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world kin… That all with one consent praise new…born gawds； Though they
are made and moulded of things past； And give to dust that is a little gilt
More laud than gilt o'er…dusted。 The present eye praises the present object。
Then marvel not； thou great and complete man； That all the Greeks begin
to worship Ajax； Since things in motion sooner catch the eye Than what
stirs not。 The cry went once on thee； And still it might； and yet it may
again； If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive And case thy reputation in
thy tent； Whose glorious deeds but in these fields of late Made emulous
missions 'mongst the gods themselves； And drave great Mars to faction。
ACHILLES。 Of this my privacy I have strong reasons。 ULYSSES。 But
'gainst your privacy The reasons are more potent and heroical。 'Tis known；
Achilles； that you are in love With one of Priam's daughters。 ACHILLES。
Ha！ known！ ULYSSES。 Is that a wonder？ The providence that's in a
watchful state Knows almost every grain of Plutus' gold； Finds bottom in
th' uncomprehensive deeps； Keeps place with thought； and almost； like the
gods； Do thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles。 There is a mystery…with
whom relation Durst never meddle…in the soul of state； Which hath an
operation more divine Than breath or pen can give expressure to。 All the
commerce that you have had with Troy As perfectly is ours as yours； my
lord； And better would it fit Achilles much To throw down Hector than
Polyxena。 But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home； When fame
shall in our island sound her trump； And all the Greekish girls shall
tripping sing 'Great Hector's sister did Achilles win； But our great Ajax
bravely beat down him。' Farewell； my lord。 I as your lover speak。 The fool
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slides o'er the ice that you should break。 Exit PATROCLUS。 To this effect；
Achilles； have I mov'd you。 A woman impudent and mannish grown Is not
more loath'd than an effeminate man In time of action。 I stand condemn'd
for this； They think my little stomach to the war And your great love to me
restrains you thus。 Sweet； rouse yourself； and the weak wanton Cupid
Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold； And； like a dew…drop from
the lion's mane； Be shook to airy 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； Omission to do what is necessary Seals a commission to a
blank of danger； And danger； like an ague； subtly taints Even then when
they sit idly in the sun。 ACHILLES。 Go call Thersites hither； sweet
Patroclus。 I'll send the fool to Ajax； and desire him T' invite the Troyan
lords； after the combat； To see us here unarm'd。 I have a woman's longing；
An appetite that I am sick withal； To see great Hector in his weeds of
peace； To talk with him； and to behold his visage； Even to my full of view。
Enter THERSITES
A labour sav'd！ THERSITES。 A wonder！ ACHILLES。 What？
THERSITES。 Ajax goes up and down the field asking for himself。
ACHILLES。 How so？ 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；
'a stalks up and down like a peacock…a stride and a stand； ruminaies like an
hostess that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set down her reckoning；
bites his lip with a politic 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' th' combat； he'll break't himself in
vainglory。 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's grown a very land fish； languageless； a monster。 A plague of
opinion！ A man may wear it on both sides； like leather jerkin。 ACHILLES。
Thou must be my ambassador to him； Thersites。 THERSITES。 Who； I？
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Why； he'll answer nobody； he professes not answering。 Speaking is for
beggars： he wears his tongue in's arms。 I will put on his presence。 Let
Patroclus make his 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 unarm'd to my tent； and to
procure safe conduct for his person of the magnanimous and most
illustrious six…or…seven…times…honour'd Captain General of the Grecian
army； et cetera； Agamemnon。 Do this。 PATROCLUS。 Jove bless great Ajax！
THERSITES。 Hum！ PATROCLUS。 I come from the worthy Achilles…
THERSITES。 Ha！ PATROCLUS。 Who most humbly desires you to invite
Hector to his tent… THERSITES。 Hum！ PATROCLUS。 And to procure safe
conduct from Agamemnon。 THERSITES。 Agamemnon！ PATROCLUS。 Ay；
my lord。 THERSITES。 Ha！ PATROCLUS。 What you say to't？
THERSITES。 God buy you； with all my heart。 PATROCLUS。 Your answer；
sir。 THERSITES。 If to…morrow be a fair day； by eleven of the clock it will
go one way or other。 Howsoever； he shall pay for me ere he has me。
PATROCLUS。 Your answer； sir。 THERSITES。 Fare ye well； with all my
heart。 ACHILLES。 Why； but he is not in this tune； is he？ THERSITES。 No；
but he's out a tune thus。 What music will be in him when Hector has
knock'd out his brains I know not； but； I am sure； none； unless the fiddler
Apollo get his sinews to make catlings on。 ACHILLES。 Come； thou shalt
bear a letter to him straight。 THERSITES。 Let me carry another to his
horse； for that's the more capable 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
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ACT IV。
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SCENE 1。 Troy。 A street
Enter； at one side； AENEAS； and servant with a torch； at another；
PARIS； DEIPHOBUS； ANTENOR； DIOMEDES the Grecian； and others；
with torches
PARIS。 See； ho！ Who is that there？ DEIPHOBUS。 It is the Lord
Aeneas。 AENEAS。 Is the Prince there in person？ Had I so good occasion
to lie long As you； Prince Paris； nothing but heavenly business Should rob
my bed…mate of my company。 DIOMEDES。 That's my mind too。 Good
morrow； Lord Aeneas。 PARIS。 A valiant Greek； Aeneas …take his hand：
Witness the process of your speech； wherein You told how Diomed； a
whole week by days； Did haunt you i