2092Ile send the foole to Aiax, and desire him

2093T'inuite the Troian Lords after the Combat

2094To see vs here vnarm'd: I haue a womans longing,

2095An appetite that I am sicke withall,

2096To see great Hector in his weedes of peace; Enter Thersi.

2097To talke with him, and to behold his visage,

2098Euen to my full of view. A labour sau'd.

2099Ther. A wonder.

2100Achil. What?

2101Ther. Aiax goes vp and downe the field, asking for

2102himselfe.

2103Achil. How so?

2104Ther. Hee must fight singly to morrow with Hector,

2105and is so prophetically proud of an heroicall cudgelling,

2106that he raues in saying nothing.

2107Achil. How can that be?

2108Ther. Why he stalkes vp and downe like a Peacock, a

2109stride and a stand: ruminates like an hostesse, that hath no

2110Arithmatique but her braine to set downe her recko-

2111ning: bites his lip with a politique regard, as who should

2112say, there were wit in his head and twoo'd out; and so

2113there is: but it lyes as coldly in him, as fire in a flint,

2114which will not shew without knocking. The mans vn-

2115done for euer; for if Hector breake not his necke i'th'com-

2116bat, heele break't himselfe in vaine-glory. He knowes

2117not mee: I said, good morrow Aiax; And he replyes,

2118thankes Agamemnon. What thinke you of this man,

2119that takes me for the Generall? Hee's growne a very

2120land-fish, languagelesse, a monster: a plague of o-

2121pinion, a man may weare it on both sides like a leather

2122Ierkin.

2123Achil. Thou must be my Ambassador to him Thersites.

2124Ther. Who, I: why, heele answer no body: he pro-

2125fesses not answering; speaking is for beggers: he weares

2126his tongue in's armes: I will put on his presence; let Pa-

2127troclus make his demands to me, you shall see the Page-

2128ant of Aiax.

2129Achil. To him Patroclus; tell him, I humbly desire the

2130valiant Aiax, to inuite the most valorous Hector, to come

2131vnarm'd to my Tent, and to procure safe conduct for his

2132person, of the magnanimious and most illustrious, sixe or

2133seauen times honour'd Captaine, Generall of the Grecian

2134Armie Agamemnon, &c. doe this.

2135Patro. Ioue blesse great Aiax.

2136Ther. Hum.

2137Patr. I come from the worthy Aehilles.

2138Ther. Ha?

2139Patr. Who most humbly desires you to inuite Hector

2140to his Tent.

2141Ther. Hum.

2142Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Agamemnon.

2143Ther. Agamemnon?

2144Patr. I my Lord.

2145Ther. Ha?

2146Patr. What say you too't.

2147Ther. God buy you with all my heart.

2148Patr. Your answer sir.

2149Ther. If to morrow be a faire day, by eleuen a clocke

2150it will goe one way or other; howsoeuer, he shall pay for

2151me ere he has me.

2152Patr. Your answer sir.

2153Ther. Fare you well withall my heart.

2154Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?

2155Ther. No, but he's out a tune thus: what musicke will

2156be in him when Hector has knockt out his braines, I know

2157not: but I am sure none, vnlesse the Fidler Apollo get his

2158sinewes to make catlings on.

2159Achil. Come, thou shalt beare a Letter to him

2160straight.

2161Ther. Let me carry another to his Horse; for that's the

2162more capable creature.

2163Achil. My minde is troubled like a Fountaine stir'd,

2164And I my selfe see not the bottome of it.

2165Ther. Would the Fountaine of your minde were cleere

2166againe, that I might water an Asse at it: I had rather be a

2167Ticke in a Sheepe, then such a valiant ignorance.

2171Par. See hoa, who is that there?

2172Dieph. It is the Lord AEneas.

2173AEne. Is the Prince there in person?

2174Had I so good occasion to lye long

2175As you Prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse,

2176Should rob my bed-mate of my company.

2177Diom. That's my minde too: good morrow Lord

2178AEneas.

2179Par. A valiant Greeke AEneas, take his hand,

2180Witnesse the processe of your speech within;

2181You told how Diomed, in a whole weeke by dayes

2182Did haunt you in the Field.

2183AEne. Health to you valiant sir,

2184During all question of the gentle truce:

2185But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance,

2186As heart can thinke, or courage execute.

2187Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,

2188Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health:

2189But when contention, and occasion meetes,

2190By Ioue, Ile play the hunter for thy life,

2191With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.

2192AEne. And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye

2193With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse:

2194Welcome to Troy; now by Anchises life,

2195Welcome indeede: by Venus hand I sweare,

2196No man aliue can loue in such a sort,

2197The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.

2198Diom. We simpathize. Ioue let AEneas liue

2199(If to my sword his fate be not the glory)

2200A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne,

2201But in mine emulous honor let him dye:

2202With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.

2203AEne. We know each other well.

2204Dio. We doe, and long to know each other worse.

2205Par. This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting;

2206The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of.

2207What businesse Lord so early?

2208AEne. I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.

2209Par. His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek

2210To Calcha's house; and there to render him,

2211For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid:

2212Lers haue your company; or if you please,

2213Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke

2214(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)

2215My brother Troylus lodges there to night.

2216Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach,

2217With the whole quality whereof, I feare

2218We shall be much vnwelcome.

2219AEne. That I assure you:

2220Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece,

2221Then Cressid borne from Troy.