peace; An appetite that I am sick withal, Enter THERSites. Ther. A wonder! Achil. What? Ther. Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for himself. Achil. How so? Ther. He must fight singly to-morrow with Hector; and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling, that he raves in saying nothing. Achil. How can that be? Ther. 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 politick regard, as who should say there were wit in this head, an 'twould 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 is grown a very land fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Achil. Thou must be my embassador to him, Thersites. Ther. 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 6 with a politick regard,] With a sly look. Patroclus make demands to me, you shall see the pageant of Ajax. Achil. 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 captain-general of the Grecian army, Agamemnon. Do this. Patr. Jove bless great Ajax. Ther. Humph! Patr. I come from the worthy Achilles, Ther. Ha! Patr. Who most humbly desires you, to invite Hector to his tent ! Ther. Humph! Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Agamemnon. Ther. Agamemnon? Patr. Ay, my lord. Ther. Ha! Patr. What say you to't? Ther. God be wi' you, Patr. Your answer, sir. with all my heart. Ther. 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. Patr. Your answer, sir. Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart. Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he? Ther. 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 catlings on." Achil. Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight. Ther. Let me bear another to his horse; for that's the more capable creature. 8 to make catlings on.] A catling signifies a small lute-string made of catgut. -8 the more capable creature,] The more intelligent creature. Achil. My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirr'd; And I myself see not the bottom of it. [Exeunt ACHILLES and PATROclus. Ther. '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, ÆNEAS, and Servant, with a Torch; at the other, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES, and Others, with Torches. Par. See, ho! who's that there? 'Tis the lord Æneas. Ene. Is the prince there in person? Had I so good occasion to lie long, As you, prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business Dio. That's my mind too. Good morrow, lord Æneas. Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand : Witness the process of your speech, wherein You told how Diomed, a whole week by days, Ene. Health to you, valiant sir, During all question of the gentle truce: But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance, Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces. 9 During all question —] Question means intercourse, interchange of conversation. But when contention and occasion meet, Ene. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly If to my sword his fate be not the glory, Dio. We do; and long to know each other worse. Par. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting, The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of. What business, lord, so early? Ene. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not. Par. His purpose meets you'; 'Twas to bring this Greek To Calchas' house; and there to render him, Ene. That I assure you; Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece, 1 His purpose meets you;] I bring you his meaning and his orders. JOHNSON. Par. The bitter disposition of the time There is no help; [Exit. Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you. Ene. Good morrow, all. Par. And tell me, noble Diomed; faith, tell me true, Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship, Who, in your thoughts, merits fair Helen best, He merits well to have her, that doth seek her 2 Both merits pois'd3, each weighs nor less nor more; Par. You are too bitter to your countrywoman. A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple Of her contaminated carrion weight, A Trojan hath been slain; since she could speak, - [Exeunt. 2 -- a flat tamed piece;] i. e. a piece of wine out of which the spirit is all flown. 3 Both merits pois'd, &c.] The sense appears to be this: the merits of either are sunk in value, because the contest between them is only for a strumpet. |