At ample point all that I did possess, Save these men's looks; who do, methinks, find out How now, Ulysses? Ulyss. Now, great Thetis' son? Achil. What are you reading? Ulyss. A strange fellow here Writes me, That man-how dearly ever parted, How much in having, or without, or in,— Cannot make boast to have that which he hath, Nor feels not what he owes, but by reflection; As when his virtues shining upon others Heat them, and they retort that heat again To the first giver. Achil. This is not strange, Ulysses. Till it hath travell'd, and is married there It is familiar; but at the author's drift: Who, in his circumstances, expressly proves - any thing, (Though in and of him there be much consisting,) Till he communicate his parts to others: Nor doth he of himself know them for aught Till he behold them form'd in the applause 7 how dearly ever parted,] However excellently endowed, with however dear or precious parts enriched or adorned. -8 argument. in his circumstance,] In the detail or circumduction of his 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; 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; 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, Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all To envious and calumniating time. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin, More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.1 The present eye praises the present object: 1 And give to dust, that is a little gilt, More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.] 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, If thou would'st not entomb thyself alive, And case thy reputation in thy tent; Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, Made emulous missions 2 'mongst the gods themselves, And drave great Mars to faction. Achil. I have strong reasons. 1 Of this my privacy Ulyss. But 'gainst your privacy Achil. Ulyss. Is that a wonder? Ha! known? The providence that's in a watchful state, Knows almost every grain of Plutus' gold; 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. 4 (with whom relation Durst never meddle) —] There is a secret administration of affairs, which no history was ever able to discover. JOHNSON. To throw down Hector, than Polyxena: But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home, But our great Ajax bravely beat down him. [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 Achil. 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 : Seals a commission to a blank of danger; And danger, like an ague, subtly taints Even then when we sit idly in the sun. Achil. Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus: To see us here unarm'd: I have a woman's longing, 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. |