Page 2793 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

And in such indexes, although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
The baby figure of the giant mass [345]
Of things to come at large. It is supposed

He that meets Hector issues from our choice;
And choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
Makes merit her election, and doth boil,
As ’twere from forth us all, a man distilled [350]

Out of our virtues; who miscarrying,
What heart from hence receives the conquering part,
To steel a strong opinion to themselves? −
Which entertained, limbs are his instruments,

In no less working than are swords and bows [355]
Directive by the limbs.

ULYSSES
Give pardon to my speech:
Therefore ’tis meet Achilles meet not Hector.

Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares,
And think perchance they’ll sell; if not, [360]
The lustre of the better yet to show
Shall show the better. Do not consent
That ever Hector and Achilles meet,

For both our honour and our shame in this
Are dogged with two strange followers. [365]

NESTOR
I see them not with my old eyes: what are they?

ULYSSES
What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,

Were he not proud, we all should wear with him.
But he already is too insolent;
And we were better parch in Afric sun [370]
Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes
Should he ’scape Hector fair. If he were foiled,

Why then we did our main opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a lottery,