SAMSON AGONISTES. 587 Sam. Toggue-doughty Giant, how doll thou prove . me there ? Har. Is not thy nation_ fubjeCt to our loe:is ? Their magifirates conlefs'd it when they took th;e As a league-breaker, and deliVer'd brand Into our hands : for hadl thou noi: tommitted 1185 Notorious murder on thole thirty men At Afcalon, who never did thee harm, Then like a robber itripp'd them of their robes ? The Philiftines, when thou hadft broke the league, Went up with armed poi,Ap.l.s thee only feeking, Igo To others dd no violence nor 1poil. Sam. Among the daughters of the Philiaines I chofe a wife, which argued me no foe ; And in your city held my nuptial feaft But your ill-meaning politician lords, 1195 Under pretence of bridal friends and guefis, Appointed to await me thirty fpies, Who threatning cruel death conaraip'd the bride To wring from me and tell to them my fecret, That folv'd the riddle which I had propos'd 1200 When I perceiv'd all let on enmity, As on my enemies, wherever chanc'd, I us'd hottiiity, and took theirfpoil To pay my underminers in their coin. My nation was fubjeCted to your lords. 1203 It was the force of conquea ; force with force Is well ejected when the conquer'd can. But I a private perfon, whom my country As a league-breaker gave up bound, prefum'd Single rebellion, and did hotlile ads. 1210 I was no private but a perfon rais'd With ttrength fufficient and command from Heaven To free my country ; if their fervile minds Me their deliverer lent would not receive, But
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