A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 76

But now, farewell, I will work thee no more pain.

Now my fume is past, And doth no longer last, That I did to the monster cast.

Now in other countries both far and near Mo deeds of chivalry I will go inquire.

MILES.

Thou needst not seek any further, for ready I am here: I will debate anon, I trow, thy bragging cheer.

THERSITES. [_Not hearing him_.

Now where is any mo that will me a.s.sail?

I will turn him and toss him, both top and tail; If he be stronger than Samson was, Who with his bare hands killed lions apace.

MILES.

What needeth this boast? I am here at hand, That with thee will fight; keep thy head, and stand!

Surely for all thy high words I will not fear To a.s.say thee a touch, till some blood appear; I will give thee somewhat for the gift of a new year.

[_And he beginneth to fight with him, but Thersites must run away, and hide him behind his mother's back, saying_:

THERSITES.

O mother, mother, I pray thee me hide: Throw something over me, and cover me every side.

MATER.

O my son, what thing eldeth[597] thee?

THERSITES.

Mother, a thousand hors.e.m.e.n do persecute me.

MATER.

Marry, son, then it was time to fly; I blame thee not, then, though afraid thou be.

A deadly wound thou mightst there soon catch: One against so many is no indifferent[598] match.

THERSITES.

No, mother, but if they had been but ten to one, I would not have avoided, but set them upon; But seeing they be so many, I ran away.

Hide me, mother, hide me, I heartily thee pray.

For if they come hither, and here me find, To their horses' tails they will be bind, And after that fas.h.i.+on hale me, and kill me; And though I were never so bold and stout, To fight against so many I should stand in doubt.

MILES.

Thou that dost seek giants to conquer, Come forth, if thou dare, and in this place appear.

Fie for shame, dost thou so soon take flight!

Come forth, and show somewhat of thy might.

THERSITES.

Hide me, mother, hide me, and never word say--

MILES.

Thou old trot, seest thou any man come this way, Well-armed and weaponed, and ready to fight?

MATER.

No, forsooth, master, there came none in my sight.

MILES.

He did avoid in time, for without doubts I would have set on his back some clouts; If I may take him, I will make all slouches To beware by him, that they come not in my clutches.

[_Then he goeth out, and the mother saith_:

MATER.

Come forth, my son, your enemy is gone: Be not afraid, for hurt thou canst have none.

[_Then he looketh about, if he be gone or not; at the last he saith_:

THERSITES.

I-wis, thou didst wisely, whosoever thou be, To tarry no longer to fight with me; For with my club I would have broken thy skull, If thou were as big as Hercules' bull.

Why, thou cowardly knave, no stronger than a duck, Barest thou try masteries with me a-pluck.

Which fear nother giants nor Jupiter's fire-bolt, Nor Belzebub the master-devil, as ragged as a colt?

I would thou wouldst come hither once again: I think thou hadst rather alive to be flayn.

Come again, and I swear by my mother's womb, I will pull thee in pieces no more than my thumb; And thy brains abroad I will so scatter, That all knaves shall fear against me to clatter.

[_Then cometh in Telemachus, bringing a letter from his father Ulysses, and Thersites saith_:

What, little Telemachus!

What makest thou here among us?