And celestial vigor arm'd,
Their armories and magazines contemns, Renders them useless, while With winged expedition
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
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,
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.
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.
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,
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
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? 1344 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;
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
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.
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
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.
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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