Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vaft,
And with one buffet lay thy ftructure low,
Or fwing thee in the air, then dash thee down
To th' hazard of thy brains and fhatter'd fides.
Har. By Aftaroth ere long thou fhalt lament
These braveries in irons loaden on thee.

Chor. His giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall'n, Stalking with lefs unconfcionable ftrides

And lower looks, but in a fultry chafe.

Samf. 1 dread him not, nor all his giant-brood,
Though fame divulg'd him father of five fons
All of gigantick fize, Goliah chief.

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

Samf. He must alledge fome caufe, 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 impofe, 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 speediest 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 fpirits of just men long oppraft!

When God into the hands of their deliverer visiva bud
Puts invincible might als jis van Hees,

To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppreffor, a
The brute and boift'rous force of violent men
Hardy and induftrious to fupporterete libistak 17
Tyrannick power, but raging to pursued

The righteous and all fuch as honour truth;

He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats,

With plain heroick magnitude of mind

And celeftial vigour arm'd,

Their armories and magazines contemns,
Renders them ufelefs, while

With winged expedition,

Swift as the light'ning glance, the executes
His errand on the wicked, who surpriz'd
Lose their defence diftracted 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

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.
Either of thefe is in thy lot,

Samfon, with might endu'd

Above the fons of men; but fight bereav'd

May chance to number thee with thofe

Whom patience finally must crown,

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

Labouring thy mind

More than the working day thy hands.

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 discern him now
A publick officer, and now at hand,
His meflage will be short and voluble.

Off. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samfon here I seek. Chor. His manacles remark him, there he fits. Off. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me fay; This day to Dagon is a folemn feast, With facrifices, triumph, pomp and games; Thy strength they know surpassing human race, And now fome publick proof thereof require To honour this great feaft, and great affembly: Rife therefore with all speed and come along, Where will fee thee heartn'd and fresh clad To appear as fits before th' illuftrious lords. Samf. Thou know'ft I am an Hebrew, therefore tell Our law forbids at their religious rites

My prefence; for that cause I cannot come.

(them,

Off. This anfwer, be affur'd, will not content them. Samf. Have they not fword-players, and ev'ry fort Of gymnick artists, 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 publick mill, To make them fport with blind activity? Do they not feek occafion of new quarrels refufal to diftrefs me more, E

On my

Or make a game of my calamities?

Return the way thou cam'ft, I will not come.
Off. Regard thyself, this will offend them highly.
Samf. Myfelf? my confcience and internal peace.
Can they think me fo broken, fo debas'd

With corporal fervitude, that my mind ever
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 shew 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 resolution?

Samf. So take it with what speed thy meflage 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 tranfgreffion, 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 ftrength thou ferv'ft the Philiftins, 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,outw'rd a&ts defile not.
Samf. Where outward force conftrains, the sentence
But who conftrains 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 dispense with me or thee
Present in temples at idolatrous rites

For fome important cause, thou need'ft not doubt.
Chor.How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach.
Samf. Be of good courage, I begin to feel
Some roufing motions in me, which dispose
To something extraordinary my thoughts.
I with this meffenger will go along,
Nothing to do, be fure, that may dishonour
Our law, or stain 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 last.

Chor. In time thou haft refolv'd, the man returns. Off. Samson, this second message from our lords To thee I am bid fay.

Art thou our slave,