky." (Vulgar Errors, II, v). 1699 ff.
Cf. Holland's translation of Pliny, X, 2: "when hee (the bird) groweth old, and begins to decay, he builds himselfe a nest with the twigs and branches of the Canell or Cinamon, and Frankincense trees: and when hee hath filled it with all sort of sweet aromaticall spices, yieldeth up his life thereupon ... of his bones and marrow there breedeth at first as it were a little worme: which afterwards proveth to be a pretie bird."Also Lyly, Euphues: "as there is but one Phoenix in the world,so there is but one tree in Arabia, wherein she buyldeth."

1699] Cf. Holland's translation of Pliny, X, 2: "when hee (the bird) groweth old, and begins to decay, he builds himselfe a nest with the twigs and branches of the Canell or Cinamon, and Frankincense trees: and when hee hath filled it with all sort of sweet aromaticall spices, yieldeth up his life thereupon ... of his bones and marrow there breedeth at first as it were a little worme: which afterwards proveth to be a pretie bird."Also Lyly, Euphues: "as there is but one Phoenix in the world,so there is but one tree in Arabia, wherein she buyldeth."

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: John Milton, Paradise Regain'd; .... to which is added Samson Agonistes (London: J. M. for J. [Starkey, 1671]). B-10 302 Fisher Rare Book Library
First publication date: 1671
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.419; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 1:2002/6/8

Composition date: 1667 - 1671
Form: blank verse

John Milton (1608-1674)

Samson Agonistes

(excerpt)