At Ascalon, who never did thee harm, Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes? SAMSON. Among the daughters of the Philistines Who threat'ning cruel death constrain'd the bride 1195 1200 1205 It was the force of conquest; force with force Is well ejected when the conquér'd can. But I a private person, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum'd I was no private but a person rais'd With strength sufficient and command from heaven Me their deliverer sent would not receive, 1210 1215 Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve. I was to do my part from heav'n assign'd, HARAPHA. With thee a man condemn'd, a slave inroll'd, Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me, O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd Hear these dishonours, and not render death? SAMSON. 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. HARAPHA. This insolence other kind of answer fits. 1222. Who now defies thee thrice] This was the custom and the law of arms to give the challenge and to sound the trumpet thrice. In allusion to the same practice Edgar appears to fight with the Bastard by the third sound of the trumpet, Lear, act v. sc. 7. 1220 1225 1230 1235 1231. O Baal-zebub!] He is properly made to invoke Baalzebub, as afterwards to swear by Astaroth, that is, the deities of the Philistines and neighbouring nations, of whom we have said something in the notes on the Paradise Lost, and the learned reader may see more in Selden. SAMSON. Go baffled coward, lest I run upon thee, By Astaroth ere long thou shalt lament CHORUS. His giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall'n, SAMSON. I dread him not, nor all his giant-brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliah chief. CHORUS. He will directly to the lords, I fear, SAMSON. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight 1248. Though fame divulge him &c.] So it plainly should be as Milton himself corrected it, and not divulged as it is in all the editions. Father of five sons &c. The story of Goliath of Gath is 1240 1245 1250 1255 very well known: and the other four are mentioned 2 Sam. xxi. 15-22. These four were born to the giant or to Harapha in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. Much more affliction than already felt If they intend advantage of my labours, The work of many hands, which earns my keeping 1260 But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove 1265 Oh how comely it is, and how reviving To the spirits of just men long oppress'd! When God into the hands of their deliverer 1270 Puts invincible might To quell the mighty of the earth, th' oppressor, The brute and boist'rous force of violent men Hardy and industrious to support Tyrannic pow'r, but raging to pursue 1275 The righteous, and all such as honour truth; And feats of war defeats With plain heroic magnitude of mind And celestial vigour arm'd, Their armories and magazines contemns, 1268. Oh how comely it is, &c.] 1 am of opinion, that Milton, in this chorus, is writing a pane gyric on the memory of Cromwell and his deliverance, instead 1280 of reflecting on the recent blessings of the restoration. Compare his Sonnet to Cromwell. T. Warton. With winged expedition Swift as the lightning glance he executes That tyranny or fortune can inflict. Samson, with might indued Above the sons of men; but sight bereav'd Whom patience finally must crown. This idol's day hath been to thee no day of rest, Labouring thy mind More than the working day thy hands. 1285 1290 1295 And yet perhaps more trouble is behind, 1300 Some other tending, in his hand OFFICER. Hebrews, the pris'ner Samson here I seek. 1305 1285. His errand] See the note, Par. Lost, b. iii. 652. E. 1303. quaint staff] Strange, unusual, as in Comus, 157. “ my "quaint habits breed astonish"ment." Compare note on Arcades, 47. T. Warton. |