Ajax. A whoreson dog, that shall palter thus with us! Would a were a Trojan!
Ulys. Thank heaven, my lord, you're of a gentle nature;
307 Praise him that got you, her that brought you forth;
But he, who taught you first the use of arms,
Let Mars divide eternity in two,
And give him half. I will not praise your wisdom,
Nestor shall do't; but, pardon, father Nestor,—
Were you as green as Ajax, and your brain
Tempered like his, you never should excel him,
But be as Ajax is.
Ajax. Shall I call you father?
Ulys. Ay, my good son.
Diom. Be ruled by him, lord Ajax.
Ulys. There is no staying here; the hart Achilles
Keeps thicket;—please it our great general,
I shall impart a counsel, which, observed,
May cure the madman's pride.
Agam. In my own tent our talk will be more private.
Ulys. But nothing without Ajax;
He is the soul and substance of my counsels,
And I am but his shadow.
Ajax. You shall see
I am not like Achilles.
Let us confer, and I'll give counsel too.[Exeunt.