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J30 SAMSON AGONISTES.
A weaver's beam, and fev'n-times-folded fliield,
I only with an oaken-ftaff will meet thee,
And raife fuch outcries on thy clatter'd iron,
Which long ihall not withhold me from thy head,
That in a little time while breath remains thee,
Thou oft fhalt willi thyfelf at Gath to boaft
what thou wouldft have done
Again in fafcty
To Samfon, but malt never fee Gath more.
HARAPHA.
Thou durft not thus difparage glorious arms,
Which greateft heroes have in battle worn,
Their ornament and fafety, had not fpells
And black inchantments, fome magician's art,
Arm'd thee or charm'd thee ftrong, which thou from
Heaven
Feign'dfl at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair,
Where ftrength can leaft abide, though all thy hairs
Were briftles rang'd like thofe that ridge the back
Of chaf 'd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.
SAMSON.
I know no fpells, ufe no forbidden artsj
My truft is in the living God, who gave me
At my nativity this ftrength, diffus'd
No lefs through all my finews, joints, and bones,
Than thine, while I preferv'd thefe locks unfhorn,
The pledge of my unviolated vow.
For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy God,
Go to his temple, invocate his aid
With folemneft devotion, fpread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now
To fruftrate and diflblve thefe magic fpells,