Shall to the edge of all extremity

Pursue each other; or shall they be divided
By any voice or order of the field?

Hector bade ask.

Aga.

Which way would Hector have it? En. He cares not; he'll obey conditions. Ach. "Tis done like Hector; but securely done, A little proudly, and great deal misprising 1

The knight opposed.

En.

If not Achilles, sir,

If not Achilles, nothing.

En. Therefore Achilles: but, whate'er, know

this;

In the extremity of great and little,

Valor and pride excel themselves in Hector :
The one almost as infinite as all,

The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
And that, which looks like pride, is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood;
In love whereof, half Hector stays at home;
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.
Ach. A maiden battle then?-O, I perceive you.

Re-enter DIOMEDES.

Aga. Here is sir Diomed. Go, gentle knight, Stand by our Ajax: as you and lord Æneas

Consent upon the order of their fight,
So be it; either to the uttermost,

Or else a breath: the combatants being kin, Half stints their strife before their strokes begin. [Ajax and Hector enter the lists.

Ulys. They are opposed already.

Aga. What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?

Ulys. The youngest son of Priam, a true knight; Not yet mature, yet matchless; firm of word;

Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue;
Not soon provoked, nor, being provoked, soon
calm'd:

His heart and hand both open, and both free;
For what he has, he gives; what thinks, he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath:
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector, in his blaze of wrath, subscribes 3
To tender objects; but he, in heat of action,
Is more vindicative than jealous love.
They call him Troilus; and on him erect
A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Æneas; one that knows the youth
Even to his inches; and, with private soul,
Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me."

[Alarum. Hector and Ajax fight.

1 A breathing, a slight exercise of arms.

2 A thought unsuitable to the dignity of his character.

3 Yields, gives way.

Explain his character.

Aga. They are in action.

Nes. Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

Troi.

Awake thee!

Hector, thou sleep'st.

Aga. His blows are well disposed :—there, Ajax! Dio. You must no more.

En.

[trumpets cease.

Princes, enough, so please you.

Why then, will I no more.

Ajax. I am not warm yet; let us fight again.

Dio. As Hector pleases.

Hec.

Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son,
A cousin-german to great Priam's seed:
The obligation of our blood forbids

A

gory

emulation 'twixt us twain.

Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so,
That thou couldst say— This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother's blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds-in my father's; '-by Jove multipotent,
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member,
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud: but the just gods gainsay,
That any drop thou borrow'st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
Cousin, all honor to thee!

Ajax.

I thank thee, Hector : Thou art too gentle, and too free a man.

I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition1 earned in thy death.

2

Hec. Not Neoptolemus so mirable 3

(On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st O yes Cries, This is he!') could promise to himself

A thought of added honor torn from Hector.

En. There is expectance here from both the

sides,

What farther you will do.

We'll answer it;

Hec.
The issue is embracement. Ajax, farewell.
Ajax. If I might in entreaties find success,
(As seld I have the chance) I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

Dio. 'Tis Agamemnon's wish; and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.
Hec. Æneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview

To the expecters of our Trojan part.

Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin ; will go eat with thee, and see your knights.

Ajax. Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here. Hec. The worthiest of them tell me name by

name;

ut for Achilles, my own searching eyes

all find him by his large and portly size.
Aga. Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one

1 Title.

2 Our author here probably means Achilles.

3 Admirable.

▲ Seldom.

That would be rid of such an enemy;

But that's no welcome. Understand more clear, What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with husks

And formless ruin of oblivion;

But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
Bids thee, with most divine integrity,

From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome. Hec. I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon. Aga. My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you. [to Troilus. Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting:

You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
Hec. Whom must we answer?

Men.

The noble Menelaus.

Hec. O you, my lord? by Mars his gauntlet, thanks!

Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath.2
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove:
She's well, but bade me not commend her to you.
Men. Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly
theme.

Hec. O, pardon: I offend.

Nes. I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft, Laboring for destiny,3 make cruel way

1 Imperial.

2 A singular oath, not in common use.

i. e. the vicegerent of Fate.