Tro. Why, there you touch'd the life of our design:[1388]
Were it not glory that we more affected 195
Than the performance of our heaving spleens,
I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood
Spent more in her defence. But, worthy Hector,
She is a theme of honour and renown;
A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds, 200
Whose present courage may beat down our foes,
And fame in time to come canonize us:
For, I presume, brave Hector would not lose
So rich advantage of a promised glory
As smiles upon the forehead of this action 205
For the wide world's revenue.
Hect. I am yours,
You valiant offspring of great Priamus.
I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks
Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits:[1389] 210
I was advertised their great general slept,
Whilst emulation in the army crept:[1390]
This, I presume, will wake him. [Exeunt.
Scene III. The Grecian camp. Before the tent of Achilles.[1391]
Enter Thersites, solus.
Ther. How now, Thersites! what, lost in the labyrinth[1392]
of thy fury! Shall the elephant Ajax carry it thus? he
beats me, and I rail at him: O, worthy satisfaction! would
it were otherwise; that I could beat him, whilst he railed
at me. 'Sfoot, I'll learn to conjure and raise devils, but I'll 5
see some issue of my spiteful execrations. Then there's
Achilles, a rare enginer. If Troy be not taken till these[1393]
two undermine it, the walls will stand till they fall of themselves.
O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget
that thou art Jove, the king of gods, and, Mercury, lose all 10
the serpentine craft of thy caduceus, if ye take not that[1394]
little little less than little wit from them that they have!
which short-armed ignorance itself knows is so abundant[1395]
scarce, it will not in circumvention deliver a fly from a
spider, without drawing their massy irons and cutting the[1396] 15
web. After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or,
rather, the Neapolitan bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the[1397]
curse dependant on those that war for a placket. I have[1398]
said my prayers; and devil Envy say amen. What, ho!
my Lord Achilles! 20
Enter Patroclus.[1399]
Patr. Who's there? Thersites! Good Thersites, come[1400]
in and rail.
Ther. If I could ha' remembered a gilt counterfeit,[1401]
thou wouldst not have slipped out of my contemplation:[1402]
but it is no matter; thyself upon thyself! The common 25
curse of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great
revenue! heaven bless thee from a tutor, and discipline
come not near thee! Let thy blood be thy direction till
thy death! then if she that lays thee out says thou art a[1403]
fair corse, I'll be sworn and sworn upon't she never shrouded 30
any but lazars. Amen. Where's Achilles?[1404]
Patr. What, art thou devout? wast thou in prayer?[1405]
Ther. Ay; the heavens hear me!