Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/351

 SAMSON AGONISTES

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��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. Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God,

in trusting

He will accept thee to defend his cause, A inurtherer, a revolter, and a robber ! 1 180 Sams. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost

thou prove me these ? Har. Is not thy nation subject to our

Lords? Their magistrates confessed it when they

took thee

As a league-breaker, and delivered bound Into our hands; for hadst thou not com- mitted

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 seek- ing, 1190 To others did no violence nor spoil.

Sams. Among the daughters of the Phi- listines

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, threatening cruel death, constrained

the bride To wring from me, and tell to them, my

secret,

That solved the riddle which I had pro- posed. 1200

When I perceived all set on enmity, As on my enemies, wherever chanced, I used 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 conquered can. But I, a private person, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bound, pre- sumed

Single rebellion, and did hostile acts ! 1210 I was no private, but a person raised, With strength sufficient, and command

from Heaven, To free my country. If their servile minds

��Me, their Deliverer sent, would not re- ceive, But to their masters gave me up for

nought, The unworthier they; whence to this day

they serve.

I was to do my part from Heaven assigned, And had performed it if my known offence Had not disabled me, not all your force. These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, Though by his blindness maimed for high

attempts, 1221

Who now defies thee thrice to single fight, As a petty enterprise of small enforce. Har. With thee, a man condemned, a

slave enrolled,

Due by the law to capital punishment ? 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

verdit ?

Come nearer; part not hence so slight in- formed ; But take good heed my hand survey not

thee. 1230

Har. O Baal-zebub ! can my ears unused

Hear these dishonours, and not render

death ? Sams. No man withholds thee; nothing

from thy hand

Fear I incurable; bring up thy van; My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Har. This insolence other kind of answer

fits. Sams. 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 the hazard of thy brains and shattered

sides. Har. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt

lament

These braveries, in irons loaden on thee. Char. His Giantship is gone somewhat

crest-fallen,

Stalking with less unconscionable strides, And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe. Sams. I dread him not, nor all his giant

brood,

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