Sam. Such usages as your honorable lords Afford me' assassinated and betray'd ; Who durst not with their whole united powers 1110 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 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 Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; [thee Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, 1120 Vant-brass, and greves, and gauntlet, add thy spear, A weaver's beam, and sev'n times folded shield, I only with an oaken 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 shall wish thyself at Gath to boast Again in safety what thou would'st have done To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

Har. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms
Which greatest heroes have in battle worn, 1131
Their ornament and safety, had not spells.
And black inchantments, some Magician's art, :
Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou fro:

Heav'n
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 chafd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.

SAM. 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, 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 1150 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.

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 Into the common prison there to grind 1161 Among the slaves and asses thy comrades, As good for nothing else, no beiter 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 subdued.

SAM. All these indignities, for such they are
From thine, these evils I deserve and more, :
Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me 1170
Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon
Whose car 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. Ting

HAR. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, intrustHe will accept thee to defend his cause, 1179 A murderer, a revolter, and a robber. SAM. Tongue-doughty Giant, how dost thou prove

me these ? HAR. 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 hadst thou not committed Notorious murder on those thirty men At Ascalon, 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. 1191

SAM. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued 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. 1200
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.
1 was to do my part from Heav'n assigud,
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,
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
As a petty enterprize of small enforce.

HAR. With thee a man condemn'd, a slave enrollid Due by the law to capital punishment; To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. [me,

SAM. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict ? Come nearer. Part not hence so slight inform’d; But take good heed my hand survey not thee. 1230

HAR. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear these dishonours, and not render death ?

SAM. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy Fear I incurable ; bring up thy van, [hand My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free.

HAR. This insolence other kind of answer fits.

SAM. Go, baffled 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. 1240 · To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides.

HAR. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries in irons loaded on thee.

CHOR. His Giantship is gone somewhat crestStalking with less unconscionable strides, [fallen And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

SAM. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliath chief.

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.

SAM. He must alledge some cause, and offer'd fight