Ulyss. We saw him at the opening of his tent: He is not sick. Ajax. Yes, lion-sick, sick of proud heart: you may call it melancholy, if you will favour the man; but, by my head, 't is pride: but why? why? let him show us a cause. A word, my lord. [Taking AGAMEMNON aside. Nest. What moves Ajax thus to bay at him? Ulyss. He. Nest. Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his argument. 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 come Patroclus. 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, Agam. Much attribute he hath, and much the reason Yea, like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish, Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him, We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin, If you do say, we think him over-proud, And under-honest; in self-assumption greater, Than in the note of judgment; and worthier than himself Bring action hither, this cannot go to war. Before a sleeping giant: tell him so. Patr. I shall; and bring his answer presently. Agam. In second voice we 'll not be satisfied, We come to speak with him. - Ulysses, enter you. Ajax. What is he more than another? [Exit. [Exit ULYSSES. 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 say he is? Agam. No, noble Ajax; you are as strong, as valiant, wise, no less noble, much more gentle, and altogether m tractable. as Ajax. Why should a man be proud? How doth pride grow" I know not what pride is. Agam. Your mind is the clearer, Ajax, and your virtues the fairer. He that is proud, eats up himself: pride is his ownside. 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. Yet he loves himself: is 't not strange? Re-enter ULYSSES. Ulyss. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow. Ulyss. He doth rely on none; But carries on the stream of his dispose Without observance or respect of any, Agam. Why will he not, upon our fair request, Untent his person, and share the air with us? [Aside. Ulyss. Things small as nothing, for request's sake only, He makes important. Possess'd he is with greatness; And speaks not to himself, but with a pride That quarrels at self-breath: imagin'd worth And batters down himself: what should I say? Agam. Ulyss. O Agamemnon! let it not be so. And never suffers matter of the world No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord As amply titled as Achilles is, by going to Achilles : 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. [Aside. I'll pash him o'er the face. Agam. O, no! you shall not go. Ajax. An 'a be proud with me, I'll pheeze his pride. Let me go to him. Ulyss. Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel. Ajax. A paltry, insolent fellow! Nest. Himself? How he describes [Aside. [Aside. Agam. He will be the physician, that should be the patient. Ulyss. Ajax. 'A should not bear it so, [Aside. Ajax. An all men were o' my mind, Wit would be out of fashion. [Aside. [Aside. 'A would have ten shares. [Aside. A should eat swords first: shall pride carry it? Ajax. I will 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 dislike. Nest. Our noble general, do not do so. [To AGAMEMNON. Dio. You must prepare to fight without Achilles. Ulyss. Why, 't is this naming of him does him harm. Here is a man - but 't is 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 palter thus with us! Would, he were a Trojan ! 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 com posure; Praise him that got thee, her that gave thee suck : Fam'd be thy tutor, and thy parts of nature Thrice-fam'd, beyond all erudition; But he that disciplin'd thine arms to fight, Let Mars divide eternity in twain, And give him half: and for thy vigour, To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom, He must, he is, he cannot but be wise; |