Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd
Incredible to me, in this displeas'd,
That I was never present on the place
Of those encounters, where we might have try'd
Each other's force in camp or lifted field:
And now am come to fee of whom such noise
Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey,
If thy appearance answer loud report.
Samf. The way to know were not to fee but taste.
Har. Dost thou already single me? I thought
Gieves and the mill had tam'd thee. O that fortune
Had brought me to the field where thou art fam'd
To have wrought fuch wonders with an ass's jaw
I should have forc'd thee soon with other arms,
Or left thy carcass where the ass lay thrown:
So had the glory of prowess been recover'd
To Palestine, won by a Philistin
From the unfore-skin'd race, of whom thou bear'
The highest name for valiant acts, that honour
Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee,
I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.
Sams. Boaft not of what thou wouldst have done, but de What then thou wouldst, thou seest it in thy hand.
Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain,
And thou hast need much wathing to be touch'd.
Samf. Such ufage as your honourable lords
Afford me affaffinated and betray'd,
Who durst not with their whole united pow'rs
In fight withstand me single and unarm'd,
Nor in the house with chamber-ambushes
Close-banded durft attack me, no not fleeping
Till they had 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 inclos'd, where sight may give thee,
Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet
And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon,
Vant-brass and greves, and gauntlet, and thy spear
A weaver's beam, and seven-times-folded shield;
I only with an oak'n-staff will meet thee,
And raise such out-cries on thy clatter'd iron,
Which long hall not withhold me from thy head,
That in a little time while breath remains thee,
Thou oft shalt with thyself at Gath to boast
Again in fafety what thou wouldst have done
To Samfon, but shalt never fee Gath more.
Har. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms
Which greatest heroes have in battle worn,
Their ornament and fafety, had not spells
And black enchantments, some magician's art [heav'n
Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from
Feign'dít at thy birth was given thee in thy hair,
Where strength can leaft abide, though all thy hairs
Were bruttles rang'd like those that ridge the back
Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffl d porcupines.
Samf I know no spells, use no forbidden arts;
My trust is in the living God, who gave me
At my nativity this strength, diffus'd
No less through all my finews, joints and bones,
Than thine, while I preferv'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 folemnest devotion, spread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now
To fruftrate and diffolve these magic spells,
Which I to be the pow'r of Ifrael's God
Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,
Off'ring to combat thee his champion bold
With th' utmost of his godhead seconded:
Then thou shalt fee, or rather to thy forrow
Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine.
Har. Prefume 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 prifon, there to grind
Among the slaves and affes thy comrades,
As good for nothing else, no better service
With those thy boist'rous locks, no worthy match
For valour to affail, nor by the sword
Of noble warriour, so to stain his honour,
But by the barber's razor best subdu'd.
Samf. All these indignities, for fuch they are
From thine, these evils I deserve and more,
Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me
Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon
Whose car 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 Ifrael's fons adore.
Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting
He will accept thee to defend his caufe,
A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.
Samf. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove
Har. Is not thy nation fubject to our lords?
Their magistrates confefs'd it, when they took thee
As a league-breaker, and deliver'd bound
Into our hands for hadit thou not committed
Notorious murder on those thirty men
At Askalon, who never did thee harm,
Then like a robber strip'dst them of their robes?
The Philistins, when thou hadst broke the league,
Went up with arm'd pow'rs thee only secking,
To others did no violence nor spo il.
Samf. Among the daughters of the Philiftins
I chose a wife, which argu'd me no foe;
And in your city held my nuptial feaft:
But your ill-meaning politician lords,
Under pretence of bridal friends and guests,
Appointed to await me thirty spies,
Who threatning eruel death conftrain'd the bride
To wring from me and tell to them my fecret,
That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd.
When I perceiv'd all set on enmity,
As on my enemies, where-ever chanc'd,
I us'd hoftility, 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 hoftile acts.
I was no private but a perfon rais'd
With strength fufficient and command from heav'n
To free my country; if their servile minds
Me their deliverer fent would not receive,
But to their masters gave me up for naught,
Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.
I was to do my part from heav'n affign'd,
- And had perform'd it if my known offence
Hid not difabl'd me, not all your force:
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant
Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts,
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
As a petty enterprise of small enforce.
Har. With thee, a man condemn'd, a slave enrol'd,
Due by the law to capital punishment?
To fight with thee no man of arms wilt deign.
Samf. Cam'st thou for this, vain boafter, to survey me, I
To defcant on my strength, and give thy verdict?
Com nearer. part not hence fo flight inform'd;
But take good heed my hand furvey not thee.
Har O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear thefe dishonours, and not render death?
Samf. No man withholds thee, ne thing from thy hand
Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,
My heels are fetter'd, but my fift is free.
Har. This inf lence ther kind of anfwer fits.
Samf. Go bailfl'a coward, left I run upon thee,
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