_Ajax._ Why should a man be proud? How doth pride grow? I know not what pride is.[1459]
_Agam._ Your mind is the clearer, Ajax, and your virtues[1460] the fairer. He that is proud eats up himself: pride is[1461] his own glass, his own trumpet, his own chronicle; and 150 whatever praises itself but in the deed, devours the deed in[1462] the praise.
_Ajax._ I do hate a proud man, as I hate the engendering[1463] of toads.
_Nest._ [_Aside_] Yet he loves himself: is't not strange? 155
_Ulyss._ Achilles will not to the field to-morrow.
_Ulyss._ He doth rely on none, But carries on the stream of his dispose Without observance or respect of any, In will peculiar and in self-admission.[1465] 160
_Agam._ Why will he not, upon our fair request, Untent his person, and share the air with us?
_Ulyss._ Things small as nothing, for request's sake only[1466] He makes important: possess'd he is with greatness,[1467] And speaks not to himself but with a pride 165 That quarrels at self-breath: imagined worth[1468] Holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse That 'twixt his mental and his active parts Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages And batters down himself: what should I say?[1469][1470] 170 He is so plaguy proud that the death-tokens of it[1469][1471] Cry 'No recovery.'
_Agam._ Let Ajax go to him. Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent: 'Tis said he holds you well, and will be led[1472] At your request a little from himself. 175
_Ulyss._ 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[1473] And never suffers matter of the world 180 Enter his thoughts, save such as do revolve[1474] And ruminate himself, shall he be worshipp'd Of that we hold an idol more than he?[1475] No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord Must not so stale his palm, nobly acquired;[1476] 185 Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit, As amply titled as Achilles is,[1477][1478] By going to Achilles:[1477] That were to enlard his fat-already pride,[1479] And add more coals to Cancer when he burns 190 With entertaining great Hyperion. This lord go to him! Jupiter forbid,[1480] And say in thunder 'Achilles go to him.'