He shent our messengers; and we lay by Patroclus. Ajax. Yes, lion-sick, sick of proud heart: you may call it melancholy, if you will favour the man; but, by my head, 'tis pride: But why, why? let him show us a -A word, my lord. cause. [Takes AGAMEMNON aside. Nestor. What moves Ajax thus to bay at him? Ulysses. Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him. Nestor. Who? Thersites? Ulysses. He. Nestor. Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his argument.8 Ulysses. No; you see, he is his argument, that has his argument; Achilles. Nestor. All the better; their fraction is more our wish, than their faction: But it was a strong composure, a fool could disunite. Ulysses. The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may easily untie. Here comes Patroclus. Re-enter PATROCLUS. Nestor. No Achilles with him. Ulysses. The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy: his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure. Patroclus. Achilles bids me say he is much sorry, If any thing more than your sport and pleasure Did move your greatness, and this noble state, To call upon him; he hopes, it is no other, But, for your health and your digestion sake, An after-dinner's breath.9 6 Rebuked, rated. 8 Subject. * Appendage of rank or dignity Agamemnon. Hear you, Patroclus;— ch attribute he hath; and much the reason We come to speak with him: And you shall not sin, And under-honest; in self-assumption greater, Than in the note of judgment; and worthier than himself Here tend1 the savage strangeness he puts on; Patroclus. I shall; and bring his answer presently. [Exit. Agamemnon. In second voice we'll not be satisfied, We come to speak with him.-Ulysses, enter. [Exit ULYSSES. Ajax. What is he more than another? Agamemnon. No more than what he thinks he is. Ajax. Is he so much? Do you not think, he thinks himself a better man than I am? 1 Attend. 3 Fits of lunacy. 2 Subscribe, obey. 4 Approbation. Agamemnon. No question. Ajax. Will you subscribe his thought, and say--he is? Agamemnon. No, noble Ajax; you are as strong, as valiant, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle, and altogether more tractable. Ajax. Why should a man be proud? How doth pride grow? I know not what pride is. Agamemnon. Your mind's the clearer, Ajax, and your virtues the fairer. He that is proud, eats up himself: pride is his own glass, his own trumpet, his own chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the deed, devours the deed in the praise. Ajax. I do hate a proud man, as I hate the engendering of toads. Nestor. And yet he loves himself: Is it not strange? Re-enter ULYSSES. [Aside. Ulysses. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow. He doth rely on none; But carries on the stream of his dispose, Agamemnon. Why will he not, upon our fair request, Untent his person, and share the air with us? Ulysses. Things small as nothing, for request's sake only, He makes important: Possess'd he is with greatness; Agamemnon. Let Ajax go to him.— Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent ; 'Tis said, he holds you well; and will be led, Ulysses. O Agamemnon, let it not be so! By going to Achilles: That were to enlard his fat-already pride; And add more coals to Cancer, when he burns This lord go to him! Jupiter forbid; And say in thunder-Achilles, go to him. Nestor. O, this is well; he rubs the vein of him. [Aside. Diomedes. And how his silence drinks up this ap plause! [A side. Ajax. If I go to him, with my arm'd fist I'll pash him Over the face. Agamemnon. O, no, you shall not go. Ajax. An he be proud with me, I'll pheeze his pride: Let me go to him. Ulysses. Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel. Ajax. A paltry, insolent fellow, Nestor. Himself! Ajax. Can he not be sociable? Chides blackness. How he describes [Aside. The raven [Aside. I will let his humours blood. Ajax. Fat. • Strike. 7 Comb or curry. Agamemnon. He'll be physician, that should be the Ajax. He should not bear it so, [A side. He'd have ten shares. [4 side. He should eat swords first: Shall pride carry it? Ulysses. Ajax. I'll knead him, I will make him supple ;Nestor. He's not yet thorough warm: force him with praises: 8 Pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry. [A side. Ulysses. My lord, you feed too much on this dislike. [To AGAMEMNON. Nestor. O noble general, do not do so. Diomedes. You must prepare to fight without Achilles. Ulysses. Why, 'tis this naming of him does him harm. Here is a man-But 'tis before his face; I will be silent. Nestor. Wherefore should you so? He is not emulous, as Achilles is. 9 Ulysses. Know the whole world, he is as valiant. Ajax. A vile dog, that shall palter' thus with us! I would, he were a Trojan! Nestor. What a vice If he were proud! Ay, or surly borne? Diomedes. Or covetous of praise? Ulysses. Diomedes. Or strange, or self-affected? Ulysses. Thank the heavens, lord, thou art of sweet composure; Praise him that got thee, she that gave thee suck: 8 Stuff. 9 Envious. 1 Trifle. |