Æn. Then let it be as Hector shall determine.
Hect. If it be left to me, I will no more.—
Ajax, thou art my aunt Hesione's son;
The obligation of our blood forbids us.
But, were thy mixture Greek and Trojan so,
That thou couldst say, this part is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan,—hence thou shouldst not bear
One Grecian limb, wherein my pointed sword
Had not impression made. But heaven forbid
That any drop, thou borrowest from my mother,
Should e'er be drained by me: let me embrace thee, cousin.
By him who thunders, thou hast sinewy arms:
Hector would have them fall upon him thus:—[Embrace.
Thine be the honour, Ajax.
Ajax. I thank thee, Hector;
Thou art too gentle, and too free a man.
I came to kill thee, cousin, and to gain
A great addition from that glorious act:
331 But thou hast quite disarmed me.
Hect. I am glad;
For 'tis the only way I could disarm thee.
Ajax. If I might in intreaty find success,
I would desire to see thee at my tent.
Diom. 'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles;
Both long to see the valiant Hector there.
Hect. Æneas, call my brother Troilus to me;
And you two sign this friendly interview. [Agamemnon, and the chief of both sides approach.
Agam. [To Hect.] Worthy of arms, as welcome as to one,
Who would be rid of such an enemy.—
[To Troil.] My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.
Nest. I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee often,
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
Through ranks of Grecian youth; and I have seen thee
As swift as lightning spur thy Phrygian steed,
And seen thee scorning many forfeit lives,
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i' th' air,
Not letting it decline on prostrate foes;
That I have said to all the standers-by,
Lo, Jove is yonder, distributing life.
Hect. Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
Who hast so long walked hand in hand with time:
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.