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of courage As rous'd with rage； with rage doth sympathise； And with an
accent tun'd in self…same key Retorts to chiding fortune。 ULYSSES。
Agamemnon； Thou great commander； nerve and bone of Greece； Heart of
our numbers； soul and only spirit In whom the tempers and the minds of
all Should be shut up…hear what Ulysses speaks。 Besides the applause and
approbation The which； ＇To AGAMEMNON＇ most mighty； for thy place
and sway； ＇To NESTOR＇ And； thou most reverend； for thy stretch'd…out
life； I give to both your speeches… which were such As Agamemnon and
the hand of Greece Should hold up high in brass； and such again As
venerable Nestor； hatch'd in silver； Should with a bond of air； strong as the
axle…tree On which heaven rides； knit all the Greekish ears To his
experienc'd tongue…yet let it please both； Thou great； and wise； to hear
Ulysses speak。 AGAMEMNON。 Speak； Prince of Ithaca； and be't of less
expect That matter needless； of importless burden； Divide thy lips than we
are confident； When rank Thersites opes his mastic jaws； We shall hear
music； wit； and oracle。 ULYSSES。 Troy； yet upon his basis； had been
down； And the great Hector's sword had lack'd a master； But for these
instances： The specialty of rule hath been neglected； And look how many
Grecian tents do stand Hollow upon this plain； so many hollow factions。
When that the general is not like the hive； To whom the foragers shall all
repair； What honey is expected？ Degree being vizarded； Th' unworthiest
shows as fairly in the mask。 The heavens themselves； the planets； and this
centre； Observe degree； priority； and place； Insisture； course； proportion；
season； form； Office； and custom； in all line of order； And therefore is the
glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthron'd and spher'd Amidst the
other； whose med'cinable eye Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil； And
posts； like the commandment of a king； Sans check； to good and bad。 But
when the planets In evil mixture to disorder wander； What plagues and
what portents； what mutiny； What raging of the sea； shaking of earth；
Commotion in the winds！ Frights； changes； horrors； Divert and crack； rend
and deracinate； The unity and married calm of states Quite from their
fixture！ O； when degree is shak'd； Which is the ladder of all high designs；
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The enterprise is sick！ How could communities； Degrees in schools； and
brotherhoods in cities； Peaceful commerce from dividable shores； The
primogenity and due of birth； Prerogative of age； crowns； sceptres； laurels；
But by degree； stand in authentic place？ Take but degree away； untune that
string； And hark what discord follows！ Each thing melts In mere
oppugnancy： the bounded waters Should lift their bosoms higher than the
shores； And make a sop of all this solid globe； Strength should be lord of
imbecility； And the rude son should strike his father dead； Force should be
right； or； rather； right and wrong… Between whose endless jar justice
resides… Should lose their names； and so should justice too。 Then
everything includes itself in power； Power into will； will into appetite； And
appetite； an universal wolf； So doubly seconded with will and power； Must
make perforce an universal prey； And last eat up himself。 Great
Agamemnon； This chaos； when degree is suffocate； Follows the choking。
And this neglection of degree it is That by a pace goes backward； with a
purpose It hath to climb。 The general's disdain'd By him one step below；
he by the next； That next by him beneath； so ever step； Exampl'd by the
first pace that is sick Of his superior； grows to an envious fever Of pale
and bloodless emulation。 And 'tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot； Not
her own sinews。 To end a tale of length； Troy in our weakness stands； not
in her strength。 NESTOR。 Most wisely hath Ulysses here discover'd The
fever whereof all our power is sick。 AGAMEMNON。 The nature of the
sickness found； Ulysses； What is the remedy？ ULYSSES。 The great
Achilles； whom opinion crowns The sinew and the forehand of our host；
Having his ear full of his airy fame； Grows dainty of his worth； and in his
tent Lies mocking our designs； with him Patroclus Upon a lazy bed the
livelong day Breaks scurril jests； And with ridiculous and awkward action…
Which； slanderer； he imitation calls… He pageants us。 Sometime； great
Agamemnon； Thy topless deputation he puts on； And like a strutting
player whose conceit Lies in his hamstring； and doth think it rich To hear
the wooden dialogue and sound 'Twixt his stretch'd footing and the
scaffoldage… Such to…be…pitied and o'er…wrested seeming He acts thy
greatness in； and when he speaks 'Tis like a chime a…mending； with terms
unsquar'd； Which； from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropp'd； Would
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THE HISTORY OF TROILUS AND CRESSIDA
seem hyperboles。 At this fusty stuff The large Achilles； on his press'd bed
lolling； From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause； Cries 'Excellent！
'tis Agamemnon just。 Now play me Nestor； hem； and stroke thy beard； As
he being drest to some oration。' That's done…as near as the extremest ends
Of parallels； as like Vulcan and his wife； Yet god Achilles still cries
'Excellent！ 'Tis Nestor right。 Now play him me； Patroclus； Arming to
answer in a night alarm。' And then； forsooth； the faint defects of age Must
be the scene of mirth： to cough and spit And； with a palsy…fumbling on his
gorget； Shake in and out the rivet。 And at this sport Sir Valour dies； cries
'O； enough； Patroclus； Or give me ribs of steel！ I shall split all In pleasure
of my spleen。' And in this fashion All our abilities； gifts； natures； shapes；
Severals and generals of grace exact； Achievements； plots； orders；
preventions； Excitements to the field or speech for truce； Success or loss；
what is or is not； serves As stuff for these two to make paradoxes。
NESTOR。 And in the imitation of these twain… Who； as Ulysses says；
opinion crowns With an imperial voice…many are infect。 Ajax is grown
self…will'd and bears his head In such a rein； in full as proud a place A