SAM. Such usages as your honorable lords Afford me' assassinated and betray'd; Who durst not with their whole united powers 1110 HAR. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms 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 To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells, 1161 With those thy boisť'rous locks, no worthy match For valour to assail, nor by the sword 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 At Ascalon, who never did thee harm, Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes; SAM. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued me no foe; And in your city held my nuptial feast: Who threat'ning cruel death, constrain'd the bride lords, It was the force of conquest; force with force I was no private, but a person rais'd 1210 With strength sufficient and command from Heav'n Had not disabled me, These shifts refuted, if my known offence not all your force: Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, 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 |