Achilles interposes.
Ther.
I say, this Ajax.—
Achil.
Nay, good Ajax.
Ther.
Has not so much wit—
Achil.
Nay, good Ajax.
Ther.
As will stop the eye of Helen's needle, for whom he
comes to fight.
Achil.
Peace, fool.
Ther.
I would have peace and quietness, but the fool will not:
he there, that he, look you there.
Ajax.
O thou damn'd cur, I shall—
Achil.
Will you set your wit to a fool's?
Ther.
No, I warrant you, for a fool's will shame it.
Pat.
Good words, Thersites.
Achil.
What's the quarrel?
Ajax,
I bad the vile owl go learn me the tenure of the proclamation,
and he rails upon me.
-- 36 --
Ther.
I serve thee not.
Ajax.
Well, go to, go to.
Ther.
I serve here voluntary.
Achil.
Your last service was sufferance, 'twas not voluntary,
no man is beaten voluntary; Ajax was here the voluntary, and
you as under an impress.
Ther.
Ev'n so—a great deal of your wit too lies in your sinews,
or else there be liars. Hector shall have a great catch, if he
knock out either of your brains, he were as good crack a fusty
nut with no kernel.
Achil.
What, with me too, Thersites?
Ther.
There's Ulysses, and old Nestor, (whose wit was mouldy
ere their Grandsires had nails on their toes,) yoke you like draft
oxen, and make you plough up the wair.
Achil.
What! what!
Ther.
Yes good sooth, to Achilles, to Ajax, to—
Ajax.
I shall cut out your tongue.
Ther.
'Tis no matter, I shall speak as much as thou afterwards.
Pat.
No more words, Thersites.
Ther.
I will hold my peace when Achilles' brach bids me, shall I?
Achil.
There's for you, Patroclus.
Ther.
I will see you hang'd like clotpoles, ere I come any more
to your tents. I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the
faction of fools
[Exit.
Pat.
A good riddance.
Achil.
Marry this, Sir, is proclaim'd through all our host,
That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun,
Will with a trumpet, 'twixt our tents and Troy,
To-morrow morning call some knight to arms,
That hath a stomach, such a one that dare
Maintain I know not what: 'tis trash, farewel.
Ajax.
Farewel! who shall answer him?
-- 37 --
Achil.
I know not, 'tis put to lott'ry; otherwise
He knew his man.
Ajax.
O, meaning you: I'll go learn more of it.
[Exeunt.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
