Difpute thy coming? come without delay; And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force, 1395 SAMS. I could be well content to try their art, Yet this be fure, in nothing to comply 1405 OFF. I praise thy refolution: doff these links: 1410 By this compliance thou wilt win the lords To favor, and perhaps to set thee free. SAMS. Brethren, farewel; your company along I will not wish, left it perhaps offend them To fee me girt with friends; and how the fight 1415 So dreaded once, may now exasperate them, 1420 Our Our God, our Law, my Nation, or myself, The laft of me or no I cannot warrant. CHO. Go, and the holy One Of Ifrael be thy guide 1425 To what may serve his glory best, and spread his name Great among the Heathen round; 1439 Send thee the Angel of thy birth, to stand Faft by thy fide, who from thy father's field Rode up in flames after his message told Of thy conception, and be now a shield Of fire; that Spirit that first rush'd on thee 1435 Be efficacious in thee now at need: For never was from Heav'n imparted Measure of strength fo great to mortal feed, He seems supposing here to find his son, : Or of him bringing to us fome glad news? 1440 [hither MAN. Peace with you, Brethren; my inducement Was not at present here to find my fon, By order of the lords new parted hence To come and play before them at their feast. I heard all as I came, the city rings, E 4 1450 Сно. CHO. That hope would much rejoice us to partake With thee; say, reverend Sire, we thirst to hear. MAN. I have attempted one by one the lords, Either at home, or through the high street paffing, With fupplication prone and father's tears, Taccept of ransom for my son their pris'ner. 1460 Some much averfe I found and wondrous harfh, Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite; That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his priests: Others more moderate feeming, but their aim Private reward, for which both God and State They eafily would fet to fale: a third More generous far and civil, who confefs'd They had enough reveng'd, having reduc'd Their foe to mifery beneath their fears, The reft was magnanimity to remit, If fome convenient ranfom were propos'd. What noife or fhout was that? it tore the sky. 1465 1470 CHO. Doubtless the people fhouting to behold Their once great dread, captive, and blind before them, Or at fome proof of strength before them shown. 1475 MAN. His ranfom, if my whole inheritance May compafs it, fhall willingly be paid And number'd down: much rather I fhall choose To live the pooreft in my tribe, than richest, And he in that calamitous prison left. 1480 No, I am fix'd not to part hence without him. For his redemption all my patrimony, If need be, I am ready to forego And quit: not wanting him I fhall want nothing. Сно. CHO. Fathers are wont to lay up for their fons, 1485 Thou for thy fon art bent to lay out all: Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age, Thou in old age car'ft how to nurse thy fon Ufelefs, and thence ridiculous about him. And fince his ftrength with eye-fight was not loft, 1495 1500 CHO. Thy hopes are not ill founded nor feem vain Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon Conceiv'd, agreeable to a father's love, In both which we, as next, participate. 1505 [noife! MAN. I know your friendly minds, and---O what Mercy of Heaven, what hideous noife was that!. Horribly loud, unlike the former shout. CHO. Noife call you it, or universal groan, As if the whole inhabitation perifsh'd! 1510 Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noife, MAN. MAN. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise: Oh it continues, they have flain my fon. CHO. Thy fon is rather flaying them, that outcry From flaughter of one foe could not ascend. MAN. Some dismal accident it needs muft be; What shall we do? ftay here, or run and fee? 1520 CHо. Beft keep together here, left running thither We unawares run into danger's mouth. This evil on the Philiftines is fall'n; From whom could elfe a general cry be heard? And over heaps of flaughter'd walk his way? 1525 1530 MAN. That were a joy prefumptuous to be thought. CHO. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible For his people of old; what hinders now? MAN. He can I know, but doubt to think he will; Yet hope would fain subscribe, and tempts belief. 1535 A little stay will bring fome notice hither. CHO. Of good or bad so great, of bad the fooner; For evil news rides poft, while good news baits. And to our wish I fee one hither speeding, An Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe. 1540 MESS. O whither fhall I run, or which way fly Which erft my eyes beheld, and yet behold? But |