Had brought me to the field where thou art famed To have wrought such wonders with an ass's jaw! I should have forced thee soon with other arms, Or left thy carcass where the ass lay thrown ; So had the glory of prowess been recover'd
To Palestine, won by a Philistine,
From the unforeskinn'd race, of whom thou bear'st The highest name for valiant acts; that honour,
Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee,
I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.
Sams. Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do What then thou wouldst, thou seest it in thy hand.
Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain,
And thou hast need much washing, to be touch'd. Sams. Such usage as your honourable lords Afford me, assassinated and betray'd, Who durst not with their whole united In fight withstand me single and unarm❜d, Nor in the house with chamber-ambushes Close-banded durst attack me, no, not sleeping, Till they had hired a woman with their gold, Breaking her marriage-faith to circumvent me. Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd Some narrow place enclosed, where sight may give thee, Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, Vant-brass and greaves, and gauntlet, add thy spear A weaver's beam, and seven-times folded shield, I only with an oaken staff will meet thee, And raise such outcries on thy clatter'd iron, Which long shall not withhold me from thy head, That in a little time, while breath remains thee, Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath, to boast Again in safety what thou wouldst have done To Samson, but shall never see Gath more.
Har. Thou dost not thus disparage glorious arms, Which greatest heroes have in battle worn,
Their ornament and safety, had not spells
And black enchantment, some magician's art,
Arm'd thee, or charm'd thee strong, which thou from heaven
Feign'dst at thy birth was given thee in thy hair,
Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs
Were bristles ranged like those that ridge the back
Of chafed wild boars or ruffled porcupines.
Sams. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts;
My trust is in the living God, who gave me
At my nativity this strength, diffused
No less through all my sinews, joints, and bones, Than thine, while I preserved these locks unshorn, The pledge of my unviolated vow.
For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god,
Go to his temple, invocate his aid
With solemnest devotion, spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now
To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells, Which I to be the power of Israel's God Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test, Offering to combat thee, his champion bold, With the utmost of his godhead seconded: Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine. Har. Presume not on thy God, whate'er he be Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off Quite from his people, and deliver'd up Into thy enemies' hand, permitted them
To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee Into the common prison, there to grind Among the slaves and asses, thy comrades, As good for nothing else, no better service 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.
Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting He will accept thee to defend his cause,
A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.
Sams. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove me these?
Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords?
Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee As a league-breaker, and deliver'd 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, 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 constrain'd 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 conquer'd 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
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 assign'd, And had perform'd it, if my known offence Had not disabled me, not all your force: These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
As a petty enterprise of small enforce.
Har. With thee, a man condemn'd, a slave enroll'd, Due by the law to capital punishment?
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
Sams. Camest thou for this, vain boaster, to survey
To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict? Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd; But take good heed my hand survey not thee. Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unused Hear these dishonours, and not render death?
Sams. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,
My heels are fetter'd, 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 To the hazard of thy brains and shatter'd 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.
Sams. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight Will not dare mention, lest a question rise Whether he durst accept the offer or not, And, that he durst not, plain enough appear'd 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.
Chor. Oh, how comely it is, and how reviving To the spirits of just men long oppress'd! When God into the hands of their deliverer 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,
With plain heroic magnitude of mind
And celestial vigour arm'd,
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
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, 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.
Off. Hebrews, 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 hearten'd and fresh clad To appear as fits before the illustrious lords.
Sams. Thou know'st I am an Hebrew, therefore tell them,
Our law forbids at their religious rites
My presence; for that cause I cannot come.
Off. This answer, be assured, will not content them. Sams. Have they not sword-players, and every sort Of gymnic artist, wrestlers, riders, runners, Jugglers, and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, But they must pick me out, with shackles 'tired, And over-labour'd 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 camest, I will not come.
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, And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief To show them feats, and play before their god, The worst of all indignities, yet on me Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.
Off. My message was imposed on me with speed, Brooks no delay. Is this thy resolution?
Sams. So take it with what speed thy message needs. Off. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. Sams. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed. Chor. Consider, Samson, matters now are strain'd
Up to the height, whether to hold or break. He's gone, and who knows how he may report
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