_Ulyss._ Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back 145 Wherein he puts alms for oblivion, A great-sized monster of ingratitudes:[1747] Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devour'd[1748] As fast as they are made, forgot as soon[1748] As done: perseverance, dear my lord,[1748][1749][1750] 150 Keeps honour bright: to have done, is to hang[1749] Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail[1751] In monumental mockery. Take the instant way;[1752] For honour travels in a strait so narrow, Where one but goes abreast: keep then the path;[1753] 155 For emulation hath a thousand sons That one by one pursue: if you give way, Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,[1754] Like to an enter'd tide they all rush by And leave you hindmost:[1755][1756][1757] 160 Or, like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,[1755][1756][1757][1758] Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,[1755][1756][1759][1760][1761] O'er-run and trampled on: then what they do in present,[1755][1756][1760] Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;[1755][1762] For time is like a fashionable host[1755] 165 That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,[1755] And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would fly,[1755][1763] Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles,[1755][1764] And farewell goes out sighing. O, let not virtue seek[1755][1765][1766] Remuneration for the thing it was;[1755][1766][1767] 170 For beauty, wit,[1755][1767] High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service,[1755][1768] Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all[1755][1769] To envious and calumniating time. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin; 175 That all with one consent praise new-born gawds, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And give to dust that is a little gilt[1770][1771] More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.[1770][1772] The present eye praises the present object: 180 Then marvel not, thou great and complete man, That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax;[1773] Since things in motion sooner catch the eye[1774] Than what not stirs. The cry went once on thee,[1775] And still it might, and yet it may again, 185 If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive And case thy reputation in thy tent, Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, Made emulous missions 'mongst the gods themselves,[1776] And drave great Mars to faction. _Achil._ Of this my privacy[1777] 190 I have strong reasons. _Ulyss._ But 'gainst your privacy[1778] The reasons are more potent and heroical: 'Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love With one of Priam's daughters.