The Complete Poems

by John Milton

The giant Hárapha of Gath, his look

  Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud.

  1070 Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither

  I less conjecture than when first I saw

  The sumptuous Dálila floating this way:

  His habit carries peace, his brow defiance.

  Samson. Or peace or not, alike to me he comes.

  1075 Chorus. His fraught we soon shall know, he now arrives.

  Harapha. I come not Samson, to condole thy chance,

  As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been,

  Though for no friendly intent. I am of Gath,

  Men call me Hárapha, of stock renowned

  1080 As Og or Anak and the Emims old

  That Kiriathaim held; thou know’st me now,

  If thou at all art known. Much I have heard

  Of thy prodigious might and feats performed

  Incredible to me, in this displeased,

  1085 That I was never present on the place

  Of those encounters, where we might have tried

  Each other’s force in camp or listed field:

  And now am come to see of whom such noise

  Hath walked about, and each limb to survey,

  1090 If thy appearance answer loud report.

  Samson. The way to know were not to see but taste.

  Harapha. Dost thou already single me; I thought

  Gyves and the mill had tamed thee? O that fortune

  Had brought me to the field where thou art famed

  1095 To have wrought such wonders with an ass’s jaw;

  I should have forced thee soon wish other arms,

  Or left thy carcass where the ass lay thrown:

  So had the glory of prowess been recovered

  To Palestine, won by a Philistine

  1100 From the unforeskinned race, of whom thou bear’st

  The highest name for valiant acts; that honour

  Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee,

  I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.

  Samson. Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do

  1105 What then thou wouldst; thou seest it in thy hand.

  Harapha. To combat with a blind man I disdain,

  And thou hast need much washing to be touched.

  Samson. Such usage as your honourable lords

  Afford me assassinated and betrayed,

  1110 Who durst not with their whole united powers

  In fight withstand me single and unarmed,

  Nor in the house with chamber ambushes

  Close-banded durst attack me, no, not sleeping,

  Till they had hired a woman with their gold

  1115 Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me.

  Therefore without feigned shifts let be assigned

  Some narrow place enclosed, where sight may give thee,

  Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;

  Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet

  1120 And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon,

  Vant-brace and greaves, and gauntlet, add thy spear

  A weaver’s beam, and seven-times-folded shield;

  I only with an oaken staff will meet thee,

  And raise such outcries on thy clattered iron,

  1125 Which long shall not withhold me from thy head,

  That in a little time while breath remains thee,

  Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath to boast

  Again in safety what thou wouldst have done

  To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

  1130 Harapha. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms

  Which greatest heroes have in battle worn,

  Their ornament and safety, had not spells

  And black enchantments, some magician’s art

  Armed thee or charmed thee strong, which thou from Heaven

  1135 Feign’dst at thy birth was giv’n thee in thy hair,

  Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs

  Were bristles ranged like those that ridge the back

  Of chafed wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.

  Samson. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts;

  1140 My trust is in the living God who gave me

  At my nativity this strength, diffused

  No less through all my sinews, joints and bones,

  Than thine, while I preserved these locks unshorn,

  The pledge of my unviolated vow.

  1145 For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god,

  Go to his temple, invocate his aid

  With solemnest devotion, spread before him

  How highly it concerns his glory now

  To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells,

  1150 Which I to be the power of Israel’s God

  Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,

  Offering to combat thee his champion bold,

  With th’ utmost of his godhead seconded:

  Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow

  1155 Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine.

  Harapha. Presume not on thy God; whate’er he be,

  Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off

  Quite from his people, and delivered up

  Into thy enemies’ hand, permitted them

  1160 To put out both thine eyes, and fettered send thee

  Into the common prison, there to grind

  Among the slaves and asses thy comrádes,

  As good for nothing else; no better service

  With those thy boist’rous locks, no worthy match

  1165 For valour to assail, nor by the sword

  Of noble warrior, so to stain his honour,

  But by the barber’s razor best subdued.

  Samson. All these indignities, for such they are

  From thine, these evils I deserve and more,

  1170 Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me

  Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon

  Whose ear is ever open; and his eye

  Gracious to re-admit the suppliant;

  In confidence whereof I once again

  1175 Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight,

  By combat to decide whose god is God,

  Thine or whom I with Israel’s sons adore.

  Harapha. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting

  He will accept thee to defend his cause,

  1180 A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.

  Samson. Tongue-doughty giant, how dost thou prove me these?

  Harapha. Is not thy nation subject to our lords?

  Their magistrates confessed it, when they took thee

  As a league-breaker and delivered bound

  1185 Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed

  Notorious murder on those thirty men

  At Ascalon, who never did thee harm,

  Then like a robber stripp’dst them of their robes?

  The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league,

  1190 Went up with armèd powers thee only seeking,

  To others did no violence nor spoil.

  Samson. Among the daughters of the Philistines

  I chose a wife, which argued me no foe;

  And in your city held my nuptial feast:

  1195 But your ill-meaning politician lords,

  Under pretence of bridal friends and guests,

  Appointed to await me thirty spies,

  Who threat’ning cruel death constrained the bride

  To wring from me and tell to them my secret,

  1200 That solved the riddle which I had proposed.

  When I perceived all set on enmity,

  As on my enemies, wherever chanced,

  I used hostility, and took their spoil

  To pay my underminers in their coin.

  1205 My nation was subjected to your lords.

  It was the force of conquest; force with force

  Is well ejected when the conquered can
.

  But I a private person, whom my country

  As a league-breaker gave up bound, presumed

  1210 Single rebellion and did hostile acts.

  I was no private but a person raised

  With strength sufficient and command from Heav’n

  To free my country; if their servile minds

  Me their deliverer sent would not receive,

  1215 But to their masters gave me up for naught,

  Th’ unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.

  I was to do my part from Heav’n assigned,

  And had performed it if my known offence

  Had not disabled me, not all your force:

  1220 These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant,

  Though by his blindness maimed for high attempts,

  Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

  As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

  Harapha. With thee a man condemned, a slave enrolled,

  1225 Due by the law to capital punishment?

  To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

  Samson. Cam’st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me,

  To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict?

  Come nearer, part not hence so slight informed;

  1230 But take good heed my hand survey not thee.

  Harapha. O Baäl-zebub! can my ears unused

  Hear these dishonours, and not render death?

  Samson. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy hand

  Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,

  1235 My heels are fettered, but my fist is free.

  Harapha. This insolence other kind of answer fits.

  Samson. Go baffled coward, lest I run upon thee,

  Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,

  And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

  1240 Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down

  To the hazard of thy brains and shattered sides.

  Harapha. By Astaroth ere long thou shalt lament

  These braveries in irons loaden on thee.

  Chorus. His giantship is gone somewhat crestfall’n,

  1245 Stalking with less unconscionable strides,

  And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

  Samson. I dread him not, nor all his giant brood,

  Though fame divulge him father of five sons

  All of gigantic size, Goliah chief.

  1250 Chorus. He will directly to the lords, I fear,

  And with malicious counsel stir them up

  Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

  Samson. He must allege some cause, and offered fight

  Will not dare mention, lest a question rise

  1255 Whether he durst accept the offer or not,

  And that he durst not plain enough appeared.

  Much more affliction than already felt

  They cannot well impose, nor I sustain;

  If they intend advantage of my labours

  1260 The work of many hands, which earns my keeping

  With no small profit daily to my owners.

  But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove

  My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence,

  The worst that he can give, to me the best.

  1265 Yet so it may fall out, because their end

  Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine

  Draw their own ruin who attempt the deed.

  Chorus. O how comely it is and how reviving

  To the spirits of just men long oppressed!

  1270 When God into the hands of their deliverer

  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

  1275 Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue

  The righteous and all such as honour truth;

  He all their ammunition

  And feats of war defeats

  With plain heroic magnitude of mind

  1280 And celestial vigour armed;

  Their armouries and magazines contemns,

  Renders them useless, while

  With winged expedition

  Swift as the lightning glance he executes

  1285 His errand on the wicked, who surprised

  Lose their defence distracted and amazed.

  But patience is more oft the exercise

  Of saints, the trial of their fortitude,

  Making them each his own deliverer,

  1290 And victor over all

  That tyranny or fortune can inflict;

  Either of these is in thy lot,

  Samson, with might endued

  Above the sons of men; but sight bereaved

  1295 May chance to number thee with those

  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,

  1300 And yet perhaps more trouble is behind.

  For I descry this way

  Some other tending, in his hand

  A sceptre or quaint staff he bears,

  Comes on amain, speed in his look.

  1305 By his habit I discern him now

  A public officer, and now at hand.

  His message will be short and voluble.

  Officer. Hebrews, the pris’ner Samson here I seek.

  Chorus. His manacles remark him, there he sits.

  1310 Officer. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say;

  This day to Dagon is a solemn feast,

  With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games;

  Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,

  And now some public proof thereof require

  1315 To honour this great feast, and great assembly;

  Rise therefore with all speed and come along,

  Where I will see thee heartened and fresh clad,

  To appear as fits before th’ illustrious lords.

  Samson. Thou know’st I am an Hebrew, therefore tell them,

  1320 Our Law forbids at their religious rites

  My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

  Officer. This answer, be assured, will not content them.

  Samson. Have they not sword-players, and every sort

  Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners,

  1325 Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers, mimics,

  But they must pick me out with shackles tired,

  And over-laboured at their public mill,

  To make them sport with blind activity?

  Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels

  1330 On my refusal to distress me more,

  Or make a game of my calamities?

  Return the way thou cam’st, I will not come.

  Officer. Regard thyself, this will offend them highly.

  Samson. Myself? my conscience and internal peace.

  1335 Can they think me so broken, so debased

  With corporal servitude, that my mind ever

  Will condescend to such absurd commands?

  Although their drudge, to be their fool or jester,

  And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief

  1340 To show them feats, and play before their god,

  The worst of all indignities, yet on me

  Joined with extreme contempt? I will not come.

  Officer. My message was imposed on me with speed,

  Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?

  1345 Samson. So take it with what speed thy message needs.

  Officer. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce.

  Samson. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed.

  Chorus. Consider, Samson; matters now are strained

  Up to the heighth, whether to hold or break;

  1350 He’s gone, and who knows how he may report

  Thy words by add
ing fuel to the flame?

  Expect another message more imperious,

  More lordly thund’ring than thou well wilt bear.

  Samson. Shall I abuse this consecrated gift

  1355 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

  1360 Vaunting my strength in honour to their Dagon?

  Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,

  What act more execrably unclean, profane?

  Chorus. Yet with this strength thou serv’st the Philistines,

  Idolatrous, uncircumcised, unclean.

  1365 Samson. Not in their idol-worship, but by labour

  Honest and lawful to deserve my food

  Of those who have me in their civil power.

  Chorus. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not.

  Samson. Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds;

  1370 But who constrains me to the temple of Dagon,

  Not dragging? the Philistian lords command.

  Commands are no constraints. If I obey them,

  I do it freely; venturing to displease

  God for the fear of man, and man prefer,

  1375 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 idolatrous rites

  For some important cause, thou need’st not doubt.

  1380 Chorus. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach.

  Samson. 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,

  1385 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.

  1390 Chorus. In time thou hast resolved, the man returns.

  Officer. 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 command

  1395 Dispute thy coming? Come without delay;

  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.

  Samson. I could be well content to try their art,

  1400 Which to no few of them would prove pernicious.

  Yet knowing their advantages too many,

  Because they shall not trail me through their streets

  Like a wild beast, I am content to go.