Sams. Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do What then thon would'st; thou seest it in thy hand. Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain, And thou hast need much washing to be touch'd. Who durst not with their whole united powers 1105 1110 Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me 1115 Therefore, without feign'd shifts, let be assign'd Some narrow place euclos'd, where sight may give thee, Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet 1120 1125 Har. Thon durst not thus disparage glorious arms, 1130 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 leav'n Feign'dst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, 1135 Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs Sams. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts; My trust is in the living God, who gave me 1140 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, For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy God, 1145 Go to his temple, invocate his aid With solemnest devotion, spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now 1150 1155 Har. Presume not on thy God, whate'er he be ; Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off Quite from his people, and deliver'd up Into thy enemies' hand, permitted them To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee 1160 Into the common prison, there to grind Among the slaves and asses thy comrades, With those thy boist'rous locks, no worthy match 1165 Sams. All these indignities, for such they are 1170 1175 Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting He will accept thee to defend his cause, A murderer, a revolter, and a robber! 1180 Sums. Tongue-doughty Giant, how dost thou prove me Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee (these? As a league-breaker, and deliver'd bound Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed 1185 At Ascalon, who never did thee harin, Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes? Went up with armed pow'rs thee only seeking, 1190 To others did no violence nor spoil. Sams. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued me no foe ; To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200 When I perceiv'd all set on enmity, 1205 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 1210 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, 1215 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 disabled me, not all your force; These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, 1220 Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, As a petty enterprise of small enforce. Har. with thee ! a man condem'd, a slave enroll'd, Due by the law to capital punishment! 1225 To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Sams. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me, To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict? 1230 Sams. 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. 1235 Har. This insolence other kind of answer fits. Chor. His giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall'n, 4 Sams. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, 1240 [Exit.] 1245 Chor. He will directly to the lords, I fear, 1250 And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. Sams. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight Will not dare mention, lest a question rise Whether he durst accept th' offer or not; 1255 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 1260 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. 1265 |