And celeftial 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

1280

1285

1290

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

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 fhort and voluble.
T

1305

off.

Off. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samfon here I feek. 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 feast, 1311 With facrifices, triumph, pomp, and games; Thy ftrength they know furpaffing human rate, And now fome public proof thereof require To honor this great feast, and great assembly; 1315 Rife therefore with all speed and come along, Where I will fee thee hearten'd and fresh clad To' appear as fits before th' illuftrious lords.

Samf. Thou know'ft I am an Hebrew, therefore Our law forbids at their religious rites (tell them, My prefence; for that cause I cannot come. 1321

Off. This anfwer, be affur'd, will not content them. Samf. Have they not fword-players, and every fort Of gymnic artifts, wrestlers, riders, runners, Juglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, But they must pick me out with shackels tir'd, 1326 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 refufal to diftrefs me more,

Or make a game of my calamities?

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

1330

Off. Regard thyself, this will offend them highly.
Samf. Myfelf? my confcience and internal peace.

Can they think me fo broken, so debas'd

1335

With corporal fervitude, that my

mind ever

1341

Will condefcend to fuch abfurd commands?
Although their drudge, to be their fool or jefter,
And in my midft of forrow and heart-grief
To fhow 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 message was impos'd on me with speed,
Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution? 1344
Samf. So take it with what speed thy message needs.
Off. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce.
Sam. Perhaps thoufhalt have caufeto 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
Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?
Expect another message more imperious,
More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.
Samf. Shall I abuse this confecrated gift

1351

Of ftrength, again returning with my hair
After my great tranfgreffion, fo requite
Favor renew'd, and add a greater fin

1355

By prostituting holy things to idols;
A Nazarite in place abominable

1359

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

What act more execrably unclean, profane? (ftines, Chor. Yet with this ftrength thou ferv'ft the Phili

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Samf. Not in their idol-worship, but by labor Honest and lawful to deserve my food

1366
Of those who have me in their civil power. (not.
Chor. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile
Samf. Where outward force constrains, the sentence
But who conftrains me to the temple' of Dagon, (holds.
Not dragging? the Philiftian lords command. 1371
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 jealousy
Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness.
Yet that he may dispense with me or thee
Present in temples at idolatrous rites

1375

For fome important cause, thou need'ft not doubt. Ch. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach.

Samf. Be of good courage, I begin to feel 1381 Some rousing motions in me which dispose To fomething extraordinary my thoughts. I with this messenger will go along, Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonor Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite. If there be ought of prefage in the mind, This day will be remarkable in my life By some great act, or of my days the last.

1385

1389

Chor. In time thou hast refolv'd, the man returns. Off. Samfon, this fecond message from our lords

To

To thee I am bid say. Art thou our flave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,
And dar'ft thou at our fending and command
Dispute thy coming? come without delay; 1395
Or we shall find fuch engines to assail

And hamper thee, as thou fhalt come of force,
Though thou wert firmlier faften'd than a rock.

1401

Samf. 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 beaft, 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 sure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our Law..

1405

Off. I praise thy resolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to set 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 Of me as of a common enemy, 1416 So dreaded once, may now exasperate them I know not lords are lordlieft in their wine; And the well-feafted priest then foonest fir'd