Samson Agonistes (excerpts)

[Samson's Opening Speech] A little onward lend thy guiding hand To these dark steps, a little further on; For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade, There I am wont to sit, when any chance Relieves me from my task of servile toil, Daily in the common prison else enjoin'd me, Where I a prisoner chain'd, scarce freely draw The air imprison'd also, close and damp, Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends, The breath of Heav'n fresh-blowing, pure and sweet, With day-spring born; here leave me to respire. This day a solemn feast the people hold To Dagon, their sea-idol, and forbid Laborious works; unwillingly this rest Their superstition yields me; hence with leave Retiring from the popular noise, I seek This unfrequented place to find some ease; Ease to the body some, none to the mind From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm Of hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, But rush upon me thronging, and present Times past, what once I was, and what am now. O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold Twice by an angel, who at last in sight Of both my parents all in flames ascended From off the altar, where an off'ring burn'd, As in a fiery column charioting His godlike presence, and from some great act Of benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race? Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd As of a person separate to God, Design'd for great exploits; if I must die Betray'd, captiv'd, and both my eyes put out, Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze; To grind in brazen fetters under task With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength Put to the labour of a beast, debas'd Lower than bondslave! Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver; Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves, Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke. Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt Divine prediction; what if all foretold Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, Whom have I to complain of but myself? Who this high gift of strength committed to me, In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me, Under the seal of silence could not keep, But weakly to a woman must reveal it O'ercome with importunity and tears. O impotence of mind, in body strong! But what is strength without a double share Of wisdom? vast, unwieldy, burdensome, Proudly secure, yet liable to fall By weakest subtleties, not made to rule, But to subserve where wisdom bears command. God, when he gave me strength, to show withal How slight the gift was, hung it in my hair. But peace, I must not quarrel with the will Of highest dispensation, which herein Haply had ends above my reach to know: Suffices that to me strength is my bane, And proves the source of all my miseries; So many, and so huge, that each apart Would ask a life to wail, but chief of all, O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, Dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age! Light, the prime work of God, to me is extinct, And all her various objects of delight Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd, Inferior to the vilest now become Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me: They creep, yet see, I, dark in light, expos'd To daily fraud, contempt, abuse, and wrong, Within doors, or without, still as a fool, In power of others, never in my own; Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half. O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse Without all hope of day! O first created Beam, and thou great Word, "Let there be light, and light was over all," Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree? The sun to me is dark And silent as the moon, When she deserts the night, Hid in her vacant interlunar cave. Since light so necessary is to life, And almost life itself, if it be true That light is in the soul, She all in every part, why was the sight To such a tender ball as th' eye confin'd? So obvious and so easy to be quench'd, And not as feeling through all parts diffus'd, That she might look at will through every pore? Then had I not been thus exil'd from light, As in the land of darkness, yet in light, To live a life half dead, a living death, And buried; but O yet more miserable! Myself my sepulchre, a moving grave; Buried, yet not exempt By privilege of death and burial From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs; But made hereby obnoxious more To all the miseries of life, Life in captivity Among inhuman foes. But who are these? for with joint pace I hear The tread of many feet steering this way; Perhaps my enemies who come to stare At my affliction, and perhaps to insult, Their daily practice to afflict me more. ... [Chorus, Manoah, Samson] CHORUS. Just are the ways of God, And justifiable to men; Unless there be who think not God at all: If any be, they walk obscure; For of such doctrine never was there school, But the heart of the fool, And no man therein doctor but himself. Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wand'ring thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, still less resolv'd, But never find self-satisfying solution. As if they would confine th' interminable, And tie him to his own prescript, Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right to exempt Whom so it pleases him by choice From national obstriction, without taint Of sin, or legal debt; For with his own laws he can best dispense. He would not else, who never wanted means, Nor in respect of the enemy just cause To set his people free, Have prompted this heroic Nazarite, Against his vow of strictest purity, To seek in marriage that fallacious bride, Unclean, unchaste. Down, Reason, then; at least vain reasonings down; Though Reason here aver That moral verdit quits her of unclean: Unchaste was subsequent, her stain, not his. But see, here comes thy reverend sire, With careful step, locks white as down, Old Manoa: advise Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him. SAMSON. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd, With mention of that name renews th' assault. MANOA. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem, Though in this uncouth place; if old respect, As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend, My son, now captive, hither hath inform'd Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age Came lagging after; say if he be here. CHORUS. As signal now in low dejected state, As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. MANOA. O miserable change! is this the man, That invincible Samson, far renown'd, The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to angels' walk'd their streets, None offering fight; who single combatant Duell'd their armies rank'd in proud array, Himself an army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm'd At one spear's length. O ever failing trust In mortal strength! and oh, what not in man Deceivable and vain! Nay what thing good Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane? I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, And such a son as all men hail'd me happy; Who would be now a father in my stead? O wherefore did God grant me my request, And as a blessing with such pomp adorn'd? Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt Our earnest prayers, then giv'n with solemn hand As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind? For this did the Angel twice descend? for this Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant; Select, and sacred, glorious for a while, The miracle of men: then in an hour Ensnar'd, assaulted, overcome, led bound, Thy foes' derision, captive, poor, and blind, Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves? Alas! methinks whom God hath chosen once To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall Subject him to so foul indignities, Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds. ... [Chorus, Manoh, Samson, Dalilah] SAMSON. His pardon I implore; but as for life, To what end should I seek it? when in strength All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, Full of divine instinct, after some proof Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The sons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd, Fearless of danger, like a petty god I walk'd about, admir'd of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my affront. Then swoll'n with pride into the snare I fell Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, Softn'd with pleasure and voluptuous life; At length to lay my head and hallow'd pledge Of all my strength in the lascivious lap Of a deceitful concubine who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece, Then turn'd me out ridiculous, despoil'd, Shav'n, and disarm'd among my enemies. CHORUS. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, Thou couldst repress, nor did the dancing ruby Sparkling out-pour'd, the flavour, or the smell, Or taste that cheers the heart of gods and men, Allure thee from the cool crystalline stream. SAMSON. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure, With touch ætherial of Heav'n's fiery rod I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying Thirst, and refresh'd; nor envied them the grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. CHORUS. O madness, to think use of strongest wines And strongest drinks our chief support of health, When God with these forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, strong above compare, Whose drink was only from the liquid brook. SAMSON. But what avail'd this temperance, not complete Against another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe, Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means, Now blind, disheartn'd, sham'd, dishonour'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein serve My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, But to sit idle on the household hearth, A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze, Or pitied object, these redundant locks Robustious to no purpose clust'ring down, Vain monument of strength; till length of years And sedentary numbness craze my limbs To a contemptible old age obscure? Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, Till vermin or the draff of servile food Consume me, and oft-invocated death Hast'n the welcome end of all my pains. MANOA. Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift Which was expressly giv'n thee to annoy them? Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age out-worn. But God, who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay After the brunt of battle, can as easy Cause light again within thy eyes to spring, Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast; And I persuade me so; why else this strength Miraculous yet remaining in those locks? His might continues in thee not for naught, Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus. SAMSON. All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light, Nor th' other light of life continue long, But yield to double darkness nigh at hand: So much I feel my genial spirits droop, My hopes all flat; Nature within me seems In all her functions weary of herself; My race of glory run, and race of shame, And I shall shortly be with them that rest. MANOA. Believe not these suggestions which proceed From anguish of the mind and humours black, That mingle with thy fancy. I however Must not omit a father's timely care To prosecute the means of thy deliverance By ransom or how else: meanwhile be calm, And healing words from these thy friends admit. SAMSON. O that torment should not be confin'd To the body's wounds and sores, With maladies innumerable In heart, head, breast, and reins; But must secret passage find To th' inmost mind, There exercise all his fierce accidents, And on her purest spirits prey, As on entrails, joints, and limbs, With answerable pains, but more intense, Though void of corporal sense. My griefs not only pain me As a ling'ring disease, But finding no redress, ferment and rage, Nor less than wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene, To black mortification. Thoughts, my tormentors, arm'd with deadly stings Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts, Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise Dire inflammation which no cooling herb Or med'cinal liquor can assuage, Nor breath of vernal air from snowy Alp. Sleep hath forsook and giv'n me o'er To death's benumbing opium as my only cure; Thence faintings, swoonings of despair, And sense of Heav'n's desertion. I was his nursling once and choice delight, His destin'd from the womb, Promis'd by heavenly message twice descending. Under his special eye Abstemious I grew up and thriv'd amain; He led me on to mightiest deeds Above the nerve of mortal arm Against the uncircumcis'd, our enemies; But now hath cast me off as never known, And to those cruel enemies, Whom I by his appointment had provok'd, Left me all helpless with th' irreparable loss Of sight, reserv'd alive to be repeated The subject of their cruelty, or scorn. Nor am I in the list of them that hope; Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless; This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, No long petition, speedy death, The close of all my miseries, and the balm. CHORUS. Many are the sayings of the wise In ancient and in modern books enroll'd, Extolling patience as the truest fortitude; And to the bearing well of all calamities, All chances incident to man's frail life Consolatories writ With studied argument, and much persuasion sought, Lenient of grief and anxious thought; But with th' afflicted in his pangs their sound Little prevails, or rather seems a tune Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint, Unless he feel within Some source of consolation from above; Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, And fainting spirits uphold. God of our Fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, Or might I say contrarious, Temper'st thy providence through his short course: Not evenly, as thou rul'st The Angelic orders and inferior creatures mute, Irrational and brute. Nor do I name of men the common rout, That wand'ring loose about Grow up and perish, as the summer fly, Heads without name no more remember'd; But such as thou has solemnly elected, With gifts and graces eminently adorn'd To some great work, thy glory, And people's safety, which in part they effect: Yet toward these thus dignifi'd, thou oft Amidst their highth of noon, Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard Of highest favours past From thee on them, or them to thee of service. Nor only dost degrade them, or remit To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission, But throw'st them lower than thou didst exalt them high, Unseemly falls in human eye, Too grievous for the trespass or omission, Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword Of heathen and profane, their carcasses To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd: Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times, And condemnation of the ingrateful multitude. If these they scape, perhaps in poverty With sickness and disease thou bow'st them down, Painful diseases and deform'd, In crude old age; Though not disordinate, yet causeless suff'ring The punishment of dissolute days: in fine, Just or unjust, alike seem miserable, For oft alike both come to evil end. So deal not with this once thy glorious champion, The image of thy strength, and mighty minister. What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already? Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end. But who is this, what thing of sea or land? Female of sex it seems, That so bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Comes this way sailing Like a stately ship Of Tarsus, bound for th' isles Of Javan or Gadire With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, An amber scent of odorous perfume Her harbinger, a damsel train behind; Some rich Philistian matron she may seem, And now at nearer view, no other certain Than Dalila thy wife. SAMSON. My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. CHORUS. Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes thee fix'd, About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flower surcharg'd with dew, she weeps, And words address'd seem into tears dissolv'd, Wetting the borders of her silk'n veil; But now again she makes address to speak. DALILAH. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson, Which to have merited, without excuse, I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears May expiate (though the fact more evil drew In the perverse event than I foresaw) My penance hath not slack'n'd, though my pardon No way assur'd. But conjugal affection Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt Hath led me on desirous to behold Once more thy face, and know of thy estate. If aught in my ability may serve To light'n what thou suffer'st, and appease Thy mind with what amends is in my power, Though late, yet in some part to recompense My rash but more unfortunate misdeed. SAMSON. Out, out hyena! these are thy wonted arts, And arts of every woman false like thee, To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, Then as repentant to submit, beseech, And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse, Confess, and promise wonders in her change, Not truly penitent, but chief to try Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, His virtue or weakness which way to assail: Then with more cautious and instructed skill Again transgresses, and again submits; That wisest and best men, full oft beguil'd, With goodness principl'd not to reject The penitent, but ever to forgive, Are drawn to wear out miserable days, Entangl'd with a pois'nous bosom-snake, If not by quick destruction soon cut off As I by thee, to ages an example. ... [Chorus, Harapha, Samson] CHORUS. Look now for no enchanting voice, nor fear The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue Draws hitherward, I know him by his stride, The giant Harapha of Gath, his look Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud. Comes he in peace? What wind hath blown him hither I less conjecture than when first I saw The sumptuous Dalila floating this way: His habit carries peace, his brow defiance. SAMSON. Or peace or not, alike to me he comes. CHORUS. His fraught we soon shall know, he now arrives. HARAPHA. I come not Samson, to condole thy chance, As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been, Though for no friendly intent. I am of Gath; Men call me Harapha, of stock renown'd As Og, or Anak, and the Emims old That Kiriathaim held: thou knowst me now If thou at all art known. Much I have heard Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd Incredible to me, in this displeas'd, That I was never present on the place Of those encounters, where we might have tri'd Each other's force in camp or listed field; And now am come to see of whom such noise Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey, If thy appearance answer loud report. SAMSON. The way to know were not to see but taste. HARAPHA. Dost thou already single me; I thought Gyves and the mill had tam'd thee? O that fortune Had brought me to the field where thou art fam'd To have wrought such wonders with an ass's jaw; I should have forc'd thee soon wish other arms, Or left thy carcase where the ass lay thrown: So had the glory of prowess been recover'd To Palestine, won by a Philistine From the unforeskinn'd race, of whom thou bear'st The highest name for valiant acts; that honour Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee, I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out. SAMSON. Boast not of what thou would'st have done, but do What then thou would'st, thou seest it in thy hand. HARAPHA. To combat with a blind man I disdain, And thou hast need much washing to be touch'd. SAMSON. Such usage as your honourable lords Afford me, assassinated and betray'd, Who durst not with their whole united powers In fight withstand me single and unarm'd, Nor in the house with chamber ambushes Close-banded durst attack me, no not sleeping, Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold, Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me. Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd Some narrow place enclos'd, where sight may give thee, Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, Vant-brass and greaves, and gauntlet, add thy spear, A weaver's beam, and seven-times-folded shield: I only with an oak'n staff will meet thee, And raise such outcries on thy clatter'd iron, Which long shall not withhold me from thy head, That in a little time, while breath remains thee, Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath to boast Again in safety what thou would'st have done To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more. HARAPHA. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms Which greatest heroes have in battle worn, Their ornament and safety, had not spells And black enchantments, some magician's art Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Heaven Feign'dst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs Were bristles rang'd like those that ridge the back Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffl'd porcupines. SAMSON. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts; My trust is in the living God who gave me At my nativity this strength, diffus'd No less through all my sinews, joints and bones, Than thine, while I preserv'd these locks unshorn, The pledge of my unviolated vow. For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god, Go to his temple, invocate his aid With solemnest devotion, spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells, Which I to be the power of Israel's God Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test, Offering to combat thee his champion bold, With th' utmost of his godhead seconded: Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine. HARAPHA. Presume not on thy God, whate'er he be, Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off Quite from his people, and delivered up Into thy enemies' hand, permitted them To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee Into the common prison, there to grind Among the slaves and asses thy comrades, As good for nothing else, no better service With those thy boist'rous locks, no worthy match For valour to assail, nor by the sword Of noble warrior, so to stain his honour, But by the barber's razor best subdu'd. SAMSON. All these indignities, for such they are From thine, these evils I deserve and more, Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon Whose ear is ever open; and his eye Gracious to re-admit the suppliant; In confidence whereof I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight, By combat to decide whose god is God, Thine or whom I with Israel's sons adore. HARAPHA. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting He will accept thee to defend his cause, A murtherer, a revolter, and a robber. SAMSON. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove me these? HARAPHA. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee As a league-breaker and deliver'd bound Into our hands: for had'st thou not committed Notorious murder on those thirty men At Askalon, who never did thee harm, Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes? The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league, Went up with armed powers thee only seeking, To others did no violence nor spoil. SAMSON. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argu'd me no foe; And in your city held my nuptial feast: But your ill-meaning politician lords, Under pretence of bridal friends and guests, Appointed to await me thirty spies, Who threat'ning cruel death, constrain'd the bride To wring from me and tell to them my secret, That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. When I perceiv'd all set on enmity, As on my enemies, wherever chanc'd, I us'd hostility, and took their spoil To pay my underminers in their coin. My nation was subjected to your lords? It was the force of conquest; force with force Is well ejected when the conquer'd can. But I a private person, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum'd Single rebellion and did hostile acts. I was no private but a person rais'd With strength sufficient and command from Heav'n To free my country; if their servile minds Me their deliverer sent would not receive, But to their masters gave me up for nought, Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve. I was to do my part from Heav'n assign'd, And had perform'd it if my known offence Had not disabl'd me, not all your force: These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, Who now defies thee thrice to single fight, As a petty enterprise of small enforce. HARAPHA. With thee, a man condemn'd, a slave enroll'd, Due by the law to capital punishment? To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. SAMSON. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me, To descant on my strength, and give thy verdit? Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd; But take good heed my hand survey not thee. HARAPHA. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear these dishonours, and not render death? SAMSON. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free. HARAPHA. This insolence other kind of answer fits. SAMSON. Go baffl'd coward, lest I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast, And with one buffet lay thy structure low, Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down To the hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides. HARAPHA. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries, in irons loaden on thee. CHORUS. His giantship is gone somewhat crestfall'n, Stalking with less unconsci'nable strides, And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe. SAMSON. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons All of gigantic size, Goliah chief. CHORUS. He will directly to the lords, I fear, And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. SAMSON. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight Will not dare mention, lest a question rise Whether he durst accept the offer or not, And that he durst not plain enough appear'd. 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 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. CHORUS. Oh 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 To quell the mighty of the Earth, th' oppressor, The brute and boist'rous 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 arm'd; Their armouries and magazines contemns, Renders them useless, while With winged expedition Swift as the lightning glance he executes His errand on the wicked, who surpris'd Lose their defence distracted and amaz'd. But patience is more oft the exercise Of saints, the trial of their fortitude, Making them each his own deliverer, And victor over all That tyranny or fortune can inflict. Either of these is in thy lot, Samson, with might endu'd Above the sons of men; but sight bereav'd 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 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. OFFICER. Ebrews, the pris'ner Samson here I seek. CHORUS. His manacles remark him, there he sits. OFFICER. 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 heart'n'd and fresh clad To appear as fits before th' illustrious lords. SAMSON. Thou knowst I am an Ebrew, therefore tell them, Our law forbids at their religious rites My presence; for that cause I cannot come. OFFICER. This answer, be assur'd, will not content them. SAMSON. Have they not sword-players, and ev'ry 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? 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. OFFICER. Regard thyself, this will offend them highly. SAMSON. Myself? my conscience and internal peace. Can they think me so broken, so debas'd 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 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. OFFICER. My message was impos'd on me with speed, Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution? SAMSON. So take it with what speed thy message needs. OFFICER. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. SAMSON. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed. CHORUS. 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 Thy words by adding fuel to the flame? Expect another message more imperious, More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear. SAMSON. 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 Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon? Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous, What act more execrably unclean, profane? CHORUS. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the Philistines, Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean. SAMSON. Not in their idol worship, but by labour Honest and lawful to deserve my food Of those who have me in their civil power. CHORUS. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not. SAMSON. 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; venturing to displease 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 needst not doubt. CHORUS. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach. SAMSON. 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. CHORUS. In time thou hast resolv'd, the man returns. OFFICER. 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 fast'nd than a rock. SAMSON. 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 resistless To such 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 sure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our law. OFFICER. I praise thy resolution, doff these links: By this compiance thou wilt win the lords To favour, and perhaps to set thee free. SAMSON. Brethren farewell, your company along I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them To see me girt with friends; and how the sight 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 fir'd With zeal, if aught religion seem concern'd: No less the people on their holy-days Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable; Happ'n 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. ... [Messenger, Manoah, Chorus] MESSENGER. Occasions drew me early to this city, And as the gates I enter'd with sun-rise, The morning trumpets festival proclaim'd Through each high street: little I had dispatch'd When all abroad was rumour'd that this day Samson should be brought forth to shew the people Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games; I sorrow'd at his captive state, but minded Not to be absent at that spectacle. The building was a spacious theatre Half round on two main pillars vaulted high, With seats where all the lords and each degree Of sort, might sit in order to behold, The other side was op'n, where the throng On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand; I among these aloof obscurely stood. The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine, When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately Was Samson as a public servant brought, In their state livery clad; before him pipes And timbrels, on each side went armed guards, Both horse and foot before him and behind, Archers, and slingers, cataphracts and spears. At sight of him the people with a shout Rifted the air clamouring their god with praise, Who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall. He patient but undaunted, where they led him Came to the place, and what was set before him Which without help of eye, might be assay'd, To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd All with incredible, stupendous force, None daring to appear antagonist. At length for intermission sake they led him Between the pillars; he his guide requested (For so from such as nearer stood we heard) As over-tir'd to let him lean a while With both his arms on those two massy pillars That to the arched roof gave main support. He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd, And eyes fast fix'd he stood, as one who pray'd, Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd. At last with head erect thus cried aloud, "Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying, Not without wonder or delight beheld. Now of my own accord such other trial I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater, As with amaze shall strike all who behold." This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd, As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro; He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder Upon the heads of all who sate beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests, Their choice nobility and flower, not only Of this but each Philistian city round, Met from all parts to solemnize this feast. Samson with these immix'd, inevitably Pull'd down the same destruction on himself; The vulgar only scap'd who stood without. CHORUS. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd The work for which thou wast foretold To Israel, and now ly'st victorious Among thy slain self-kill'd, Not willingly, but tangl'd in the fold Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd Thee with thy slaughter'd foes in number more Than all thy life had slain before. SEMICHORUS. While their hearts were jocund and sublime, Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats, Chaunting their idol, and preferring Before our living Dread who dwells In Silo his bright sanctuary: Among them he a spirit of phrenzy sent, Who hurt their minds, And urg'd them on with mad desire To call in haste for their destroyer; They only set on sport and play Unweetingly importun'd Their own destruction to come speedy upon them. So fond are mortal men Fall'n into wrath divine, As their own ruin on themselves to invite, Insensate left, or to sense reprobate, And with blindness internal struck. SEMICHORUS. But he, though blind of sight, Despis'd and thought extinguish'd quite, With inward eyes illuminated His fiery virtue rous'd From under ashes into sudden flame, And as an ev'ning dragon came, Assailant on the perched roosts, And nests in order rang'd Of tame villatic fowl; but as an eagle His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads. So virtue giv'n for lost, Depress'd, and overthrown, as seem'd, Like that self-begott'n bird In the Arabian woods embost, That no second knows nor third, And lay erewhile a holocaust, From out her ashy womb now teem'd, Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most When most unactive deem'd, And though her body die, her fame survives, A secular bird, ages of lives. MANOA. Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more cause: Samson hath quit himself Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd A life heroic, on his enemies Fully reveng'd; hath left them years of mourning, And lamentation to the sons of Caphtor Through all Philistian bounds; to Israel Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them Find courage to lay hold on this occasion; To himself and father's house eternal fame; And which is best and happiest yet, all this With God not parted from him, as was fear'd, But favouring and assisting to the end. Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair, And what may quiet us in a death so noble. Let us go find the body where it lies Soak'd in his enemies' blood, and from the stream With layers pure and cleansing herbs wash off The clotted gore. I with what speed the while (Gaza is not in plight to say us nay) Will send for all my kindred, all my friends To fetch him hence and solemnly attend With silent obsequy and funeral train Home to his father's house. There will I build him A monument, and plant it round with shade Of laurel ever green, and branching palm, With all his trophies hung, and acts enroll'd In copious legend, or sweet lyric song. Thither shall all the valiant youth resort, And from his memory inflame their breasts To matchless valour, and adventures high; The virgins also shall on feastful days Visit his tomb with flowers, only bewailing His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice, From whence captivity and loss of eyes. CHORUS. All is best, though we oft doubt, What th' unsearchable dispose Of Highest Wisdom brings about, And ever best found in the close. Oft he seems to hide his face, But unexpectedly returns And to his faithful champion hath in place Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns And all that band them to resist His uncontrollable intent. His servants he with new acquist Of true experience from this great event With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind, all passion spent.