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As a League-breaker and deliver'd bound

Into our hands: for hadft thou not committed
Notorious murther on thofe thirty men

At Askalon, who never did thee harm,

Then like a Robber strip'dit them of their robes?
The Philiftins, when thou hadst broke the league,
Went up with armed powers thee only feeking,
To others did no violence nor fpoil.

Samf. Among the Daughters of the Philistins
I chofe a Wife, which argu'd 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 threatning cruel death constrain'd the Bride
To wring from me and tell to them my fecret,
That foly'd the riddle which I had propos'd.
When I perceiv'd all fet on enmity,
As on my enemies, where ever chanc'd,
I us'd hoftility, and took their spoil
To pay my underminers in their coin.

My Nation was fubjected to your Lords.
It was the force of Conqueft; force with force

Is well ejected when the Conquer'd can.
But I a private perfon, whom my Country

As a league-breaker gave up bound, prefum'd
Single Rebellion and did hostile Acts.

I was no private but a person rais'd

With ftrength fufficient and command from Heav'n
To free my Country; if their fervile minds

Me their deliverer fent would not receive,
But to their Masters gave me up for naught,
Th'unworthier they; whence to this day they serve,
I was to do my part from Heav'n affign'd,
And had perform'd it if my known offence
Had not difabl'd 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 fingle fight,
As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

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.
Samf.Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster,to survey me,
To defcant on my ftrength, and give thy verdict?
Come nearer, part not hence fo flight inform'd;

But

But take good heed my hand survey not thee.
Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd

Hear these dishonours, and not render death?

Samf. No man with-holds thee, nothing from thy Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, [hand

My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free.

Har. This infolence other kind of answer fits. Samf. Go baffl'd coward, left I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vaft, And with one buffet lay thy ftructure low, Or fwing thee in the Air, then dash thee down To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides. Har. By Aftaroth e'er long thou shalt lament These braveries in Irons loaden on thee.

Chor. His Giantship is gone fomewhat creft-fall'n, Stalking with lefs unconscionable ftrides,

And lower looks, but in a fultrie chafe.

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

Chor. He will directly to the Lords, I fear, And with malitious counsel stir them up Some way or other farther to afflict thee.

Samf.

Samf. He must alledge fome caufe, and offer'd figh

Will not dare mention, left a question rise

Whether he durft accept the offer or not,
And that he durft not plain enough appear❜d.
Much more affliction than already felt
They cannot well impofe, nor I sustain;
my labours

If they intend advantage of

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

But come what will, my deadlieft Foe will prove
My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence,

The worst that he can give, to me the best.
Yet fo 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 opprest !
When God into the hands of their deliverer
Puts invincible might

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

Tyrannick power, but raging to pursue

The

The righteous and all fuch as honour Truth;

He all their Ammunition

And feats of War defeats

With plain Heroick magnitude of mind

And celeftial vigour arm'd,

Their Armories and Magazins contemns,
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 diftracted and amaz'd.
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,

Samfon, with might endu'd

Above the Sons of men; but fight bereav'd
May chance to number thee with those

Whom Patience finally must crown.

This Idols day hath been to thee no day of rest,

Labouring

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