Page 2796 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

AJAX

Speak, then, you vinewed’st leaven, speak; I will beat thee into
handsomeness! [15]

THERSITES
I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness; but I think thy horse will sooner
con an oration than thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst strike,

canst thou? − A red murrain o’thy jade’s tricks!

AJAX
Toadstool, learn me the proclamation. [20]

THERSITES
Dost thou think I have no sense, thou strikest me thus?

AJAX
The proclamation!

THERSITES
Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think.

AJAX
Do not, porpentine, do not; my fingers itch. [25]

THERSITES
I would thou didst itch from head to foot, and I had the scratching of thee; I

would make thee the loathsomest scab in Greece.

AJAX

I say, the proclamation!

THERSITES
Thou grumblest and railest every hour on [30] Achilles, and thou art as full of
envy at his greatness as Cerberus is at Proserpina’s beauty, ay, that thou
bark’st at him.

AJAX