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 reviving.
To the spirits of just men long oppress'd!
When God into the hands of their deliverer
Puts invincible might

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

The brute and hoist'rous force of violent men,
Hardy and industrious to support

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 1 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.

[Enter] Officer.

Of Hebrews, the pris'ner Samson here I seek
Chor. His manacles remark him, there he sits.
Off. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say;
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;
Rise therefore with all speed, and come along,
Where I will see thee hearten'd, and fresh clad,

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1305

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To' appear, as fits, before th' illustrious lords.

Sams. Thou know'st I am an Hebrew, therefore tell them, Our law forbids at their religious rites

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My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

Off. This answer, be assur'd, 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 tir'd,
And over-labour'd at their public mill,

To make them sport with blind activity?
VOL. III.

41.

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

Or make a game of my calamities?

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

Of Regard thyself; this will offend them highly.

Sams. Myself? my conscience and internal peace. Can they think me so broken, so debas'd

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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,
The worst of all indignities, yet on me
Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come.
Off. My message was impos'd on me with speed,
Brooks no delay is this thy resolution?

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Sams. So take it with what speed thy message needs. 1345 Of. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. [Exit.] Sams. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed. Chor. Consider, Samson; matters now are strain'd

Up to the height, whether to hold or break :

and who knows how he may report

He's
gone,
Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.

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Expect another message more imperious,

Sams. Shall 1 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

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

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

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

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Honest and lawful to deserve my food

Of those, who have me in their civil power.

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

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Sams. Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds. 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, vent'ring to displease God for the fear of man, and man prefer, Set God behind: which in his jealousy Shall never, repented, find forgiveness. Yet that he may dispensc with me, or thee,

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Present in temples at idolatrous rites

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

Chor. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach.

Sams. Be of good courage I begin to feel
Some rousing motions in me, which dispose
To something extraordinary my thoughts.
I with this mes
essenger will go along,
Nothing to do, be sure,
that may
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

Jishonour

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By some great act, or of my days the last.

Chor. In time thou hast resolv'd, the man returns.

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[Enter] OFFICER.

Of Samson, this second message from our lords

To thee Lam bid say. Ait 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.

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Sams. I could be well content to try their art, Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. Yet, knowing their advantages too many,

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Because they shall not trail me through the streets
Like a wild beast, I am content to go.

Masters' commands come with a pow'r resistless
To such as owe them absolute subjection;

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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.

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

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To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.

Sams. Brethren, farewell; your company along

I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend thein

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

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So dreaded once may now exasperate them,
I know not: lords are lordliest in their wine;
And the well feasted priest then soonest fir'd
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

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