Of those who have me in their civil power.

[not.

CHO. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile SAMS. Where outward force constrains, the fen

tence holds.

But who constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, 1370
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 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 caufe, thou need'ft not doubt. CHO. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my

reach.

SAMS. Be of good courage, I begin to feel
Some roufing motions in me, which difpofe
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 prefage in the mind,
This day will be remarkable in my life
By fome great act, or of my days the last.

1380

1385

CHO. In time thou haft refoiv'd, the man returns.
OFF. Samfon, this fecond meffage from our lords

To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our slave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge,
And dar'st thou at our fending and command

Difpute thy coming? come without delay;
Or we shall find such engins to affail
And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,
Though thou wert firmlier faften'd than a rock.

1395

SAMS. I could be well content to try their art, Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. 1400 Yet, knowing their advantages too many, Because they shall not trail me through their streets Like a wild beaft, I am content to go. Matters' commands come with a power refiftlefs To fuch as owe them abfolute fubjection; And for a life who will not change his purpose ? (So mutable are all the ways of men !) Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

1405

OFF. I praise thy resolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free.

SAMS. Brethren, farewell; your company along I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them

To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415
Of me as of a common enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exasperate them,
I know not lords are lordlieft in their wine;
And the well-feafted priest then fooneft fir'd
With zeal, if ought religion feem concern'd;
No lefs the people on their holy-days
Impetuous, infolent, unquenchable:
Happen what may, of me expect to hear
Nothing dishonorable, impure, unworthy

1420

Our

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself,

1425

The last of me or no I cannot warrant,

CHO. Go, and the holy One

Of Ifrael be thy guide

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

Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to ftand

Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field

Rode up

in flames after his meffage told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

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

1439

Measure of strength so great to mortal feed,
As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen!
But wherefore comes old Manoah in fuch hafte
With youthful steps? much livelier than ere-while
He feems: fuppofing here to find his fon,

Or of him bringing to us fome glad news?

1435

1440

[hither

MAN. Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement

Was not at present here to find my son,

By order of the lords new parted hence

1450

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

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

MAN. I have attempted one by one the lords,
Either at home, or through the high street paffing,
With fupplication prone and father's tears,

T' accept of ranfom for my fon their pris'ner. 1460
Some much averfe I found and wondrous harfh,
Contemptuous, proud, fet on revenge and spite;
That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests :
Others more moderate feeming, but their aim
Private reward, for which both God and State 1465
They eafily would fet to fale: a third

More generous far and civil, who confefs'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to mifery beneath their fears,
The reft was magnanimity to remit,

If some convenient ranfom were propos'd.

What noife or fhout was that? it tore the sky.

CHO. Doubtlefs the people fhouting to behold

1470

Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of ftrength before them fhown. 1475

MAN. His ranfom, if my whole inheritance

May compass it, fhall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I fhall choofe

To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richest,

And he in that calamitous prifon left.

1480

No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him.
For his redemption all my patrimony,

If need be, I am ready to forego

And quit: not wanting him I fhall want nothing.

Сно

CHO. Fathers are wont to lay up for their fons, 1485 Thou for thy fon art bent to lay out all:

in old age,

Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy fon

Made older than thy age through eye-fight loft.

MAN. It fhall be my delight to tend his eyes, 1490 And view him fitting in the houfe, ennobled With all those high exploits by him achiev'd, And on his shoulders waving down those locks That of a nation arm'd the strength contain’d: And, I perfuade me, God had not permitted His ftrength again to grow up with his hair Garrison'd round about him like a camp Of faithful foldiery, were not his purpofe To use him farther yet in fome great fervice, Not to fit idle with fo great a gift

Useless, and thence ridiculous about him.

And fince his ftrength with eye-fight was not loft,
God will restore him eye-fight to his strength.

1495

1500

CHо. Thy hopes are not ill founded, nor seem vain

Of his delivery, and thy joy 'thereon

Conceiv'd, agreeable to a father's love,

In both. which we, as next, participate.

1505

[noise!

MAN. I know your friendly minds, and—O what Mercy of Heaven, what hideous noise was that!

Horribly loud, unlike the former fhout.

CHO. Noife call you it, or universal groan,

As if the whole inhabitation perish'd!

Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noife,
Ruin, deftruction at the utmost point.

1510

MAN.