Hector would have them fall upon him thus: Ajax. I thank thee, Hector: Thou art too gentle, and too free a man: I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence Hect. 7 Not Neoptolemus so mirable (On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st O yes Cries, This is he,) could promise to himself A thought of added honour torn from Hector. Ene. There is expectance here from both the sides, What further you will do. Hect. Dio. 'Tis Agamemnon's wish: and great Achilles To the expecters of our Trojan part; Desire them home.-Give me thy hand, my cousin; name; But for Achilles, my own searching eyes Shall find him by his large and portly size. Agam. Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one That would be rid of such an enemy; But that's no welcome: Understand more clear, But in this extant moment, faith and troth, From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome. Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting; You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither. Men. The noble Menelaus. Hect. O you, my lord? by Mars his gauntlet, thanks! Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath; 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. Hect. O, pardon; I offend. Nest. I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft, Labouring for destiny, make cruel way Through ranks of Greekish youth: and I have seen thee, When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i'the air, That I have said to some my standers-by, Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life; And I have seen thee pause, and take thy breath, Ene. 'Tis the old Nestor. Hect. Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle, That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time: Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee. Nest. I would, my arms could match thee in contention, As they contend with thee in courtesy. Hect. I would they could. Nest. Ha! By this white beard, I'd fight with thee to-morrow. Well, welcome, welcome! I have seen the time Uhass. I wonder now how yonder city stands, Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead, In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy. Ulyss. Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue : My prophecy is but half his journey yet; For yonder walls, that pertly front your town, Yon towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds, Must kiss their own feet. Hect. I must not believe you : There they stand yet; and modestly I think, Will one day end it. Ulyss. So to him we leave it. Most gentle, and most valiant Hector, welcome: To feast with me, and see me at my tent. Achil. I shall forestall thee, lord Ulysses, thou!— 38 Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee; I have with exact view perus'd thee, Hector, And quoted joint by joint. Hect. Achil. I am Achilles. Is this Achilles? Hect. Stand fair, I pray thee: let me look on thee. Achil. Behold thy fill. Hect. Nay, I have done already. Achil. Thou art too brief; I will the second time, As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb. Hect. O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er; But there's more in me, than thou understand'st. Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye? Achil. Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body Shall I destroy him? whether there, there, or there? That I may give the local wound a name; And make distinct the very breach, whereout Hector's great spirit flew: Answer me, heavens! As to prenominate in nice conjecture, Where thou wilt hit me dead? Achil. I tell thee, yea. Hect. Wert thou an oracle to tell me so, I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well; But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words, Ajax. Hect. I pray you, let us see you in the field; Achil. Dost thou entreat me, Hector? To-morrow, do I meet thee, fell as death; To-night, all friends. Hect, Thy hand upon that match. |