Achil. How can that be? Ther. Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock; a stride, and a stand: ruminates, like an hostess, that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set down her reckoning bites his lip with a politic regard, as who should say there were wit in this head, an 'twould out and so there is; but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break 't himself in vainglory. He knows not me: I said, "Good-morrow, Ajax ;" and he replies, "Thanks, Agamemnon." What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? He's grown a very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Achil. Thou must be my ambassador to him, Thersites. Ther. Who, I? why, he'll answer nobody; he professes not answering: speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue in his arms. I will put on his presence: let Patroclus make his demands to me, you shall see the pageant of Ajax. Achil. To him, Patroclus: tell him,-I humbly desire the valiant Ajax to invite the most valorous Hector to come unarmed to my tent; and to procure safe conduct for his person of the magnanimous, and most illustrious, six-or-seven-times-honoured, captaingeneral of the Grecian army, Agamemnon. Do this. Patr. Jove bless great Ajax. Ther. Humph! Patr. I come from the worthy Achilles,- Patr. Who most humbly desires you to invite Hector to his tent. 8 of the GRECIAN army,] The word "Grecian" is not in the quartos; and in the folio" Agamemnon" is followed by " &c." Ther. Humph! Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Agamemnon. Ther. Agamemnon? Patr. Ay, my lord. Ther. Ha! Patr. What say you to't? Ther. God be wi' you, with all my heart. Patr. Your answer, sir. Ther. If to-morrow be a fair day, by eleven o'clock it will go one way or other: howsoever, he shall pay for me ere he has me. Patr. Your answer, sir. Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart. Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he? Ther. No, but he's out o' tune thus. What music will be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains, I know not; but, I am sure, none, unless the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings on. Achil. Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight. Ther. Let me bear another to his horse', for that's the more capable creature. Achil. My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirr❜d; And I myself see not the bottom of it. [Exeunt ACHILLES and PATROCLUS. Ther. Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at it. I had rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance. [Exit. 9 Let me BEAR another to his horse,] The folio alters "bear" to carry, but the repetition of the word used by Achilles was probably intended. ACT IV. SCENE I. Troy. A Street. Enter, at one side, ÆNEAS, and Servant, with a Torch; at the other, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES, and Others, with Torches. Par. See, ho! who is that there? Dei. It is the lord Eneas. Ene. Is the prince there in person? Had I so good occasion to lie long, As you, prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business Dio. That's my mind too.-Good morrow, lord Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas, take his hand, Ene. Health to you, valiant sir, During all question of the gentle truce; But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance, Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces. By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life, Ene. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly 1 Witness the process of your speech, WHEREIN] So the quarto: the folio changes "wherein" to within. The thing he means to kill, more excellently. Dio. We sympathize.-Jove, let Æneas live, Dio. We do; and long to know each other worse. Par. This is the most despiteful' gentle greeting, The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.What business, lord, so early? Ene. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not. Par. His purpose meets you. "Twas to bring this Greek To Calchas' house; and there to render him, For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid. Ene. Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece, Par. That I assure you: There is no help; [Exit. The bitter disposition of the time Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you. Ene. Good morrow, all. Par. And tell me, noble Diomed; 'faith, tell me true, Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship, Who, in your thoughts, merits fair Helen best, 2 This is the most DESPITEFUL-] Thus the quartos: the folio, "This is the most despitefull'st," &c. Myself, or Menelaus? Dio. Both alike: He merits well to have her, that doth seek her With such a hell of pain, and world of charge; Par. You are too bitter to your countrywoman. A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple Of her contaminated carrion weight, A Trojan hath been slain. Since she could speak, Par. Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do, SCENE II. [Exeunt. The Same. A Court before the House of PANDarus. 4 Enter TROILUS and CRESSIDA. Tro. Dear, trouble not yourself: the morn is cold. 3 of her SOILURE,] The quartos, " of her soil." THE heavier-] "Which heavier" is the reading of the folio, which does not seem to afford so distinct a meaning as the quartos. |