Ajax. I thank thee, Hector: Thou art too gentle, and too free a man : I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence Hect. Not Neoptolemus 4 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; I will go eat with thee, and see your knights. Ajax. Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here. Hect. The worthiest of them tell me name by name; But for Achilles, my own searching eyes Agam. Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one But that's no welcome: Understand more clear, What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with husks 3 Title. 4 Achilles. 5 Seldom. And formless ruin of oblivion; But in this extant moment, faith and troth, From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome. Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's greet 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; 8 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, As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed, 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! 6 ❝ Imperial. 7 Singular, not common. 8 Heretofore. And I have seen thee pause, and take thy breath, Never like thee: Let an old man embrace thee; 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 con tention, 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 Ulyss. I wonder now how yonder city stands, Hect. I know your favour, lord Ulysses well. Ulyss. Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue: • Laomedon. 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: After the general, I beseech you next To feast with me, and see me at my tent. Achil. I shall forestall thee, lord Ulysses, thou!— 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? And make distinct the very breach whereout 2 Observed. Hect. It would discredit the bless'd gods, proud man, To answer such a question: Stand again : Achil I tell thee, yea. Hect. Wert thou an oracle to tell me so, Or may Ajax. Do not chafe thee, cousin And you Achilles, let these threats alone, 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. Agam. First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent; 3 Forename. 4 Stithy, is a smith's shop. 5 Inclination. • Petty. |