Gracious to re-admit the suppliant: By combat to decide whose god is God, HAR. Fair honor that thou dost thy God, in He will accept thee to defend his cause, SAM. 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. SAM. Among the daughters of the Philistines Who, threatening cruel death, constrain❜d the bride My nation was subjected to your lords: I was no private, but a person raised serve. I was to do my part from Heaven assign'd, HAR. With thee! a man condemn'd, a slave inDue by the law to capital punishment! {roll'd, To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. SAM. Camest thou for this, vain boaster! to survey me, To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict? My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free. [hand HAR. This insolence other kind of answer fits. SAM. 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 Ashtaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries, in irons loaden on thee. [Exit. CHO. His giantship is gone somewhat crest fallen, Stalking with less unconscionable strides, And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe. SAM. I dread him not, nor all his giant brood; Though Fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliath chief. CHO. He will directly to the lords, I fear, And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. SAM. He must allege some cause, and offer'd Will not dare mention, lest a question rise [fight 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 labors, 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. CHO. Oh! how comely it is, and how reviving To the spirits of just men long oppress'd, 1 When God into the hands of their deliverer To quell the mighty of the earth, the' oppressor, Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue The righteous and all such as honor truth! And feats of war defeats, With plain heroic magnitude of mind Their armouries and magazines contemns, With winged expedition, Swift as the lightning glance, he executes That tyranny or fortune can inflict. 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, Laboring 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. Enter Officer. OFF. Hebrews! the prisoner Samson here I seek. CHO. His manacles remark him, there he sits. OFF. Samson! to thee our lords thus bid me This day to Dagon is a solemn feast, [say; With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games: Thy strength they know surpassing human rate, And now some public proof thereof require To honor 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. SAM. Thou know'st 1 am an Hebrew, therefore Our law forbids at their religious rites [tell them, My presence; for that cause I cannot come. OFF. This answer, be assured, will not content them. [sort SAM. Have they not sword-players, and every Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners, Jugglers, and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, But they must pick me out, with shackles tired, And over-labor'd at their public mill, To make them sport with blind activity? Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels refusal to distress me more, Or make a game of my calamities? On my Return the way thou camest, I will not come. OFF. Regard thyself: this will offend them highly. SAM. Myself? my conscience, and internal peace. |