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Har. With thee, a man condemn'd, a Slave enrol'd, Due by the Law to capital punishment ?

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

1225

Samf. Cam'ft thou for this, vain boafter, to survey me, To defcant on my strength, and give thy verdict ? Come nearer, part not hence so flight inform'd; But take good heed my hand survey not thee.

Ham. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd 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 fetter'd, but my fift is free.

Har. This insolence other kind of answer fits.

Sams. Go bafi'd coward, lest I run upon thee,
Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,
And with one buffet lay thy structure low,
Or fwing thee in the Air, then dash thee down
To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd fides.

Har. By. Aftaroth ere long thou shalt lament These braveries in Irons loaden on thee.

1235

1240

Chor. His Giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall'n,

Stalking with less unconscionable strides
And lower looks, but in a fultry chafe.

Sams. I dread him not, nor all his Giant-brood,
Though fame divulg'd him Father of five Sons
All of Gigantick fize, Goliah chief.

1245

Chor.

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

1250

And with malicious counsel ftir them up

Some way or other farther to aflict thee.

Sams. He must alledge some cause, and offer'd fight

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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 speedieft 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

1265

Chor. Oh how comely it is, and how reviving
To the Spirits of just men long opprest!
When God into the hands of their deliverer

1270

Puts invincible might

To quell the mighty of the Earth, th' oppreffor,
The brute and boift'rous force of violent men

Hardy and induftrious to support

Tyrannick power, but raging to purfue
The righteous and all fuch as honour Truth;

1275

He all their Ammunition.

And feats of war defeats,

With plain Heroick magnitude of mind
And celestial vigour arm'd,

1280

Their Armories and Magazines contemns,

Renders

Renders them useless, while
With winged expedition,
Swift as the light'ning glance, he executes
His Errand on the wicked, who furpriz'd
Lose their defence distracted and amaz'd.

1285

But patience is more oft the exercise Of Saints, the trial of their fortitude, Making them each his own Deliverer, And Victor over all

1280

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.

Either of these is in thy lot,

Samfon, with might endu'd

Above the Sons of men, but fight bereav'd

1295

May chance to number thee with those

Whom Patience finally must crown,

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

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 Scepter or quaint Staff he bears,
Comes on amain, speed in his look;
By his habit I difcern him now
A Publick Officer, and now at hand,
His message will be short and voluble.

Off. Hebrews, the Pris'ner Samson here I seek.
Chor. His manacles remark him, there he fits.

1300

1305

Off. Samfon, to thee our Lords thus bid me say; This day to Dagon is a folemn Feast,

1311

With Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp and Games;
Thy ftrength they know furpassing human race,
And now fome publick proof thereof require
To honour this great Feast, and great assembly: 1315
Rife therefore with ali speed and come along,
Where I will fee thee heartn'd and fresh clad

To appear as fits before th' illustrious Lords.

Sams Thou know'st I am an Hebrew, therefore tell them,

Our Law forbids at their Religious Rites
My prefence; for that cause I cannot come.

1320

Off. This answer, be afsur'd, will not content them.

Sams. Have they not Sword-Players, and ev'ry fort Of Gymnick Artifls, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners, Juglers and Dancers, Anticks, Mummers, Mimers, 1325 But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd, And over-labour'd at their publick Mill, To make them sport with blind activity? Do they not feek occafion 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

Of. Regard thy felf, this will offend them highly.

1335

Sams. My felf? my confcience and internal peace.
Can they think me so broken, so debas'd
With corporal Servitude, that my mind ever
Will condefcend to fuch abfurd commands?
Although their drudge, to be their fool or jefter,
And in my midft of forrow and heart-grief
To thew them feats, and play before their god,

1340 The

The worst of all indignities, yet on me
Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.

Of. My message was impos'd on me with speed, Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?

1344

Sams. So take it with what speed thy message needs.

Of. I am forry what this stoutness will produce.

Sams. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to forrow indeed.

Chor. Confider, Samfon; matters now are strain'd Up to the height, whether to hold or break; He's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350 Thy words by adding fuel to the flame? Expect another message more imperious,

More Lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.

Sams. Shall I abuse this confecrated gift
Of strength, again returning with my hair
After my great tranfgreffion, so requite
Favour renew'd, and add a greater fin
By prostituting holy things to Idols ?
A Nazarite in place abominable

1355

Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon! 1360

Befides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
What Act more execrably unclean, profane?

Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv'ist the Philistines, Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Sams. Not in their Idol-worship, but by labour

Honeit and lawful to deserve my food
Of those who have me in their civil power.

1366

Chor.

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