_Patro._ How he struts in expectation of honour! he knows not what he does. _Thers._ Nay, that's no wonder, for he never did. _Achil._ Pr'ythee, say how he behaves himself? _Thers._ O, you would be learning to practise against such another time?--Why, he tosses up his head as he had built castles in the air; and he treads upward to them, stalks into the element; he surveys himself, as it were to look for Ajax: he would be cried, for he has lost himself; nay, he knows nobody; I said, "Good-morrow, Ajax," and he replied, "Thanks, Agamemnon." _Achil._ Thou shalt be my ambassador to him, Thersites. _Thers._ No, I'll put on his person; let Patroclus make his demands to me, and you shall see the pageant of Ajax. _Achil._ To him, Patroclus; tell him I humbly desire the valiant Ajax to invite the noble Hector to my tent; and to procure safe conduct for him from our captain general Agamemnon. _Patro._ Jove bless the mighty Ajax! _Thers._ Humh! _Patro._ I come from the great Achilles. _Thers._ Ha! _Patro._ Who most humbly desires you to invite Hector to his tent. _Thers._ Humh! _Patro._ And to procure him safe conduct from Agamemnon. _Thers._ Agamemnon? _Patro._ Ay, my lord. _Thers._ Ha! _Patro._ What say you to it? _Thers._ Farewell, with all my heart. _Patro._ Your answer, sir? _Thers._ If to-morrow be a fair day, by eleven o'clock it will go one way or the other; however, he shall buy me dearly. Fare you well, with all my heart. _Achil._ Why, but he is not in this tune, is he? _Thers._ No; but he's thus out of tune. What music will be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains, I know not, nor I care not; but if emptiness makes noise, his head will make melody. _Achil._ My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred; And I myself see not the bottom on't. _Thers._ Would the fountain of his mind were clear, that he might see an ass in it! I had rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance. [_Aside._ _Enter_ AGAMEMNON, AJAX, DIOMEDES, _and_ MENELAUS. _Patro._ Look, who comes here. _Achil._ Patroclus, I'll speak with nobody;--come in after me, Thersites. [_Exeunt_ ACHILLES _and_ THERSITES. _Again._ Where's Achilles? _Patro._ Within, but ill disposed, my lord. _Men._ We saw him at the opening of his tent. _Again._ Let it be known to him, that we are here. _Patro._ I shall say so to him. [_Exit_ PATROC. _Diom._ I know he is not sick. _Ajax._ Yes, lion-sick, sick of a proud heart: you may call it melancholy, if you will humour him; but, on my honour, it is no more than pride; and why should he be proud? _Men._ Here comes Patroclus; but no Achilles with him. _Enter_ PATROCLUS. _Patro._ Achilles bids me tell you, he is sorry If any thing more than your sport and pleasure Did move you to this visit: He's not well, And begs you would excuse him, as unfit For present business.