Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/353

 SAMSON AGONISTES

��Or make a game of my calamities ? Return the way thou cam'st; I will not

come. Off. Regard thyself; this will offend them

highly.

Sams. Myself ! my conscience, and inter- nal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debased With corporal servitude, that my mind

ever

Will condescend to such absurd com- mands ? Although their drudge, to be their fool or

jester,

And, in my midst of sorrow and heart- grief,

To shew them feats, and play before their god 1340

The worst of all indignities, yet on me Joined with extreme contempt ! I will not

come. Off. My message was imposed on me

with speed,

Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution ? Sams. So take it with what speed thy

message needs. Off. I am sorry what this stoutness will

produce. Sams. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to

sorrow indeed. Chor. Consider, Samson ; matters now

are strained

Up to the highth, whether to hold or break. He 's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350

Thy words by adding fuel to the flame ? Expect another message, more imperious, More lordly thundering 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 renewed, and add a greater sin By prostituting holy things to idols, A. Nazarite, in place abominable, Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon ? 1360

Besides how vile, contemptible, ridiculous, What act more execrably unclean, pro- fane ? Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv'st

the Philistines, Idolatrous, uncircumcised, 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. Chor. Where the heart joins not, out- ward acts defile not. Sams. Where outward force constrains,

the sentence holds:

But who constrains me to the temple of Dagon, I37 o

Not dragging ? The Philistian Lords com- mand: Commands are no constraints. If I obey

them,

I do it freely, venturing 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 adolatrous rites For some important cause, thou need'st not

doubt.

Chor. How thou wilt here come off sur- mounts my reach. 1380 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 com- mand,

Dispute thy coming ? Come without de- lay;

Or we shall find such engines to assail And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of

force, Though thou wert firmlier fastened than a

rock. Sams. I could be well content to try

their art,

Which to no few of them would prove per- nicious; 1400 Yet, knowing their advantages too many, Because they shall not trail me through

their streets Like a wild beast, I am content to go.

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