We'll none of him; but let him, like an engine 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. [Exit. [Exit ULYSSES. Ajax. What is he more than another? Agam. No more than what he thinks he is. 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, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle, and altogether more tractable. Ajax. Why should a man be proud? How doth pride grow? I know not what pride is. Agam. Your mind's the clearer, Ajax, and your virtues the fairer. He that is proud, eats up himself; pride is his own glass, 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. And yet he loves himself. Is it not strange? Re-enter ULYSSES. [Aside. Ulyss. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow. He doth rely on none; Ulyss. 1 Allowance is approbation. 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 He makes important. Possessed he is with greatness; And batters down himself. What should I say? Agam. 1 Ülyss. O Agamemnon, let it not be so! We'll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord, That bastes his arrogance with his own seam; And never suffers matter of the world Enter his thoughts,-save such as do revolve And ruminate himself,-shall he be worshipped Of that we hold an idol more than he? No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord Must not so stale his palm, nobly acquired; Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit, As amply titled as Achilles is, By going to Achilles. That were to enlard his fat-already pride; And add more coals to Cancer, when he burns With entertaining great Hyperion. 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. 1 Seam is fat; the grease, fat, or tallow, of any animal; but chiefly applied to that of a hog. Dio. And how his silence drinks up this applause! [Aside. Ajax. If I go to him, with my armed fist I'll pash1 him Over the face. Agam. O, no, you shall not go. Ajax. An he be proud with me, I'll pheeze his pride; Let me go to him. Ulyss. Not for the worth that quarrel. Ajax. A paltry, insolent fellow ! Nest. Himself! hangs upon our How he describes [Aside. Ajax. Can he not be sociable? Úlyss. The raven Ajax. Chides blackness. Agam. He'll be the physician, that should be the [Aside. I will let his humors blood.3 patient. [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 : 1 Scyphus ei impactus est. Baret. "He was pashed over the pate with a pot.” The word is used twice by Massinger in his Virgin Martyr; and Mr. Gifford has adduced an instance from Dryden: he justly observes, it is to be regretted that the word is now obsolete, as we have none that can adequately supply its place. To dash signifying to throw one thing with violence against another; to pash is to strike a thing with such force as to crush it to pieces. 2 See note on the Induction to the Taming of the Shrew. 3 There is a curious collection of Epigrams, Satires, &c. printed in 1600, with this quaint title:-" The Letting of Humors Blood in the Head Vaine." A small reimpression was made at Edinburgh in 1815, with a preface and notes by sir Walter Scott. Nest. He's not yet thorough warm: force1 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 palter thus with us ! I would he were a Trojan! Nest. 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 disciplined thy arms to fight, To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom, 1 Force him, that is, stuff him (farcir, Fr.). 3 The quarto reads: "Thrice famed beyond all thy erudition." 4 i. e. yield his titles, his celebrity for strength. VOL. V. 37 He must, he is, he cannot but be wise ;- But be as Ajax. Ajax. Shall I call you father? Nest. Ay, my good son. Dio. Be ruled by him, lord Ajax. Ulyss. There is no tarrying here; the hart Achilles Keeps thicket. Please it our great general To call together all his state of war; Fresh kings are come to Troy. To-morrow, ACT III. SCENE I. Troy. A Room in Priam's Palace. Enter PANDARUS and a Servant. Pan. Friend! you! pray you, a word. Do not you follow the young lord Paris? Serv. Ay, sir, when he goes before me. Pan. You do depend upon him, I mean? Serv. Sir, I do depend upon the Lord. Pan. You do depend upon a noble gentleman; I must needs praise him. Serv. The Lord be praised! Pan. You know me, do you not? Serv. 'Faith, sir, superficially. Pan. Friend, know me better; I am the lord Pan darus. |