_Agam._ This shall be told our lovers, Lord Æneas: If none of them have soul in such a kind, 285 We left them all at home: but we are soldiers;[1207] And may that soldier a mere recreant prove, That means not, hath not, or is not in love! If then one is, or hath, or means to be,[1208] That one meets Hector; if none else, I am he.[1209] 290 _Nest._ Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man When Hector's grandsire suck'd: he is old now; But if there be not in our Grecian host[1210] One noble man that hath one spark of fire,[1211] To answer for his love, tell him from me 295 I'll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver And in my vantbrace put this wither'd brawn,[1212] And meeting him will tell him that my lady[1213] Was fairer than his grandam and as chaste As may be in the world: his youth in flood,[1214] 300 I'll prove this truth with my three drops of blood.[1215] _Æne._ Now heavens forbid such scarcity of youth![1216] _Ulyss._ Amen.[1217] _Agam._ Fair Lord Æneas, let me touch your hand;[1218] To our pavilion shall I lead you, sir.[1219] 305 Achilles shall have word of this intent;[1220] So shall each lord of Greece, from tent to tent: Yourself shall feast with us before you go, And find the welcome of a noble foe. [_Exeunt all but Ulysses and Nestor._[1221] _Ulyss._ Nestor![1222] 310 _Nest._ What says Ulysses? _Ulyss._ I have a young conception in my brain; Be you my time to bring it to some shape. _Nest._ What is't? _Ulyss._ This 'tis:[1223] 315 Blunt wedges rive hard knots: the seeded pride That hath to this maturity blown up[1224] In rank Achilles must or now be cropp'd, Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil, To overbulk us all. _Nest._ Well, and how?[1225] 320 _Ulyss._ This challenge that the gallant Hector sends, However it is spread in general name, Relates in purpose only to Achilles. _Nest._ The purpose is perspicuous even as substance,[1226] Whose grossness little characters sum up:[1227] 325 And, in the publication, make no strain,[1227] But that Achilles, were his brain as barren[1228] As banks of Libya,--though, Apollo knows,[1229] 'Tis dry enough--will, with great speed of judgement,[1229] Ay, with celerity, find Hector's purpose[1230] 330 Pointing on him.[1230] _Ulyss._ And wake him to the answer, think you?