3 io
��SAMSON AGONISTES
��Though fame divulge him father of five
sons, All of gigantic size, Goliah chief.
Chor. 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. Sams. 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 ap- peared.
Much more affliction than already felt They cannot well impose, nor I sustain, If they intend advantage of my labours, 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 Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed. Chor. O, how comely it is, and how re- viving
To the spirits of just men long oppressed, When God into the hands of their de- liverer
Puts invincible might, To quell the mighty of the earth, the op- pressor, The brute and boisterous force of violent
men,
Hardy and industrious to support Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue The righteous, and all such as honour
truth !
He all their ammunition And feats of war defeats, With plain heroic magnitude of mind And celestial vigour armed; 1280
Their armouries and magazins contemns, Renders them useless, while With winged 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,
��1270
��1290
��And victor over all
That tyranny or fortune can inflict.
Either of these is in thy lot,
Samson, with might endued
Above the sons of men; but sight bereaved
May chance to number thee with those
Whom Patience finally must crown.
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 ; For I descry this way 1301
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. Off". Ebrews, the prisoner Samson here I
seek. Chor. His manacles remark him; there
he sits. Off. Samson, to thee our Lords thus bid
me say: 131
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 as- sembly. 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. Sams. Thou know'st I am an Ebrew;
therefore tell them
Our law forbids at their religious rites 1320
My presence; for that cause I cannot come.
Off. This answer, be assured, will not
content them. Sams. Have they not sword-players, and
every sort
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, To make them sport with blind activity ? Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels, On my refusal, to distress me more, 1330
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