66 ACT II. SCENE I. The fame. Another Part of it. "AJAX. THER SITES, The. Agamemnon,-how if he had biles ? full, all "over generally? "Aja. Therfites, "The. And those biles did run? Say so, did not the • general run then? were not that a botchy core? "Aja. Dog, "The. Then there would come fome matter: from "him; I fee none now. "Aja. Thou bitch-wolf's fon, can't thou not hear ? "Feel then. [Striking bim. "The. The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mungrel "beef-witted lord! "Aja. Speak then, thou unfalted leaven, speak: I "will beat thee into handsomeness. 66 "The. I fhall fooner 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, “canft thou? a red murrain o'thy jade's tricks! 66 Aja. Toad-ftool, learn me the proclamation. “The. Doft thou think, I have no sense, thou strik’st "me thus ? "Aja. The proclamation. "The. Thou art proclaim'd a fool, I think. 66 Aja. Do not, porcupine, do not; my fingers itch. “The. I would, thou did’st itch from head to foot, ❝ and I had the scratching of thee; I would make thee "the loathfom'it scab in Greece. "Aja. I fay, the proclamation. "The. Thou grumbl'st and rail'ft every hour on "Achilles: and thou art as full of envy at his greatness, as Cerberus is at Proferpina's beauty; ay, that thou "bark'it at him. 66 "Aja. Miftrefs Therfites! The. Thou should'st strike him. "Aja. Cob-loaf! "The. He would pound thee into fhivers with his fift, as a failor breaks a bisket. 66 Aja. You whorson cur! "The. Do, do. "Aja. Thou ftool for a witch! [beating him. "The. Ay, do, do: Thou fodden-witted lord! thou "haft no more brain, than I have in mine elbows; an "affinego may tutor thee: thou scurvy valiant afs! thou art here but to thrash Trojans; and thou art bought " and fold among thofe of any wit, like a Barbarian "flave. If thou use to beat me, I will begin at thy heel, " and tell what thou art by inches, thou thing of no "bowels, thou! 66 Aja. You dog! "The. You fcurvy lord! Aja. You cur! [beating him. "The. Mars his ideot! do, rudeness; do, camel; "-do, do. "Enter Achilles and Patroclus.. "Ach. Why, how now, Ajax? wherefore do you "How now, Therfites ? what's the matter, man ? "Ach. Ay; what's the matter ? "Ach. So I do; what's the matter? "The. Nay, but regard him well. "The. But yet you look not well upon him; for "whofoever you take him to be, he is Ajax. 66 Aja. I know that, fool. "The. Ay, but that fool knows not himself. Aja. Therefore I beat thee. "The. Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he ut "ters! his evasions have ears thus long. I have bobb'd his brain, more than he has beat my bones: I will buy "nine iparrows for a penny, and his pia mater is not "worth "worth the ninth part of a fparrow. This lord, Achilles, "Ajax,-who wears his wit in his belly, and his guts " in his head,-I tell you what I-fay of him: Atb. What? "The. I fay, this Ajax Ach. Nay, good Ajax. [Staying him. "The. As will ftop the eye of Helen's needle, for whom he comes to fight. "Ach. Peace, fool!' "The: I would have peace and quietnefs, but the fool ** will not: he there; that he; look you there. "Aja. O'thou damn'd cur! I fhall "Ach. Will you fet your wit to a fool's? "The. No, I warrant you; for a fool's will fhame it "Pat! Good words, Therfites. Ach. What's the quarrel? "Aja. I bade the vile owl, go learn me the tenure of the proclamation, and he rails upon me. "The. I ferve thee not. Aja. Well, go to, go to. "The. I ferve here voluntary. "Ach. Your last service was fufferance, 'twas not to "luntary; no man is beaten voluntary: Ajax was here "the voluntary, and you as under an imprefs. "The. E'en fo? a great deal of your wit too lies in your finews, or elfe there be liars: Hector fhall have a great catch, if he knock out either of your brains; a' were as good crack a fufty nut with no kernel. "Ach. What, with me too, Therfites? "The. There's Ulyffes and old Neftor,-whofe wit was "mouldy ere your grandfires had nails on their toes,"yoke you like draught oxen, and make you plough ་ up the wars. "Ach. What, what? "The. Yes, good footh; to, Achilles! to, Ajax! to! "Aja. I shall cut out your tongue. "The. 'Tis no matter; I fhall speak as much wit as *thou, afterwards. 14 Pat. No more words, Therfites; peace. "The. I will hold my peace when Achilles's brach "bids me, fhall I ? "Ach. There's for you, Patroclus. "The. I will fee you hang'd, like clot-poles, ere I come any more to your tents; I will keep where there is wit ftirring, and leave the faction of fools. [Exit. "Pat. A good riddance. "Ach. Marry, this, fir, is proclaim'd through all 66 our hoft: "That Hector, by the first hour of the fun, "Will, with a trumpet, 'twixt our tents and Troy, "To-morrow morning, call fome knight to arms, "That hath a ftomach; and fuch a one, that dare "Maintain-I know not what; 'tis trafh. Farewel. Aja. Farewel. Who fhall anfwer him? "Ach. I know not, it is put to lottery; otherwife, "He knew his man. [Exeunt Ach. and Pat. Aja. O, meaning you: I'll go learn more of it. [Exit. SCENE II. Troy. A Room in Priam's Palace". Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris, and Helenus. Pri. After fo many hours, lives, speeches spent, Thus once again, fays Neftor from the Greeks; Deliver Helen, and all damage elfe As bonour, lofs of time, travel, expence, Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is confum'd Shall be frook off: Hector, what say you to't? Hec. Though no man leffer fears the Greeks than I, As far as toucheth my particular, yet, Dread Priam, There is no lady of more fofter bowels, More fpungy to fuck in the fenfe of fear, More ready to cry out-Who knows what follows ? It is prefumed, that the fecond A&t would begin here to advan☛ tage; the preceding fcene is furely too immaterial to be retained. Surety Surety fecure; but modeft doubt is call'd Tro. Fie, fie, my brother! Weigh you the worth and honour of a king, Of common ounces will you with counters fum Or buckle-in a waste moft fathomlefs, As fears and reafons? fie, for godly shame! Hel. No marvel, though you bite fo fharp at reafons, You are fo empty of them. Should not our father Bear the great fway of his affairs with reasons, Because your speech hath none, that tells him fo? Tro. You are for dreams and flumbers, brother priest, You fur your gloves with reason. "reafons: "Here are your harm; "You know, an enemy intends you And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove, "Or like a ftar diforb'd? Nay, if we talk of reafon, "Let's fhut our gates, and fleep: Manhood and ho ❝ nour "Should have hare hearts, would they but fat their "thoughts "With this cramm'd reason: reafon and refpect "Make livers pale, and luftihood deject. |