These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant 1220 Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, Who now defies thee thrice to fingle fight, As a petty enterprise of small enforce. HAR. With thee, a man condemn'd, a slave inroll'd, Due by the law to capital punishment ? 1225 To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. 1230 SAMS. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, My heels are fetter'd, but my fift is free. 1235 HAR. This infolence other kind of anfwer fits. 1240 CHO. His giantship is gone fomewhat creft-fall'n, Stalking with lefs unconfcionable ftrides, And lower looks, but in a fultry chafe. 1245 SAMS. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Сно. CHо. He will directly to the lords, I fear, And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. 1250 SAMS. He muft allege fome cause, and offer'd fight Will not dare mention, left a queftion rife Whether he durft accept the' offer or not, 1255 The work of many hands, which earns my keeping But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove CHо. Oh how comely it is, and how reviving 1265 To the fpirits of just men long opprefs'd! When God into the hands of their deliverer 1270 Puts invincible might To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppreffor, The brute and boisterous force of violent men With plain heroic magnitude of mind And celestial vigor arm'd, Their armories and magazines contemns, With winged expedition Swift as the lightning glance he executes That tyranny or fortune can inflict. Either of these is in thy lot, Samfon, with might indued Above the fons of men: but fight bereav'd Whom patience finally muft crown. 1280 1285 1290 1295 This idol's day hath been to thee no day of reft, Laboring thy mind More than the working-day thy hands. And yet perhaps more trouble is behind, 1300 For I defcry this way Some other tending, in his hand 1305 OFF OFF. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samson here I seek. CHO. His manacles remark him, there he fits. OFF. Samfon, to thee our lords thus bid me say; This day to Dagon is a folemn feast, With facrifices, triumph, pomp, and games; To honor this great feaft, and great affembly; 1315 Our Law forbids at their religious rites My prefence; for that cause I cannot come. 1320 OFF. This anfwer, be affur'd, will not content them. SAMS. Have they not fword-players, and every fort Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners, Juglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics, 1325 Or make a game Return the way of my calamities? thou cam't, I will not come. 1330 OFF. Regard thyself; this will offend them highly. SAMS. Myfelf? my conscience and internal peace. Can they think me fo broken, fo debas'd 1335 With corporal fervitude, that i mind ever Will E 2 Will condescend to fuch abfurd commands? Although their drudge, to be their fool or jefter, To show them feats, and play before their God, 1340 Join'd with extreme contempt? I will not come. OFF. My meffage was impos'd on me with speed, Brooks no delay: is this thy refolution? SAMS. So take it with what speed thy message needs. Expect another meffage more imperious, 1355 Vaunting my strength in honor to their Dagon? 1360 Besides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous, What act more execrably unclean, profane? CHO. Yet with this ftrength thou ferv'ft the Philistines, Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean. SAMS. Not in their idol-worship, but by labor 1365 Honeft and lawful to deserve my food Of |