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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 fhow 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 refolution? 1344
Samf. So take it with what speed thy meffage needs.
Off. I am forry what this stoutness will produce.
Sam. Perhaps thoufhalt have caufe to forrow indeed.
Chor. Confider, Samfon; matters now are ftrain'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 ftrength 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

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Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Samf. Not in their idol-worship, but by labor Honeft 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 constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, (holds. Not dragging? the Philiftian lords command. 1371 Commands are no conftraints. 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'st not doubt. Ch. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach.

1385

Samf. Be of good courage, I begin to feel 1381 Some roufing 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 ftain my vow of Nazarite. If there be ought of presage in the mind, This day will be remarkable in my life By some great act, or of my days the laft.

1389

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

To

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To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our flave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,
And dar'st thou at our fending and command
Difpute thy coming? come without delay; 1395
Or we shall find fuch engines to affail
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 theirftreets Like a wild beaft, I am content to go. Masters commands come with a pow'r refistless To such as owe them abfolute fubjection; And for a life who will not change his purpofe? (So mutable are all the of men) Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

ways

1405

Off. I praife thy refolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords. To favor, and perhaps to set 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 fight
Of me as of a common enemy,
1416

So dreaded onće, may now exasperate them
I know not: lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feasted priest then foonest 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 difhonorable, impure, unworthy

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself, 1425
The laft of me or no I cannot warrant.

Chor. Go, and the Holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

(name

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

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand

Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field in flames after his message told

Rode

up

Of thy conception, and be now a fhield

1430

Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee 1435 In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

For never was from Heav'n imparted

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 feems: fuppofing here to find his son,
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

To

To come and play before them at their feast.

I heard all as I came, the city rings,

And numbers thither flock, I had no will,

1450

Left I should see him forc'd to things unfeemly.
But that which mov'd my coming now, was chiefly
To give ye part with me what hope I have
With good fuccefs to work his liberty.

1454

Chor. That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; fay, reverend Sire, we thirft to hear.

Man. I have attempted one by one the lords Either at home, or through the high ftreet paffing, With fupplication prone and father's tears, T'accept of ransome for my son their pris'ner. 1460 Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh, Contemptuous, proud, fet on revenge and spite; That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests: Others more moderate seeming, but their aim Private reward, for which both God and State 1465. They easily would set to fale: a third

More generous far and civil, who confefs'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to misery beneath their fears,
The reft was magnanimity to remit,
If some convenient ransome were propos'd.
What noise or shout was that? it tore the sky.

1470

Chor. Doubtlefs the people fhouting to behold Their once great dread captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of strength before them shown.

Man.

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