Of those who have me in their civil power. [not. CHO. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile SAMS. Where outward force constrains, the fen tence holds. But who constrains me to the temple' of Dagon, 1370 God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer, 1375 For fome important caufe, thou need'ft not doubt. CHO. How thou wilt here come off furmounts my reach. SAMS. Be of good courage, I begin to feel 1380 1385 CHO. In time thou haft refoiv'd, the man returns. To thee I am bid fay. Art thou our slave, Difpute thy coming? come without delay; 1395 SAMS. I could be well content to try their art, Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. 1400 Yet, knowing their advantages too many, Because they shall not trail me through their streets Like a wild beaft, I am content to go. Matters' commands come with a power refiftlefs To fuch as owe them abfolute fubjection; 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. 1405 OFF. I praise thy resolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to fet thee free. SAMS. Brethren, farewell; your company along I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415 So dreaded once, may now exasperate them, 1420 Our Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself, 1425 The last of me or no I cannot warrant, CHO. Go, and the holy One Of Ifrael be thy guide To what may serve his glory best, and spread his name Great among the Heathen round; Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to ftand Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field Rode up in flames after his meffage told Of thy conception, and be now a shield Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee Be efficacious in thee now at need: For never was from Heav'n imparted 1439 Measure of strength so great to mortal feed, Or of him bringing to us fome glad news? 1435 1440 [hither MAN. Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement Was not at present here to find my son, By order of the lords new parted hence 1450 To come and play before them at their feast. CHо. That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; fay, reverend Sire, we thirst to hear. MAN. I have attempted one by one the lords, T' accept of ranfom for my fon their pris'ner. 1460 More generous far and civil, who confefs'd If some convenient ranfom were propos'd. What noife or fhout was that? it tore the sky. CHO. Doubtlefs the people fhouting to behold 1470 Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of ftrength before them fhown. 1475 MAN. His ranfom, if my whole inheritance May compass it, fhall willingly be paid And number'd down: much rather I fhall choofe To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richest, And he in that calamitous prifon left. 1480 No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him. If need be, I am ready to forego And quit: not wanting him I fhall want nothing. Сно CHO. Fathers are wont to lay up for their fons, 1485 Thou for thy fon art bent to lay out all: in old age, Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy fon Made older than thy age through eye-fight loft. MAN. It fhall be my delight to tend his eyes, 1490 And view him fitting in the houfe, ennobled With all those high exploits by him achiev'd, And on his shoulders waving down those locks That of a nation arm'd the strength contain’d: And, I perfuade me, God had not permitted His ftrength again to grow up with his hair Garrison'd round about him like a camp Of faithful foldiery, were not his purpofe To use him farther yet in fome great fervice, Not to fit idle with fo great a gift Useless, and thence ridiculous about him. And fince his ftrength with eye-fight was not loft, 1495 1500 CHо. Thy hopes are not ill founded, nor seem vain Of his delivery, and thy joy 'thereon Conceiv'd, agreeable to a father's love, In both. which we, as next, participate. 1505 [noise! MAN. I know your friendly minds, and—O what Mercy of Heaven, what hideous noise was that! Horribly loud, unlike the former fhout. CHO. Noife call you it, or universal groan, As if the whole inhabitation perish'd! Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noife, 1510 MAN. |