The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

Enter Ajax, armed; Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, and others.[1996]

Agam. Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting courage.[1997]
Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appalled air
May pierce the head of the great combatant [1998] 5
And hale him hither.[1998]

Ajax. Thou, trumpet, there's my purse.[1999]
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias cheek [2000]
Outswell the colic of puff'd Aquilon:[2001]
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood; 10
Thou blow'st for Hector. [Trumpet sounds.[2002]

Ulyss. No trumpet answers.

Achil. 'Tis but early days.[2003]

Agam. Is not yond Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?[2004]

Ulyss. 'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait;
He rises on the toe: that spirit of his [2005] 15
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.

Agam. Is this the Lady Cressid?[2007]

Dio. Even she.

Agam. Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.[2008][2009]

Nest. Our general doth salute you with a kiss.[2010]

Ulyss. Yet is the kindness but particular;[2010][2011][2012] 20
'Twere better she were kiss'd in general.[2010][2011]

Nest. And very courtly counsel: I'll begin.[2010][2011]
So much for Nestor.[2009][2011]

Achil. I'll take that winter from your lips, fair lady:[2013]
Achilles bids you welcome.[2009] 25

Men. I had good argument for kissing once.

Patr. But that's no argument for kissing now;
For thus popp'd Paris in his hardiment,[2014]
And parted thus you and your argument.[2009][2015]

Ulyss. O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns! 30
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.

Patr. The first was Menelaus' kiss; this, mine:
Patroclus kisses you.[2016]

Men. O, this is trim!

Patr. Paris and I kiss evermore for him.

Men. I 'll have my kiss, sir. Lady, by your leave. 35

Cres. In kissing, do you render or receive?[2017]

Patr. Both take and give.

Cres. I'll make my match to live,[2018]
The kiss you take is better than you give;[2019]
Therefore no kiss.[2019]

Men. I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one. 40

Cres. You're an odd man; give even, or give none.[2020]

Men. An odd man, lady! every man is odd.

Cres. No, Paris is not; for, you know, 'tis true,
That you are odd, and he is even with you.

Men. You fillip me o' the head.[2021]

Cres. No, I'll be sworn. 45

Ulyss. It were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

Cres. You may.

Ulyss. I do desire it.

Cres. Why, beg then.[2022]

Ulyss. Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss,
When Helen is a maid again, and his.[2023] 50

Cres. I am your debtor; claim it when 'tis due.

Ulyss. Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.[2024]

Dio. Lady, a word: I 'll bring you to your father.[2025]

Nest. A woman of quick sense.[2025]

Ulyss. Fie, fie upon her!
There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,[2027] 55
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
O, these encounterers, so glib of tongue,[2028]
That give a coasting welcome ere it comes,[2029]
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts 60
To every ticklish reader! set them down [2030]
For sluttish spoils of opportunity [2031]
And daughters of the game. [Trumpet within.[2032]

All. The Trojans' trumpet.

Agam. Yonder comes the troop.

Flourish. Enter Hector, armed; Æneas, Troilus, and other Trojans, with Attendants.[2033]

Æne. Hail, all the state of Greece! what shall be done [2034] 65
To him that victory commands? or do you purpose [2035]
A victor shall be known? will you the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
Pursue each other, or shall they be divided [2036]
By any voice or order of the field?[2037] 70
Hector bade ask.[2037]

Agam. Which way would Hector have it?

Æne. He cares not; he'll obey conditions.

Achil. Tis done like Hector; but securely done,[2038][2039]
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing[2038][2040]
The knight opposed.[2041]

Æne. If not Achilles, sir, 75
What is your name?

Achil. If not Achilles, nothing.[2041]

Æne. Therefore Achilles: but, whate'er, know this:[2042]
In the extremity of great and little,[2042]
Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector;[2043]
The one almost as infinite as all, 80
The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,[2044]
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood:
In love whereof, half Hector stays at home;
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek [2045] 85
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.

Achil. A maiden battle then? O, I perceive you.

Agam. Here is Sir Diomed. Go, gentle knight,[2047]
Stand by our Ajax: as you and Lord Æneas
Consent upon the order of their fight, 90
So be it; either to the uttermost,[2048]
Or else a breath: the combatants being kin [2049]
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.

Ulyss. They are opposed already.[2051]

Agam. What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?[2051][2052] 95

Ulyss. The youngest son of Priam, a true knight,[2053]
Not yet mature, yet matchless, firm of word,[2054]
Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue,[2055]
Not soon provoked nor being provoked soon calm'd;
His heart and hand both open and both free;[2056] 100
For what he has he gives, what thinks he shows;[2056]
Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath;[2057]
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes 105
To tender objects, but he in heat of action [2058]
Is more vindicative than jealous love:[2059]
They call him Troilus, and on him erect
A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Æneas; one that knows the youth 110
Even to his inches, and with private soul
Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me.

Agam. They are in action.[2061]

Nest. Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

Tro. Hector, thou sleep'st;[2062]
Awake thee![2062] 115

Agam. His blows are well disposed: there, Ajax![2063]

Dio. You must no more. [Trumpets cease.

Æne. Princes, enough, so please you.[2064]

Ajax. I am not warm yet; let us fight again.

Dio. As Hector pleases.

Hect. Why, then will I no more:
Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, 120
A cousin-german to great Priam's seed;
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation 'twixt us twain:
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so,[2065]
That thou couldst say 'This hand is Grecian all, 125
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother's blood [2066]
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my father's;' by Jove multipotent,
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member 130
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud: but the just gods gainsay [2067]
That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother,[2068]
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:[2069] 135
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
Hector would have them fall upon him thus:
Cousin, all honour to thee!

Ajax. I thank thee, Hector:
Thou art too gentle and too free a man:
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence 140
A great addition earned in thy death.

Hect. Not Neoptolemus so mirable,[2070]
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st Oyes
Cries 'This is he,' could promise to himself [2071]
A thought of added honour torn from Hector. 145

Æne. There is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will do.

Hect. We'll answer it;
The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewell.[2072]

Ajax. If I might in entreaties find success,—
As seld I have the chance—I would desire 150
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

Dio. 'Tis Agamemnon's wish; and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.

Hect. Æneas, call my brother Troilus to me:
And signify this loving interview 155
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin;
I will go eat with thee, and see your knights.[2073]

Ajax. Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

Hect. The worthiest of them tell me name by name; 160
But for Achilles, my own searching eyes [2074]
Shall find him by his large and portly size.

Agam. Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one [2075]
That would be rid of such an enemy;
But that's no welcome: understand more clear,[2076] 165
What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks[2076]
And formless ruin of oblivion;[2076]
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,[2076]
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,[2076][2077]
Bids thee, with most divine integrity,[2076] 170
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.

Hect. I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

Agam. [To Troilus] My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.

Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting;
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither. 175

Hect. Who must we answer?

Æne. The noble Menelaus.[2078]

Hect. O, you, my lord! by Mars his gauntlet, thanks![2079]
Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath;[2080]
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove:[2081]
She's well, but bade me not commend her to you. 180

Men. Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.

Hect. O, pardon; I offend.

Nest. I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen thee, 185
As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
Despising many forfeits and subduements,[2082]
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i' the air,[2083]
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I have said to some my standers by [2084] 190
'Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!'
And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath,
When that a ring of Greeks have hemm'd thee in,[2085]
Like an Olympian wrestling: this have I seen;[2086]
But this thy countenance, still lock'd in steel, 195
I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire,
And once fought with him: he was a soldier good;
But, by great Mars the captain of us all,
Never like thee. Let an old man embrace thee;[2087]
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents. 200

Æne. 'Tis the old Nestor.

Hect. Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.

Nest. I would my arms could match thee in contention, 205
As they contend with thee in courtesy.[2088]

Hect. I would they could.

Nest. Ha![2089]
By this white beard, I'ld fight with thee to-morrow:
Well, welcome, welcome!—I have seen the time.[2090] 210

Ulyss. I wonder now how yonder city stands
When we have here her base and pillar by us.[2091]

Hect. I know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw yourself and Diomed 215
In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy.[2092]

Ulyss. Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue:
My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,[2093]
Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,[2094] 220
Must kiss their own feet.

Hect. I must not believe you:
There they stand yet; and modestly I think,
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood: the end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,[2095] 225
Will one day end it.[2095]

Ulyss. So to him we leave it.
Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome:
After the general, I beseech you next
To feast with me and see me at my tent.

Achil. I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou![2096] 230
Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,[2097]
And quoted joint by joint.[2097][2098]

Hect. Is this Achilles?

Achil. I am Achilles.[2099]

Hect. Stand fair, I pray thee: let me look on thee.[2100] 235

Achil. Behold thy fill.

Hect. Nay, I have done already.

Achil. Thou art too brief: I will the second time,[2101]
As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.[2102]

Hect. O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er;
But there's more in me than thou understand'st. 240
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?

Achil. Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? whether there, or there, or there?[2103]
That I may give the local wound a name,
And make distinct the very breach whereout 245
Hector's great spirit flew: answer me, heavens!

Hect. It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: stand again:
Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
As to prenominate in nice conjecture 250
Where thou wilt hit me dead?

Achil. I tell thee, yea.

Hect. Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,[2104]
I'ld not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well;
For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,[2105] 255
I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er.
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
His insolence draws folly from my lips;
But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words,
Or may I never—

Ajax. Do not chafe thee, cousin: 260
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone
Till accident or purpose bring you to't:
You may have every day enough of Hector,[2106]
If you have stomach: the general state, I fear,
Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.[2107] 265

Hect. I pray you, let us see you in the field:
We have had pelting wars since you refused [2108]
The Grecians' cause.[2108]

Achil. Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;[2109]
To-night all friends.[2109]

Hect. Thy hand upon that match.[2110] 270

Agam. First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive we: afterwards,[2111]
As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally entreat him.[2112]
Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow,[2112] 275
That this great soldier may his welcome know.

Scene V. The Grecian camp. Lists set out.