Act IV. Men. I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one. Cres. You're an odd man; give even, or give none. Men. An odd man, lady? every man is odd. Cress. No, Paris is not; for, you know, 'tis true, That you are odd, and he is even with you. Men. You fillip me o'the head. Cres. No, I'll be sworn. Ulyss. It were no match, your nail against his horn. May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you? Cres. Why, beg then. Ulyss. Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss, When Helen is a maid again, and his. Cres. I am your debtor, claim it when 'tis due. Ulyss. Never's my day, and then a kiss of you. Dio. Lady, a word;-I'll bring you to your father. [Diomed leads out Cressida. Nest. A woman of quick sense, Ulyss. All. The Trojans' trumpet. [Trumpet within. Yonder comes the troop. Enter Hector, armed; Eneas, Troilus, and other Trojans, with Attendants. Ene. Hail, all the state of Greece! what shall be done * Motion. To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose, Pursue each other; or shall they be divided Hector bade ask. Agam. Which way would Hector have it! Ene. He cares not, he'll obey conditions. Achil. 'Tis done like Hector; but securely done, A little proudly, and great deal misprizing The knight oppos'd. Ene. What is your name? Achil. If not Achilles, sir, If not Achilles, nothing. Ene. Therefore Achilles: But, whate'er, know this; In the extremity of great and little, Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector; The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well, Re-enter Diomed. Agum. 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 stintst their strife before their strokes begin. [Ajax and Hector enter the lists. Ulyss. They are oppos'd already. * Breathing, exercise. + Stops. Agam. What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy? Ulyss. 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 provok'd, nor, being provok'd, 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 judgement guide his bounty, Nor dignifies an impairt thought with breath: Manly as Hector, but more dangerous; For Hector, in his blaze of wrath, subscribes t 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. Agam. They are in action. Nest. Now, Ajax, hold thine own! Tro. Awake thee! Hector, thou sleep'st; Agam. His blows are well dispos'd :—there, Ajax! Dio. You must no more. Ene. [Trumpets cease. Princes, enough, so please you. Ajax. I am not warm yet, let us fight again. Dio. As Hector pleases. Hect. Why then, will I no more : Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, A cousin-german to great Priam's seed; A gory|| emulation 'twixt us twain: Were thy commixion Greek and Trojan so, No boaster. + Unsuitable to his character. Explain his character. That thou could'st say-This hand is Grecian all, All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother's blood Ajax. Hect. 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 And signify this loving interview 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. * Right. + Left. Title. Hect. The worthiest of them tell me name by 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: Understaud more clear, What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with husks And formiless ruin of oblivion; But in this extant moment, faith and troth, Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's greet. ing; 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 untradedt oath; 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, Despising many forfeits and subduements, When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i'the air, * Imperial. + Singular, not common. |