Be you my time to bring it to some shape. Nest. What is 't?

Ulyss. This 'tis:

Blunt wedges rive hard knots: the seeded pride
That hath to this maturity blown up

In rank Achilles must or now be cropp'd,
Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil,
To overbulk us all.

Nest.

Well, and how?

320

Ulyss. This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,

However it is spread in general name,
Relates in purpose only to Achilles.

Nest. The purpose is perspicuous even as substance,

Whose grossness little characters sum up:
And, in the publication, make no strain,

But that Achilles, were his brain as barren
As banks of Libya,-though, Apollo knows,
'Tis dry enough-will, with great speed of
judgment,

Aye, with celerity, find Hector's purpose 330
Pointing on him.

Ulyss. And wake him to the answer, think you?
Nest. Yes, 'tis most meet: who may you else op-

pose,

That can from Hector bring his honor off,

313. "Be you my time"; i. e. play the part of time in bringing it to mature form.-C. H. H.

315, 354-356. Omitted in Q.-I. G.

326. "in the publication"; when the challenge is publicly proclaimed.-C. H. H.

If not Achilles? Though 't be a sportful combat,

Yet in this trial much opinion dwells;

For here the Trojans taste our dear'st repute
With their finest palate: and trust to me, Ulys-

ses,

Our imputation shall be oddly poised

In this wild action; for the success,
Although particular, shall give a scantling
Of good or bad unto the general;

And in such indexes, although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
The baby figure of the giant mass

340

Of things to come at large. It is supposed
He that meets Hector issues from our choice:
And choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
Makes merit her election, and doth boil,
As 'twere from forth us all, a man distill'd 350
Out of our virtues; who miscarrying,

What heart from hence receives the conquering
part,

To steel a strong opinion to themselves?

Which entertain'd, limbs are his instruments,
In no less working than are swords and bows
Directive by the limbs.

337. "dear'st"; highest, most precious.-C. H. H.

339. "our imputation"; our reputation will weigh unevenly in the fight, i. e. will not be unaffected by the triumph or failure of our champion.-C. H. H.

340. "wild"; irregular, extraordinary.-C. H. H.

342. "general"; the whole community.-C. H. H.

349. "her election"; the object of choice.-C. H. H.

354. "which entertained"; the strong self-confidence once begotten.-C. H. H.

Ulyss. Give pardon to my speech;

Therefore 'tis meet Achilles meet not Hector. Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares, And think, perchance, they 'll sell; if not, 360 The luster of the better yet to show, Shall show the better. Do not 'consent That ever Hector and Achilles meet; For both our honor and our shame in this Are dogg'd with two strange followers. Nest. I see them not with my old eyes: what are they?

Ulyss. What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,

Were he not proud, we all should share with him:

But he already is too insolent;

370

And we were better parch in Afric sun
Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes,
Should he 'scape Hector fair: if he were foil'd
Why then, we did our main opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a lottery;
And by device let blockish Ajax draw
The sort to fight with Hector: among ourselves
Give him allowance for the better man;
For that will physic the great Myrmidon
Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends. 380
If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off,
We'll dress him up in voices: if he fail,
Yet go we under our opinion still

That we have better men. But, hit or miss,
Our project's life this shape of sense assumes,

Ajax employ'd plucks down Achilles' plumes. Nest. Ulysses,

Now I begin to relish thy advice;

And I will give a taste of it forthwith

390

To Agamemnon: go we to him straight.
Two curs shall tame each other: pride alone
Must tarre the mastiffs on, as 'twere their bone.

[Exeunt.

ACT SECOND

SCENE I

The Grecian camp.

Enter Ajax and Thersites.

Ajax. Thersites!

Ther. Agamemnon-how if he had boils-full, all

over, generally?

Ajax. Thersites!

Ther. And those boils did run?-Say so,-did not the general run then? were not that a botchy core?

Ajax. Dog!

Ther. Then would come some matter from him;
I see none now.

Ajax. Thou bitch-wolf's son, canst thou not
hear? Feel, then.

10

[Strikes him. Ther. The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mongrel beef-witted lord!

Ajax. Speak then, thou vinewed'st leaven,

speak: I will beat thee into handsomeness. Ther. I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness: but, I think, thy horse will sooner con an oration than thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst strike, canst thou? a red 20 murrain o' thy jade's tricks!