Tro. Why, brother Hector, We may not think the justness of each act Par. Elfe might the world convince of levity Pri. Par. Sir, I propose not merely to myself Difgrace to your great worths, and shame to me, On terms of base compulfion? Can it be, Should once fet footing in your generous bofoms? Hect. Paris, and Troilus, you have both faid well; And on the cause and question now in hand Have gloz'd, but fuperficially; not much Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought The reasons, you alledge, do more conduce Than to make up a free determination 'Twixt right and wrong; For pleafure, and revenge, Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice Of any true decifion. Nature craves, All dues be render'd to their owners; Now Of Of nature, and of nations, speak aloud To have her back return'd: Thus to perfift But makes it much more heavy. Hector's opinion My fpritely brethren, I propend to you In refolution to keep Helen ftill; For 'tis a caufe that hath no mean dependance Upon our joint and several dignities. Tro. Why, there you touch'd the life of our defign: Were it not glory that we more affected Than the performance of our heaving spleens, I would not with a drop of Trojan blood As fmiles upon the forehead of this action, He&t. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Grecian Camp. Before Achilles' Tent. Enter THER SITES. Ther. How now, Therfites? what, loft in the labyrinth of thy fury? Shall the elephant Ajax carry it thus? he beats me, and I rail at him: O worthy fatisfaction! 'would, it were otherwife; that I could beat him, whilst he rail'd at me? 'Sfoot, I'll learn to conjure and raise devils, but I'll fee fome iffue of my spiteful execrations. Then there's 'Achilles,-a rare engineer. If Troy be not taken till these two undermine it, the walls will stand till they fall of themselves. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget that thou art Jove the king of gods; and, Mercury, lofe all the ferpentine craft of thy Caduceus; if ye take not that little little lefs-than-little wit from them that they have! which short-arm'd ignorance itfelf knows is fo abundant fcarce, it will not in circumvention deliver a fly from a spider, without drawing their massy irons, and cutting the web. After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or, rather, the bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curfe dependant on those that war for a placket. I have faid my prayers; and devil, envy, fay Amen. What, ho! my lord Achilles ! Enter PATROCLUS. Patr. Who's there? Therfites? Good Therfites, come in and rail. Ther. If I could have remember'd a gilt counterfeit, thou would't not have flipp'd out of my contemplation: but it is no matter; Thyfelf upon thyfelf! The common curfe curfe of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great revenue! heaven bless thee from a tutor, and difcipline come not near thee! Let thy blood be thy direction till thy death! then if she, that lays thee out, fays—thou art a fair corse, I'll be sworn and fworn upon't, she never fhrouded any but lazars. Amen. Where's Achilles? Patr. What, art thou devout? waft thou in prayer? Ther. Ay; The heavens hear me ! Enter ACHILLES. Achil. Who's there? Patr. Therfites, my lord. Achil. Where, where?-Art thou come? Why, my cheese, my digestion, why haft thou not ferv'd thyfelf in to my table so many meals? Come; what`s Agamemnon? Ther. Thy commander, Achilles ;-Then tell me, Patroclus, what's Achilles? Patr. Thy lord, Therfites; Then tell me, I pray thee, what's thyself? Ther. Thy knower, Patroclus; Then tell me, Patroclus, what art thou? Patr. Thou may'ft tell, that know't. Achil. O, tell, tell. Ther. I'll decline the whole queftion. Agamemnon commands Achilles; Achilles is my lord; I am Patroclus' knower; and Patroclus is a fool. Patr. You rascal! Ther. Peace, fool; I have not done. Achil. He is a privileg'd man.-Proceed, Therfites. Ther. Agamemnon is a fool; Achilles is a fool; Therfites is a fool; and, as aforefaid, Patroclus is a fool. Achil. Derive this; come. Ther. Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achil |