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

1311

To honour this great feast, and great assembly; 1315
Rise therefore with all speed and come along,
Where I will see thee hearten'd and fresh clad
To' appear as fits before th' illustrious lords.
Sam. Thou know'st I am an Hebrew, therefore
tell them

Our law forbids at their religious rites
My presence, for that cause I cannot come.

1320

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

Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners, Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, 1325 But they must pick me out with shackles tired,

And over-labour'd at their public mill

To make them sport with blind activity?

Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels

On my refusal to distress me more,

Or make a game of my calamities?

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

1330

Of Regard thyself, this will offend them highly. Sam. Myself? my conscience and internal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debased
With corporal servitude, that my mind ever

Will condescend to such absurd commands?

1335

Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,
And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief

To shew them feats, and play before their god, 1340
The worst of all indignities, yet on me
Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.

Of. My message was imposed on me with speed, Brooks no delay; is this thy resolution?

1344

Sam. So take it with what speed thy message needs. Of. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. Sam. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow

indeed.

Chor. Consider, Samson, matters now are strain'd Up to the highth, whether to hold or break;

He's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350 Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

Expect another message more imperious,
More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.

Sam. Shall I abuse this consecrated gift

Of strength, again returning with my hair
After my great transgression, so requite
Favour renew'd, and add a greater sin
By prostituting holy things to idols;

A Nazarite in place abominable

1355

Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon? 1360
Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
What act more execrably unclean, profane?

Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the PhiIdolatrous, uncircumcised, unclean.

[listines,

Sam. 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. [not. Chor. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile Sam. Where outward force constrains, the sentence But who constrains me to the temple of Dagon, [holds; Not dragging? the Philistian lords command. 1371 Commands are no constraints. If I obey them, I do it freely, vent'ring to displease

1375

[reach.

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.
Chor. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my
Sam. Be of good courage, I begin to feel
Some rousing motions in me which dispose
To something extraordinary my thoughts.
I with this messenger will go along,
Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonour
Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.
If there be aught of presage in the mind,
This day will be remarkable in my life
By some great act, or of my days the last.

1385

1389

Chor. In time thou hast resolved, the man returns.

1377. It is not here intended to be said that God suffers any of his creatures to share in the worship of idols, but that, for some important purpose, he may permit them to enter temples devoted to the false gods, whose blind votaries he intends to punish by their means.

1395

Of Samson, this second message from our lords To thee I am bid say. Art thou our slave, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge, And dar'st thou at our sending and command Dispute thy coming? come without delay; Or we shall find such engines to assail And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force. Though thou wert firmlier fasten'd than a rock. Sam. I could be well content to try their art Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. Yet knowing their advantages too many, 1401 Because they shall not trail me through their streets Like a wild beast, I am content to go. Masters' commands come with a power resistless To such as owe them absolute subjection :

1405

And for a life who will not change his purpose

(So mutable are all the ways of men)?

Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply

Scandalous or forbidden in our law.

Of. I praise thy resolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords

To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.

Sam. Brethren, farewell; your company along

I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them

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

So dreaded once, may now exasperate them,
I know not: lords are lordliest in their wine;
And the well-feasted priest then soonest fired
With zeal, if aught religion seem concern'd;
No less the people on their holy-days
Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable :
Happen what may, of me expect to hear
Nothing dishonourable, impure, unworthy
Our God, our law, my nation, or myself,
The last of me or no I cannot warrant.

Chor. Go, and the Holy One

Of Israel be thy guide

1420

1425

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

Send thee the angel of thy birth to stand

[name 1431

Fast by thy side, who from thy father's field
Rode up in flames after his message told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

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

1435

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.
But wherefore comes old Manoah in such haste
With youthful steps? much livelier than erewhile
He seems: supposing here to find his son,
Or of him bringing to us some glad news?
Man. Peace with you, brethren; my inducement

1440

Was not at present here to find my son,
By order of the lords new parted hence
To come and play before them at their feast.

1444

[hither

I heard all as I came, the city rings,
And numbers thither flock, I had no will,
Lest I should see him forced to things unseemly.
But that which moved my coming now was chiefly
To give ye part with me what hope I have
With good success to work his liberty.

1450

1454

Chor. That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; say, rev'rend Sire, we thirst to hear.

Man. I have attempted one by one the lords Either at home, or through the high street passing, With supplication prone and father's tears, To' accept of ransom for my son their prisoner. 1400 Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh, Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite; That part most reverenced Dagon and his priests: Others more moderate seeming, but their aim Private reward, for which both God and state They easily would set to sale: a third More generous far and civil, who confess'd

1465

They had enough revenged, having reduced

Their foe to misery beneath their fears,
The rest was magnanimity to remit,

1470

If some convenient ransom were proposed.-
What noise or shout was that? it tore the sky.

Chor. Doubtless the people shouting to behold Their once great dread, captive and blind before them, Or at some proof of strength. before them shewn. 1475 Man. His ransom, if my whole inheritance

May compass it, shall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I shall choose
To live the poorest in my tribe, than richest,
And he in that calamitous prison left.

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

1480

And quit: not wanting him I shall want nothing.

Chor. Fathers are wont to lay up for their sons,

Thou for thy son art bent to lay out all:
Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age,
Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy son,

1486

Made older than thy age through eye-sight lost.

Man. It shall be my delight to tend his eyes, 1490 And view him sitting in the house, ennobled With all those high exploite by him achieved, And on his shoulders waving down those locks That of a nation arm'd the strength contain'd: And I persuade me God had not permitted His strength again to grow up with his hair, Garrison'd round about him like a camp Of faithful soldiery, were not his purpose To use him further yet in some great service; Not to sit idle with so great a gift

1495

1500

Useless, and thence ridiculous about him.

And since his strength with eye-sight was not lost,
God will restore him eye-sight to his strength.
Chor. Thy hopes are not ill-founded nor seem vain
Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon
Conceived agreeable to a father's love,
In both which we, as next, participate.

1505

[noise!

Mun. I know your friendly minds and-O what Mercy of Heav'n, what hideous noise was that? Horribly loud, unlike the former shout.

1510

Chor. Noise call you it or universal groan, As if the whole inhabitation perish'd! Blood, death, and deathful deeds, are in that noise, Ruin, destruction at the utmost point.

Man. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise: Oh it continues, they have slain my son.

1516

Chor. Thy son is rather slaying them, that outcry From slaughter of one foe could not ascend.

Man. Some dismal accident it needs must be ;

What shall we do, stay here or run and see?

1520

Chor. Best keep together here, lest running thither