Thers. Thy commander, Achilles.—Then tell me, Patroclus, what's Achilles?
Patro. Thy benefactor, Thersites. Then tell me, pr'ythee, what's thyself?
Thers. Thy knower, Patroclus. Then tell me, Patroclus, what art thou?
302 Patro. Thou mayest tell, that knowest.
Achil. O, tell, tell.—This must be very foolish; and I die to have my spleen tickled.
Thers. I'll decline the whole question. Agamemnon commands Achilles; Achilles is my benefactor; I am Patroclus's knower; and Patroclus is a fool.
Patro. You rascal!
Achil, He is a privileged man; proceed, Thersites. Ha, ha, ha! pr'ythee, proceed, while I am in the vein of laughing.
Thers. And all these foresaid men are fools. Agamemnon's a fool, to offer to command Achilles; Achilles is a fool, to be commanded by him; I am a fool, to serve such a fool; and Patroclus is a fool positive.
Patro. Why am I a fool?