A poster for the first California performance (1863) of Handel's setting of Milton's drama, Samson Agonistes.

“Samson” is an oratorio by George Handel, with libretto by Hamilton, following Milton's “Samson Agonistes” (Judges, 16.). One of Handel's finest dramatic works, its première in London (2/18/1743) was a great success, with seven further performances . Its popularity has continued: two arias "Let the bright Seraphim" (soprano) and "Total eclipse" (tenor) are often performed. “Samson” is usually a concert oratorio, but has also been staged as opera. Milton’s original text is also still performed, like “Comus,” so Milton has proved the successful dramatist he first aspired to be. Picture and data courtesy of the Yorck Project, under Creative Commons Attribution-Share- Alike License (Wikipedia)

For further information about Milton and his works please go to the site "Milton Revealed" at the Townsend Humanities Center Lab of U. C. Berkeley, found at http://townsendlab.berkeley.edu/milton-revealed.