William Shakespeare: The History of Troilus and Cressida

ACT II. SCENE 3. The Grecian camp. Before the tent of ACHILLES (continued)

ULYSSES.
O Agamemnon, let it not be so!
We'll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes
When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord
That bastes his arrogance with his own seam
And never suffers matter of the world
Enter his thoughts, save such as doth revolve
And ruminate himself--shall he be worshipp'd
Of that we hold an idol more than he?
No, this thrice-worthy and right valiant lord
Shall not so stale his palm, nobly acquir'd,
Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit,
As amply titled as Achilles is,
By going to Achilles.
That were to enlard his fat-already pride,
And add more coals to Cancer when he burns
With entertaining great Hyperion.
This lord go to him! Jupiter forbid,
And say in thunder 'Achilles go to him.'

NESTOR.
[Aside.] O, this is well! He rubs the vein of him.

DIOMEDES.
[Aside.] And how his silence drinks up this applause!

AJAX.
If I go to him, with my armed fist I'll pash him o'er the
face.

AGAMEMNON.
O, no, you shall not go.

AJAX.
An 'a be proud with me I'll pheeze his pride.
Let me go to him.

ULYSSES.
Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel.

AJAX.
A paltry, insolent fellow!

NESTOR.
[Aside.] How he describes himself!

AJAX.
Can he not be sociable?

ULYSSES.
[Aside.] The raven chides blackness.

AJAX.
I'll let his humours blood.

AGAMEMNON.
[Aside.] He will be the physician that should be the patient.

AJAX.
An all men were a my mind--

ULYSSES.
[Aside.] Wit would be out of fashion.

AJAX.
'A should not bear it so, 'a should eat's words first.
Shall pride carry it?