I was to do my part from Heaven assigned,

And had performed it, if my known offence
Had not disabled me, not all your force.
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant,
Though by his blindness maimed for high attempts,
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

1220

Harapha. With thee, a man condemned, a slave enrolled, Due by the law to capital punishment?

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

1225

Samson. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me,

To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict?

Come nearer; part not hence so slight informed;
But take good heed my hand survey not thee.

1230

Harapha. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unused

Hear these dishonours, and not render death?

Samson. No man withholds thee; nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable; bring up thy van;

My heels are fettered, but my fist is free.

1235

Harapha. This insolence other kind of answer fits.
Samson. Go, baffled coward, lest I run upon thee,

Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,
And with one buffet lay thy structure low,
Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down,

1240

To the hazard of thy brains and shattered sides.
Harapha. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament
These braveries in irons loaden on thee.

Chorus. His giantship is gone somewhat crest-fallen,

Stalking with less unconscionable strides,

1245

And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

Samson. I dread him not, nor all his giant brood,

Though fame divulge him father of five sons,
All of gigantic size, Goliah chief.

Chorus. He will directly to the lords, I fear,

1250

And with malicious counsel stir them up

Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

Samson. He must allege some cause, and offered fight

Will not dare mention, lest a question rise
Whether he durst accept the offer or not;
And that he durst not plain enough appeared.
Much more affliction than already felt
They cannot well impose, nor I sustain,

If they intend advantage of my labours,

1255

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping, 1260 With no small 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 so it may fall out, because their end
Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine

1265

Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed.

Chorus. Oh how comely it is, and how reviving

To the spirits of just men long oppressed,

When God into the hands of their deliverer

1270

Puts invincible might,

To quell the mighty of the earth, the oppressor,

The brute and boisterous force of violent men,

Hardy and industrious to support.

Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue

1275

The righteous, and all such as honour truth!

With wingèd expedition

Swift as the lightning glance he executes
His errand on the wicked, who, surprised,
Lose their defence, distracted and amazed.
But patience is more oft the exercise
Of saints, the trial of their fortitude,

Making them each his own deliverer,
And victor over all

That tyranny or fortune can inflict.

1285

1290

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;

1300

For I descry this way

Some other tending; in his hand
A sceptre or quaint staff he bears,
Comes on amain, speed in his look.
By his habit I discern him now
A public officer, and now at hand.
His message will be short and voluble.

1305

Officer. Ebrews, the prisoner Samson here I seek.
Chorus. His manacles remark him; there he sits.
Officer. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say :

1310

This day to Dagon is a solemn feast,
With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games ;
Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,
And now some public proof thereof require
To honour this great feast, and great assembly.

1315

Rise, therefore, with all speed, and come along,
Where I will see thee heartened and fresh clad,
To appear as fits before the illustrious lords.

Samson. Thou know'st I am an Ebrew; therefore tell them Our Law forbids at their religious rites

Officer. This answer, be assured, will not content them.
Samson. Have they not sword-players, and every sort

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners,

Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics,

But they must pick me out, with shackles tired,

And over-laboured at their public mill,

1320

1325

To make them sport with blind activity?

Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels,
On my refusal, to distress me more,

1330

Or make a game of my calamities?

Return the way thou cam'st; I will not come.

Officer. Regard thyself; this will offend them highly.

Samson. Myself? my conscience and internal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debased

1335

With corporal servitude, that my mind ever

Will condescend to such absurd commands?

Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,

And, in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief,

To show them feats, and play before their god —

1340

The worst of all indignities, yet on me

Joined with extreme contempt! I will not come.

Officer. My message was imposed on me with speed,

Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?

Samson. So take it with what speed thy message needs. Officer. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. 1346 Samson. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed. Chorus. Consider, Samson; matters now are strained

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 thundering than thou well wilt bear.
Samson. Shall I abuse this consecrated gift

Of strength, again returning with my hair

1350

1355

After my great transgression? so requite
Favour renewed, and add a greater sin

Chorus. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the Philistines,

Idolatrous, uncircumcised, unclean.

Samson. Not in their idol-worship, but by labour

1365

Honest and lawful to deserve my food

Of those who have me in their civil power.

Chorus. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not.

Samson. Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds.

1370

But who constrains me to the temple of Dagon,
Not dragging? the Philistian lords command:
Commands are no constraints. If I obey them,
I do it freely, venturing 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

For some important cause, thou need'st not doubt.

1375

Chorus. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach. Samson. Be of good courage; I begin to feel

1381