Though in thefe chains, bulk without fpirit vaft,
And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or fwing thee in the air. then dash thee down
To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides.

Har By Aftareth ere long thou shalt lament
Thefe braveries in irons loaden on thee

Chor. His giantship is gone fomewhat crest-fall'n, Stalking with lefs unconscionable strides

And lower looks but in a fultry chafe.

Samf. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood
Though fame divulg'd him father of five fons
All of gigantic fize, Goliah chief.

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

Samf. He must alledge fome cause, and offer'd fight
Will not dare mention, left a question rife
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 impose, nor I sustain;
If they intend advantage of my labours

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping
With no fmall profit daily to my owners.
But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove
My fpeedieft 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 oppreft!

When God into the hands of their deliverer
Puts invincible might

To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppreffor,
The brute and boist'rous force of violent men
Hardy and industrious to fupport

Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue

The righteous and all such as honour truth;
He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats,

With plain heroic magnitude of mind
And celestial vigour arm'd

Their armorics and magazines contemne
Renders them useless, while

With winged expedition,

Swift as the light'ning glance, he executee
His errand on the wicked, who furpriz'd
Lofe their defence distracted and amaz'd

But patience is more oft the exercifa
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,

Samfon, with might endu'd

Above the fons of men; but fight bereav'

May chance to number thee with those

Whom patience final y must crown,

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

Labouring thy mind

More than the working day thy hands.

t

And yet perhaps more trouble is behind,

For I defcry this way

Some other tending, in his hand

A fcepter 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 meffage will be fhort and voluble.

Off Hebrews. the pris'ner Samfon here I feek.
Chor. His manacles remark him, there he fits.
Off. Samfon, to thee our lords thus bîd me fay;
This day to Dagon is a folemn feast,
With facrifices, triumph, pomp and games;
Thy strength they know fürpaffing human race,
And now fome public proof thereof require
To honour this great teaft, and great assembly:
Rife therefore with all fpeed and come along,
Where I will fee thee heartn'd and fresh clad
To appear as fits before th' illuftrious lords.

[them,

Samf. 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 affur'd, will not content them. Sam Have they not fword-players, and ev'ry fort Of gymnic artifts, wrestlers, riders, runners, Juglers and dancers, anticks, mummers, mimers, But they must pick me out with fhackles tir'd, And over-labour'd at their public mill, To make them fport with blind activity? Do they not feck occasion of new quarrels On my refufal to distress me more,

Or make a game of my calamities?

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

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

With corporal fervitude, that my mind ever
Will condefcend to fuch abfurd commands?
Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,
And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief
To fhew them feats, and play before their god,
The worst of all indignities, yet on me
Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.
Off. My meffage was impos'd on me with speed,
Brooks no delay: is this thy refolution?

Samf. So take it with what speed thy message needs.
Off. I am forry what this stoutness will produce.
Samf. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to forrow indeed.
Chor. Confider, Samfon; matters now are strain'd
Up to the height, whether to hold or break;
He's gone, and who knows how he may report
Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?
Expect another meffage more imperious,
More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.
Samf. Shall I abuse this confecrated gift
Of ftrength, again returning with my hair
After my great transgreffion. fo requite
Favour renew'd, and add a greater fin
By proftituting holy things to idols?
A Nazarite in place abominable

Vaunting my ftrength in honour to their Dagon!
Befides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,

What act more execrably unclean, profane?

Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv❜st the Philistins, Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Samf. Not in their idol worship, but by labour Honeft and lawful to deferve my food

Of those who have me in their civil power.

Chor. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not. Samf. Where outward force constrains, the sentence But who constrains me to the temple of Dagon, [holds, Not dragging? the Philiftian lords command. Commands are no constraints. 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 difpenfe with me or thee Prefent in temples at idolatrous rites

For fome important cause, thou need'st not doubt. Chor. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach. Samf. Be of good courage, I begin to feel

Some rousing motions in

me, which dispose
To fomething extraordinary my thoughts.
I with this meffenger will go along,
Nothing to do, be fure, that may difhonour
Our law, or ftain my vow of Nazarite.
If there be aught of prefage 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. Of. Samfon, this fecond meffage from our lords To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our flave,

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