Ajax. I shall cut out your tongue. Ther. 'Tis no matter; I shall speak as much as thou afterwards. Patr. No more words, Thersites; peace. Ther. I will hold my peace when Achilles' brach* bids me, shall I ? Achil. There's for you, Patroclus. Ther. I will see you hanged, like clotpoles, ere I come any more to your tents; I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools. [Exit. Patr. A good riddance. Achil. Marry, this, sir, is proclaimed through all our host: That Hector, by the first hour of the sun, Achil. I know not, it is put to lottery; otherwise, He knew his man. Ajax. O, meaning you :-I'll go learn more of it. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Troy. A room in Priam's palace. Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris, and Helenus. Pri. After so many hours, lives, speeches spent, Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks; Deliver Helen, and all damage else As honour, loss of time, travel, expence, Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is consum'd In hot digestion of this cormorant war,— Shall be struck off:-Hector, what say you to't? * Bitch, hound. Hect. Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I, As far as toucheth my particular, yet, Dread Priam, There is no lady of more softer bowels, More ready to cry out-Who knows what follows? Tro. Fye, fye, my brother! Weigh you the worth and honour of a king, So great as our dread father, in a scale Of common ounces? will you with counters sum The past-proportion of his infinite? And buckle-in a waist most fathomless, With spans and inches so diminutive As fears and reasons? fye, for godly shame! sons, You are so empty of them. Should not our father · Bear the great sway of his affairs with reasons, Because your speech hath none, that tells him so? Tro. You are for dreams and slumbers, brother Here are your priest, You fur your gloves with reason. reasons: You know, an enemy intends you harm; * Tenths. Who marvels then, when Helenus beholds Or like a star dis-orb'd?-Nay, if we talk of reason, Let's shut our gates, and sleep: Manhood and honour Should have hare hearts, would they but fat their thoughts With this cramm'd reason: reason and respect* Make livers pale, and lustihood deject. Hect. Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost The holding. Tro. What is aught, but as 'tis valued? Hect. But value dwells not in particular will; It holds his estimate and dignity As well wherein 'tis precious of itself As in the prizer: 'tis mad idolatry, To make the service greater than the god; We do not throw in unrespective sieve ‡, Because we now are full. It was thought meet, * Caution. Basket. And, for an old aunt*, whom the Greeks held cap tive, He brought a Grecian queen, whose youth and fresh ness Wrinkles Apollo's, and makes pale the morning. If you'll avouch, 'twas wisdom Paris went Pri. What noise? what shriek is this? Tro. 'Tis our mad sister, I do know her voice. Cas. [Within.] Cry, Trojans ! Hect. It is Cassandra. Enter Cassandra, raving. Cas. Cry, Trojans, cry! lend me ten thousand eyes, And I will fill them with prophetick tears. Hect. Peace, sister, peace. Cas. Virgins and boys, mid-age and wrinkled elders, Soft infancy, that nothing canst but cry, *Priam's sister, Hesione. Troy must not be, nor goodly Ilion stand; Of divination in our sister work Some touches of remorse? or is your blood Tro. [Exit. Why, brother Hector, We may not think the justness of each act Such and no other than event doth form it; Nor once deject the courage of our minds, Because Cassandra's mad: her brain-sick raptures Cannot distaste* the goodness of a quarrel, Which hath our several honours all engag'd To make it gracious +. For my private part, I am no more touch'd than all Priam's sons: And Jove forbid, there should be done amongst us Such things as might offend the weakest spleen To fight for and maintain! Par. Else might the world convince ‡ of levity As well my undertakings, as your counsels : But I attest the gods, your full consent Gave wings to my propension, and cut off All fears attending on so dire a project. For what, alas, can these my single arms? What propugnation § is in one man's valour, To stand the push and enmity of those This quarrel would excite? Yet, I protest, Were I alone to pass the difficulties, And had as ample power as I have will, Paris should ne'er retract what he hath done, Nor faint in the pursuit. Pri. Paris, you speak Like one besotted on your sweet delights: * Corrupt, change to a worse state. To set it off. § Defence. |