Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?
Expect another message more imperious,
More lordly thund'ring than thou well wilt bear.
SAMS. 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

1355

Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon?
Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
What act more execrably unclean, profane?
CHOR. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the
Philistines,

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

SAMS. Not in their idol-worship, but by labour Honest and lawful to deserve my food Of those who have me in their civil power.

defile not.

CHOR. Where the heart joins not, outward acts [tence holds. SAMS. Where outward force constrains, the senBut 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, unrepented, find forgiveness. Yet that he may dispense with me or thee Present in temples at idolatrous rites

1375

For some important cause, thou need'st not doubt. CHOR. HOW thou wilt here come off surmounts

my reach.

1380

1385

SAMS. 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. CHOR. In time thou hast resolved, the man

returns.

1390

OFF. 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 fasten'd than a rock.

1395

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, 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

1387

presage] Euripid. Androm. 1075.
πρόμαντις θυμὸς ὥς τὶ προσδόκα,

Todd.

To such as owe them absolute subjection;

1405

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
To favour, and, perhaps, to set thee free.

SAMS. 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; 1420
No less the people on their holy-days
Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable:
Happen 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.
CHOR. Go, and the Holy One

Of Israel be thy guide

1425

To what may serve his glory best, and spread his

name

Great among the heathen round;

Send thee the angel of thy birth, to stand
Fast by thy side, who from thy father's field
Rode up in flames after his message told

1430

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

Of fire; that spirit that first rush'd on thee
In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

1435

1440

For never was from heaven imparted
Measure of strength so great to mortal seed,
As in thy wondrous actions hath been seen.
But wherefore comes old Manoah in such haste
With youthful steps? much livelier than ere while
He seems; supposing here to find his son,
Or of him bringing to us some glad news?
MAN. Peace with you, brethren ! my
ment hither

induce

1445

Was not at present here to find my son,
By order of the lords new parted hence,
To come and play before them at their feast.
I heard all as I came, the city rings,
And numbers thither flock; I had no will,
Lest I should see him forc'd to things unseemly.
But that which mov'd my coming now was chiefly
To give ye part with me what hope I have
With good success to work his liberty.

CHOR. That hope would much rejoice us to

partake

1450

1455

With thee; say, reverend Sire, we thirst to hear.

MAN. I have attempted one by one the lords Either at home or through the high street passing, With supplication prone and father's tears, To accept of ransom for my son their pris'ner.

1434 shield] See T. Warton's Note on Comus, ver. 658.

Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh,
Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite;
That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests:
Others more moderate seeming, but their aim
Private reward, for which both God and State 1465
They easily would set to sale: a third
More generous far and civil, who confess'd
They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd
Their foe to misery beneath their fears,
The rest was magnanimity to remit,
If some convenient ransom were propos'd.
What noise or shout was that? it tore the sky.
CHOR. Doubtless the people shouting to behold
Their once great dread, captive and blind before
them,

1470

Or at some proof of strength before them shown.
MAN. His ransom, if my whole inheritance
May compass it, shall willingly be paid

And number'd down: much rather I shall choose
To live the poorest in my tribe, than richest,
And he in that calamitous prison left.

No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him.
For his redemption all my patrimony,

If need be, I am ready to forego

1480

And quit not wanting him, I shall want nothing. CHOR. Fathers are wont to lay up

for their sons, Thou for thy son art bent to lay out all : Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age, Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy son, Made older than thy age through eyesight lost.