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SAM. Such usages as your honorable lords Afford me' assassinated and betray'd;

Who durst not with their whole united powers 1110
In fight withstand me single and unarm'd,
Nor in the house with chamber ambushes
Close-banded durst attack me, no not sleeping,
Till they hir'd a woman with their gold
Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me.
Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd
Some narrow place enclos'd, where sight may give
Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; [thee
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet
And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, 1120
Vant-brass, and greves, and gauntlet, add thy spear,
A weaver's beam, and sev'n times folded shield,
I only with an oaken staff will meet thee,
And raise such outcries 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 shall wish thyself at Gath to boast
Again in safety what thou would'st have done
To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

HAR. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms
Which greatest heroes have in battle worn, 1131
Their ornament and safety, had not spells.
And black inchantments, some Magician's art,
Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou fro
Heav'n

Feign'dst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair,

Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs Were bristles rang'd like those that ridge the back Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.

SAM. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts ; My trust is in the living God, who gave me 1140 At my nativity this strength, diffus'd

No less through all my sinews, joints and bones, Than thine, while I preserv'd these locks unshorn, The pledge of my unviolated vow.

For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god,

Go to his temple, invocate his aid

With solemnest devotion, spread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now

To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells,
Which I to be the power of Israel's God 1150
Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,
Offering to combat thee his champion bold,
With th' utmost of his godhead seconded :
Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow
Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine.
HAR. Presume 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 out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee
Into the common prison there to grind
Among the slaves and asses thy comrades,
As good for nothing else, no better service

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With those thy boisť'rous locks, no worthy match

For valour to assail, nor by the sword
Of noble warrior, so to stain his honour,
But by the barber's razor best subdued.

SAM. All these indignities, for such they are From thine, these evils I deserve and more, Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me 1170 Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the suppliant: In confidence whereof I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight, By combat to decide whose god is God, Thine or whom I with Israel's sons adore.

[ing

HAR. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, intrust

He will accept thee to defend his cause,

A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.

1179

SAM. Tongue-doughty Giant,how dost thou prove me these ?

HAR. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee As a league-breaker and deliver'd bound

Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed
Notorious murder on those thirty men

At Ascalon, who never did thee harm,

Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes;
The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league?
Went up with armed powers thee only seeking,
To others did no violence, nor spoil.
1191

SAM. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued 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 threat'ning cruel death, constrain'd the bride
To wring from me and tell to them my secret,
That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200.
When I perceiv'd all set on enmity,
As on my enemies, wherever chanc'd,
I us'd hostility and took their spoil
To pay my underminers in their coin,
My nation was subjected 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 bound, presum❜d
Single rebellion and did hostile acts.

I was no private, but a person rais'd

1210

With strength sufficient and command from Heav'n
To free my country; if their servile minds
Me their deliverer sent would not receive,
But to their masters gave me up for nought,
Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.
1 was to do my part from Heav'n assign'd,
And had perform'd it,

Had not disabled me,

These shifts refuted,

if my known offence

not all your force:
answer thy appellant 1220

Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts,
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

As a petty enterprize of small enforce.

HAR. With thee a man condemn'd, a slave enroll'd Due by the law to capital punishment;

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. [me,

SAM. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict? Come nearer. Part not hence so slight inform'd ; But take good heed my hand survey not thee. 1230 HAR. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear these dishonours, and not render death? SAM. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free.

[hand

HAR. This insolence other kind of answer fits. SAM. Go, baffled coward, lest I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast, And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down, 1240 To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides. HAR. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries in irons loaded on thee.

CHOR. His Giantship is gone somewhat crestStalking with less unconscionable strides, [fallen

And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

SAM.

I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliath chief.

CHOR. He will directly to the lords, I fear, 1250 And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. SAM. He must alledge some cause, and offer'd fight

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