Where they are extended; which, like an arch, rever berates The voice again; or like a gate of steel Fronting the sun, receives and renders back His figure and his heat. I was much rapt in this; The unknown Ajax'. Heavens, what a man is there! a very horse; That has he knows not what. there are, Nature, what things Most abject in regard, and dear in use! What things again most dear in the esteem, How some men creep in skittish fortune's hall, Achil. I do believe it: for they pass'd by me, A great-sized monster of ingratitudes : Those scraps are good deeds past: which are devour'd As fast as they are made, forgot as soon As done: Perséverance, dear my lord, Keeps honour bright: To have done, is to hang Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail 9 The unknown Ajax.] Ajax, who has abilities, which were never brought into view or use. JOHNSON. In monumental mockery. Take the instant way; Where one but goes abreast: keep then the path; That one by one pursue: If you give way, Or, like a gallant horse fallen in first rank, O'er-run and trampled on: Then what they do in pre sent, Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours: That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand; And farewell goes out sighing. O, let not virtue seek For beauty, wit, High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service, To envious and calumniating time. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,— More laud than gilt o'er-dusted'. The present eye, praises the present object: 1 And give to dust, that is a little gilt, More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.] 64 Dust a little gilt means, ordinary performances ostentatiously displayed and magnified by the favour of friends, and that admiration of novelty which prefers "newborn gawds" to 'things past." Gilt o'er-dusted means, splendid actions of preceding ages, the remembrance of which is weakened by time. Since things in motion sooner catch the eye, Than what not stirs. The cry went once on thee, If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive, And case thy reputation in thy tent; Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, A chil. I have strong reasons. Ulyss. Of this my privacy But 'gainst your privacy The reasons are more potent and heroical : "Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love With one of Priam's daughters. A chil. Ulyss. Is that a wonder? Ha! known? The providence that's in a watchful state, 2 Made emulous missions -] This means the descent of deities to combat on either side; an idea which Shakspeare very probably adopted from Chapman's translation of Homer. In the fifth Book, Diomed wounds Mars, who on his return to heaven is rated by Jupiter for having interfered in the battle. This disobedience is the faction which I suppose Ulysses would describe. STEEVENS. 3 one of Priam's daughters.] Polyxena, in the act of marrying whom, he was afterwards killed by Paris. (with whom relation Durst never meddle) -] There is a secret administration of affairs, which no history was ever able to discover. JOHNSON. And better would it fit Achilles much, But our great Ajax bravely beat down him. Farewell, my lord: I as your lover speak; The fool slides o'er the ice that you should break. [Exit. Patr. To this effect, Achilles, have I mov'd you: A woman impudent and mannish grown Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man In time of action. I stand condemn'd for this; A chil. Shall Ajax fight with Hector? Patr. Ay; and, perhaps, receive much honour by him. Achil. I see, my reputation is at stake; My fame is shrewdly gor❜d. Patr. O, then beware; Those wounds heal ill, that men do give themselves : 5 Seals a commission to a blank of danger; Achil. Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus : 5 Omission to do, &c.] By neglecting our duty we commission or enable that danger of dishonour, which could not reach us before, to lay hold upon us. JOHNSON. An appetite that I am sick withal, To see great Hector in his weeds of peace; Ther. A wonder! Achil. What? Enter THERSITES. Ther. Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for himself. Achil. How so? Ther. He must fight singly to-morrow with Hector; and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling, that he raves in saying nothing. Achil. How can that be? Ther. Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock, a stride, and a stand: ruminates, like an hostess, that hath no arithmetick but her brain to set down her reckoning bites his lip with a politick regard, as who should say there were wit in this head, an 'twould out; and so there is; but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i'the combat, he'll break it himself in vain-glory. He knows not me: I said, Good-morrow, Ajax; and he replies, Thanks, Agamemnon. What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? He is grown a very land fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Achil. Thou must be my embassador to him, Thersites. Ther. Who, I? why, he'll answer nobody; he professes not answering; speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue in his arms. I will put on his presence; let 6 with a politick regard,] With a sly look. |