That all, with one consent, praise new-born gawds, More laud than gilt o'er-dusted. The present eye praises the present object: eye, Than what not stirs. The cry went once on thee, Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, Achilles. I have strong reasons. Of this my privacy Ulysses. But 'gainst your privacy Achilles. Ulysses. Is that a wonder? Ha! known? The providence that's in a watchful state, But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home, 7 New-fashioned toys. 9 8 The descent of the deities to combat on either side. 9 Polyxena. Great Hector's sister did Achilles win; But our great Ajax bravely beat down him. The fool slides o'er the ice that you should break. [Exit. Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man Be shook to air. Achilles. Shall Ajax fight with Hector? Patroclus. Ay; and, perhaps, receive much honour by him. Achilles. I see, my reputation is at stake; My fame is shrewdly gor❜d. Patroclus. O, then beware; Those wounds heal ill, that men do give themselves : Seals a commission to a blank of danger; Achilles. Go, call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus: To see great Hector in his weeds of peace; A labour sav'd! Enter THERSITES. Thersites. A wonder! Achilles. What? Thersites. Ajax goes up and down the field, asking Thersites. He must fight singly to-morrow with Hector; and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling, that he raves in saying nothing. Achilles. How can that be? Thersites. Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock, a stride, and a stand: ruminates, like an hostess, that hath no arithmetick but her brain to set down her reckoning: bites his lip with a political regard, as who should say there were wit in this head, an 't would out; and so there is; but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break it himself in vain-glory. He knows not me: I said, Good morrow, Ajax; and he replies, Thanks, Agamemnon. What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? He has grown a very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Achilles. Thou must be my ambassador to him, Thersites. Thersites. Who, I? why, he'll answer nobody; he professes not answering; speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue in his arms. I will put on his presence; let Patroclus make demands to me, you shall see the pageant of Ajax. Achilles. To him, Patroclus: Tell him, I humbly desire the valiant Ajax, to invite the most valorous Hector to come unarmed to my tent; and to procure safe conduct for his person, of the magnanimous, and most illustrious, six-or-seven-times honoured captaingeneral of the Grecian army, Agamemnon. Do this. Patroclus. Jove bless great Ajax? Thersites. Humph! Patroclus. I come from the worthy Achilles,- Patroclus. Who most humbly desires you, to invite Hector to his tent! Thersites. Humph! Patroclus. And to procure safe conduct from Aga memnon.. Thersites. Agamemnon? Patroclus. Ay, my lord. Thersites. Ha! : Patroclus. What say you to't? - Thersites. With all my heart. Patroclus. Your answer, sir. Thersites. If to-morrow be a fair day, by eleven o'clock it will go one way or other; howsoever, he shall pay for me ere he has me. Patroclus. Your answer, sir. Thersites. Fare you well, with all my heart. Achilles. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he? Thersites. No, but he's out o' tune thus. What musick will be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains, I know not: But, I am sure, none; unless the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings2 on. Achilles. Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight. Thersites. Let me bear another to his horse; for that's the more capable3 creature. Achilles. My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirr'd; And I myself see not the bottom of it. · [Exeunt ACHILLES and PATROCLUS. Thersites. 'Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at it! I had rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance. [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I.-TROY. A Street. Enter, at one side, NEAS and SERVANT, with a Torch; at the other, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES, and Others, with Torches. Paris. See, ho! who's that there? Deiphobus. 2 Lute strings made of catgut. 'Tis the lord Æneas. 3 Intelligent. Eneas. Is the prince there? Diomedes. Good morrow, lord Æneas.. Paris. A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand: Eneas. Health to you, valiant sir, During all question of the gentle truce: But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance, As heart can think, or courage execute. Diomedes. The one and other Diomed embraces, By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life, Eneas. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly Diomedes. We do; and long to know each other worse. Paris. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting, The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.What business, lord, so early? Eneas. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not. Paris. His purpose meets you: 'Twas to bring this To Calchas' house; and there to render him, 4 Conversation. |