Agam.
Princes, it seems not strange to us nor new,
That after Nine years Seige Troy makes defence,
Since every Action of Recorded Fame
Has with long difficulties been involv'd,
Not Answering that Idea of the thought
Which gave it Birth, why then you Grecian Chiefs,
With sickly Eyes do you behold our labours,
And think 'em our dishonour, which indeed,
Are the protractive Tryals of the Gods,
To prove heroique Constancy in Men?

Nestor.
With due observance of thy Soveraign Seat
Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply,
Thy well-weigh'd words: In struggling with misfortunes,
Lyes the true proof of Virtue: on smooth Seas,
How many bawble Boats dare set their Sails,
And make an equall way with firmer Vessels!
But let the Tempest once inrage that Sea,
And then behold the strong rib'd Argosie,
Bounding between the Ocean and the Ayr
Like Perseus mounted on his Pegasus.
Then where are those weak Rivals of the Maine?

Or to avoid the Tempest fled to Port,
Or made a Prey to Neptune: even thus
Do empty show, and true-priz'd worth divide
In storms of Fortune.

Ulisses.
Mighty Agamemnon!
Heart of our Body, Soul of our designs,
In whom the tempers, and the minds of all
Shou'd be inclos'd: hear what Ulisses speaks.

Agam.
—You have free leave.

Ulisses.
Troy had been down ere this, and Hectors Sword
Wanted a Master but for our disorders:
The observance due to rule has been neglected;
Observe how many Grecian Tents stand void
Upon this plain; so many hollow factions:
For when the General is not like the Hive
To whom the Foragers should all repair,
What Hony can our empty Combs expect?
O when Supremacy of Kings is shaken,
What can succeed: How cou'd communities
Or peacefull traffick from divided shores,
Prerogative of Age, Crowns, Scepters, Lawrells,
But by degree stand on their solid base!
Then every thing resolves to brutal force
And headlong force is led by hoodwink'd will,
For wild Ambition, like a ravenous Woolf,
Spurd on by will and seconded by power,
Must make an universal prey of all,
And last devour it self.

Nest.
Most prudently Ulisses has discover'd
The Malady whereof our state is sick.

Diom.
'Tis truth he speaks, the General's disdain'd
By him one step beneath, he by the next:
That next by him below: So each degree
Spurns upward at Superior eminence:
Thus our distempers are their sole support;
Troy in our weakness lives, not in her strength.

Agam.
The Nature of this sickness found, inform us
From whence it draws its birth?

Ulysses.
The great Achilles whom opinion crowns
The chief of all our Host—
Having his ears buzz'd with his noisy Fame
Disdains thy Sovereign charge, and in his Tent,
Lyes mocking our designes, with him Patroclus
Upon a lazy Bed, breaks scurvil Jests
And with ridiculous and awkard action,

Which, slanderer, he imitation calls
Mimicks the Grecian chiefs.

Agam.
As how Ulysses?

Ulysses.
Ev'n thee the King of men 'he do's not spare
(The monkey Authour) but thy greatness Pageants
And makes of it Rehearsals: like a Player
Bellowing his Passion till he break the spring
And his rack'd Voice jar to his Audience;
So represents he Thee, though more unlike
Then Vulcan is to Venus.
And at this fulsome stuff, this wit of Apes,
The large Achilles on his prest Bed lolling,
From his deep Chest roars out a loud Applause,
Tickling his spleen, and laughing till he wheeze.

Nestor.
Nor are you spar'd Ulysses, but as you speak in Council
He hems ere he begins, then strokes his Beard,
Casts down his looks, and winks with half an Eye;
'Has every action, cadence, motion, tone,
All of you but the sence.

Agam.
Fortune was merry
When he was born, and plaid a trick on Nature
To make a mimick Prince: he ne're acts ill
But when he would seem wise:
For all he says or do's from serious thought
Appears so wretched that he mocks his title
And is his own Buffoon.

Ulysses.
In imitation of this scurril fool
Ajax is grown self-will'd as broad Achilles,
He keeps a Table too, makes Factious Feasts,
Rails on our State of War, and sets Thirsites
(A slanderous slave of an ore-flowing gall)
To level us with low Comparisons:
  They tax our Policy with Cowardice
Count Wisdom of no moment in the War,
In brief, esteem no Act, but that of hand;
The still and thoughtful parts which move those hands
With them are but the tasks cut out by fear
To be perform'd by Valour.

Agam.
Let this be granted, and Achilles horse
Is more of use then he: but you grave pair
Like time and wisdome marching hand in hand
Must put a stop to these incroaching Ills:
To you we leave the care:
You who cou'd show whence the distemper springs
Must vindicate the Dignity of Kings. Exeunt.

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