With those thy boisterous locks; no worthy match
For valour to assail, nor by the sword
Of noble warrior, so to stain his honour,
But by the barber's razor best subdued.

Sams. All these indignities, for such they are
From thine, these evils I deserve and more,
Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me
Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon,
Whose ear is ever open, and his eye
Gracious to re-admit the suppliant ;
In confidence whereof I once again
Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight,
By combat to decide whose god is God,

Thine, or whom I with Israel's sons adore.

1170

Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting He will accept thee to defend his cause, A murtherer, a revolter, and a robber!

1180

Sams. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove me these?

Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magistrates confessed it when they took thee As a league-breaker, and delivered bound Into our hands; for hadst thou not committed Notorious murder on those thirty men

At Ascalon, who never did thee harm,

Then, like a robber, stripp'dst them of their robes? The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league, Went up with armed powers thee only seeking, 1190 To others did no violence nor spoil.

Sams. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued me no foe,

And in your city held my nuptial feast;

But your ill-meaning politician lords,

Under pretence of bridal friends and guests,

Appointed to await me thirty spies,

Who, threatening cruel death, constrained the bride

To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret,
That solved the riddle which I had proposed.
When I perceived all set on enmity,
As on my enemies, wherever chanced,
I used hostility, and took their spoil,
To pay my underminers in their coin.
My nation was subjected to your lords!
It was the force of conquest; force with force
Is well ejected when the conquered can.
But I, a private person, whom my country

As a league-breaker gave up bound, presumed
Single rebellion, and did hostile acts!

I was no private, but a person raised,

I 200

1210

With strength sufficient, and command from Heaven,
To free my country. If their servile minds

Me, their deliverer sent, would not receive,
But to their masters gave me up for nought,

The unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.
I was to do my part from Heaven assigned,
And had performed it if my known offence
Had not disabled me, not all your force.
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant,
Though by his blindness maimed for high attempts,
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

Har.

1220

With thee, a man condemned, a slave enrolled,

Due by the law to capital punishment?

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

Sams.

Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey

me,

To descant on my strength, and give thy verdit?
Come nearer; part not hence so slight informed;
But take good heed my hand survey not thee.

Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unused
Hear these dishonours, and not render death?

1230

Sams. No man withholds thee; nothing from thy

hand

Fear I incurable; bring up thy van;

My heels are fettered, but my fist is free.

Har.

This insolence other kind of answer fits. Sams. Go, baffled coward, lest I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast, And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down, 1240 To the hazard of thy brains and shattered sides.

Har. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries, in irons loaden on thee.

Chor. His giantship is gone somewhat crest-fallen, Stalking with less unconscionable strides,

And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

Sams. I dread him not, nor all his giant brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliah chief.

Chor. He will directly to the lords, I fear,

And with malicious counsel stir them up
Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

1250

Sams. He must allege some cause, and offered fight

Will not dare mention, lest a question rise
Whether he durst accept the offer or not;
And that he durst not plain enough appeared.
Much more affliction than already felt
They cannot well impose, nor I sustain,
If they intend advantage of my labours,

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping, With no small profit daily to my owners.

But come what will; my deadliest foe will prove
My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence;
The worst that he can give to me the best.
Yet so it may fall out, because their end
Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine
Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed,

1261

Chor. O, how comely it is, and how reviving

To the spirits of just men long oppressed,
When God into the hands of their deliverer

1270

Puts invincible might,

To quell the mighty of the earth, the oppressor,
The brute and boisterous force of violent men,
Hardy and industrious to support

Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue

The righteous, and all such as honour truth!
He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats,

And celestial vigour armed;

With plain heroic magnitude of mind

1280

Their armouries and magazines contemns,
Renders them useless, while

With winged expedition

Swift as the lightning glance he executes
His errand on the wicked, who, surprised,
Lose their defence, distracted and amazed.
But patience is more oft the exercise
Of saints, the trial of their fortitude,
Making them each his own deliverer,
And victor over all

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.

Either of these is in thy lot,

Samson, with might endued

1290

Above the sons of men; but sight bereaved

May chance to number thee with those

Whom patience finally must crown.

This Idol's day hath been to thee no day of rest,

Labouring thy mind

More than the working day thy hands.

And yet, perhaps, more trouble is behind;

1300.

For I descry this way

Some other tending; in his hand

A sceptre or quaint staff he bears,

Comes on amain, speed in his look.
By his habit I discern him now
A public officer, and now at hand.
His message will be short and voluble.

1311

Off Ebrews, the prisoner Samson here I seek. Chor. His manacles remark him; there he sits. Off. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say: This day to Dagon is a solemn feast, With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games; Thy strength they know surpassing human rate, And now some public proof thereof require To honour this great feast, and great assembly. Rise, therefore, with all speed, and come along, Where I will see thee heartened and fresh clad, To appear as fits before the illustrious lords. Sams.

Thou know'st I am an Ebrew; therefore tell them

Our law forbids at their religious rites

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

1320

Off. This answer, be assured, will not content them.
Sams. Have they not sword-players, and every sort
Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners,
Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics,
But they must pick me out, with shackles tired,
And over-laboured at their public mill,

To make them sport with blind activity?
Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels,

On my refusal, to distress me more,

Or make a game of my calamities?

Return the way thou cam'st; I will not come.

1330

Off. Regard thyself; this will offend them highly.
Sams. Myself! my conscience, and internal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debased
With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
Will condescend to such absurd commands?

Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,