Ulyss. No you see, he is his argument, that has his argument; Achilles. Nest. All the better; their fraction is more our wish, than their faction: But it was a strong composure, a fool could disunite. Ulyss. The amity, that wisdom knits not, folly may easily untie. Here comes Patroclus. Re-enter Patroclus. Nest. No Achilles with him. Ulyss. The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy: his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure. Patr. 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's sake, An after-dinner's breath*. Agam. Hear you, Patroclus; We are too well acquainted with these answers: Much attribute he hath; and much the reason And under-honest; in self-assumption greater, Thau in the note of judgement; and worthier than himself Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on; Disguise the holy strength of their command, • Exercise. † Attend. Shyness. And underwrite* in an observing kind Patr. I shall; and bring his answer presently. [Exit. Agam. 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? Agam. 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? Agam. No question, Ajax. Will you subscribe his thought, and sayhe is? Agam. 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. Agam. 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. Nest. And yet he loves himself: Is it not strange? [Aside. * Subscribe, obey. Fits of lunacy. Re-enter Ulysses. Ulyss. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow. Agam. What's his excuse? Ulyss. He doth rely on none; But carries on the stream of his dispose, Without observance or respect of any, In will peculiar and in self-admission. Agam. Why will he not, upon our fair request, Untent his person, and share the air with us? Ulyss. Things small as nothing, for request's sake only, He makes important: Possess'd he is with greatness; And batters down himself: What should I say? Agam. 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, At your request, a little from himself. Ulyss. O Agamemnon, let it not be so! Enter his thoughts,-save such as do revolve • Fat. 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. [Aside. Dio. And how his silence drinks up this applause! [Aside. Ajax. If I go to him, with my arm'd fist I'll pasht him Over the face. Agam. O, no, you shall not go. Ajax. An he be proud with me, I'll pheezes his pride: Let me go to him. Ulyss. Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel. Ajax. A paltry, insolent fellow, Nest. How he describes Ajax. I will let his humours blood. Agam. He'll be physician, that should be the pa [Aside, He should eat swords first: Shall pride carry it? The sign in the zodiac into which the sun enters June 21. And Cancer reddens with the solar THOMSON. blaze.' Nest. An 'twould, you'd carry half. Ulyss. [Aside. He'd have ten shares. [Aside. Ajax. I'll knead him, I will make him supple:Nest. He's not yet thorough warm: force* him with praises: Pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry. [Aside. Ulyss. My lord, you feed too much on this dis[To Agamemnon, Nest. O noble general, do not do so. like. Dio. You must prepare to fight without Achilles. Ulyss. Why, 'tis this naming of him does him harm. Here is man-But 'tis before his face; I will be silent. Nest. Wherefore should you so? He is a not emuloust, as Achillés is. Ulyss. Know the whole world, he is as valiant. Ajax. A whoreson dog, that shall palter thus Ulyss. Dio. Or strange, or self-affected? Ulyss. Thank the heavens, lord, thou art of sweet composure; Praise him that got thee, she that gave thee suck: |