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And celestial vigor arm'd,

Their armories and magazines contemns,
Renders them useless, while
With winged expedition

1280

Swift as the lightning glance he executes
His errand on the wicked, who furpris'd
Lose their defense distracted and amaz'd.
But patience is more oft the exercise
Of faints, the trial of their fortitude,
Making them each his own deliverer,
And victor over all

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That tyranny or fortune can inflict.

Either of these is in thy lot,

Samson, with might indued

Above the fons of men; but fight bereav'd

May chance to number thee with those

Whom patience finally must crown.

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

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

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Off.

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Off. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samson here I seek.
Chor. His manacles remark him, there he fits.
Off. Samfon, to thee our lords thus bid me say;
This day to Dagon is a folemn feaft,
With facrifices, triumph, pomp, and games;
Thy ftrength they know furpassing human rate,
And now fome public proof thereof require
To honor this great feast, and great assembly; 1315

Rise therefore with all speed and come along,
Where I will fee thee hearten'd and fresh clad
To' appear as fits before th'illustrious lords. (them,
Sams. Thou know'st I am an Hebrew, therefore tell

Our Law forbids at their religious rites

My prefence; for that cause I cannot come.

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Off. This answer, be assur'd, will not content them. Sams. Have they not sword-players, and every fort Of gymnic artifts, wrestlers, riders, runners, Juglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, 1325 But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd,

And over-labor'd at their public mill,
To make them sport with blind activity?
Do they not feek occafion of new quarrels
On my refusal to distress me more,

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Or make a game of my calamities?

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

Off. Regard thyself, this will offend them highly. Sams. Myfelf? my confcience and internal peace. Can they think me so broken, so debas'd

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With corporal fervitude, that my mind ever
Will condescend to fuch abfurd commands?
Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,
And in my midft of forrow and heart-grief

To show them feats, and play beforetheir God, 1340
The worst of all indignities, yet on me
Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.
Off. My message was impos'd on me with speed,
Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?
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Sams. So takeit with what speed thy message needs.

Off. 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 highth, 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
Favor renew'd, and add a greater fin
By prostituting holy things to idols;

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A Nazarite in place abominable

Vaunting my strength in honor to their Dagon? 1360 Besides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,

What act more execrably unclean, profane? (stines, Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the Phili

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.
Sams. Not in their idol-worship, but by labor 1365
Honest and lawful to deferve my food

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Of those who have me in their civil power. (not.
Chor. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile
Sams. Where outward force constrains, the sentence
But who constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, (holds.
Not dragging? the Philistian lords command.
Commands are no conftraints. If I obey them,
I do it freely, vent'ring to displease
God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer,
Set God behind: which in his jealoufy
Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness.
Yet that he may dispense with me or thee
Present in temples at idolatrous rites
For fome important cause, thou need'st not doubt.
Chor.How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach.

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Sams. Be of good courage, I begin to feel Some rousing motions in me which dispose To fomething extraordinary my thoughts. I with this messenger will go along, Nothing to do, be fure, that may dishonor Our law, or ftain my vow of Nazarite. If there be ought of presage in the mind, This day will be remarkable in my life By fome great act, or of my days the laft. Chor. In time thou haft refolv'd, the man returns. Off. Samson, this second message from our lords

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To 1395

To thee I am bid say. Art thou our flave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,
And dar'st thou at our fending and command
Dispute thy coming? come without delay;
Or we shall find such engins to affail
And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,
Though thou wert firmlier fasten'd than a rock.
Sams. I could be well content to try their art,
Which to no few of them would prove pernicious.
Yet knowing their advantages too many,
Because they shall not trail me through their streets
Like a wild beast, I am content to go.
Masters commands come with a pow'r resistless
To such as owe them absolute subjection;
And for a life who will not change his purpose?
(So mutable are all the ways of men)
Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply
Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

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Off. I praise thy resolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free.

Sams. Brethren farewel; your company along
I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them
To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415
Of me as of a common enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exasperate them
I know not: lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feasted priest then fooneft fir'd

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