Labouring thy mind
More than the working day thy hands.
And yet perhaps more trouble is behind,
For I defcry this way
Some other tending, in his hand
A Scepter or quaint Staff he bears,
Comes on amain, speed in his look,
By his habit I difcern him now
A Publick Officer, and now at hand,
His meffage will be short and voluble.
Off. Hebrews the Pris'ner Samfon here I seek.
Chor. 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 Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp and Games;
Thy strength they know surpassing human race,
And now fome publick proof thereof require
Tó honour this great Feast, and great Affembly;
Rife therefore with all speed and come along,
Where I will fee thee heartn'd and fresh clad
To appear as fits before th' illuftrious Lords.
Samf. Thou know'ft I am an Hebrew,therefore tell Our Law forbids at their Religious Rites [them
My prefence; for that cause I cannot come.
Off. This anfwer, be affur'd, will not content them.
Samf. Have they not fword-players, and ev'ry fort
Of Gymnick Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners,
Juglers and Dancers, Anticks, Mummers, Mimirs,
But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd,
And over-labour'd at their publick Mill,
To make them sport with blind activity ?
Do they not feek occasion of new quarrels
On my refusal to distress me more,
Or make a game of my calamities?
Return the way thou cam'ft, I will not come.
Off. Regard thy felf, this will offend them highly.
Samf. My felf? my confcience and internal peace.
Can they think me fo broken, fo debas'd
With corporal fervitude, that mind ever
Will condefcend to fuch abfurd commands?
Although their drudge, to be their fool or jefter,
And in my midst of forrow and heart-grief
To shew 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 meffage was impos'd on me with speed, Brooks no delay: is this thy refolution?
Samf. So take it with what speed thy message needs.
Off. I am forry what this ftoutness will produce.
Samf.Perhaps thoufhalt have caufe to forrow indeed.
Chor. Confider, Samfon; matters now are strain'd
Up to the heighth, 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 meffage more imperious,
More Lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.
Samf. Shall I abuse this Confecrated gift
Of strength, again returning with my hair
After my great tranfgreffion, fo requite
Favour renew'd, and add a greater fin
By proftituting holy things to Idols;
A Nazarite in place abominable
Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon?
Befides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
What act more execrably unclean, prophane?
Chor. Yet with this ftrength thou ferv'st the Phi-
Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.
[liftins,
Samf. Not in their Idol-worship, but by labour
Honest and lawful to deserve my food
Of those who have me in their civil pow'r.
Chor. Where the heart joins not, outw'rd acts defile Samf. Where outward force constrains, the sentence
But who constrains me to the Temple of Dagon, Not dragging? the Philiftian 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 jealousie
Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness.
Yet that he may dispense with me or thee
Present in Temples at Idolatrous Rites
For fome important cause, thou need'st not doubt.
Chor. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my
Sams. Be of good courage, I begin to feel [reach.
Some rouzing motions in me which dispose
To fomething 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 ought of prefage in the mind,
This day will be remarkable in my life
By fome great act, or of my days the last.
Chor. In time thou haft refolv'd, the man returns.
Off. Samfon, this fecond meffage from our Lords To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our Slave, Our Captive, at the publick Mill our drudge, And dar'ft thou at our fending and command Dispute thy coming? come without delay; Or we shall find such Engines to affail And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force, Though thou art firmlier fastn'd than a Rock.
Samf. I could be well content to try their Art,
Which to no few of them would prove pernicious.
Yet knowing their advantages too many,
Because they shall not trail me through their streets
Like a wild Beast, I am content to go.
Masters commands come with a power refiftless
To fuch as owe them absolute subjection;
And for a life who will not change his purpose?
(So mutable are all the ways of men)
Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply
Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.
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