Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd' Incredible to me, in this difpleas'd; That I was never prefent on the place
Of thofe encounters, where we might have try' Each other's force in camp or lifted field:
And now am come to fee of whom such noife Hath walk'd about, and each limb to furvey, If thy appearance answer loud report.
Samf. The way to know were not to see but taste, Har. Dost thou already single me? I thought Gieves and the mill had tam'd thee. O that fortune. Had brought me to the field where thou art fam'd To have wrought fuch wonders with an afs's jaw; I fhould have forc'd thee foon with other arms, Or left thy carcass where the ass lay thrown: So had the glory of prowess been recover'd To Palestine, won by a Philiftin
From the unfore-skin'd race, of whom thou bear'st The highest name for valiant acts, that honour Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee, I lofe, prevented by thy eyes put out.
Samf. Boaft not of what thou wouldst have done, but do What then thou wouldst, thou feeft it in thy hand. Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain, And thou haft need much washing to be touch'd. Samf. Such ufage as your honourable lords Afford me affaffinated and betray'd,
Who durft not with their whole united pow'rs In fight withstand me fingle and unarm❜d, Nor in the houfe with chamber ambushes Clofe-banded durft attack me, no not fleeping
Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me. Therefore without feign'd shifts let be affign'd Some narrow place inclos'd, where fight may give thee, Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; Then put on all thy gorgeous arms. thy helmet And brigandine of brafs, thy broad habergeon, Vant-brafs and greves, and gauntlet, and thy spear A weaver's beam, and seven-times-folded shield; I only with an oak'n staff will meet thee, And raife fuch out-cries on thy clatter'd iron, Which long shall not withhold me from thy head, That in a little time while breath remains thee, Thou oft fhalt with thyself at Gath to boast Again in fafety what thou wouldst have done To Samfon, but fhalt never fee Gath more.
Har. Thou durft not thus difparage glorious arms Which greatest heroes have in battle worn,
Their ornament and fafety, had not spells
And black enchantments, fome magician's art [heav'n Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Feign'dft at thy birth was given thee in thy hair, Where ftrength can least abide, though all thy hairs Were brittles rang'd like those that ridge the back Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffl & porcupines.
Samf I know no spells, use no forbidden arts; My truft is in the living God, who gave me At my nativity this strength, diffus'd
No lefs through all my finews, joints and bones, Than thine, while I preferv'd these locks unshorn,
The pledge of my uuviolat d vow.
For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god, Go to his temple, invocate his aid With folemneft devotion, fpread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To frustrate and diffolve these magic spells, Which I to be the pow'r of Ifrael's God Avow, and challenge Dagon to the teft, Off'ring to combat thee his champion bold With th' utmost of his godhead feconded: Then thou shalt fee, or rather to thy forrow Soon feel, whofe God is strongest, thine or mine. Har Prefume not on thy God whate'er he be, Thee he regards not owns not, hath cut off Quite from his people, and deliver'd up Into thy enemies hand permitted them
To put ou both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee Into the common prifon, there to grind Among the flaves and affes thy comrades, As good for nothing elfe, no better service With thofe thy boift'rous locks, no worthy match For valour to affail, nor by the sword
Of noble warriour, so to stain his honour,
But by the barber's razor best fübdu’d.
San. All thefe indignities, for fuch they are From thine, thefe evils i deferve and more, Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me Juftly yet defpair not of his final pardon Whofe ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the fuppliant; In confidence whereof I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight,
By combat to decide whofe god is God, Thine or whom I with Ifrael's fons adore.
Har Fair honour that thou doft thy God, in trusting He will accept thee to defend his caufe,
A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.
Sam. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magiftrates confess'd it. when they took thee As a league-breaker, and deliver'd bound Into our hands for hadft thou not committed Notorious murder on thofe thirty men
At Askalon, who never did thee harm,
Then like a robber strip'dst them of their robes? The Philiftias, when thou hadft broke the kague, Went up with arm'd pow'rs thee only fecking, To others did no violence 'nor fpil.
Samf. Among the daughters of the Philistins I chofe a wife, which argu'd me no foe; And in y ur city held my nuptial feast: But your ill-meaning politician lords, Under pretence of bridal friends and guests, Appointed to awa.it me thirty fpies,
Who threatning cruel death constrain❜d the bride To wring from me and tell to them my secret, That fulv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. When I perceiv'd all fet on eninity, As on my enemies, where-ever chanc'd, I us'd hoftility, and took their spoil To pay my underminers in their coin. My marion was fubjected to your lords; It was the force of conquest, force with force
Is well ejected when the conquer'd can, But I a private person, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bund, prefum'd Single rebellion, and did hostile acts.
I was no private but a perfon rais'd
With strength fufficient and command from heav'n To free my country; if their fervile minds. Me their deliverer fent would not receive, But to their mafters gave me up for naught, Th' rnworthier they; whence to this day they serve. I was to do my p r from heav'n affign'd, And had perform'd it if my known offence Had not difabl'd me not all your force: These fhifts ref, ted, anfwer 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 flave enrol'd, Due by the law to capital punishment?
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
Samf. Cam'ft thou for this, vain boaster, 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 furvey not thee,
Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear thefe difhonours, and not render death?
Samf. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,
My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free.
Har. This infolence other kind of anfwer fits.
Samf. Go baffl'd coward, left I run upon thee,
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