_Ulys._ The seeded pride, That has to this maturity blown up In rank Achilles, must or now be cropped, Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like ill, To overtop us all. _Nest._ That's my opinion. _Ulys._ This challenge which AEneas brings from Hector, However it be spread in general terms, Relates in purpose only to Achilles. And will it wake him to the answer, think you? _Nest._ It ought to do: whom can we else oppose, Who could from Hector bring his honour off, If not Achilles? the success of this, Although particular, will give an omen Of good or bad, even to the general cause. _Ulys._ Pardon me, Nestor, if I contradict you: Therefore 'tis fit Achilles meet not Hector. Let us, like merchants, show our coarsest wares, And think, perchance they'll sell; but, if they do not, The lustre of our better, yet unshown, Will show the better: let us not consent, Our greatest warrior should be matched with Hector; For both our honour and our shame in this Shall be attended with strange followers. _Nest._ I see them not with my old eyes; what are they? _Ulys._ What glory our Achilles gains from Hector, Were he not proud, we all should share with him: But he already is too insolent: And we had better parch in Afric sun, Than in his pride, should he 'scape Hector fair. But grant he should be foiled; Why then our common reputation suffers In that of our best man. No, make a lottery; And, by device, let blockish Ajax draw The chance to fight with Hector: among ourselves, Give him allowance as the braver man; For that will physic the great Myrmidon, Who swells with loud applause; and make him fall His crest, if brainless Ajax come safe off: If not, we yet preserve a fair opinion, That we have better men. _Nest._ Now I begin to relish thy advice: Come, let us go to Agamemnon strait, To inform him of our project. _Ulys._ 'Tis not ripe. The skilful surgeon will not lance a sore, Till nature has digested and prepared The growing humours to her healing purpose; Else must he often grieve the patient's sense, When one incision, once well-timed, would serve. Are not Achilles and dull Ajax friends? _Nest._ As much as fools can be. _Ulys._ That knot of friendship first must be untied, Ere we can reach our ends; for, while they love each other, Both hating us, will draw too strong a bias, And all the camp will lean that way they draw; For brutal courage is the soldier's idol: So, if one prove contemptuous, backed by t'other, 'Twill give the law to cool and sober sense, And place the power of war in madmen's hands. _Nest._ Now I conceive you; were they once divided, And one of them made ours, that one would check The other's towering growth, and keep both low, As instruments, and not as lords of war. And this must be by secret coals of envy Blown in their breast; comparisons of worth; Great actions weighed of each; and each the best, As we shall give him voice. _Ulys._ Here comes Thersites, _Enter_ THERSITES.