 First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
|
| Enter Aiax, and Thersites. | Enter Ajax and Thersites | | TC II.i.1 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Thersites? | Thersites – | | TC II.i.1 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Agamemnon, how if he had Biles (ful) all | Agamemnon – how if he had boils, full, all | | TC II.i.2 |
| ouer generally. | over, generally? | | TC II.i.3 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Thersites? | Thersites – | | TC II.i.4 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| And those Byles did runne, say so; did not | And those boils did run? – say so – did not | | TC II.i.5 |
| the General run, were not that a botchy core? | the general run then? Were not that a botchy core? | botchy (adj.)enveloped in sores [botches], tumour-covered | TC II.i.6 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Dogge. | Dog! | | TC II.i.7 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Then there would come some matter from | Then there would come some matter from | matter (n.)pus, discharge, fluid [from a wound] | TC II.i.8 |
| him: I see none now. | him; I see none now. | | TC II.i.9 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Thou Bitch-Wolfes-Sonne, canst yu not heare? Feele | Thou bitch-wolf's son, canst thou not hear? Feel, | | TC II.i.10 |
| then. | then. | | TC II.i.11 |
| Strikes him. | He strikes him | | TC II.i.12 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| The plague of Greece vpon thee thou | The plague of Greece upon thee, thou | | TC II.i.12 |
| Mungrel beefe-witted Lord. | mongrel beef-witted lord! | beef-witted (adj.)
old form: beefe-witted beef-brained, thick-headed, brainless | TC II.i.13 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Speake then you whinid'st leauen speake, I will | Speak, then, thou vinewed'st leaven, speak; I will | leaven (n.)
old form: leauen [baking] fermenting element, infusing mixture, adulteration | TC II.i.14 |
| | vinewed (adj.)mouldy, rotten, decaying | |
| beate thee into handsomnesse. | beat thee into handsomeness! | handsomeness (n.)
old form: handsomnessegraciousness, courtesy, decent behaviour | TC II.i.15 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I shal sooner rayle thee into wit and holinesse: | I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness; | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | TC II.i.16 |
| | rail (v.)
old form: rayle rant, rave, be abusive [about] | |
| but I thinke thy Horse wil sooner con an Oration, then | but I think thy horse will sooner con an oration than | con (v.)learn by heart, commit to memory | TC II.i.17 |
| yu learn a prayer without booke: Thou canst strike, canst | thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst strike, | book, without
old form: bookeoff by heart, by rote | TC II.i.18 |
| thou? A red Murren o'th thy Iades trickes. | canst thou? – A red murrain o' thy jade's tricks! | murrain (n.)
old form: Murren plague, pestilence | TC II.i.19 |
| | jade (n.)
old form: Iades worn-out horse, hack, worthless nag | |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Toads stoole, learne me the Proclamation. | Toadstool, learn me the proclamation. | learn (v.)
old form: learne inform of, tell about | TC II.i.20 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Doest thou thinke I haue no sence thou | Dost thou think I have no sense, thou | sense (n.)
old form: sence ability to respond to sensation, physical perception | TC II.i.21 |
| strik'st me thus? | strikest me thus? | | TC II.i.22 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| The Proclamation. | The proclamation! | | TC II.i.23 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Thou art proclaim'd a foole, I thinke. | Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think. | | TC II.i.24 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Do not Porpentine, do not; my fingers itch. | Do not, porpentine, do not; my fingers itch. | porpentine (n.)porcupine | TC II.i.25 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I would thou didst itch from head to foot, | I would thou didst itch from head to foot, | | TC II.i.26 |
| and / I had the scratching of thee, I would make thee the | and I had the scratching of thee; I would make thee the | | TC II.i.27 |
| lothsom'st scab in Greece. | loathsomest scab in Greece. | scab (n.)scurvy fellow, scoundrel, villain | TC II.i.28 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| I say the Proclamation. | I say, the proclamation! | | TC II.i.29 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Thou grumblest & railest euery houre on | Thou grumblest and railest every hour on | | TC II.i.30 |
| Achilles, and thou art as ful of enuy at his greatnes, as | Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his greatness as | | TC II.i.31 |
| Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty. I, that thou | Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty, ay, that thou | Cerberus (n.)['sairberus] three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld, originally 50-headed; charmed to sleep by Orpheus during his quest to rescue Euridice | TC II.i.32 |
| | Proserpine, Proserpina (n.)daughter of the corn-goddess Ceres; Hades, king of the Underworld, abducted her and made her his queen | |
| barkst at him. | bark'st at him. | | TC II.i.33 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Mistresse Thersites. | Mistress Thersites! | | TC II.i.34 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Thou should'st strike him. | Thou shouldest strike him – | | TC II.i.35 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Coblofe. | Cobloaf! | cobloaf (n.)
old form: Coblofesmall round lumpish loaf | TC II.i.36 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| He would pun thee into shiuers with his fist, | He would pun thee into shivers with his fist, | pun (v.)pound, hammer, batter | TC II.i.37 |
| | shiver (n.)
old form: shiuers fragment, splinter, piece | |
| as a Sailor breakes a bisket. | as a sailor breaks a biscuit. | | TC II.i.38 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| (beating him) | | TC II.i.39.1 |
| You horson Curre. | You whoreson cur! | whoreson (adj.)[abusive intensifier, serious or jocular] bastard, wretched, vile | TC II.i.39 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Do, do. | Do, do. | do (v.)go on, carry on | TC II.i.40 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| Thou stoole for a Witch. | Thou stool for a witch! | stool (n.)
old form: stoole chamber-pot, commode | TC II.i.41 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I, do, do, thou sodden-witted Lord: thou | Ay, do, do! Thou sodden-witted lord, thou | sodden-witted (adj.)stew-brained, limp-minded, alcohol-crazed | TC II.i.42 |
| hast no more braine then I haue in mine elbows: An | hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows; an | | TC II.i.43 |
| Asinico may tutor thee. Thou scuruy valiant Asse, thou | assinico may tutor thee. Thou scurvy-valiant ass, thou | scurvy-valiant (adj.)
old form: scuruy valiant supremely worthless, heartily contemptible | TC II.i.44 |
| | assinico, asinico, assenego (n.)[pron: asi'neekoh] little ass, donkey, dolt | |
| art heere but to thresh Troyans, and thou art bought and | art here but to thrash Trojans, and thou art bought and | buy and sell, past form bought and sold
old form: solde betray, exploit, treat treacherously | TC II.i.45 |
| solde among those of any wit, like a Barbarian slaue. If | sold among those of any wit, like a barbarian slave. If | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | TC II.i.46 |
| thou vse to beat me, I wil begin at thy heele, and tel | thou use to beat me, I will begin at thy heel, and tell | tell (v.)
old form: tel count out, number, itemize | TC II.i.47 |
| | use (v.)
old form: vsebe accustomed, make a habit [of] | |
| what thou art by inches, thou thing of no bowels thou. | what thou art by inches, thou thing of no bowels, thou! | inches, byvery gradually, bit by bit, by small degrees | TC II.i.48 |
| | bowels (n.)feelings, sensitivity, heart | |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| You dogge. | You dog! | | TC II.i.49 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| You scuruy Lord. | You scurvy lord! | | TC II.i.50 |
| Aia. | AJAX | | |
| (beating him) | | TC II.i.51 |
| You Curre. | You cur! | | TC II.i.51 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Mars his Ideot: do rudenes, do Camell, do, | Mars his idiot! Do, rudeness, do, camel; do, | rudeness (n.)
old form: rudenesrough manner, uncouth behaviour | TC II.i.52 |
| | Mars (n.)Roman god of war | |
| do. | do! | | TC II.i.53 |
| Enter Achilles, and Patroclus. | Enter Achilles and Patroclus | | TC II.i.54 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Why how now Aiax? wherefore do you this? | Why, how now, Ajax! Wherefore do you this? | | TC II.i.54 |
| How now Thersites? what's the matter man? | How now, Thersites, what's the matter, man? | | TC II.i.55 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| You see him there, do you? | You see him there, do you? | | TC II.i.56 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| I, what's the matter. | Ay, what's the matter? | | TC II.i.57 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Nay looke vpon him. | Nay, look upon him. | | TC II.i.58 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| So I do: what's the matter? | So I do; what's the matter? | | TC II.i.59 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Nay but regard him well. | Nay, but regard him well. | | TC II.i.60 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Well, why I do so. | Well, why, I do so. | | TC II.i.61 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| But yet you looke not well vpon him: for | But yet you look not well upon him; for, | | TC II.i.62 |
| who some euer you take him to be, he is Aiax. | whomsoever you take him to be, he is Ajax. | | TC II.i.63 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| I know that foole. | I know that, fool. | | TC II.i.64 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I, but that foole knowes not himselfe. | Ay, but that fool knows not himself. | | TC II.i.65 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| Therefore I beate thee. | Therefore I beat thee. | | TC II.i.66 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he | Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he | modicum (n.)limited quantity, tiny amount | TC II.i.67 |
| | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | |
| vtters: his euasions haue eares thus long. I haue bobb'd | utters! His evasions have ears thus long. I have bobbed | bob (v.)
old form: bobb'd punch, strike, buffet | TC II.i.68 |
| his Braine more then he has beate my bones: I will buy | his brain more than he has beat my bones. I will buy | | TC II.i.69 |
| nine Sparrowes for a peny, and his Piamater is not | nine sparrows for a penny, and his pia mater is not | pia mater (n.)
old form: Piamater [Latin] dutiful mother: membrane covering the brain; brain | TC II.i.70 |
| worth the ninth part of a Sparrow. This Lord (Achilles) | worth the ninth part of a sparrow. This lord, Achilles – | | TC II.i.71 |
| Aiax who wears his wit in his belly, and his guttes in his | Ajax, who wears his wit in his belly, and his guts in his | | TC II.i.72 |
| head, Ile tell you what I say of him. | head – I'll tell you what I say of him. | | TC II.i.73 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| What? | What? | | TC II.i.74 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I say this Aiax--- | I say, this Ajax – | | TC II.i.75 |
| Ajax threatens to beat him; Achilles intervenes | | TC II.i.76 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Nay good Aiax. | Nay, good Ajax. | | TC II.i.76 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Has not so much wit. | Has not so much wit – | | TC II.i.77 |
| Achil: | ACHILLES | | |
| Nay, I must hold you. | Nay, I must hold you. | | TC II.i.78 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| As will stop the eye of Helens Needle, for | As will stop the eye of Helen's needle, for | | TC II.i.79 |
| whom he comes to fight. | whom he comes to fight. | | TC II.i.80 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Peace foole. | Peace, fool! | | TC II.i.81 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I would haue peace and quietnes, but the | I would have peace and quietness, but the | | TC II.i.82 |
| foole will not: he there, that he, looke you there. | fool will not: he there, that he – look you there. | | TC II.i.83 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| O thou damn'd Curre, I shall--- | O thou damned cur, I shall – | | TC II.i.84 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Will you set your wit to a Fooles. | Will you set your wit to a fool's? | | TC II.i.85 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| No I warrant you, for a fooles will shame | No, I warrant you, for a fool's will shame | warrant (v.)assure, promise, guarantee, confirm | TC II.i.86 |
| it. | it. | | TC II.i.87 |
| Pat. | PATROCLUS | | |
| Good words Thersites. | Good words, Thersites. | | TC II.i.88 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| What's the quarrell? | What's the quarrel? | | TC II.i.89 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| I bad thee vile Owle, goe learne me the tenure of the | I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenor of the | tenor, tenour (n.)
old form: tenuresubstance, content, matter, drift | TC II.i.90 |
| | learn (v.)
old form: learne inform of, tell about | |
| Proclamation, and he rayles vpon me. | proclamation, and he rails upon me. | | TC II.i.91 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I serue thee not. | I serve thee not. | | TC II.i.92 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| Well, go too, go too. | Well, go to, go to. | | TC II.i.93 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I serue heere voluntary. | I serve here voluntary. | | TC II.i.94 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Your last seruice was sufferance, 'twas not | Your last service was sufferance, 'twas not | sufferance (n.)distress, suffering, hardship | TC II.i.95 |
| voluntary, no man is beaten voluntary: Aiax was heere | voluntary; no man is beaten voluntary. Ajax was here | | TC II.i.96 |
| the voluntary, and you as vnder an Impresse. | the voluntary, and you as under an impress. | impress (n.)
old form: Impresseconscription, enforced service | TC II.i.97 |
| | voluntary (n.)volunteer | |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| E'neso, a great deale of your wit too lies in | E'en so; a great deal of your wit, too, lies in | even, e'en (adv.)
old form: E'nejust, exactly | TC II.i.98 |
| your sinnewes, or else there be Liars. Hector shall haue a | your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall have a | sinew (n.)
old form: sinnewesmuscle | TC II.i.99 |
| great catch, if he knocke out either of your braines, he | great catch if he knock out either of your brains: he | | TC II.i.100 |
| were as good cracke a fustie nut with no kernell. | were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel. | fusty (adj.)
old form: fustie musty, mouldy, stale-smelling | TC II.i.101 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| What with me to Thersites? | What, with me too, Thersites? | | TC II.i.102 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| There's Vlysses, and old Nestor, whose Wit | There's Ulysses and old Nestor – whose wit | | TC II.i.103 |
| was mouldy ere their Grandsires had nails on their toes, | was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes | | TC II.i.104 |
| yoke you like draft-Oxen, and make you plough vp | – yoke you like draught-oxen, and make you plough up | | TC II.i.105 |
| the warre. | the wars. | | TC II.i.106 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| What? what? | What? What? | | TC II.i.107 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| Yes good sooth, to Achilles, to Aiax, to--- | Yes, good sooth; to, Achilles! To, Ajax, to! | sooth (n.)truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] | TC II.i.108 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| I shall cut out your tongue. | I shall cut out your tongue. | | TC II.i.109 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| 'Tis no matter, I shall speake as much as thou | 'Tis no matter; I shall speak as much as thou | | TC II.i.110 |
| afterwards. | afterwards. | | TC II.i.111 |
| Pat. | PATROCLUS | | |
| No more words Thersites. | No more words, Thersites; peace! | | TC II.i.112 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I will hold my peace when Achilles Brooch | I will hold my peace when Achilles' brooch | brooch (n.)jewel, ornament | TC II.i.113 |
| | brach (n.)hound [which hunts by scent], bitch | |
| bids me, shall I? | bids me, shall I? | | TC II.i.114 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| There's for you Patroclus. | There's for you, Patroclus. | | TC II.i.115 |
| Ther. | THERSITES | | |
| I will see you hang'd like Clotpoles ere I | I will see you hanged like clotpolls ere I | clotpoll, clotpole, clatpole (n.)blockhead, dolt, numskull | TC II.i.116 |
| come any more to your Tents; I will keepe where there is | come any more to your tents; I will keep where there is | keep (v.)
old form: keepe lodge, live, dwell | TC II.i.117 |
| wit stirring, and leaue the faction of fooles. | wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools. | faction (n.)party, group, set [of people] | TC II.i.118 |
| Exit. | Exit | | TC II.i.118 |
| Pat. | PATROCLUS | | |
| A good riddance. | A good riddance. | | TC II.i.119 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| Marry this Sir is proclaim'd through al our host, | Marry, this, sir, is proclaimed through all our host: | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | TC II.i.120 |
| That Hector by the fift houre of the Sunne, | That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun, | | TC II.i.121 |
| Will with a Trumpet, 'twixt our Tents and Troy | Will with a trumpet 'twixt our tents and Troy | | TC II.i.122 |
| To morrow morning call some Knight to Armes, | Tomorrow morning call some knight to arms | | TC II.i.123 |
| That hath a stomacke, and such a one that dare | That hath a stomach, and such a one that dare | stomach (n.)
old form: stomackewish, inclination, desire | TC II.i.124 |
| Maintaine I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell. | Maintain – I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell. | | TC II.i.125 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| Farewell? who shall answer him? | Farewell. Who shall answer him? | answer (v.)engage with, encounter, meet [in fight] | TC II.i.126 |
| Achil. | ACHILLES | | |
| I know not, 'tis put to Lottry: otherwise | I know not – 'tis put to lottery. Otherwise | | TC II.i.127 |
| He knew his man. | He knew his man. | | TC II.i.128 |
| Aiax. | AJAX | | |
| O meaning you, I wil go learne more of it. | O, meaning you? I will go learn more of it. | | TC II.i.129 |
| Exit. | Exeunt | | TC II.i.129 |