1179Is this in way of truth: yet nere the lesse,

1180My spritely brethren, I propend to you

1181In resolution to keepe Helen still;

1182For 'tis a cause that hath no meane dependance,

1183Vpon our ioynt and seuerall dignities.

1184Tro. Why? there you toucht the life of our designe:

1185Were it not glory that we more affected,

1186Then the performance of our heauing spleenes,

1187I would not wish a drop of Troian blood,

1188Spent more in her defence. But worthy Hector,

1189She is a theame of honour and renowne,

1190A spurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds,

1191Whose present courage may beate downe our foes,

1192And fame in time to come canonize vs.

1193For I presume braue Hector would not loose

1194So rich aduantage of a promis'd glory,

1195As smiles vpon the fore-head of this action,

1196For the wide worlds reuenew.

1197Hect. I am yours,

1198You valiant off-spring of great Priamus,

1199I haue a roisting challenge sent among'st

1200The dull and factious nobles of the Greekes,

1201Will strike amazement to their drowsie spirits,

1202I was aduertiz'd, their Great generall slept,

1203Whil'st emulation in the armie crept:

1204This I presume will wake him. Exeunt.

1206How now Thersites? what lost in the Labyrinth of thy

1207furie? shall the Elephant Aiax carry it thus? he beates

1208me, and I raile at him: O worthy satisfaction, would it

1209were otherwise: that I could beate him, whil'st he rail'd

1210at me: Sfoote, Ile learne to coniure and raise Diuels, but

1211Ile see some issue of my spitefull execrations. Then ther's

1212Achilles, a rare Enginer. If Troy be not taken till these two

1213vndermine it, the wals will stand till they fall of them-

1214selues. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget

1215that thou art Ioue the King of gods: and Mercury, loose

1216all the Serpentine craft of thy Caduceus, if thou take not

1217that little little lesse then little wit from them that they

1218haue, which short-arm'd ignorance it selfe knowes, is so

1219abundant scarse, it will not in circumuention deliuer a

1220Flye from a Spider, without drawing the massie Irons and

1221cutting the web: after this, the vengeance on the whole

1222Camp, or rather the bone-ach, for that me thinkes is the

1223curse dependant on those that warre for a placket. I haue

1224said my prayers and diuell, enuie, say Amen: What ho?

1225my Lord Achilles?

1227Patr. Who's there? Thersites. Good Thersites come

1228in and raile.

1229Ther. If I could haue remembred a guilt counterfeit,

1230thou would'st not haue slipt out of my contemplation,

1231but it is no matter, thy selfe vpon thy selfe. The common

1232curse of mankinde, follie and ignorance be thine in great

1233reuenew; heauen blesse thee from a Tutor, and Discipline

1234come not neere thee. Let thy bloud be thy direction till

1235thy death, then if she that laies thee out sayes thou art a

1236faire coarse, Ile be sworne and sworne vpon't she neuer

1237shrowded any but Lazars, Amen. Wher's Achilles?

1238Patr. What art thou deuout? wast thou in a prayer?

1239Ther. I, the heauens heare me.

1241Achil. Who's there?

1242Patr. Thersites, my Lord.

1243Achil. Where, where, art thou come? why my cheese,

1244my digestion, why hast thou not seru'd thy selfe into my

1245Table, so many meales? Come, what's Agamemnon?

1246Ther. Thy Commander Achilles, then tell me Patro-

1247clus, what's Achilles?

1248Patr. Thy Lord Thersites: then tell me I pray thee,

1249what's thy selfe?

1250Ther. Thy knower Patroclus: then tell me Patroclus,

1251what art thou?

1252Patr. Thou maist tell that know'st.

1253Achil. O tell, tell.

1254Ther. Ile declin the whole question: Agamemnon com-

1255mands Achilles, Achilles is my Lord, I am Patroclus know-

1256er, and Patroclus is a foole.

1257Patro. You rascall.

1258Ther. Peace foole, I haue not done.

1259Achil. He is a priuiledg'd man, proceede Thersites.

1260Ther. Agamemnon is a foole, Achilles is a foole, Ther-

1261sites is a foole, and as aforesaid, Patroclus is a foole.

1262Achil. Deriue this? come?

1263Ther. Agamemnon is a foole to offer to command A-

1264chilles, Achilles is a foole to be commanded of Agamemon,

1265Thersites is a foole to serue such a foole: and Patroclus is a

1266foole positiue.

1267Patr. Why am I a foole?

1270Ther. Make that demand to the Creator, it suffises me

1271thou art. Looke you, who comes here?

1272Achil. Patroclus, Ile speake with no body: come in

1273with me Thersites. Exit.

1274Ther. Here is such patcherie, such iugling, and such

1275knauerie: all the argument is a Cuckold and a Whore, a

1276good quarrel to draw emulations, factions, and bleede to

1277death vpon: Now the dry Suppeago on the Subiect, and

1278Warre and Lecherie confound all.

1279Agam. Where is Achilles?

1280Patr. Within his Tent, but ill dispos'd my Lord.

1281Agam. Let it be knowne to him that we are here:

1282He sent our Messengers, and we lay by

1283Our appertainments, visiting of him:

1284Let him be told of, so perchance he thinke

1285We dare not moue the question of our place,

1286Or know not what we are.

1287Pat. I shall so say to him.

1288Ulis. We saw him at the opening of his Tent,

1289He is not sicke.

1290Aia. Yes, Lyon sicke, sicke of proud heart; you may

1291call it Melancholly if will fauour the man, but by my

1292head, it is pride; but why, why, let him show vs the cause?

1293A word my Lord.

1294Nes. What moues Aiax thus to bay at him?

1295Vlis. Achillis hath inueigled his Foole from him.

1296Nes. Who, Thersites?

1297Vlis. He.

1298Nes. Then will Aiax lacke matter, if he haue lost his

1299Argument.

1300Vlis. No, you see he is his argument that has his argu-

1301ment Achilles.

1302Nes. All the better, their fraction is more our wish

1303then their faction; but it was a strong counsell that a

1304Foole could disunite.

1305Vlis. The amitie that wisedome knits, not folly may

1306easily vntie. Enter Patroclus.