_Dio._ This shall I undertake; and 'tis a burthen Which I am proud to bear. [_Exeunt Diomedes and Calchas._
_Enter_ ACHILLES _and_ PATROCLUS, _before their tent_.[1693]
_Ulyss._ Achilles stands i' the entrance of his tent: Please it our general pass strangely by him,[1694] As if he were forgot; and, princes all, 40 Lay negligent and loose regard upon him: I will come last. 'Tis like he'll question me Why such unplausive eyes are bent on him:[1695] If so, I have derision medicinable,[1696] To use between your strangeness and his pride,[1697] 45 Which his own will shall have desire to drink. It may do good: pride hath no other glass To show itself but pride, for supple knees Feed arrogance and are the proud man's fees.
_Agam._ We'll execute your purpose and put on 50 A form of strangeness as we pass along; So do each lord, and either greet him not Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more Than if not look'd on. I will lead the way.
_Achil._ What, comes the general to speak with me? 55 You know my mind; I'll fight no more 'gainst Troy.
_Agam._ What says Achilles? would he aught with us?
_Nest._ Would you, my lord, aught with the general?
_Agam._ The better. [_Exeunt Agamemnon and Nestor._[1698]
_Men._ How do you? how do you? [_Exit._[1699]
_Achil._ What, does the cuckold scorn me?
_Ajax._ Ay, and good next day too. [_Exit._[1702]
_Achil._ What mean these fellows? Know they not Achilles?[1703] 70
_Patr._ They pass by strangely: they were used to bend,[1704] To send their smiles before them to Achilles, To come as humbly as they used to creep[1705][1706] To holy altars.[1705]
_Achil._ What, am I poor of late? 'Tis certain, greatness, once fall'n out with fortune, 75 Must fall out with men too: what the declined is, He shall as soon read in the eyes of others As feel in his own fall: for men, like butterflies, Show not their mealy wings but to the summer, And not a man, for being simply man,[1707] 80 Hath any honour, but honour for those honours[1708] That are without him, as place, riches, and favour,[1709] Prizes of accident as oft as merit: Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, The love that lean'd on them as slippery too,[1710] 85 Do one pluck down another and together[1711][1712] Die in the fall. But 'tis not so with me:[1712] Fortune and I are friends: I do enjoy At ample point all that I did possess, Save these men's looks; who do, methinks, find out 90 Something not worth in me such rich beholding[1713] As they have often given. Here is Ulysses: I'll interrupt his reading.[1714] How now, Ulysses![1714]