Page images
PDF
EPUB

My truft is in the living God, who gave me 1140 At my nativity this ftrength, 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 folemneft devotion, spread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now
To fruftrate and diffolve thefe magic fpells,
Which I to be the power of Ifrael's God
Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,
Offering to combat thee his champion bold,
With th' utmost of his Godhead feconded:

1145

1150

Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy forrow 1154
Soon feel, whofe God is ftrongeft, 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 fend thee
Into the common prifon, there to grind

1161

Among the flaves and affes thy comrades,

As good for nothing elfe, no better service

With those thy boift'rous locks, no worthy match For valor to affail, nor by the fword

1165

Of noble warrior, so to stain his honor,

But by the barber's razor best subdued.

Samf.

Samf. All these indignities, for such they are From thine, these evils I deferve and more, Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me 1170 Juftly, yet despair not of his final pardon Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the fuppliant; In confidence whereof I once again Defy thee to the tryal of mortal fight,

1175

By combat to decide whofe God is God,
Thine or whom I with Ifrael's fons adore.
Har. Fair honor that thou doft thy God, in trufting
He will accept thee to defend his cause,
1179
A Murderer, a Revolter, and a Robber. (me these?
Samf. Tongue-doughty Giant, how doft thou prove
Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords?
Their magiftrates confefs'd it, when they took thee
As a league-breaker and deliver'd bound
Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed 1185
Notorious murder on thofe thirty men.

At Afcalon, who never did thee harm,

Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes?
The Philiftines, when thou hadft broke the league,
Went up with armed pow'rs thee only feeking, 1190
To others did no violence nor spoil.

Samf. Among the daughters of the Philiftines
I chose a wife, which argued me no foe;
And in your city held my nuptial feast:

But

your ill-meaning politician lords,

1195

Under

Under pretence of bridal friends and guests,
Appointed to await me thirty fpies,

Who threatning cruel death constrain'd the bride
To wring from me and tell to them my secret,
That folv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200
When I perceiv'd all fet on enmity,

As on my enemies, wherever 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 conqueft; force with force
Is well ejected when the conquer'd can.
But I a private perfon, whom my country
As a league-breaker gave up bound, prefum'd
Single rebellion and did hoftile acts.

I was no private but a person rais'd

1205

1210

With strength fufficient and command from Heav'n
To free my country; if their fervile minds
Me their deliverer fent would not receive,

But to their mafters gave me up for nought, 1215
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 mine known offense
Had not difabled me, not all your force:
These shifts refuted, anfwer 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.

1220

Har.

Har. With thee a man condemn'd, a flave enroll'd, Due by the law to capital punishment? 1225 To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Samf. Cam'ft thou for this, vain boafter, to survey me, To descant on my ftrength, and give thy verdict? Come 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 these dishonors, and not render death? Samf. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, My heels are fetter'd but my fift is free.

1231

(hand 1235

Har. This infolence other kind of answer fits. Samf. Go baffled coward, left I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vaft, And with one buffet lay thy ftructure low, Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down 1240 To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides.

Har. By Aftaroth ere long thou shalt lament These braveries in irons loaden on thee.

Chor. His giantship is gone fomewhat creft-fall'n, Stalking with lefs unconfcionable ftrides, And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

1245

Samf. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five fons, All of gigantic fize, Goliah chief.

Chor. He will directly to the lords, I fear, 1250 And with malicious counsel ftir them up

Some

Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

1255

Samf. He must allege fome caufe, and offer'd fight
Will not dare mention, left a queflion rife
Whether he durft accept the' offer or not,
And that he durst not plain enough appear'd.
Much more affliction than already felt
They cannot well impose, nor I suslain;
If they intend advantage of my labors,

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping
With no fmall profit daily to my owners. 1261
But come what will, my deadlieft foe will prove
My speedieft 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.

1265

Chor. Oh how comely it is, and how reviving To the fpirits of just men long oppress'd! When God into the hands of their deliverer 1270 Puts invincible might

To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppressor,

The brute and boifl'rous force of violent men
Hardy and induftrious to support

Tyrannic pow'r, but raging to pursue

1275

The righteous and all fuch as honor truth;
He all their ammunition

And feats of war defeats

With plain heroic magnitude of mind

And

« PreviousContinue »