1311

Off. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samfon 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 feast, With facrifices, triumph, pomp, and games; Thy strength they know surpaffing 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.

fort

Samf. Thou know'st 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 sword-players, and every Of gymnic artifts, wrestlers, riders, runners, Juglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, But they must pick me out with fhackels tir'd, 1326 And over-labor'd at their public mill,

To make them fport with blind activity?

Do they not feek occafion of new quarrels

On my refusal to distress me more,

1330

Or make a game of my calamities?

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

Off. Regard thyfelf, this will offend them highly. Samf. Myself? my conscience and internal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debas'd

1335

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 show them feats, and play before their God,
The worst of all indignities, yet on me 1341
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 meffage needs.
Off. I am forry what this ftoutness will produce.
Sam.Perhaps thoufhalt have cause to sorrow 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

Vaunting my ftrength in honor to their Dagon?
Besides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
What act more execrably unclean, profane? (ftines,
Chor. Yet with this strength thou ferv'ft the Phili-

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Samf. Not in their idol-worship, but by labor Honeft and lawful to deferve 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 constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, (holds.
Not dragging? the Philistian 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 fure, that may dishonor Our law, or stain 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.

1385

1389

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

To

149

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
Difpute thy coming? come without delay; 1395
Or we shall find such engines to assail

And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,
Though thou wert firmlier fasten'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 refolution: doff these links: 1410
By this compliance thou wilt win the lords
To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free.

Samf. Brethren farewel; your company along
I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them
To see me girt with friends; and how the sight
Of me as of a common enemy,
So dreaded once, may now exasperate them
1416
I know not: lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feasted priest then soonest fir'd

With zeal, if ought religion feem'd concern'd; 1420
No less the people on their holy-days
Impetuous, infolent, unquenchable:
Happen what may, of me expect to hear
Nothing dishonorable, impure, unworthy
Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself,
The laft of me or no I cannot warrant.

Chor. Go, and the Holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

1425

(name

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his Great among the Heathen round;

1430

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand

Fast by thy fide, who from thy father's field up in flames after his meffage told

Rode

Of thy conception, and be now a fhield

Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee

In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

For never was from Heav'n imparted

1435

Measure of strength so great to mortal seed,
As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen. 1140
But wherefore comes old Manoah in fuch hafte
With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while
He seems supposing here to find his fon,

Or of him bringing to us fome glad news? (hither
Man. Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement
Was not at present here to find my fon,

1446

By order of the lords new parted hence

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