Grows dainty of his worth, and in his tent Lies mocking our designs: With him, Patroclus, Breaks scurril jests; And with ridiculous and awkward action (Which, slanderer, he imitation calls,) He pageants* us. Sometime great Agamemnon, And, like a strutting player,-whose conceit That's done;-as near as the extremest ends And then, forsooth, the faint defects of age * In modern language, takes us off. The galleries of the theatre. + Supreme. || Unadapted. Excitements to the field, or speech for truce, CONDUCT IN WAR SUPERIOR TO ACTION. The still and inental parts, That do contrive how many hands shall strike They call this-bed-work, mappery, closet-war: RESPECT. I ask, that I might waken reverence, And bid the cheek be ready with a blush Modest as morning when she coldly eyes The youthful Phoebus. ACT II. DOUBT.. THE Wound of peace is surety, Surety secure; but modest doubt is call'd PLEASURE AND REVENGE. For pleasure, and revenge, Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice THE SUBTILTY OF ULYSSES, AND STUPIDITY OF AJAX. 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. Ulyss. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow. He doth rely on none; Ulyss. 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. Ulyss. O Agamemnon, let it not be so! Enter his thoughts,-save such as do revolve By going to Achilles: * Fat. 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. Nest. O, this is well; he rubs the vein of 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 pash + him Over the face. Agam. O, no, you shall not go. [pride: Ajax. An he be proud with me, I'll pheeze‡ his Let me go to him. [rel. Ulyss. Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarAjax. A paltry, insolent fellow, Nest. Himself! How he describes [Aside. The raven Chides blackness. [Aside. Ajax. I will let his humours blood. Agam. He'll be physician, that should be the pa tient. [Aside. Ajax. An all men Were o' my mind, Ulyss. Wit would be out of fashion. [Aside. Ajax. He should not bear it so, He should eat swords first: Shall pride carry it? Nest. An 'twould, you'd carry half. [Aside. Ulyss. He'd have ten shares. [Aside. Ajax. I'll knead him, I will make him supple : *The sign in the zodiac into which the sun enters June 21. "And Cancer reddens with the solar blaze." Thomson. + Strike. + Comb, or curry. 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 dislike. [To AGAMEMNON. Nest. O noble general, do not do so. Dio. You must prepare to fight without Achilles. Ulyss. Why, 'tis this naming of him does him harm. Here is a man-But 'tis before his face; I will be silent. Nest. Wherefore should you so? He is not emulous †, as Achilles is. Ulyss. Know the whole world, he is as valiant. Ajax. A whoreson dog, that shall paltert thus with I would, he were a Trojan. [us! What a vice If he were proud? Ay, or surly borne ? Dio. Or covetous of praise? 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: But he that disciplin'd thy arms to fight, To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom, He must, he is, he cannot but be wise ;- + Envious. * Staff. + Trifle. § Titles. |