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Contents
Front
Matter
From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare
Library
Textual Introduction
Synopsis
Characters in the Play
Preface
Prologue
ACT 1
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
ACT 2
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
ACT 3
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
ACT 4
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
ACT 5
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 8
Scene 9
Scene 10
Scene 11
From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare
Library
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Textual Introduction
By Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
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Synopsis
Set during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida recounts the love
affair of its title characters. Inside the besieged city of Troy, the
Trojan prince Troilus is lovesick for Cressida. Cressida is drawn to
Troilus, too, and her uncle, Pandarus, brings them together.
In the Greek camp outside, Cressida’s father, Calchas, asks that
Cressida be brought to him in return for the help he has given the
Greeks. The morning after the lovers’ night together, Cressida is
exchanged for a Trojan prisoner and taken to the camp by the Greek
warrior Diomedes.
The great Trojan warrior Hector, Troilus’s brother, engages in single
combat with the Greek Ajax, a fight that ends inconclusively. Hector
and Troilus join the Greeks for a feast. Cressida, meanwhile, is
seduced by Diomedes.
Distraught at Cressida’s betrayal, Troilus fights Diomedes and
others. Patroclus, favorite of the Greek warrior Achilles, dies in
battle. Achilles fights with and loses to Hector, who is then, on
Achilles’s orders, dishonorably slain. Grieving, Troilus and the other
Trojans return to Troy.
Characters in the Play
PROLOGUE
The Trojans
PRIAM,
king of Troy
CASSANDRA,
Priam’s daughter, a soothsayer
TROILUS
HECTOR
PARIS
Priam’s sons
HELENUS
DEIPHOBUS
BASTARD
ANDROMACHE,
AENEAS
ANTENOR
Hector’s wife
Trojan leaders
TROILUS’S BOY
TROILUS’S MAN
PARIS’S SERVINGMAN
CRESSIDA
CALCHAS,
her father
PANDARUS, her uncle
ALEXANDER, her servant
The Greeks
AGAMEMNON,
the general
NESTOR
ULYSSES
Greek leaders
DIOMEDES
MENELAUS,
brother to Agamemnon
AJAX
ACHILLES
HELEN,
Menelaus’s wife and queen
PATROCLUS, Achilles’ favorite companion
MYRMIDONS, Achilles’ soldiers
THERSITES, cynical critic
DIOMEDES’ SERVINGMAN
Other Trojans and Greeks, Common Soldiers of Troy and Greece,
Trumpeters, Attendants, Torchbearers
A never writer to an ever reader: news.
Eternal reader, you have here a new play, never staled
with the stage, never clapperclawed with the palms of
the vulgar, and yet passing full of the palm comical, for
it is a birth of your brain that never undertook anything
comical vainly. And were but the vain names of comedies
changed for the titles of commodities, or of plays
for pleas, you should see all those grand censors, that
now style them such vanities, flock to them for the
main grace of their gravities, especially this author’s
comedies, that are so framed to the life that they serve
for the most common commentaries of all the actions
of our lives, showing such a dexterity and power of wit
that the most displeased with plays are pleased with
his comedies. And all such dull and heavy-witted
worldlings as were never capable of the wit of a comedy,
coming by report of them to his representations,
have found that wit there that they never found in
themselves and have parted better witted than they
came, feeling an edge of wit set upon them more than
ever they dreamed they had brain to grind it on. So
much and such savored salt of wit is in his comedies
that they seem, for their height of pleasure, to be born
in that sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there
is none more witty than this; and had I time, I would
comment upon it, though I know it needs not, for so
much as will make you think your testern well
bestowed, but for so much worth as even poor I know
to be stuffed in it. It deserves such a labor as well as the
best comedy in Terence or Plautus. And believe this,
that when he is gone and his comedies out of sale, you
will scramble for them and set up a new English
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Troilus and Cressida
Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the peril of
your pleasure’s loss, and judgment’s, refuse not nor like
this the less for not being sullied with the smoky breath
of the multitude, but thank fortune for the scape it
hath made amongst you, since by the grand possessors’
wills I believe you should have prayed for them rather
than been prayed. And so I leave all such to be prayed
for, for the states of their wits’ healths, that will not
praise it. Vale.
Enter the Prologue in armor.
PROLOGUE
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In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,
Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
Their crownets regal, from th’ Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
The ravished Helen, Menelaus’ queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; and that’s the quarrel.
To Tenedos they come,
And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruisèd Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions. Priam’s six-gated city—
Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
And Antenorides—with massy staples
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
Spar up the sons of Troy.
Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
A prologue armed, but not in confidence
Of author’s pen or actor’s voice, but suited
In like conditions as our argument,
To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Leaps o’er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
Beginning in the middle, starting thence away
To what may be digested in a play.
Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are.
Now, good or bad, ’tis but the chance of war.
Prologue exits.
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ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Pandarus and Troilus.
TROILUS
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Call here my varlet; I’ll unarm again.
Why should I war without the walls of Troy
That find such cruel battle here within?
Each Trojan that is master of his heart,
Let him to field; Troilus, alas, hath none.
PANDARUS Will this gear ne’er be mended?
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TROILUS
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The Greeks are strong and skilful to their strength,
Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant;
But I am weaker than a woman’s tear,
Tamer than sleep, fonder than ignorance,
Less valiant than the virgin in the night,
And skilless as unpracticed infancy.
PANDARUS Well, I have told you enough of this. For my
part, I’ll not meddle nor make no farther. He that will
have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding.
TROILUS Have I not tarried?
PANDARUS Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the
bolting.
TROILUS Have I not tarried?
PANDARUS Ay, the bolting; but you must tarry the
leavening.
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 1
Still have I tarried.
PANDARUS Ay, to the leavening; but here’s yet in the word
hereafter the kneading, the making of the cake, the
heating the oven, and the baking. Nay, you must stay
the cooling too, or you may chance burn your lips.
TROILUS
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TROILUS
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Patience herself, what goddess e’er she be,
Doth lesser blench at suff’rance than I do.
At Priam’s royal table do I sit
And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts—
So, traitor! “ When she comes”? When is she
thence?
PANDARUS Well, she looked yesternight fairer than ever
I saw her look, or any woman else.
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TROILUS
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I was about to tell thee: when my heart,
As wedgèd with a sigh, would rive in twain,
Lest Hector or my father should perceive me,
I have, as when the sun doth light a-scorn,
Buried this sigh in wrinkle of a smile;
But sorrow that is couched in seeming gladness
Is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness.
PANDARUS An her hair were not somewhat darker than
Helen’s—well, go to—there were no more comparison
between the women. But, for my part, she is
my kinswoman; I would not, as they term it, praise
her, but I would somebody had heard her talk yesterday,
as I did. I will not dispraise your sister Cassandra’s
wit, but—
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TROILUS
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O, Pandarus! I tell thee, Pandarus:
When I do tell thee there my hopes lie drowned,
Reply not in how many fathoms deep
They lie indrenched. I tell thee I am mad
In Cressid’s love. Thou answer’st she is fair;
Pourest in the open ulcer of my heart
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 1
Her eyes, her hair, her cheek, her gait, her voice;
Handiest in thy discourse—O—that her hand,
In whose comparison all whites are ink
Writing their own reproach, to whose soft seizure
The cygnet’s down is harsh, and spirit of sense
Hard as the palm of plowman. This thou tell’st me,
As true thou tell’st me, when I say I love her.
But, saying thus, instead of oil and balm
Thou lay’st in every gash that love hath given me
The knife that made it.
PANDARUS I speak no more than truth.
TROILUS Thou dost not speak so much.
PANDARUS Faith, I’ll not meddle in it. Let her be as she
is. If she be fair, ’tis the better for her; an she be
not, she has the mends in her own hands.
TROILUS Good Pandarus—how now, Pandarus?
PANDARUS I have had my labor for my travail, ill thought
on of her, and ill thought on of you; gone between
and between, but small thanks for my labor.
TROILUS What, art thou angry, Pandarus? What, with
me?
PANDARUS Because she’s kin to me, therefore she’s not
so fair as Helen; an she were not kin to me, she
would be as fair o’ Friday as Helen is on Sunday.
But what care I? I care not an she were a blackamoor;
’tis all one to me.
TROILUS Say I she is not fair?
PANDARUS I do not care whether you do or no. She’s a
fool to stay behind her father. Let her to the Greeks,
and so I’ll tell her the next time I see her. For my
part, I’ll meddle nor make no more i’ th’ matter.
TROILUS Pandarus—
PANDARUS Not I.
TROILUS Sweet Pandarus—
PANDARUS Pray you speak no more to me. I will leave
all as I found it, and there an end.
He exits.
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ACT 1. SC. 1
Troilus and Cressida
Sound alarum.
TROILUS
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Peace, you ungracious clamors! Peace, rude sounds!
Fools on both sides! Helen must needs be fair
When with your blood you daily paint her thus.
I cannot fight upon this argument;
It is too starved a subject for my sword.
But Pandarus—O gods, how do you plague me!
I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar,
And he’s as tetchy to be wooed to woo
As she is stubborn-chaste against all suit.
Tell me, Apollo, for thy Daphnes love,
What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we.
Her bed is India; there she lies, a pearl.
Between our Ilium and where she resides,
Let it be called the wild and wand’ring flood,
Ourself the merchant, and this sailing Pandar
Our doubtful hope, our convoy, and our bark.
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Alarum. Enter Aeneas.
AENEAS
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How now, Prince Troilus? Wherefore not afield?
TROILUS
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Because not there. This woman’s answer sorts,
For womanish it is to be from thence.
What news, Aeneas, from the field today?
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AENEAS
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That Paris is returnèd home, and hurt.
TROILUS
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By whom, Aeneas?
AENEAS
Troilus, by Menelaus.
TROILUS
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Let Paris bleed. ’Tis but a scar to scorn;
Paris is gored with Menelaus’ horn.
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Alarum.
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ACT 1. SC. 2
Troilus and Cressida
AENEAS
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Hark what good sport is out of town today!
TROILUS
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Better at home, if “would I might” were “may.”
But to the sport abroad. Are you bound thither?
AENEAS
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In all swift haste.
Come, go we then together.
TROILUS
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They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Cressida and her man Alexander.
CRESSIDA
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Who were those went by?
ALEXANDER
Queen Hecuba and Helen.
CRESSIDA
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And whither go they?
Up to the eastern tower,
Whose height commands as subject all the vale,
To see the battle. Hector, whose patience
Is as a virtue fixed, today was moved.
He chid Andromache and struck his armorer;
And, like as there were husbandry in war,
Before the sun rose he was harnessed light,
And to the field goes he, where every flower
Did as a prophet weep what it foresaw
In Hector’s wrath.
CRESSIDA
What was his cause of anger?
ALEXANDER
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ALEXANDER
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The noise goes, this: there is among the Greeks
A lord of Trojan blood, nephew to Hector.
They call him Ajax.
CRESSIDA
Good; and what of him?
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
ALEXANDER
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They say he is a very man per se
And stands alone.
CRESSIDA So do all men unless they are drunk, sick,
or have no legs.
ALEXANDER This man, lady, hath robbed many beasts
of their particular additions. He is as valiant as the
lion, churlish as the bear, slow as the elephant, a
man into whom nature hath so crowded humors
that his valor is crushed into folly, his folly sauced
with discretion. There is no man hath a virtue that
he hath not a glimpse of, nor any man an attaint
but he carries some stain of it. He is melancholy
without cause and merry against the hair. He hath
the joints of everything, but everything so out of
joint that he is a gouty Briareus, many hands and
no use, or purblind Argus, all eyes and no sight.
CRESSIDA But how should this man that makes me
smile make Hector angry?
ALEXANDER They say he yesterday coped Hector in the
battle and struck him down, the disdain and
shame whereof hath ever since kept Hector fasting
and waking.
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Enter Pandarus.
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Who comes here?
ALEXANDER Madam, your Uncle Pandarus.
CRESSIDA Hector’s a gallant man.
ALEXANDER As may be in the world, lady.
PANDARUS What’s that? What’s that?
CRESSIDA Good morrow, Uncle Pandarus.
PANDARUS Good morrow, Cousin Cressid. What do you
talk of?— Good morrow, Alexander.—How do you,
cousin? When were you at Ilium?
CRESSIDA This morning, uncle.
CRESSIDA
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
What were you talking of when I came?
Was Hector armed and gone ere you came to
Ilium? Helen was not up, was she?
CRESSIDA Hector was gone, but Helen was not up.
PANDARUS E’en so. Hector was stirring early.
CRESSIDA That were we talking of, and of his anger.
PANDARUS Was he angry?
CRESSIDA So he says here.
PANDARUS True, he was so. I know the cause too. He’ll
lay about him today, I can tell them that; and
there’s Troilus will not come far behind him. Let
them take heed of Troilus, I can tell them that too.
CRESSIDA What, is he angry too?
PANDARUS Who, Troilus? Troilus is the better man of
the two.
CRESSIDA O Jupiter, there’s no comparison.
PANDARUS What, not between Troilus and Hector? Do
you know a man if you see him?
CRESSIDA Ay, if I ever saw him before and knew him.
PANDARUS Well, I say Troilus is Troilus.
CRESSIDA Then you say as I say, for I am sure he is not
Hector.
PANDARUS No, nor Hector is not Troilus in some degrees.
CRESSIDA ’Tis just to each of them; he is himself.
PANDARUS Himself? Alas, poor Troilus, I would he were.
CRESSIDA So he is.
PANDARUS Condition I had gone barefoot to India.
CRESSIDA He is not Hector.
PANDARUS Himself? No, he’s not himself. Would he
were himself! Well, the gods are above. Time must
friend or end. Well, Troilus, well, I would my heart
were in her body. No, Hector is not a better man
than Troilus.
CRESSIDA Excuse me.
PANDARUS He is elder.
CRESSIDA Pardon me, pardon me.
PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
Th’ other’s not come to ’t. You shall tell me
another tale when th’ other’s come to ’t. Hector
shall not have his wit this year.
CRESSIDA He shall not need it, if he have his own.
PANDARUS Nor his qualities.
CRESSIDA No matter.
PANDARUS Nor his beauty.
CRESSIDA ’Twould not become him. His own ’s better.
PANDARUS You have no judgment, niece. Helen herself
swore th’ other day that Troilus, for a brown favor—
for so ’tis, I must confess—not brown neither—
CRESSIDA No, but brown.
PANDARUS Faith, to say truth, brown and not brown.
CRESSIDA To say the truth, true and not true.
PANDARUS She praised his complexion above Paris’.
CRESSIDA Why, Paris hath color enough.
PANDARUS So he has.
CRESSIDA Then Troilus should have too much. If she
praised him above, his complexion is higher than
his. He having color enough, and the other higher,
is too flaming a praise for a good complexion. I
had as lief Helen’s golden tongue had commended
Troilus for a copper nose.
PANDARUS I swear to you, I think Helen loves him better
than Paris.
CRESSIDA Then she’s a merry Greek indeed.
PANDARUS Nay, I am sure she does. She came to him
th’ other day into the compassed window—and
you know he has not past three or four hairs on his
chin—
CRESSIDA Indeed, a tapster’s arithmetic may soon bring
his particulars therein to a total.
PANDARUS Why, he is very young, and yet will he within
three pound lift as much as his brother Hector.
CRESSIDA Is he so young a man and so old a lifter?
PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
But to prove to you that Helen loves him: she
came and puts me her white hand to his cloven
chin—
CRESSIDA Juno have mercy! How came it cloven?
PANDARUS Why, you know ’tis dimpled. I think his
smiling becomes him better than any man in all
Phrygia.
CRESSIDA O, he smiles valiantly.
PANDARUS Does he not?
CRESSIDA O yes, an ’twere a cloud in autumn.
PANDARUS Why, go to, then. But to prove to you that
Helen loves Troilus—
CRESSIDA Troilus will stand to the proof if you’ll
prove it so.
PANDARUS Troilus? Why, he esteems her no more than
I esteem an addle egg.
CRESSIDA If you love an addle egg as well as you love
an idle head, you would eat chickens i’ th’ shell.
PANDARUS I cannot choose but laugh to think how she
tickled his chin. Indeed, she has a marvellous
white hand, I must needs confess—
CRESSIDA Without the rack.
PANDARUS And she takes upon her to spy a white hair
on his chin.
CRESSIDA Alas, poor chin! Many a wart is richer.
PANDARUS But there was such laughing! Queen Hecuba
laughed that her eyes ran o’er—
CRESSIDA With millstones.
PANDARUS And Cassandra laughed—
CRESSIDA But there was a more temperate fire under
the pot of her eyes. Did her eyes run o’er too?
PANDARUS And Hector laughed.
CRESSIDA At what was all this laughing?
PANDARUS Marry, at the white hair that Helen spied on
Troilus’ chin.
PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
An ’t had been a green hair, I should have
laughed too.
PANDARUS They laughed not so much at the hair as at
his pretty answer.
CRESSIDA What was his answer?
PANDARUS Quoth she “Here’s but two-and-fifty hairs
on your chin, and one of them is white.”
CRESSIDA This is her question.
PANDARUS That’s true, make no question of that. “Two-and-fifty
hairs,” quoth he, “and one white. That
white hair is my father, and all the rest are his
sons.” “Jupiter!” quoth she, “which of these hairs
is Paris, my husband?” “The forked one,” quoth he.
“Pluck ’t out, and give it him.” But there was such
laughing, and Helen so blushed, and Paris so
chafed, and all the rest so laughed that it passed.
CRESSIDA So let it now, for it has been a great while
going by.
PANDARUS Well, cousin, I told you a thing yesterday.
Think on ’t.
CRESSIDA So I do.
PANDARUS I’ll be sworn ’tis true. He will weep you an
’twere a man born in April.
CRESSIDA And I’ll spring up in his tears an ’twere a nettle
against May.
Sound a retreat.
PANDARUS Hark, they are coming from the field. Shall
we stand up here and see them as they pass toward
Ilium? Good niece, do, sweet niece Cressida.
CRESSIDA At your pleasure.
PANDARUS Here, here, here’s an excellent place. Here
we may see most bravely. I’ll tell you them all by
their names as they pass by, but mark Troilus
above the rest.
They cross the stage; Alexander exits.
CRESSIDA Speak not so loud.
CRESSIDA
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ACT 1. SC. 2
Enter Aeneas and crosses the stage.
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That’s Aeneas. Is not that a brave man? He’s
one of the flowers of Troy, I can tell you. But mark
Troilus; you shall see anon.
PANDARUS
Enter Antenor and crosses the stage.
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Who’s that?
PANDARUS That’s Antenor. He has a shrewd wit, I can
tell you, and he’s a man good enough. He’s one o’
th’ soundest judgments in Troy whosoever; and a
proper man of person. When comes Troilus? I’ll
show you Troilus anon. If he see me, you shall see
him nod at me.
CRESSIDA Will he give you the nod?
PANDARUS You shall see.
CRESSIDA If he do, the rich shall have more.
CRESSIDA
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Enter Hector and crosses the stage.
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That’s Hector, that, that, look you, that.
There’s a fellow!—Go thy way, Hector!—There’s a
brave man, niece. O brave Hector! Look how he
looks. There’s a countenance! Is ’t not a brave man?
CRESSIDA O, a brave man!
PANDARUS Is he not? It does a man’s heart good. Look
you what hacks are on his helmet. Look you yonder,
do you see? Look you there. There’s no jesting;
there’s laying on, take ’t off who will, as they say.
There be hacks.
CRESSIDA Be those with swords?
PANDARUS Swords, anything, he cares not. An the devil
come to him, it’s all one. By God’s lid, it does one’s
heart good.
PANDARUS
Enter Paris and crosses the stage.
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Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris! Look you
yonder, niece. Is ’t not a gallant man too? Is ’t not?
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ACT 1. SC. 2
Why, this is brave now. Who said he came hurt
home today? He’s not hurt. Why, this will do
Helen’s heart good now, ha? Would I could see
Troilus now! You shall see Troilus anon.
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Enter Helenus and crosses the stage.
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Who’s that?
PANDARUS That’s Helenus. I marvel where Troilus is.
That’s Helenus. I think he went not forth today.
That’s Helenus.
CRESSIDA Can Helenus fight, uncle?
PANDARUS Helenus? No. Yes, he’ll fight indifferent
well. I marvel where Troilus is. Hark, do you not
hear the people cry “Troilus”? Helenus is a priest.
CRESSIDA
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Enter Troilus and crosses the stage.
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What sneaking fellow comes yonder?
PANDARUS Where? Yonder? That’s Deiphobus. ’Tis
Troilus! There’s a man, niece. Hem! Brave Troilus,
the prince of chivalry!
CRESSIDA Peace, for shame, peace.
PANDARUS Mark him. Note him. O brave Troilus! Look
well upon him, niece. Look you how his sword is
bloodied and his helm more hacked than Hector’s,
and how he looks, and how he goes. O admirable
youth! He never saw three and twenty.—Go thy
way, Troilus; go thy way!—Had I a sister were a
Grace, or a daughter a goddess, he should take his
choice. O admirable man! Paris? Paris is dirt to
him; and I warrant Helen, to change, would give
an eye to boot.
CRESSIDA
Enter Common Soldiers and cross the stage.
Here comes more.
Asses, fools, dolts, chaff and bran, chaff and
bran, porridge after meat. I could live and die in
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PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
the eyes of Troilus. Ne’er look, ne’er look; the
eagles are gone. Crows and daws, crows and daws!
I had rather be such a man as Troilus than
Agamemnon and all Greece.
CRESSIDA There is amongst the Greeks Achilles, a better
man than Troilus.
PANDARUS Achilles? A drayman, a porter, a very camel!
CRESSIDA Well, well.
PANDARUS “Well, well”? Why, have you any discretion?
Have you any eyes? Do you know what a man is? Is
not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, manhood,
learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality and
such-like the spice and salt that season a man?
CRESSIDA Ay, a minced man; and then to be baked with
no date in the pie, for then the man’s date is out.
PANDARUS You are such a woman a man knows not at
what ward you lie.
CRESSIDA Upon my back to defend my belly, upon my
wit to defend my wiles, upon my secrecy to defend
mine honesty, my mask to defend my beauty, and
you to defend all these; and at all these wards I lie,
at a thousand watches.
PANDARUS Say one of your watches.
CRESSIDA Nay, I’ll watch you for that, and that’s one of
the chiefest of them too. If I cannot ward what I
would not have hit, I can watch you for telling how
I took the blow—unless it swell past hiding, and
then it’s past watching.
PANDARUS You are such another!
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Enter Troilus’s Boy.
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Sir, my lord would instantly speak with you.
PANDARUS Where?
BOY At your own house. There he unarms him.
PANDARUS Good boy, tell him I come.
Boy exits.
I doubt he be hurt.—Fare you well, good niece.
BOY
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
Adieu, uncle.
PANDARUS I will be with you, niece, by and by.
CRESSIDA To bring, uncle?
PANDARUS Ay, a token from Troilus.
CRESSIDA By the same token, you are a bawd.
Pandarus exits.
Words, vows, gifts, tears, and love’s full sacrifice
He offers in another’s enterprise;
But more in Troilus thousandfold I see
Than in the glass of Pandar’s praise may be.
Yet hold I off. Women are angels, wooing;
Things won are done; joy’s soul lies in the doing.
That she beloved knows naught that knows not this:
Men prize the thing ungained more than it is.
That she was never yet that ever knew
Love got so sweet as when desire did sue.
Therefore this maxim out of love I teach:
Achievement is command; ungained, beseech.
Then though my heart’s content firm love doth bear,
Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear.
She exits.
CRESSIDA
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Scene 3
Sennet. Enter Agamemnon, Nestor, Ulysses, Diomedes,
Menelaus, with others.
AGAMEMNON
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Princes, what grief hath set the jaundice o’er your
cheeks?
The ample proposition that hope makes
In all designs begun on Earth below
Fails in the promised largeness. Checks and disasters
Grow in the veins of actions highest reared,
As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap,
Infects the sound pine and diverts his grain
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
Tortive and errant from his course of growth.
Nor, princes, is it matter new to us
That we come short of our suppose so far
That after seven years’ siege yet Troy walls stand,
Sith every action that hath gone before,
Whereof we have record, trial did draw
Bias and thwart, not answering the aim
And that unbodied figure of the thought
That gave ’t surmisèd shape. Why then, you princes,
Do you with cheeks abashed behold our works
And call them shames, which are indeed naught else
But the protractive trials of great Jove
To find persistive constancy in men?
The fineness of which metal is not found
In Fortune’s love; for then the bold and coward,
The wise and fool, the artist and unread,
The hard and soft seem all affined and kin.
But in the wind and tempest of her frown,
Distinction, with a broad and powerful fan,
Puffing at all, winnows the light away,
And what hath mass or matter by itself
Lies rich in virtue and unmingled.
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NESTOR
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With due observance of thy godlike seat,
Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply
Thy latest words. In the reproof of chance
Lies the true proof of men. The sea being smooth,
How many shallow bauble boats dare sail
Upon her patient breast, making their way
With those of nobler bulk!
But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
The gentle Thetis, and anon behold
The strong-ribbed bark through liquid mountains cut,
Bounding between the two moist elements,
Like Perseus’ horse. Where’s then the saucy boat
Whose weak untimbered sides but even now
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
Corrivaled greatness? Either to harbor fled
Or made a toast for Neptune. Even so
Doth valor’s show and valor’s worth divide
In storms of Fortune. For in her ray and brightness
The herd hath more annoyance by the breese
Than by the tiger, but when the splitting wind
Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks,
And flies flee under shade, why, then the thing of
courage,
As roused with rage, with rage doth sympathize,
And with an accent tuned in selfsame key
Retorts to chiding Fortune.
ULYSSES
Agamemnon,
Thou great commander, nerves and bone of Greece,
Heart of our numbers, soul and only sprite,
In whom the tempers and the minds of all
Should be shut up, hear what Ulysses speaks.
Besides th’ applause and approbation,
The which, ( to Agamemnon ) most mighty for thy
place and sway,
( To Nestor ) And thou most reverend for thy
stretched-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, hatched in silver,
Should with a bond of air, strong as the axletree
On which heaven rides, knit all the Greekish ears
To his experienced tongue, yet let it please both,
Thou great, and wise, to hear Ulysses speak.
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AGAMEMNON
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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.
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ACT 1. SC. 3
ULYSSES
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Troy, yet upon his basis, had been down,
And the great Hector’s sword had lacked 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 center
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 enthroned and sphered
Amidst the other, whose med’cinable eye
Corrects the influence of evil planets,
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 shaked,
Which is the ladder of all high designs,
The enterprise is sick. How could communities,
Degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities,
Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
The primogeneity and due of birth,
Prerogative of age, crowns, scepters, laurels,
But by degree stand in authentic place?
Take but degree away, untune that string,
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Troilus and Cressida
And hark what discord follows. Each thing meets
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 disdained
By him one step below, he by the next,
That next by him beneath; so every step,
Exampled 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.
ACT 1. SC. 3
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NESTOR
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Most wisely hath Ulysses here discovered
The fever whereof all our power is sick.
AGAMEMNON
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The nature of the sickness found, Ulysses,
What is the remedy?
ULYSSES
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The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
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 live-long day
Breaks scurril jests,
And with ridiculous and silly 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 stretched footing and the scaffollage,
Such to-be-pitied and o’erwrested seeming
He acts thy greatness in; and when he speaks,
’Tis like a chime a-mending, with terms unsquared
Which from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropped
Would seem hyperboles. At this fusty stuff,
The large Achilles, on his pressed bed lolling,
From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause,
Cries “Excellent! ’Tis Agamemnon right.
Now play me Nestor; hem and stroke thy beard,
As he being dressed to some oration.”
That’s done, as near as the extremest ends
Of parallels, as like as 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 Valor 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,
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
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.
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NESTOR
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And in the imitation of these twain,
Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
With an imperial voice, many are infect:
Ajax is grown self-willed and bears his head
In such a rein, in full as proud a place
As broad Achilles; keeps his tent like him,
Makes factious feasts; rails on our state of war,
Bold as an oracle, and sets Thersites—
A slave whose gall coins slanders like a mint—
To match us in comparisons with dirt,
To weaken and discredit our exposure,
How rank soever rounded in with danger.
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ULYSSES
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They tax our policy and call it cowardice,
Count wisdom as no member of the war,
Forestall prescience, and esteem no act
But that of hand. The still and mental parts
That do contrive how many hands shall strike
When fitness calls them on and know by measure
Of their observant toil the enemy’s weight—
Why, this hath not a fingers dignity.
They call this bed-work, mapp’ry, closet war;
So that the ram that batters down the wall,
For the great swinge and rudeness of his poise,
They place before his hand that made the engine
Or those that with the fineness of their souls
By reason guide his execution.
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Let this be granted, and Achilles’ horse
Makes many Thetis’ sons.
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MENELAUS
ACT 1. SC. 3
Troilus and Cressida
What trumpet? Look, Menelaus.
From Troy.
Enter Aeneas, with a Trumpeter.
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AGAMEMNON
What would you ’fore our tent?
AENEAS
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Is this great Agamemnon’s tent, I pray you?
AGAMEMNON Even this.
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May one that is a herald and a prince
Do a fair message to his kingly eyes?
AGAMEMNON
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With surety stronger than Achilles’ arm
’Fore all the Greekish host, which with one voice
Call Agamemnon head and general.
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AENEAS
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Fair leave and large security. How may
A stranger to those most imperial looks
Know them from eyes of other mortals?
AGAMEMNON
How?
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AENEAS
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Ay. I ask that I might waken reverence
And bid the cheek be ready with a blush
Modest as morning when she coldly eyes
The youthful Phoebus.
Which is that god in office, guiding men?
Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?
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AGAMEMNON
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This Trojan scorns us, or the men of Troy
Are ceremonious courtiers.
AENEAS
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Courtiers as free, as debonair, unarmed,
As bending angels—that’s their fame in peace.
But when they would seem soldiers, they have galls,
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ACT 1. SC. 3
Good arms, strong joints, true swords, and—great
Jove’s accord—
Nothing so full of heart. But peace, Aeneas.
Peace, Trojan. Lay thy finger on thy lips.
The worthiness of praise distains his worth
If that the praised himself bring the praise forth.
But what the repining enemy commends,
That breath fame blows; that praise, sole pure,
transcends.
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AGAMEMNON
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Sir, you of Troy, call you yourself Aeneas?
Ay, Greek, that is my name.
AGAMEMNON What’s your affair, I pray you?
AENEAS
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Sir, pardon. ’Tis for Agamemnon’s ears.
AGAMEMNON
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He hears naught privately that comes from Troy.
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Nor I from Troy come not to whisper with him.
I bring a trumpet to awake his ear,
To set his sense on the attentive bent,
And then to speak.
AGAMEMNON
Speak frankly as the wind;
It is not Agamemnon’s sleeping hour.
That thou shalt know, Trojan, he is awake,
He tells thee so himself.
AENEAS
Trumpet, blow loud !
Send thy brass voice through all these lazy tents;
And every Greek of mettle, let him know
What Troy means fairly shall be spoke aloud.
Sound trumpet.
We have, great Agamemnon, here in Troy
A prince called Hector—Priam is his father—
Who in this dull and long-continued truce
Is resty grown. He bade me take a trumpet
And to this purpose speak: “Kings, princes, lords,
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
If there be one among the fair’st of Greece
That holds his honor higher than his ease,
That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril,
That knows his valor and knows not his fear,
That loves his mistress more than in confession
With truant vows to her own lips he loves
And dare avow her beauty and her worth
In other arms than hers—to him this challenge.
Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks,
Shall make it good, or do his best to do it,
He hath a lady wiser, fairer, truer
Than ever Greek did couple in his arms
And will tomorrow with his trumpet call,
Midway between your tents and walls of Troy,
To rouse a Grecian that is true in love.
If any come, Hector shall honor him;
If none, he’ll say in Troy when he retires
The Grecian dames are sunburnt and not worth
The splinter of a lance.” Even so much.
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AGAMEMNON
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This shall be told our lovers, Lord Aeneas.
If none of them have soul in such a kind,
We left them all at home. But we are soldiers,
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,
That one meets Hector. If none else, I am he.
NESTOR, to Aeneas
Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man
When Hector’s grandsire sucked. He is old now,
But if there be not in our Grecian host
A noble man that hath one spark of fire
To answer for his love, tell him from me
I’ll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver
And in my vambrace put my withered brawns
And, meeting him, will tell him that my lady
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ACT 1. SC. 3
Was fairer than his grandam and as chaste
As may be in the world. His youth in flood,
I’ll prove this troth with my three drops of blood.
AENEAS
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Now heavens forfend such scarcity of youth!
ULYSSES Amen.
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AGAMEMNON
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Fair Lord Aeneas, let me touch your hand.
To our pavilion shall I lead you, sir.
Achilles shall have word of this intent;
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.
All but Ulysses and Nestor exit.
ULYSSES Nestor.
NESTOR What says Ulysses?
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I have a young conception in my brain;
Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
NESTOR What is ’t?
ULYSSES
This ’tis:
Blunt wedges rive hard knots; the seeded pride
That hath to this maturity blown up
In rank Achilles must or now be cropped
Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil
To overbulk us all.
NESTOR Well, and how?
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This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,
However it is spread in general name,
Relates in purpose only to Achilles.
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True. The purpose is perspicuous as substance
Whose grossness little characters sum up;
And, in the publication, make no strain
But that Achilles, were his brain as barren
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ACT 1. SC. 3
As banks of Libya—though, Apollo knows,
’Tis dry enough—will, with great speed of judgment,
Ay, with celerity, find Hector’s purpose
Pointing on him.
ULYSSES And wake him to the answer, think you?
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Why, ’tis most meet. Who may you else oppose
That can from Hector bring his honor off
If not Achilles? Though ’t be a sportful combat,
Yet in the trial much opinion dwells,
For here the Trojans taste our dear’st repute
With their fin’st palate. And, trust to me, Ulysses,
Our imputation shall be oddly poised
In this vile action. For the success,
Although particular, shall give a scantling
Of good or bad unto the general;
And in such indexes, although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
The baby figure of the giant mass
Of things to come at large. It is supposed
He that meets Hector issues from our choice;
And choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
Makes merit her election and doth boil,
As ’twere from forth us all, a man distilled
Out of our virtues, who, miscarrying,
What heart receives from hence a conquering part
To steel a strong opinion to themselves?—
Which entertained, limbs are his instruments,
In no less working than are swords and bows
Directive by the limbs.
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ULYSSES
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Give pardon to my speech: therefore ’tis meet
Achilles meet not Hector. Let us like merchants
First show foul wares and think perchance they’ll sell;
If not, the luster of the better shall exceed
By showing the worse first. Do not consent
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ACT 1. SC. 3
Troilus and Cressida
That ever Hector and Achilles meet,
For both our honor and our shame in this
Are dogged with two strange followers.
NESTOR
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I see them not with my old eyes. What are they?
ULYSSES
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What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
Were he not proud, we all should share with him;
But he already is too insolent,
And it were better parch in Afric sun
Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes
Should he scape Hector fair. If he were foiled,
Why then we do our main opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a lott’ry,
And, by device, let blockish Ajax draw
The sort to fight with Hector. Among ourselves
Give him allowance for the better man,
For that will physic the great Myrmidon,
Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends.
If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off,
We’ll dress him up in voices; if he fail,
Yet go we under our opinion still
That we have better men. But, hit or miss,
Our project’s life this shape of sense assumes:
Ajax employed plucks down Achilles’ plumes.
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NESTOR
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Now, Ulysses, I begin to relish thy advice,
And I will give a taste thereof forthwith
To Agamemnon. Go we to him straight.
Two curs shall tame each other; pride alone
Must tar the mastiffs on, as ’twere a bone.
395
They exit.
ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter Ajax and Thersites.
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Thersites!
THERSITES Agamemnon—how if he had boils, full, all
over, generally?
AJAX Thersites!
THERSITES And those boils did run? Say so. Did not the
general run, then? Were not that a botchy core?
AJAX Dog!
THERSITES Then there would come some matter
from him. I see none now.
AJAX Thou bitchwolf’s son, canst thou not hear? Feel,
then.
Strikes him.
THERSITES The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mongrel
beef-witted lord!
AJAX Speak, then, thou unsalted leaven, speak. I will
beat thee into handsomeness.
THERSITES I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness,
but I think thy horse will sooner con an oration
than thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst
strike, canst thou? A red murrain o’ thy jade’s tricks.
AJAX Toadstool, learn me the proclamation.
THERSITES Dost thou think I have no sense, thou strikest
me thus?
AJAX The proclamation!
THERSITES Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think.
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Troilus and Cressida
Do not, porpentine, do not. My fingers itch.
THERSITES I would thou didst itch from head to foot,
and I had the scratching of thee; I would make
thee the loathsomest scab in Greece. When thou
art forth in the incursions, thou strikest as slow as
another.
AJAX I say, the proclamation!
THERSITES Thou grumblest and railest every hour on
Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his greatness
as Cerberus is at Proserpina’s beauty, ay, that
thou bark’st at him.
AJAX Mistress Thersites!
THERSITES Thou shouldst strike him—
AJAX Cobloaf!
He would pound thee into shivers with his
THERSITES
fist as a sailor breaks a biscuit.
You whoreson cur!
AJAX
Strikes him.
Do, do.
THERSITES
AJAX Thou stool for a witch!
THERSITES Ay, do, do, thou sodden-witted lord. Thou
hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows; an
asinego may tutor thee, thou scurvy-valiant ass.
Thou art here but to thrash Trojans, and thou art
bought and sold among those of any wit, like a
barbarian slave. If thou use to beat me, I will begin
at thy heel and tell what thou art by inches, thou
thing of no bowels, thou.
AJAX You dog!
THERSITES You scurvy lord!
AJAX You cur!
Strikes him.
THERSITES Mars his idiot! Do, rudeness, do, camel, do,
do.
AJAX
Enter Achilles and Patroclus.
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ACT 2. SC. 1
Why, how now, Ajax? Wherefore do you
thus?—How now, Thersites? What’s the matter,
man?
ACHILLES
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 1
You see him there, do you?
ACHILLES Ay, what’s the matter?
THERSITES Nay, look upon him.
ACHILLES So I do. What’s the matter?
THERSITES Nay, but regard him well.
ACHILLES Well, why, so I do.
THERSITES But yet you look not well upon him, for
whosomever you take him to be, he is Ajax.
ACHILLES I know that, fool.
THERSITES Ay, but that fool knows not himself.
AJAX Therefore I beat thee.
THERSITES Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he utters!
His evasions have ears thus long. I have
bobbed his brain more than he has beat my bones.
I will buy nine sparrows for a penny, and his pia
mater is not worth the ninth part of a sparrow.
This lord, Achilles—Ajax, who wears his wit in his
belly, and his guts in his head— I’ll tell you what I
say of him.
ACHILLES What?
THERSITES I say, this Ajax—
Ajax menaces him.
ACHILLES Nay, good Ajax.
THERSITES Has not so much wit—
ACHILLES, to Ajax
Nay, I must hold you.
THERSITES As will stop the eye of Helen’s needle, for
whom he comes to fight.
ACHILLES Peace, fool!
THERSITES I would have peace and quietness, but the
fool will not—he there, that he. Look you there.
AJAX O, thou damned cur, I shall—
ACHILLES Will you set your wit to a fool’s?
THERSITES No, I warrant you. The fool’s will shame it.
PATROCLUS Good words, Thersites.
ACHILLES, to Ajax
What’s the quarrel?
AJAX I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenor of the
proclamation, and he rails upon me.
THERSITES
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 1
I serve thee not.
AJAX Well, go to, go to.
THERSITES I serve here voluntary.
ACHILLES Your last service was suff’rance; ’twas not
voluntary. No man is beaten voluntary. Ajax was
here the voluntary, and you as under an impress.
THERSITES E’en so. A great deal of your wit, too, lies in
your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall
have a great catch an he knock out either of
your brains; he were as good crack a fusty nut with
no kernel.
ACHILLES What, with me too, Thersites?
THERSITES There’s Ulysses and old Nestor—whose wit
was moldy ere your grandsires had nails on
their toes —yoke you like draft-oxen and make
you plow up the wars.
ACHILLES What? What?
THERSITES Yes, good sooth. To, Achilles! To, Ajax! To—
AJAX I shall cut out your tongue.
THERSITES ’Tis no matter. I shall speak as much as
thou afterwards.
PATROCLUS No more words, Thersites. Peace.
THERSITES I will hold my peace when Achilles’ brach
bids me, shall I?
ACHILLES There’s for you, Patroclus.
THERSITES I will see you hanged like clodpolls ere I
come any more to your tents. I will keep where
there is wit stirring and leave the faction of fools.
He exits.
PATROCLUS A good riddance.
ACHILLES, to Ajax
Marry, this, sir, is proclaimed through all our host:
That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun,
Will with a trumpet ’twixt our tents and Troy
Tomorrow morning call some knight to arms
That hath a stomach, and such a one that dare
Maintain—I know not what; ’tis trash. Farewell.
THERSITES
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AJAX
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
Farewell. Who shall answer him?
ACHILLES
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I know not. ’Tis put to lott’ry. Otherwise,
He knew his man.
Achilles and Patroclus exit.
AJAX O, meaning you? I will go learn more of it.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris and Helenas.
PRIAM
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After so many hours, lives, speeches spent,
Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks:
“Deliver Helen, and all damage else—
As honor, loss of time, travel, expense,
Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is consumed
In hot digestion of this cormorant war—
Shall be struck off.”—Hector, what say you to ’t?
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HECTOR
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Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I
As far as toucheth my particular,
Yet, dread Priam,
There is no lady of more softer bowels,
More spongy to suck in the sense of fear,
More ready to cry out “Who knows what follows?”
Than Hector is. The wound of peace is surety,
Surety secure; but modest doubt is called
The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches
To th’ bottom of the worst. Let Helen go.
Since the first sword was drawn about this question,
Every tithe soul, ’mongst many thousand dismes,
Hath been as dear as Helen; I mean, of ours.
If we have lost so many tenths of ours
To guard a thing not ours—nor worth to us,
Had it our name, the value of one ten—
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ACT 2. SC. 2
What merit’s in that reason which denies
The yielding of her up?
TROILUS
Fie, fie, my brother,
Weigh you the worth and honor of a king
So great as our dread father’s in a scale
Of common ounces? Will you with counters sum
The past-proportion of his infinite,
And buckle in a waist most fathomless
With spans and inches so diminutive
As fears and reasons? Fie, for godly shame!
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HELENUS
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No marvel though you bite so sharp at reasons,
You are so empty of them. Should not our father
Bear the great sway of his affairs with reason,
Because your speech hath none that tell him so?
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You are for dreams and slumbers, brother priest.
You fur your gloves with reason. Here are your
reasons:
You know an enemy intends you harm;
You know a sword employed is perilous,
And reason flies the object of all harm.
Who marvels, then, when Helenus beholds
A Grecian and his sword, if he do set
The very wings of reason to his heels
And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove
Or like a star disorbed? Nay, if we talk of reason,
Let’s shut our gates and sleep. Manhood and honor
Should have hare hearts, would they but fat their
thoughts
With this crammed reason. Reason and respect
Make livers pale and lustihood deject.
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HECTOR
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Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost
The keeping.
TROILUS
What’s aught but as ’tis valued?
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ACT 2. SC. 2
HECTOR
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But value dwells not in particular will;
It holds his estimate and dignity
As well wherein ’tis precious of itself
As in the prizer. ’Tis mad idolatry
To make the service greater than the god;
And the will dotes that is attributive
To what infectiously itself affects
Without some image of th’ affected merit.
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TROILUS
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I take today a wife, and my election
Is led on in the conduct of my will—
My will enkindled by mine eyes and ears,
Two traded pilots ’twixt the dangerous shores
Of will and judgment. How may I avoid,
Although my will distaste what it elected,
The wife I choose? There can be no evasion
To blench from this and to stand firm by honor.
We turn not back the silks upon the merchant
When we have soiled them, nor the remainder
viands
We do not throw in unrespective sieve
Because we now are full. It was thought meet
Paris should do some vengeance on the Greeks.
Your breath with full consent bellied his sails;
The seas and winds, old wranglers, took a truce
And did him service. He touched the ports desired,
And for an old aunt whom the Greeks held captive,
He brought a Grecian queen, whose youth and
freshness
Wrinkles Apollo’s and makes pale the morning.
Why keep we her? The Grecians keep our aunt.
Is she worth keeping? Why, she is a pearl
Whose price hath launched above a thousand ships
And turned crowned kings to merchants.
If you’ll avouch ’twas wisdom Paris went—
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ACT 2. SC. 2
As you must needs, for you all cried “Go, go”—
If you’ll confess he brought home worthy prize—
As you must needs, for you all clapped your hands
And cried “Inestimable”—why do you now
The issue of your proper wisdoms rate
And do a deed that never Fortune did,
Beggar the estimation which you prized
Richer than sea and land? O, theft most base,
That we have stol’n what we do fear to keep!
But thieves unworthy of a thing so stol’n,
That in their country did them that disgrace
We fear to warrant in our native place.
CASSANDRA, within
Cry, Trojans, cry!
PRIAM
What noise? What shriek is this?
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TROILUS
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’Tis our mad sister. I do know her voice.
CASSANDRA, within
Cry, Trojans!
HECTOR It is Cassandra.
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Enter Cassandra raving.
CASSANDRA
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Cry, Trojans, cry! Lend me ten thousand eyes,
And I will fill them with prophetic tears.
HECTOR Peace, sister, peace!
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CASSANDRA
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Virgins and boys, mid-age and wrinkled elders,
Soft infancy, that nothing canst but cry,
Add to my clamors. Let us pay betimes
A moiety of that mass of moan to come.
Cry, Trojans, cry! Practice your eyes with tears.
Troy must not be, nor goodly Ilium stand.
Our firebrand brother Paris burns us all.
Cry, Trojans, cry! A Helen and a woe!
Cry, cry! Troy burns, or else let Helen go.
She exits.
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ACT 2. SC. 2
HECTOR
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Now, youthful Troilus, do not these high strains
Of divination in our sister work
Some touches of remorse? Or is your blood
So madly hot that no discourse of reason
Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause
Can qualify the same?
TROILUS
Why, brother Hector,
We may not think the justness of each act
Such and no other than event doth form it,
Nor once deject the courage of our minds
Because Cassandra’s mad. Her brainsick raptures
Cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel
Which hath our several honors all engaged
To make it gracious. For my private part,
I am no more touched than all Priam’s sons;
And Jove forbid there should be done amongst us
Such things as might offend the weakest spleen
To fight for and maintain!
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PARIS
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Else might the world convince of levity
As well my undertakings as your counsels.
But I attest the gods, your full consent
Gave wings to my propension and cut off
All fears attending on so dire a project.
For what, alas, can these my single arms?
What propugnation is in one man’s valor
To stand the push and enmity of those
This quarrel would excite? Yet, I protest,
Were I alone to pass the difficulties
And had as ample power as I have will,
Paris should ne’er retract what he hath done
Nor faint in the pursuit.
PRIAM
Paris, you speak
Like one besotted on your sweet delights.
You have the honey still, but these the gall.
So to be valiant is no praise at all.
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ACT 2. SC. 2
PARIS
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Sir, I propose not merely to myself
The pleasures such a beauty brings with it,
But I would have the soil of her fair rape
Wiped off in honorable keeping her.
What treason were it to the ransacked queen,
Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me,
Now to deliver her possession up
On terms of base compulsion? Can it be
That so degenerate a strain as this
Should once set footing in your generous bosoms?
There’s not the meanest spirit on our party
Without a heart to dare or sword to draw
When Helen is defended, nor none so noble
Whose life were ill bestowed or death unfamed
Where Helen is the subject. Then I say,
Well may we fight for her whom, we know well,
The world’s large spaces cannot parallel.
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HECTOR
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Paris and Troilus, you have both said well,
And on the cause and question now in hand
Have glozed—but superficially, not much
Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought
Unfit to hear moral philosophy.
The reasons you allege do more conduce
To the hot passion of distempered blood
Than to make up a free determination
’Twixt right and wrong, for pleasure and revenge
Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice
Of any true decision. Nature craves
All dues be rendered to their owners. Now,
What nearer debt in all humanity
Than wife is to the husband? If this law
Of nature be corrupted through affection,
And that great minds, of partial indulgence
To their benumbèd wills, resist the same,
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ACT 2. SC. 2
There is a law in each well-ordered nation
To curb those raging appetites that are
Most disobedient and refractory.
If Helen, then, be wife to Sparta’s king,
As it is known she is, these moral laws
Of nature and of nations speak aloud
To have her back returned. Thus to persist
In doing wrong extenuates not wrong,
But makes it much more heavy. Hector’s opinion
Is this in way of truth; yet, ne’ertheless,
My sprightly brethren, I propend to you
In resolution to keep Helen still,
For ’tis a cause that hath no mean dependence
Upon our joint and several dignities.
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TROILUS
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Why, there you touched the life of our design!
Were it not glory that we more affected
Than the performance of our heaving spleens,
I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood
Spent more in her defense. But, worthy Hector,
She is a theme of honor and renown,
A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds,
Whose present courage may beat down our foes,
And fame in time to come canonize us;
For I presume brave Hector would not lose
So rich advantage of a promised glory
As smiles upon the forehead of this action
For the wide world’s revenue.
HECTOR
I am yours,
You valiant offspring of great Priamus.
I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks
Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits.
I was advertised their great general slept,
Whilst emulation in the army crept.
This, I presume, will wake him.
They exit.
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 3
Scene 3
Enter Thersites, alone.
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How now, Thersites? What, lost in the
labyrinth of thy fury? Shall the elephant Ajax carry
it thus? He beats me, and I rail at him. O, worthy
satisfaction! Would it were otherwise, that I could
beat him whilst he railed at me. ’Sfoot, I’ll learn to
conjure and raise devils but I’ll see some issue of
my spiteful execrations. Then there’s Achilles, a
rare enginer! If Troy be not taken till these two undermine
it, the walls will stand till they fall of
themselves. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus,
forget that thou art Jove, the king of gods;
and, Mercury, lose all the serpentine craft of thy
caduceus, if you take not that little, little, less than
little wit from them that they have, which short-armed
ignorance itself knows is so abundant
scarce it will not in circumvention deliver a fly
from a spider without drawing their massy irons
and cutting the web. After this, the vengeance on
the whole camp! Or rather, the Neapolitan bone-ache!
For that, methinks, is the curse depending
on those that war for a placket. I have said my
prayers, and devil Envy say “Amen.”—What ho,
my lord Achilles!
PATROCLUS, within
Who’s there? Thersites? Good
Thersites, come in and rail.
THERSITES If I could ’a remembered a gilt counterfeit,
thou couldst not have slipped out of my contemplation.
But it is no matter. Thyself upon thyself! The
common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance,
be thine in great revenue! Heaven bless thee from
a tutor, and discipline come not near thee! Let thy
blood be thy direction till thy death; then if she
that lays thee out says thou art a fair corse, I’ll be
THERSITES
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ACT 2. SC. 3
sworn and sworn upon ’t she never shrouded any
but lazars. Amen.
35
Enter Patroclus.
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Where’s Achilles?
PATROCLUS What, art thou devout? Wast thou in
prayer?
THERSITES Ay. The heavens hear me!
PATROCLUS Amen.
ACHILLES, within
Who’s there?
PATROCLUS Thersites, my lord.
ACHILLES, within
Where? Where? O, where?
40
Enter Achilles.
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To Thersites. Art thou come? Why, my cheese, my
digestion, why hast thou not served thyself in to my
table so many meals? Come, what’s Agamemnon?
THERSITES Thy commander, Achilles.—Then, tell me,
Patroclus, what’s Achilles?
PATROCLUS Thy lord, Thersites. Then, tell me, I pray
thee, what’s Thersites?
THERSITES Thy knower, Patroclus. Then, tell me, Patroclus,
what art thou?
PATROCLUS Thou must tell that knowest.
ACHILLES O tell, tell.
THERSITES I’ll decline the whole question. Agamemnon
commands Achilles, Achilles is my lord, I am
Patroclus’ knower, and Patroclus is a fool.
PATROCLUS You rascal!
THERSITES Peace, fool. I have not done.
ACHILLES, to Patroclus
He is a privileged man.—Proceed,
Thersites.
THERSITES Agamemnon is a fool, Achilles is a fool,
Thersites is a fool, and, as aforesaid, Patroclus is a
fool.
ACHILLES Derive this. Come.
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ACT 2. SC. 3
Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command
Achilles, Achilles is a fool to be commanded of
Agamemnon, Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool,
and this Patroclus is a fool positive.
PATROCLUS Why am I a fool?
THERSITES Make that demand of the creator. It suffices
me thou art.
THERSITES
70
Enter at a distance Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor,
Diomedes, Ajax, and Calchas.
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Look you, who comes here?
ACHILLES Patroclus, I’ll speak with nobody.—Come in
with me, Thersites.
He exits.
THERSITES Here is such patchery, such juggling, and
such knavery. All the argument is a whore and a
cuckold, a good quarrel to draw emulous factions
and bleed to death upon. Now the dry serpigo on
the subject, and war and lechery confound all!
He exits.
AGAMEMNON, to Patroclus
Where is Achilles?
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PATROCLUS
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Within his tent, but ill-disposed, my lord.
AGAMEMNON
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Let it be known to him that we are here.
He shent our messengers, and we lay by
Our appertainments, visiting of him.
Let him be told so, lest perchance he think
We dare not move the question of our place
Or know not what we are.
PATROCLUS I shall say so to him.
85
He exits.
ULYSSES
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We saw him at the opening of his tent.
He is not sick.
AJAX Yes, lion-sick, sick of proud heart. You may call
it melancholy if you will favor the man, but, by my
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 3
head, ’tis pride. But, why, why? Let him show us a
cause.— A word, my lord.
He and Agamemnon walk aside.
NESTOR What moves Ajax thus to bay at him?
ULYSSES Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him.
NESTOR Who, Thersites?
ULYSSES He.
NESTOR Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his
argument.
ULYSSES No. You see, he is his argument that has his
argument: Achilles.
NESTOR All the better. Their fraction is more our wish
than their faction. But it was a strong composure a
fool could disunite.
ULYSSES The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may
easily untie.
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Enter Patroclus.
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Here comes Patroclus.
No Achilles with him.
ULYSSES The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy;
his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure.
PATROCLUS, to Agamemnon
Achilles bids me say he is much sorry
If anything more than your sport and pleasure
Did move your greatness and this noble state
To call upon him. He hopes it is no other
But for your health and your digestion sake,
An after-dinner’s breath.
AGAMEMNON
Hear you, Patroclus:
We are too well acquainted with these answers,
But his evasion, winged thus swift with scorn,
Cannot outfly our apprehensions.
Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
Why we ascribe it to him. Yet all his virtues,
Not virtuously on his own part beheld,
NESTOR
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ACT 2. SC. 3
Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss,
Yea, and like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish,
Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him
We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin
If you do say we think him overproud
And underhonest, in self-assumption greater
Than in the note of judgment; and worthier than
himself
Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,
Disguise the holy strength of their command,
And underwrite in an observing kind
His humorous predominance—yea, watch
His course and time, his ebbs and flows, as if
The passage and whole carriage of this action
Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add
That, if he overhold his price so much,
We’ll none of him. But let him, like an engine
Not portable, lie under this report:
“Bring action hither; this cannot go to war.”
A stirring dwarf we do allowance give
Before a sleeping giant. Tell him so.
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PATROCLUS
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I shall, and bring his answer presently.
AGAMEMNON
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In second voice we’ll not be satisfied;
We come to speak with him.—Ulysses, enter you.
Ulysses exits, with Patroclus.
AJAX What is he more than another?
AGAMEMNON No more than what he thinks he is.
AJAX Is he so much? Do you not think he thinks himself
a better man than I am?
AGAMEMNON No question.
AJAX Will you subscribe his thought and say he is?
AGAMEMNON No, noble Ajax. You are as strong, as
valiant, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle,
and altogether more tractable.
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ACT 2. SC. 3
Why should a man be proud? How doth pride
grow? I know not what pride is.
AGAMEMNON Your mind is the clearer, Ajax, and your
virtues the fairer. He that is proud eats up himself.
Pride is his own glass, his own trumpet, his own
chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the
deed devours the deed in the praise.
AJAX I do hate a proud man as I hate the engendering
of toads.
NESTOR, aside
And yet he loves himself. Is ’t not strange?
AJAX
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Enter Ulysses.
ULYSSES
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Achilles will not to the field tomorrow.
AGAMEMNON
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What’s his excuse?
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He doth rely on none,
But carries on the stream of his dispose,
Without observance or respect of any,
In will peculiar and in self-admission.
ULYSSES
AGAMEMNON
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Why, will he not, upon our fair request,
Untent his person and share th’ air with us?
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ULYSSES
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Things small as nothing, for request’s sake only,
He makes important. Possessed he is with greatness
And speaks not to himself but with a pride
That quarrels at self-breath. Imagined worth
Holds in his blood such swoll’n and hot discourse
That ’twixt his mental and his active parts
Kingdomed Achilles in commotion rages
And batters down himself. What should I say?
He is so plaguy proud that the death-tokens of it
Cry “No recovery.”
AGAMEMNON
Let Ajax go to him.—
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Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent.
’Tis said he holds you well and will be led
At your request a little from himself.
ACT 2. SC. 3
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ULYSSES
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O Agamemnon, let it not be so!
We’ll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes
When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord
That bastes his arrogance with his own seam
And never suffers matter of the world
Enter his thoughts, save such as doth revolve
And ruminate himself—shall he be worshipped
Of that we hold an idol more than he?
No. This thrice-worthy and right valiant lord
Shall not so stale his palm, nobly acquired,
Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit,
As amply titled as Achilles is,
By going to Achilles.
That were to enlard his fat-already pride
And add more coals to Cancer when he burns
With entertaining great Hyperion.
This lord go to him? Jupiter forbid
And say in thunder “Achilles, go to him.”
NESTOR, aside to Diomedes
O, this is well; he rubs the vein of him.
DIOMEDES, aside to Nestor
And how his silence drinks up this applause!
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AJAX
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If I go to him, with my armèd fist
I’ll pash him o’er the face.
AGAMEMNON O, no, you shall not go.
AJAX
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An he be proud with me, I’ll feeze his pride.
Let me go to him.
ULYSSES
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Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel.
A paltry, insolent fellow.
AJAX
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 3
NESTOR,
aside
How he describes himself!
AJAX Can he not be sociable?
ULYSSES, aside
The raven chides blackness.
AJAX I’ll let his humorous blood.
AGAMEMNON, aside
He will be the physician that
should be the patient.
AJAX An all men were of my mind—
ULYSSES, aside
Wit would be out of fashion.
AJAX —he should not bear it so; he should eat swords
first. Shall pride carry it?
NESTOR, aside
An ’twould, you’d carry half.
ULYSSES, aside
He would have ten shares.
AJAX I will knead him; I’ll make him supple.
NESTOR, aside
He’s not yet through warm. Force him
with praises. Pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry.
ULYSSES, to Agamemnon
My lord, you feed too much on this dislike.
NESTOR, to Agamemnon
Our noble general, do not do so.
DIOMEDES, to Agamemnon
You must prepare to fight without Achilles.
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ULYSSES
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Why, ’tis this naming of him does him harm.
Here is a man—but ’tis before his face;
I will be silent.
NESTOR
Wherefore should you so?
He is not emulous, as Achilles is.
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ULYSSES
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Know the whole world, he is as valiant—
A whoreson dog, that shall palter with us thus!
Would he were a Trojan!
NESTOR What a vice were it in Ajax now—
ULYSSES If he were proud—
DIOMEDES Or covetous of praise—
ULYSSES Ay, or surly borne—
DIOMEDES Or strange, or self-affected—
AJAX
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ACT 2. SC. 3
ULYSSES,
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to Ajax
Thank the heavens, lord, thou art of sweet
composure.
Praise him that gat thee, she that gave thee suck;
Famed be thy tutor, and thy parts of nature
Thrice famed beyond, beyond thy erudition;
But he that disciplined thine arms to fight,
Let Mars divide eternity in twain
And give him half; and for thy vigor,
Bull-bearing Milo his addition yield
To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom,
Which like a bourn, a pale, a shore confines
Thy spacious and dilated parts. Here’s Nestor,
Instructed by the antiquary times;
He must, he is, he cannot but be wise.—
But pardon, father Nestor, were your days
As green as Ajax’ and your brain so tempered,
You should not have the eminence of him,
But be as Ajax.
AJAX
Shall I call you father?
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NESTOR
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Ay, my good son.
DIOMEDES
Be ruled by him, Lord Ajax.
ULYSSES
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There is no tarrying here; the hart Achilles
Keeps thicket. Please it our great general
To call together all his state of war.
Fresh kings are come to Troy. Tomorrow
We must with all our main of power stand fast.
And here’s a lord—come knights from east to west
And cull their flower, Ajax shall cope the best.
AGAMEMNON
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Go we to council. Let Achilles sleep.
Light boats sail swift, though greater hulks draw deep.
They exit.
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ACT 3
Scene 1
Music sounds within. Enter Pandarus and Paris’s
Servingman.
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Friend, you, pray you, a word. Do you not
follow the young Lord Paris?
MAN Ay, sir, when he goes before me.
PANDARUS You depend upon him, I mean.
MAN Sir, I do depend upon the Lord.
PANDARUS You depend upon a notable gentleman. I
must needs praise him.
MAN The Lord be praised!
PANDARUS You know me, do you not?
MAN Faith, sir, superficially.
PANDARUS Friend, know me better. I am the Lord
Pandarus.
MAN I hope I shall know your Honor better.
PANDARUS I do desire it.
MAN You are in the state of grace?
PANDARUS Grace? Not so, friend. “Honor” and “Lordship”
are my titles. What music is this?
MAN I do but partly know, sir. It is music in parts.
PANDARUS Know you the musicians?
MAN Wholly, sir.
PANDARUS Who play they to?
MAN To the hearers, sir.
PANDARUS At whose pleasure, friend?
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PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
PANDARUS Command, I mean, friend.
MAN Who shall I command, sir?
PANDARUS Friend, we understand not one another. I
am too courtly and thou art too cunning. At whose
request do these men play?
MAN That’s to ’t indeed, sir. Marry, sir, at the request of
Paris my lord, who is there in person; with him the
mortal Venus, the heart blood of beauty, love’s visible
soul.
PANDARUS Who, my cousin Cressida?
MAN No, sir, Helen. Could not you find out that by her
attributes?
PANDARUS It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not
seen the Lady Cressid. I come to speak with Paris
from the Prince Troilus. I will make a complimental
assault upon him, for my business seethes.
MAN Sodden business! There’s a stewed phrase indeed.
MAN
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Enter Paris and Helen with Attendants.
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Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair
company! Fair desires in all fair measure fairly
guide them!—Especially to you, fair queen, fair
thoughts be your fair pillow!
HELEN Dear lord, you are full of fair words.
PANDARUS You speak your fair pleasure, sweet
queen.—Fair prince, here is good broken music.
PARIS You have broke it, cousin, and, by my life, you
shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out
with a piece of your performance.
HELEN He is full of harmony.
PANDARUS Truly, lady, no.
HELEN O, sir—
PANDARUS Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
PARIS Well said, my lord; well, you say so in fits.
PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
I have business to my lord, dear queen.—
My lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?
HELEN Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you
sing, certainly.
PANDARUS Well, sweet queen, you are pleasant with
me.—But, marry, thus, my lord: my dear lord and
most esteemed friend, your brother Troilus—
HELEN My Lord Pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
PANDARUS Go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself
most affectionately to you—
HELEN You shall not bob us out of our melody. If you
do, our melancholy upon your head!
PANDARUS Sweet queen, sweet queen, that’s a sweet
queen, i’ faith—
HELEN And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
PANDARUS Nay, that shall not serve your turn, that
shall it not, in truth, la. Nay, I care not for such
words, no, no.—And, my lord, he desires you that
if the King call for him at supper, you will make his
excuse.
HELEN My Lord Pandarus—
PANDARUS What says my sweet queen, my very, very
sweet queen?
PARIS What exploit’s in hand? Where sups he tonight?
HELEN Nay, but, my lord—
PANDARUS What says my sweet queen? My cousin will
fall out with you.
HELEN, to Paris
You must not know where he sups.
PARIS I’ll lay my life, with my disposer Cressida.
PANDARUS No, no, no such matter; you are wide.
Come, your disposer is sick.
PARIS Well, I’ll make ’s excuse.
PANDARUS Ay, good my lord. Why should you say Cressida?
No, your poor disposer’s sick.
PARIS I spy.
PANDARUS
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
You spy? What do you spy?—Come, give me
an instrument. An Attendant gives him an instrument.
Now, sweet queen.
HELEN Why, this is kindly done.
PANDARUS My niece is horribly in love with a thing you
have, sweet queen.
HELEN She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my Lord
Paris.
PANDARUS He? No, she’ll none of him. They two are
twain.
HELEN Falling in after falling out may make them
three.
PANDARUS Come, come, I’ll hear no more of this. I’ll
sing you a song now.
HELEN Ay, ay, prithee. Now, by my troth, sweet lord,
thou hast a fine forehead.
PANDARUS Ay, you may, you may.
HELEN Let thy song be love. “This love will undo us all.”
O Cupid, Cupid, Cupid!
PANDARUS Love? Ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
PARIS Ay, good now, “Love, love, nothing but love.”
PANDARUS
In good troth, it begins so.
Love, love, nothing but love, still love, still more!
For, O, love’s bow
Shoots buck and doe.
The shaft confounds
Not that it wounds
But tickles still the sore.
PANDARUS
These lovers cry “O ho!” they die,
Yet that which seems the wound to kill
Doth turn “O ho!” to “Ha ha he!”
So dying love lives still.
“O ho!” awhile, but “Ha ha ha!”
“O ho!”groans out for “ha ha ha!”—Hey ho!
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
In love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
PARIS He eats nothing but doves, love, and that breeds
hot blood, and hot blood begets hot thoughts, and
hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot deeds is love.
PANDARUS Is this the generation of love? Hot blood,
hot thoughts, and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers.
Is love a generation of vipers? Sweet lord, who’s
afield today?
PARIS Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the
gallantry of Troy. I would fain have armed today,
but my Nell would not have it so. How chance my
brother Troilus went not?
HELEN He hangs the lip at something.—You know all,
Lord Pandarus.
PANDARUS Not I, honey sweet queen. I long to hear how
they sped today.—You’ll remember your brother’s
excuse?
PARIS To a hair.
PANDARUS Farewell, sweet queen.
HELEN Commend me to your niece.
PANDARUS I will, sweet queen.
He exits.
Sound a retreat.
HELEN
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PARIS
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They’re come from the field. Let us to Priam’s hall
To greet the warriors. Sweet Helen, I must woo you
To help unarm our Hector. His stubborn buckles,
With these your white enchanting fingers touched,
Shall more obey than to the edge of steel
Or force of Greekish sinews. You shall do more
Than all the island kings: disarm great Hector.
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HELEN
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’Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris.
Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty
Gives us more palm in beauty than we have,
Yea, overshines ourself.
PARIS Sweet, above thought I love thee.
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They exit.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
Scene 2
Enter Pandarus and Troilus’s Man, meeting.
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How now? Where’s thy master? At my
cousin Cressida’s?
MAN No, sir, he stays for you to conduct him thither.
PANDARUS
Enter Troilus.
O, here he comes.—How now, how now?
to his Man
Sirrah, walk off.
Man exits.
PANDARUS Have you seen my cousin?
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TROILUS,
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TROILUS
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No, Pandarus. I stalk about her door
Like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks
Staying for waftage. O, be thou my Charon,
And give me swift transportance to those fields
Where I may wallow in the lily beds
Proposed for the deserver! O, gentle Pandar,
From Cupid’s shoulder pluck his painted wings
And fly with me to Cressid!
PANDARUS Walk here i’ th’ orchard. I’ll bring her
straight.
Pandarus exits.
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TROILUS
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I am giddy; expectation whirls me round.
Th’ imaginary relish is so sweet
That it enchants my sense. What will it be
When that the wat’ry palate taste indeed
Love’s thrice-repurèd nectar? Death, I fear me,
Swooning destruction, or some joy too fine,
Too subtle-potent, tuned too sharp in sweetness
For the capacity of my ruder powers.
I fear it much; and I do fear besides
That I shall lose distinction in my joys,
As doth a battle when they charge on heaps
The enemy flying.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
Enter Pandarus.
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She’s making her ready; she’ll come straight.
You must be witty now. She does so blush and
fetches her wind so short as if she were frayed with
a spirit. I’ll fetch her. It is the prettiest villain. She
fetches her breath as short as a new-ta’en sparrow.
Pandarus exits.
PANDARUS
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TROILUS
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Even such a passion doth embrace my bosom.
My heart beats thicker than a feverous pulse,
And all my powers do their bestowing lose,
Like vassalage at unawares encount’ring
The eye of majesty.
35
Enter Pandarus, and Cressida veiled.
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PANDARUS,
to Cressida
Come, come, what need you
blush? Shame’s a baby.—Here she is now. Swear
the oaths now to her that you have sworn to me.
Cressida offers to leave. What, are you gone again?
You must be watched ere you be made tame, must
you? Come your ways; come your ways. An you
draw backward, we’ll put you i’ th’ thills. —Why
do you not speak to her?—Come, draw this curtain
and let’s see your picture. He draws back her veil.
Alas the day, how loath you are to offend daylight!
An ’twere dark, you’d close sooner.—So, so, rub on,
and kiss the mistress. ( They kiss. ) How now? A
kiss in fee-farm? Build there, carpenter; the air is
sweet. Nay, you shall fight your hearts out ere I
part you. The falcon as the tercel, for all the ducks
i’ th’ river. Go to, go to.
TROILUS You have bereft me of all words, lady.
PANDARUS Words pay no debts; give her deeds. But
she’ll bereave you o’ th’ deeds too, if she call your
activity in question. ( They kiss. ) What, billing
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 2
again? Here’s “In witness whereof the parties
interchangeably—.” Come in, come in. I’ll go get a fire.
Pandarus exits.
CRESSIDA Will you walk in, my lord?
TROILUS O Cressid, how often have I wished me thus!
CRESSIDA “Wished,” my lord? The gods grant—O, my
lord!
TROILUS What should they grant? What makes this
pretty abruption? What too-curious dreg espies
my sweet lady in the fountain of our love?
CRESSIDA More dregs than water, if my fears have eyes.
TROILUS Fears make devils of cherubins; they never
see truly.
CRESSIDA Blind fear, that seeing reason leads, finds
safer footing than blind reason, stumbling without
fear. To fear the worst oft cures the worse.
TROILUS O, let my lady apprehend no fear. In all
Cupid’s pageant there is presented no monster.
CRESSIDA Nor nothing monstrous neither?
TROILUS Nothing but our undertakings, when we vow
to weep seas, live in fire, eat rocks, tame tigers,
thinking it harder for our mistress to devise imposition
enough than for us to undergo any difficulty
imposed. This is the monstruosity in love, lady, that
the will is infinite and the execution confined, that
the desire is boundless and the act a slave to limit.
CRESSIDA They say all lovers swear more performance
than they are able and yet reserve an ability that
they never perform, vowing more than the perfection
of ten and discharging less than the tenth part
of one. They that have the voice of lions and the
act of hares, are they not monsters?
TROILUS Are there such? Such are not we. Praise us as
we are tasted, allow us as we prove; our head shall
go bare till merit crown it. No perfection in reversion
shall have a praise in present. We will not
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ACT 3. SC. 2
name desert before his birth, and, being born, his
addition shall be humble. Few words to fair faith.
Troilus shall be such to Cressid as what envy can
say worst shall be a mock for his truth, and what
truth can speak truest not truer than Troilus.
CRESSIDA Will you walk in, my lord?
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Enter Pandarus.
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What, blushing still? Have you not done
talking yet?
CRESSIDA Well, uncle, what folly I commit I dedicate
to you.
PANDARUS I thank you for that. If my lord get a boy of
you, you’ll give him me. Be true to my lord. If he
flinch, chide me for it.
TROILUS, to Cressida
You know now your hostages:
your uncle’s word and my firm faith.
PANDARUS Nay, I’ll give my word for her too. Our kindred,
though they be long ere they be wooed, they
are constant being won. They are burrs, I can tell
you; they’ll stick where they are thrown.
PANDARUS
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CRESSIDA
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Boldness comes to me now and brings me heart.
Prince Troilus, I have loved you night and day
For many weary months.
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Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?
CRESSIDA
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Hard to seem won; but I was won, my lord,
With the first glance that ever—pardon me;
If I confess much, you will play the tyrant.
I love you now, but till now not so much
But I might master it. In faith, I lie;
My thoughts were like unbridled children grown
Too headstrong for their mother. See, we fools!
Why have I blabbed? Who shall be true to us
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ACT 3. SC. 2
When we are so unsecret to ourselves?
But though I loved you well, I wooed you not;
And yet, good faith, I wished myself a man;
Or that we women had men’s privilege
Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue,
For in this rapture I shall surely speak
The thing I shall repent. See, see, your silence,
Cunning in dumbness, from my weakness draws
My very soul of counsel! Stop my mouth.
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And shall, albeit sweet music issues thence.
They kiss.
Pretty, i’ faith!
CRESSIDA, to Troilus
My lord, I do beseech you pardon me.
’Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss.
I am ashamed. O heavens, what have I done!
For this time will I take my leave, my lord.
TROILUS Your leave, sweet Cressid?
PANDARUS Leave? An you take leave till tomorrow
morning—
CRESSIDA Pray you, content you.
TROILUS What offends you, lady?
CRESSIDA Sir, mine own company.
TROILUS You cannot shun yourself.
CRESSIDA Let me go and try.
I have a kind of self resides with you,
But an unkind self that itself will leave
To be another’s fool. I would be gone.
Where is my wit? I know not what I speak.
PANDARUS
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TROILUS
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Well know they what they speak that speak so wisely.
CRESSIDA
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Perchance, my lord, I show more craft than love
And fell so roundly to a large confession
To angle for your thoughts. But you are wise,
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ACT 3. SC. 2
Or else you love not; for to be wise and love
Exceeds man’s might. That dwells with gods above.
TROILUS
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O, that I thought it could be in a woman—
As, if it can, I will presume in you—
To feed for aye her lamp and flames of love,
To keep her constancy in plight and youth,
Outliving beauty’s outward, with a mind
That doth renew swifter than blood decays!
Or that persuasion could but thus convince me
That my integrity and truth to you
Might be affronted with the match and weight
Of such a winnowed purity in love;
How were I then uplifted! But, alas,
I am as true as truth’s simplicity
And simpler than the infancy of truth.
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In that I’ll war with you.
O virtuous fight,
When right with right wars who shall be most right!
True swains in love shall in the world to come
Approve their truth by Troilus. When their rhymes,
Full of protest, of oath and big compare,
Wants similes, truth tired with iteration—
“As true as steel, as plantage to the moon,
As sun to day, as turtle to her mate,
As iron to adamant, as Earth to th’ center”—
Yet, after all comparisons of truth,
As truth’s authentic author to be cited,
“As true as Troilus” shall crown up the verse
And sanctify the numbers.
CRESSIDA
Prophet may you be!
If I be false or swerve a hair from truth,
When time is old and hath forgot itself,
When water drops have worn the stones of Troy
And blind oblivion swallowed cities up,
TROILUS
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ACT 3. SC. 3
And mighty states characterless are grated
To dusty nothing, yet let memory,
From false to false, among false maids in love,
Upbraid my falsehood! When they’ve said “as false
As air, as water, wind or sandy earth,
As fox to lamb, or wolf to heifer’s calf,
Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son,”
Yea, let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood,
“As false as Cressid.”
PANDARUS Go to, a bargain made. Seal it, seal it. I’ll be
the witness. Here I hold your hand, here my
cousin’s. If ever you prove false one to another, since
I have taken such pains to bring you together, let
all pitiful goers-between be called to the world’s
end after my name: call them all panders. Let all
constant men be Troiluses, all false women Cressids,
and all brokers-between panders. Say “Amen.”
TROILUS Amen.
CRESSIDA Amen.
PANDARUS Amen. Whereupon I will show you a chamber
with a bed, which bed, because it shall not
speak of your pretty encounters, press it to death.
Away.
Troilus and Cressida exit.
And Cupid grant all tongue-tied maidens here
Bed, chamber, pander to provide this gear.
He exits.
Scene 3
Flourish. Enter Ulysses, Diomedes, Nestor,
Agamemnon, Calchas, Menelaus, and Ajax.
CALCHAS
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Now, princes, for the service I have done you,
Th’ advantage of the time prompts me aloud
To call for recompense. Appear it to your mind
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Troilus and Cressida
That, through the sight I bear in things to come,
I have abandoned Troy, left my possessions,
Incurred a traitor’s name, exposed myself,
From certain and possessed conveniences,
To doubtful fortunes, sequest’ring from me all
That time, acquaintance, custom, and condition
Made tame and most familiar to my nature,
And here, to do you service, am become
As new into the world, strange, unacquainted.
I do beseech you, as in way of taste,
To give me now a little benefit
Out of those many regist’red in promise,
Which you say live to come in my behalf.
ACT 3. SC. 3
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AGAMEMNON
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What wouldst thou of us, Trojan, make demand?
CALCHAS
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You have a Trojan prisoner called Antenor
Yesterday took. Troy holds him very dear.
Oft have you—often have you thanks therefor—
Desired my Cressid in right great exchange,
Whom Troy hath still denied; but this Antenor,
I know, is such a wrest in their affairs
That their negotiations all must slack,
Wanting his manage; and they will almost
Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam,
In change of him. Let him be sent, great princes,
And he shall buy my daughter; and her presence
Shall quite strike off all service I have done
In most accepted pain.
AGAMEMNON
Let Diomedes bear him,
And bring us Cressid hither. Calchas shall have
What he requests of us. Good Diomed,
Furnish you fairly for this interchange.
Withal, bring word if Hector will tomorrow
Be answered in his challenge. Ajax is ready.
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DIOMEDES
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This shall I undertake, and ’tis a burden
Which I am proud to bear.
He exits with Calchas.
Achilles and Patroclus stand in their tent.
ULYSSES
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Achilles stands i’ th’ entrance of his tent.
Please it our General pass strangely by him
As if he were forgot, and, princes all,
Lay negligent and loose regard upon him.
I will come last. ’Tis like he’ll question me
Why such unplausive eyes are bent, why turned on
him.
If so, I have derision medicinable
To use between your strangeness and his pride,
Which his own will shall have desire to drink.
It may do good; pride hath no other glass
To show itself but pride, for supple knees
Feed arrogance and are the proud man’s fees.
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AGAMEMNON
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We’ll execute your purpose and put on
A form of strangeness as we pass along;
So do each lord, and either greet him not
Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more
Than if not looked on. I will lead the way.
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They pass before Achilles and Patroclus. Ulysses
remains in place, reading.
ACHILLES
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What, comes the General to speak with me?
You know my mind: I’ll fight no more ’gainst Troy.
AGAMEMNON, to Nestor
What says Achilles? Would he aught with us?
NESTOR, to Achilles
Would you, my lord, aught with the General?
ACHILLES No.
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ACT 3. SC. 3
Nothing, my lord.
AGAMEMNON The better.
Agamemnon and Nestor exit.
ACHILLES, to Menelaus
Good day, good day.
MENELAUS How do you? How do you?
He exits.
ACHILLES What, does the cuckold scorn me?
AJAX How now, Patroclus?
ACHILLES Good morrow, Ajax.
AJAX Ha?
ACHILLES Good morrow.
AJAX Ay, and good next day too.
He exits.
NESTOR
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ACHILLES
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What mean these fellows? Know they not Achilles?
PATROCLUS
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They pass by strangely. They were used to bend,
To send their smiles before them to Achilles,
To come as humbly as they use to creep
To holy altars.
ACHILLES
What, am I poor of late?
’Tis certain, greatness, once fall’n out with Fortune,
Must fall out with men too. What the declined is
He shall as soon read in the eyes of others
As feel in his own fall, for men, like butterflies,
Show not their mealy wings but to the summer,
And not a man, for being simply man,
Hath any honor, but honor for those honors
That are without him—as place, riches, and favor,
Prizes of accident as oft as merit,
Which, when they fall, as being slippery slanders,
The love that leaned on them, as slippery too,
Doth one pluck down another and together
Die in the fall. But ’tis not so with me.
Fortune and I are friends. I do enjoy,
At ample point, all that I did possess,
Save these men’s looks, who do, methinks, find out
Something not worth in me such rich beholding
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ACT 3. SC. 3
As they have often given. Here is Ulysses.
I’ll interrupt his reading.—How now, Ulysses?
ULYSSES Now, great Thetis’ son—
ACHILLES What are you reading?
ULYSSES A strange fellow here
Writes me that man, how dearly ever parted,
How much in having, or without or in,
Cannot make boast to have that which he hath,
Nor feels not what he owes, but by reflection;
As when his virtues, shining upon others,
Heat them, and they retort that heat again
To the first giver.
ACHILLES
This is not strange, Ulysses.
The beauty that is borne here in the face
The bearer knows not, but commends itself
To others’ eyes; nor doth the eye itself,
That most pure spirit of sense, behold itself,
Not going from itself, but eye to eye opposed
Salutes each other with each other’s form.
For speculation turns not to itself
Till it hath traveled and is mirrored there
Where it may see itself. This is not strange at all.
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ULYSSES
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I do not strain at the position—
It is familiar—but at the author’s drift,
Who in his circumstance expressly proves
That no man is the lord of anything—
Though in and of him there be much consisting—
Till he communicate his parts to others;
Nor doth he of himself know them for aught
Till he behold them formed in the applause
Where they’re extended; who, like an arch, reverb’rate
The voice again or, like a gate of steel
Fronting the sun, receives and renders back
His figure and his heat. I was much rapt in this
And apprehended here immediately
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ACT 3. SC. 3
Th’ unknown Ajax. Heavens, what a man is there!
A very horse, that has he knows not what!
Nature, what things there are
Most abject in regard, and dear in use,
What things again most dear in the esteem
And poor in worth! Now shall we see tomorrow—
An act that very chance doth throw upon him—
Ajax renowned. O, heavens, what some men do
While some men leave to do!
How some men creep in skittish Fortune’s hall,
Whiles others play the idiots in her eyes!
How one man eats into another’s pride,
While pride is fasting in his wantonness!
To see these Grecian lords—why, even already
They clap the lubber Ajax on the shoulder
As if his foot were on brave Hector’s breast
And great Troy shrieking.
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ACHILLES
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I do believe it, for they passed by me
As misers do by beggars, neither gave to me
Good word nor look. What, are my deeds forgot?
ULYSSES
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Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,
A great-sized monster of ingratitudes.
Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devoured
As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
As done. Perseverance, dear my lord,
Keeps honor bright. To have done is to hang
Quite out of fashion like a rusty mail
In monumental mock’ry. Take the instant way,
For honor travels in a strait so narrow
Where one but goes abreast. Keep, then, the path,
For Emulation hath a thousand sons
That one by one pursue. If you give way
Or turn aside from the direct forthright,
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 3
Like to an entered tide they all rush by
And leave you hindmost;
Or, like a gallant horse fall’n in first rank,
Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,
O’errun and trampled on. Then what they do in
present,
Though less than yours in past, must o’ertop yours;
For Time is like a fashionable host
That slightly shakes his parting guest by th’ hand
And, with his arms outstretched as he would fly,
Grasps in the comer. Welcome ever smiles,
And Farewell goes out sighing. Let not virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing it was,
For beauty, wit,
High birth, vigor of bone, desert in service,
Love, friendship, charity are subjects all
To envious and calumniating Time.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
That all, with one consent, praise newborn gauds,
Though they are made and molded of things past,
And give to dust that is a little gilt
More laud than gilt o’erdusted.
The present eye praises the present object.
Then marvel not, thou great and complete man,
That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax,
Since things in motion sooner catch the eye
Than what stirs not. The cry went once on thee,
And still it might, and yet it may again,
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
And drave great Mars to faction.
ACHILLES
Of this my privacy,
I have strong reasons.
ULYSSES
But ’gainst your privacy
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 3
The reasons are more potent and heroical.
’Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love
With one of Priam’s daughters.
ACHILLES
Ha? Known?
ULYSSES Is that a wonder?
The providence that’s in a watchful state
Knows almost every grain of Pluto’s gold,
Finds bottom in the uncomprehensive deep,
Keeps place with thought and almost, like the gods,
Do thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles.
There is a mystery—with whom relation
Durst never meddle—in the soul of state,
Which hath an operation more divine
Than breath or pen can give expressure to.
All the commerce that you have had with Troy
As perfectly is ours as yours, my lord;
And better would it fit Achilles much
To throw down Hector than Polyxena.
But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home
When Fame shall in our islands sound her trump,
And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing
“Great Hector’s sister did Achilles win,
But our great Ajax bravely beat down him.”
Farewell, my lord. I as your lover speak.
The fool slides o’er the ice that you should break.
He exits.
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PATROCLUS
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To this effect, Achilles, have I moved you.
A woman impudent and mannish grown
Is not more loathed than an effeminate man
In time of action. I stand condemned for this.
They think my little stomach to the war,
And your great love to me, restrains you thus.
Sweet, rouse yourself, and the weak wanton Cupid
Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold
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ACT 3. SC. 3
And, like a dewdrop from the lion’s mane,
Be shook to air.
ACHILLES
Shall Ajax fight with Hector?
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PATROCLUS
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Ay, and perhaps receive much honor by him.
ACHILLES
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I see my reputation is at stake;
My fame is shrewdly gored.
PATROCLUS
O, then, beware!
Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves.
Omission to do what is necessary
Seals a commission to a blank of danger,
And danger, like an ague, subtly taints
Even then when they sit idly in the sun.
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ACHILLES
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Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus.
I’ll send the fool to Ajax and desire him
T’ invite the Trojan lords after the combat
To see us here unarmed. I have a woman’s longing,
An appetite that I am sick withal,
To see great Hector in his weeds of peace,
To talk with him, and to behold his visage,
Even to my full of view.
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Enter Thersites.
A labor saved.
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A wonder!
What?
THERSITES Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for
himself.
ACHILLES How so?
THERSITES He must fight singly tomorrow with Hector
and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgeling
that he raves in saying nothing.
ACHILLES How can that be?
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 3
Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock—
a stride and a stand; ruminates like an hostess
that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set
down her reckoning; bites his lip with a politic regard,
as who should say “There were wit in this
head an ’twould out”—and so there is, but it lies
as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not
show without knocking. The man’s undone forever,
for if Hector break not his neck i’ th’ combat,
he’ll break ’t himself in vainglory. He knows not
me. I said “Good morrow, Ajax,” and he replies
“Thanks, Agamemnon.” What think you of this
man that takes me for the General? He’s grown a
very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of
opinion! A man may wear it on both sides, like a
leather jerkin.
ACHILLES Thou must be my ambassador to him,
Thersites.
THERSITES Who, I? Why, he’ll answer nobody. He professes
not answering; speaking is for beggars; he
wears his tongue in ’s arms. I will put on his presence.
Let Patroclus make his demands to me. You
shall see the pageant of Ajax.
ACHILLES To him, Patroclus. Tell him I humbly desire
the valiant Ajax to invite the most valorous Hector
to come unarmed to my tent, and to procure safe-conduct
for his person of the magnanimous and
most illustrious, six-or-seven-times-honored captain
general of the Grecian army, Agamemnon,
et cetera. Do this.
PATROCLUS, to Thersites, who is playing Ajax
Jove
bless great Ajax.
THERSITES Hum!
PATROCLUS I come from the worthy Achilles—
THERSITES Ha?
THERSITES
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ACT 3. SC. 3
Who most humbly desires you to invite
Hector to his tent—
THERSITES Hum!
PATROCLUS And to procure safe-conduct from
Agamemnon.
THERSITES Agamemnon?
PATROCLUS Ay, my lord.
THERSITES Ha!
PATROCLUS What say you to ’t?
THERSITES God b’ wi’ you, with all my heart.
PATROCLUS Your answer, sir.
THERSITES If tomorrow be a fair day, by eleven of the
clock it will go one way or other. Howsoever, he
shall pay for me ere he has me.
PATROCLUS Your answer, sir.
THERSITES Fare you well with all my heart.
He pretends to exit.
ACHILLES Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?
THERSITES No, but he’s out of tune thus. What music
will be in him when Hector has knocked out his
brains I know not. But I am sure none, unless the
fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings on.
ACHILLES Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him
straight.
THERSITES Let me bear another to his horse, for that’s
the more capable creature.
PATROCLUS
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My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred,
And I myself see not the bottom of it.
Achilles and Patroclus exit.
THERSITES Would the fountain of your mind were clear
again, that I might water an ass at it. I had rather
be a tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance.
He exits.
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ACT 4
Scene 1
Enter at one door Aeneas with a Torchbearer, at
another Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes and
Grecians with torches.
See, ho! Who is that there?
It is the Lord Aeneas.
AENEAS Is the Prince there in person?—
Had I so good occasion to lie long
As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business
Should rob my bedmate of my company.
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DIOMEDES
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That’s my mind too.—Good morrow, Lord Aeneas.
PARIS
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A valiant Greek, Aeneas; take his hand.
Witness the process of your speech, wherein
You told how Diomed a whole week by days
Did haunt you in the field.
AENEAS Health to you, valiant sir,
During all question of the gentle truce;
But when I meet you armed, as black defiance
As heart can think or courage execute.
DIOMEDES
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The one and other Diomed embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm, and, so long, health;
But when contention and occasion meet,
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ACT 4. SC. 1
By Jove, I’ll play the hunter for thy life
With all my force, pursuit, and policy.
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And thou shalt hunt a lion that will fly
With his face backward. In human gentleness,
Welcome to Troy. Now, by Anchises’ life,
Welcome indeed. By Venus’ hand I swear
No man alive can love in such a sort
The thing he means to kill more excellently.
25
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2213
FTLN 2214
FTLN 2215
FTLN 2216
FTLN 2217
FTLN 2218
We sympathize. Jove, let Aeneas live,
If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
A thousand complete courses of the sun!
But in mine emulous honor let him die
With every joint a wound and that tomorrow.
AENEAS We know each other well.
30
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2219
We do, and long to know each other worse.
PARIS
FTLN 2220
FTLN 2221
FTLN 2222
This is the most despiteful gentle greeting,
The noblest hateful love, that e’er I heard of.
To Aeneas. What business, lord, so early?
35
AENEAS
FTLN 2223
I was sent for to the King, but why I know not.
PARIS
FTLN 2224
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FTLN 2227
FTLN 2228
FTLN 2229
FTLN 2230
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FTLN 2234
His purpose meets you. ’Twas to bring this Greek
To Calchas’ house, and there to render him,
For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid.
Let’s have your company, or, if you please,
Haste there before us. ( Aside to Aeneas. ) I constantly
believe—
Or, rather, call my thought a certain knowledge—
My brother Troilus lodges there tonight.
Rouse him, and give him note of our approach,
With the whole quality whereof. I fear
We shall be much unwelcome.
40
45
161
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 1
AENEAS,
aside to Paris
That I assure you.
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
Than Cressid borne from Troy.
PARIS, aside to Aeneas
There is no help.
The bitter disposition of the time
Will have it so.—On, lord, we’ll follow you.
AENEAS Good morrow, all.
Aeneas exits with the Torchbearer.
50
55
PARIS
FTLN 2242
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FTLN 2257
FTLN 2258
And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,
Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,
Who, in your thoughts, deserves fair Helen best,
Myself or Menelaus?
DIOMEDES
Both alike.
He merits well to have her that doth seek her,
Not making any scruple of her soilure,
With such a hell of pain and world of charge;
And you as well to keep her that defend her,
Not palating the taste of her dishonor,
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends.
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
The lees and dregs of a flat tamèd piece;
You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
Are pleased to breed out your inheritors.
Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor more;
But he as he, the heavier for a whore.
60
65
70
PARIS
FTLN 2259
You are too bitter to your countrywoman.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2260
FTLN 2261
FTLN 2262
FTLN 2263
FTLN 2264
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FTLN 2266
She’s bitter to her country. Hear me, Paris:
For every false drop in her bawdy veins
A Grecian’s life hath sunk; for every scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight
A Trojan hath been slain. Since she could speak,
She hath not given so many good words breath
As for her Greeks and Trojans suffered death.
75
80
163
ACT 4. SC. 2
Troilus and Cressida
PARIS
FTLN 2267
FTLN 2268
FTLN 2269
FTLN 2270
FTLN 2271
Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that they desire to buy.
But we in silence hold this virtue well:
We’ll not commend that not intend to sell.
Here lies our way.
85
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Troilus and Cressida.
TROILUS
FTLN 2272
Dear, trouble not yourself. The morn is cold.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2273
FTLN 2274
FTLN 2275
FTLN 2276
FTLN 2277
FTLN 2278
Then, sweet my lord, I’ll call mine uncle down.
He shall unbolt the gates.
TROILUS
Trouble him not.
To bed, to bed! Sleep kill those pretty eyes
And give as soft attachment to thy senses
As infants’ empty of all thought!
5
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2279
Good morrow, then.
FTLN 2280
TROILUS
FTLN 2281
CRESSIDA
I prithee now, to bed.
Are you aweary of me?
10
TROILUS
FTLN 2282
FTLN 2283
FTLN 2284
FTLN 2285
FTLN 2286
O Cressida! But that the busy day,
Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows,
And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer,
I would not from thee.
CRESSIDA
Night hath been too brief.
TROILUS
FTLN 2287
FTLN 2288
FTLN 2289
FTLN 2290
Beshrew the witch! With venomous wights she stays
As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love
With wings more momentary-swift than thought.
You will catch cold and curse me.
15
165
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2291
FTLN 2292
FTLN 2293
FTLN 2294
FTLN 2295
Prithee, tarry. You men will never tarry.
O foolish Cressid! I might have still held off,
And then you would have tarried. Hark, there’s one up.
PANDARUS, within
What’s all the doors open here?
TROILUS It is your uncle.
20
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2296
FTLN 2297
A pestilence on him! Now will he be mocking.
I shall have such a life!
25
Enter Pandarus.
FTLN 2298
FTLN 2299
How now, how now? How go maidenheads?
Here, you maid! Where’s my Cousin Cressid?
PANDARUS
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2300
FTLN 2301
FTLN 2302
FTLN 2303
Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle.
You bring me to do—and then you flout me too.
PANDARUS To do what, to do what?—Let her say
what.—What have I brought you to do?
30
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2304
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FTLN 2309
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FTLN 2313
Come, come, beshrew your heart! You’ll ne’er be good
Nor suffer others.
PANDARUS Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! Ah, poor capocchia!
Has ’t not slept tonight? Would he not—a
naughty man—let it sleep? A bugbear take him!
CRESSIDA, to Troilus
Did not I tell you? Would he were knocked i’ th’ head!
One knocks.
Who’s that at door?—Good uncle, go and see.—
My lord, come you again into my chamber.
You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.
TROILUS Ha, ha!
35
40
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2314
Come, you are deceived. I think of no such thing.
Knock.
FTLN 2315
FTLN 2316
How earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in.
I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
Troilus and Cressida exit.
45
167
FTLN 2317
FTLN 2318
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
Who’s there? What’s the matter? Will you
beat down the door?
PANDARUS
Enter Aeneas.
FTLN 2319
FTLN 2320
FTLN 2321
FTLN 2322
FTLN 2323
FTLN 2324
How now? What’s the matter?
AENEAS Good morrow, lord, good morrow.
PANDARUS Who’s there? My Lord Aeneas? By my troth,
I knew you not. What news with you so early?
AENEAS Is not Prince Troilus here?
PANDARUS Here? What should he do here?
50
AENEAS
FTLN 2325
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FTLN 2327
FTLN 2328
FTLN 2329
FTLN 2330
FTLN 2331
FTLN 2332
FTLN 2333
Come, he is here, my lord. Do not deny him.
It doth import him much to speak with me.
PANDARUS Is he here, say you? It’s more than I know,
I’ll be sworn. For my own part, I came in late.
What should he do here?
AENEAS
Ho, nay, then! Come, come, you’ll do him
wrong ere you are ware. You’ll be so true to him to
be false to him. Do not you know of him, but yet go
fetch him hither. Go.
55
60
Enter Troilus.
FTLN 2334
TROILUS
How now? What’s the matter?
AENEAS
FTLN 2335
FTLN 2336
FTLN 2337
FTLN 2338
FTLN 2339
FTLN 2340
FTLN 2341
FTLN 2342
FTLN 2343
My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash. There is at hand
Paris your brother and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
Delivered to us; and for him forthwith,
Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
We must give up to Diomedes’ hand
The Lady Cressida.
TROILUS
Is it so concluded?
AENEAS
FTLN 2344
FTLN 2345
By Priam and the general state of Troy.
They are at hand and ready to effect it.
65
70
169
FTLN 2346
FTLN 2347
FTLN 2348
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
How my achievements mock me!
I will go meet them. And, my Lord Aeneas,
We met by chance; you did not find me here.
TROILUS
75
AENEAS
FTLN 2349
FTLN 2350
FTLN 2351
FTLN 2352
FTLN 2353
FTLN 2354
Good, good, my lord; the secrets of nature
Have not more gift in taciturnity.
Troilus and Aeneas exit.
PANDARUS Is ’t possible? No sooner got but lost? The
devil take Antenor! The young prince will go mad.
A plague upon Antenor! I would they had broke ’s
neck!
80
Enter Cressida.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2355
FTLN 2356
How now? What’s the matter? Who was here?
PANDARUS Ah, ah!
85
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2357
FTLN 2358
FTLN 2359
FTLN 2360
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FTLN 2362
FTLN 2363
FTLN 2364
FTLN 2365
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FTLN 2367
FTLN 2368
FTLN 2369
FTLN 2370
Why sigh you so profoundly? Where’s my lord?
Gone? Tell me, sweet uncle, what’s the matter?
PANDARUS Would I were as deep under the earth as I
am above!
CRESSIDA O the gods! What’s the matter?
PANDARUS Pray thee, get thee in. Would thou hadst
ne’er been born! I knew thou wouldst be his death.
O, poor gentleman! A plague upon Antenor!
CRESSIDA Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I
beseech you, what’s the matter?
PANDARUS Thou must be gone, wench; thou must be
gone. Thou art changed for Antenor. Thou must to
thy father and be gone from Troilus. ’Twill be his
death; ’twill be his bane. He cannot bear it.
90
95
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2371
FTLN 2372
O you immortal gods! I will not go.
PANDARUS Thou must.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2373
I will not, uncle. I have forgot my father.
100
171
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FTLN 2378
FTLN 2379
FTLN 2380
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FTLN 2383
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 3
I know no touch of consanguinity,
No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me
As the sweet Troilus. O you gods divine,
Make Cressid’s name the very crown of falsehood
If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death
Do to this body what extremes you can,
But the strong base and building of my love
Is as the very center of the Earth,
Drawing all things to it. I’ll go in and weep—
PANDARUS Do, do.
105
110
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2384
FTLN 2385
FTLN 2386
Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praisèd cheeks,
Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
With sounding “Troilus.” I will not go from Troy.
They exit.
115
Scene 3
Enter Paris, Troilus, Aeneas, Deiphobus, Antenor,
and Diomedes.
PARIS
FTLN 2387
FTLN 2388
FTLN 2389
FTLN 2390
FTLN 2391
FTLN 2392
FTLN 2393
FTLN 2394
FTLN 2395
FTLN 2396
FTLN 2397
FTLN 2398
FTLN 2399
It is great morning, and the hour prefixed
For her delivery to this valiant Greek
Comes fast upon. Good my brother Troilus,
Tell you the lady what she is to do
And haste her to the purpose.
TROILUS
Walk into her house.
I’ll bring her to the Grecian presently;
And to his hand when I deliver her,
Think it an altar and thy brother Troilus
A priest there off’ring to it his own heart.
He exits.
PARIS I know what ’tis to love,
And would, as I shall pity, I could help.—
Please you walk in, my lords?
They exit.
5
10
173
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
Scene 4
Enter Pandarus and Cressida, weeping.
FTLN 2400
PANDARUS
Be moderate, be moderate.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2401
FTLN 2402
FTLN 2403
FTLN 2404
FTLN 2405
FTLN 2406
FTLN 2407
FTLN 2408
FTLN 2409
Why tell you me of moderation?
The grief is fine, full, perfect that I taste,
And violenteth in a sense as strong
As that which causeth it. How can I moderate it?
If I could temporize with my affection
Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
The like allayment could I give my grief.
My love admits no qualifying dross;
No more my grief in such a precious loss.
5
10
Enter Troilus.
FTLN 2410
FTLN 2411
FTLN 2412
FTLN 2413
FTLN 2414
FTLN 2415
FTLN 2416
FTLN 2417
FTLN 2418
FTLN 2419
FTLN 2420
FTLN 2421
FTLN 2422
Here, here, here he comes. Ah, sweet
ducks!
CRESSIDA, embracing Troilus
O Troilus, Troilus!
PANDARUS What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me
embrace too. “O heart,” as the goodly saying is,
O heart, heavy heart,
Why sigh’st thou without breaking?
where he answers again,
Because thou canst not ease thy smart
By friendship nor by speaking.
There was never a truer rhyme. Let us cast away
nothing, for we may live to have need of such a
verse. We see it, we see it. How now, lambs?
PANDARUS
15
20
TROILUS
FTLN 2423
FTLN 2424
FTLN 2425
FTLN 2426
FTLN 2427
FTLN 2428
Cressid, I love thee in so strained a purity
That the blest gods, as angry with my fancy—
More bright in zeal than the devotion which
Cold lips blow to their deities—take thee from me.
CRESSIDA Have the gods envy?
PANDARUS Ay, ay, ay, ay, ’tis too plain a case.
25
175
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2429
And is it true that I must go from Troy?
30
TROILUS
FTLN 2430
A hateful truth.
FTLN 2431
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2432
TROILUS
FTLN 2433
CRESSIDA
What, and from Troilus too?
From Troy and Troilus.
Is ’t possible?
TROILUS
FTLN 2434
FTLN 2435
FTLN 2436
FTLN 2437
FTLN 2438
FTLN 2439
FTLN 2440
FTLN 2441
FTLN 2442
FTLN 2443
FTLN 2444
FTLN 2445
FTLN 2446
FTLN 2447
FTLN 2448
FTLN 2449
FTLN 2450
And suddenly, where injury of chance
Puts back leave-taking, jostles roughly by
All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
Of all rejoindure, forcibly prevents
Our locked embrasures, strangles our dear vows
Even in the birth of our own laboring breath.
We two, that with so many thousand sighs
Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves
With the rude brevity and discharge of one.
Injurious Time now with a robber’s haste
Crams his rich thiev’ry up, he knows not how.
As many farewells as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consigned kisses to them,
He fumbles up into a loose adieu
And scants us with a single famished kiss,
Distasted with the salt of broken tears.
AENEAS, within My lord, is the lady ready?
35
40
45
50
TROILUS
FTLN 2451
FTLN 2452
FTLN 2453
FTLN 2454
FTLN 2455
Hark, you are called. Some say the genius
Cries so to him that instantly must die.—
Bid them have patience. She shall come anon.
PANDARUS Where are my tears? Rain, to lay this wind,
or my heart will be blown up by the root.
He exits.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2456
FTLN 2457
I must, then, to the Grecians?
TROILUS
No remedy.
55
177
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2458
FTLN 2459
A woeful Cressid ’mongst the merry Greeks.
When shall we see again?
60
TROILUS
FTLN 2460
Hear me, my love. Be thou but true of heart—
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2461
I true? How now, what wicked deem is this?
TROILUS
FTLN 2462
FTLN 2463
FTLN 2464
FTLN 2465
FTLN 2466
FTLN 2467
FTLN 2468
FTLN 2469
Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,
For it is parting from us.
I speak not “Be thou true” as fearing thee,
For I will throw my glove to Death himself
That there is no maculation in thy heart;
But “Be thou true,” say I, to fashion in
My sequent protestation: “Be thou true,
And I will see thee.”
65
70
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2470
FTLN 2471
O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers
As infinite as imminent! But I’ll be true.
TROILUS
FTLN 2472
FTLN 2473
And I’ll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.
CRESSIDA And you this glove. When shall I see you?
They exchange love-tokens.
TROILUS
FTLN 2474
FTLN 2475
FTLN 2476
FTLN 2477
FTLN 2478
FTLN 2479
FTLN 2480
FTLN 2481
FTLN 2482
FTLN 2483
FTLN 2484
FTLN 2485
FTLN 2486
I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels,
To give thee nightly visitation.
But yet, be true.
CRESSIDA
O heavens! “Be true” again?
TROILUS Hear why I speak it, love.
The Grecian youths are full of quality,
Their loving well composed, with gift of nature
flowing,
And swelling o’er with arts and exercise.
How novelty may move, and parts with person,
Alas, a kind of godly jealousy—
Which I beseech you call a virtuous sin—
Makes me afeard.
75
80
85
179
FTLN 2487
FTLN 2488
FTLN 2489
FTLN 2490
FTLN 2491
FTLN 2492
FTLN 2493
FTLN 2494
FTLN 2495
FTLN 2496
FTLN 2497
FTLN 2498
FTLN 2499
FTLN 2500
FTLN 2501
FTLN 2502
FTLN 2503
FTLN 2504
FTLN 2505
FTLN 2506
FTLN 2507
FTLN 2508
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
O heavens, you love me not!
TROILUS Die I a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question
So mainly as my merit. I cannot sing,
Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk,
Nor play at subtle games—fair virtues all,
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant.
But I can tell that in each grace of these
There lurks a still and dumb-discursive devil
That tempts most cunningly. But be not tempted.
CRESSIDA Do you think I will?
TROILUS No.
But something may be done that we will not,
And sometimes we are devils to ourselves
When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,
Presuming on their changeful potency.
AENEAS, within
Nay, good my lord—
TROILUS
Come, kiss, and let us part.
They kiss.
PARIS, within
Brother Troilus!
TROILUS, calling
Good brother, come you hither,
And bring Aeneas and the Grecian with you.
CRESSIDA My lord, will you be true?
CRESSIDA
90
95
100
105
TROILUS
FTLN 2509
FTLN 2510
FTLN 2511
FTLN 2512
FTLN 2513
FTLN 2514
FTLN 2515
Who, I? Alas, it is my vice, my fault.
Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,
I with great truth catch mere simplicity.
Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns,
With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.
Fear not my truth. The moral of my wit
Is “plain and true”; there’s all the reach of it.
Enter Aeneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and
Diomedes.
110
115
181
FTLN 2516
FTLN 2517
FTLN 2518
FTLN 2519
FTLN 2520
FTLN 2521
FTLN 2522
FTLN 2523
FTLN 2524
FTLN 2525
FTLN 2526
FTLN 2527
FTLN 2528
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
Welcome, Sir Diomed. Here is the lady
Which for Antenor we deliver you.
At the port, lord, I’ll give her to thy hand
And by the way possess thee what she is.
Entreat her fair and, by my soul, fair Greek,
If e’er thou stand at mercy of my sword,
Name Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
As Priam is in Ilium.
DIOMEDES
Fair Lady Cressid,
So please you, save the thanks this prince expects.
The luster in your eye, heaven in your cheek,
Pleads your fair usage, and to Diomed
You shall be mistress and command him wholly.
120
125
TROILUS
FTLN 2529
FTLN 2530
FTLN 2531
FTLN 2532
FTLN 2533
FTLN 2534
FTLN 2535
FTLN 2536
FTLN 2537
FTLN 2538
FTLN 2539
FTLN 2540
FTLN 2541
FTLN 2542
FTLN 2543
FTLN 2544
Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,
To shame the zeal of my petition to thee
In praising her. I tell thee, lord of Greece,
She is as far high-soaring o’er thy praises
As thou unworthy to be called her servant.
I charge thee use her well, even for my charge,
For, by the dreadful Pluto, if thou dost not,
Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard,
I’ll cut thy throat.
DIOMEDES
O, be not moved, Prince Troilus.
Let me be privileged by my place and message
To be a speaker free. When I am hence,
I’ll answer to my lust, and know you, lord,
I’ll nothing do on charge. To her own worth
She shall be prized; but that you say “Be ’t so,”
I speak it in my spirit and honor: “no.”
TROILUS
FTLN 2545
FTLN 2546
FTLN 2547
FTLN 2548
Come, to the port. I’ll tell thee, Diomed,
This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—
Lady, give me your hand, and, as we walk,
To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
Cressida, Diomedes, and Troilus exit.
130
135
140
145
183
ACT 4. SC. 5
Troilus and Cressida
Sound trumpet within.
PARIS
FTLN 2549
FTLN 2550
FTLN 2551
FTLN 2552
FTLN 2553
Hark, Hector’s trumpet.
AENEAS
150
How have we spent this
morning!
The Prince must think me tardy and remiss
That swore to ride before him to the field.
PARIS
FTLN 2554
FTLN 2555
’Tis Troilus’ fault. Come, come to field with him.
DEIPHOBUS Let us make ready straight.
155
AENEAS
FTLN 2556
FTLN 2557
FTLN 2558
FTLN 2559
Yea, with a bridegroom’s fresh alacrity
Let us address to tend on Hector’s heels.
The glory of our Troy doth this day lie
On his fair worth and single chivalry.
160
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Ajax, armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon,
Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, etc. and Trumpeter.
AGAMEMNON,
FTLN 2560
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FTLN 2565
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FTLN 2571
to Ajax
Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting courage.
Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appallèd air
May pierce the head of the great combatant
And hale him hither.
AJAX
Thou, trumpet, there’s my purse.
He gives money to Trumpeter.
Now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe.
Blow, villain, till thy spherèd bias cheek
Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood.
Thou blowest for Hector.
Sound trumpet.
5
10
185
ACT 4. SC. 5
Troilus and Cressida
ULYSSES
FTLN 2572
FTLN 2573
No trumpet answers.
ACHILLES
’Tis but early days.
Enter Cressida and Diomedes.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2574
Is not yond Diomed with Calchas’ daughter?
15
ULYSSES
FTLN 2575
FTLN 2576
FTLN 2577
’Tis he. I ken the manner of his gait.
He rises on the toe; that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2578
FTLN 2579
Is this the Lady Cressid?
DIOMEDES
Even she.
20
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2580
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
He kisses her.
NESTOR
FTLN 2581
Our general doth salute you with a kiss.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2582
FTLN 2583
Yet is the kindness but particular.
’Twere better she were kissed in general.
NESTOR
FTLN 2584
FTLN 2585
And very courtly counsel. I’ll begin.
So much for Nestor.
He kisses her.
25
ACHILLES
FTLN 2586
FTLN 2587
I’ll take that winter from your lips, fair lady.
Achilles bids you welcome.
He kisses her.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2588
FTLN 2589
FTLN 2590
FTLN 2591
I had good argument for kissing once.
PATROCLUS, stepping between Menelaus and Cressida
But that’s no argument for kissing now,
For thus popped Paris in his hardiment
And parted thus you and your argument.
He kisses her.
30
187
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
ULYSSES
FTLN 2592
FTLN 2593
O deadly gall and theme of all our scorns,
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns!
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2594
FTLN 2595
FTLN 2596
The first was Menelaus’ kiss; this mine.
Patroclus kisses you.
He kisses her again.
MENELAUS
O, this is trim!
35
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2597
Paris and I kiss evermore for him.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2598
I’ll have my kiss, sir.—Lady, by your leave.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2599
In kissing, do you render or receive?
40
MENELAUS
FTLN 2600
FTLN 2601
FTLN 2602
FTLN 2603
Both take and give.
I’ll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give.
Therefore no kiss.
CRESSIDA
MENELAUS
FTLN 2604
I’ll give you boot: I’ll give you three for one.
45
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2605
You are an odd man. Give even, or give none.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2606
An odd man, lady? Every man is odd.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2607
FTLN 2608
No, Paris is not, for you know ’tis true
That you are odd, and he is even with you.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2609
FTLN 2610
You fillip me o’ th’ head.
50
No, I’ll be sworn.
CRESSIDA
ULYSSES
FTLN 2611
FTLN 2612
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2613
FTLN 2614
You may.
ULYSSES
I do desire it.
55
189
FTLN 2615
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
Why, beg two.
CRESSIDA
ULYSSES
FTLN 2616
FTLN 2617
Why, then, for Venus’ sake, give me a kiss
When Helen is a maid again and his.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2618
I am your debtor; claim it when ’tis due.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2619
Never’s my day, and then a kiss of you.
60
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2620
Lady, a word. I’ll bring you to your father.
Diomedes and Cressida talk aside.
NESTOR
FTLN 2621
FTLN 2622
FTLN 2623
FTLN 2624
FTLN 2625
FTLN 2626
FTLN 2627
FTLN 2628
FTLN 2629
FTLN 2630
FTLN 2631
A woman of quick sense.
Fie, fie upon her!
There’s language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
Nay, her foot speaks. Her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
O, these encounterers, so glib of tongue,
That give accosting welcome ere it comes
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
To every tickling reader! Set them down
For sluttish spoils of opportunity
And daughters of the game.
Diomedes and Cressida exit.
Flourish.
ULYSSES
65
70
ALL
FTLN 2632
The Trojan’s trumpet.
Enter all of Troy: Hector, armed, Paris, Aeneas,
Helenus, Troilus, and Attendants.
FTLN 2633
AGAMEMNON
Yonder comes the troop.
AENEAS
FTLN 2634
FTLN 2635
FTLN 2636
FTLN 2637
Hail, all the state of Greece! What shall be done
To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose
A victor shall be known? Will you the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
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191
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
Pursue each other, or shall they be divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.
AGAMEMNON
Which way would Hector have it?
80
AENEAS
FTLN 2642
He cares not; he’ll obey conditions.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2643
FTLN 2644
FTLN 2645
FTLN 2646
FTLN 2647
FTLN 2648
FTLN 2649
’Tis done like Hector.
But securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
The knight opposed.
AENEAS
If not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?
ACHILLES
If not Achilles, nothing.
ACHILLES
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90
AENEAS
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FTLN 2659
Therefore Achilles. But whate’er, know this:
In the extremity of great and little,
Valor and pride excel themselves in Hector,
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector’s blood,
In love whereof half Hector stays at home;
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.
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100
ACHILLES
FTLN 2660
A maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.
Enter Diomedes.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2661
FTLN 2662
FTLN 2663
FTLN 2664
FTLN 2665
FTLN 2666
Here is Sir Diomed.—Go, gentle knight;
Stand by our Ajax. As you and Lord Aeneas
Consent upon the order of their fight,
So be it, either to the uttermost
Or else a breath. The combatants being kin
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
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193
FTLN 2667
ULYSSES
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
Hector and Ajax enter the lists.
They are opposed already.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2668
What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2669
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FTLN 2672
FTLN 2673
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FTLN 2688
The youngest son of Priam, a true knight,
Not yet mature, yet matchless firm of word,
Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue,
Not soon provoked, nor being provoked soon calmed,
His heart and hand both open and both free.
For what he has, he gives; what thinks, he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath;
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous,
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender objects, but he in heat of action
Is more vindicative than jealous love.
They call him Troilus, and on him erect
A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth
Even to his inches, and with private soul
Did in great Ilium thus translate him to me.
Alarum. The fight begins.
AGAMEMNON They are in action.
NESTOR Now, Ajax, hold thine own!
TROILUS Hector, thou sleep’st. Awake thee!
110
115
120
125
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2689
His blows are well disposed.—There, Ajax!
Trumpets cease.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2690
FTLN 2691
You must no more.
AENEAS
Princes, enough, so please you.
AJAX
FTLN 2692
I am not warm yet. Let us fight again.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2693
As Hector pleases.
130
195
FTLN 2694
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
Why, then, will I no more.—
Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,
A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed.
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation ’twixt us twain.
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
That thou couldst say “This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my father’s,” by Jove multipotent,
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay
That any drop thou borrowd’st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms!
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
Cousin, all honor to thee!
They embrace.
AJAX
I thank thee, Hector.
Thou art too gentle and too free a man.
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition earnèd in thy death.
HECTOR
135
140
145
150
155
HECTOR
FTLN 2718
FTLN 2719
FTLN 2720
FTLN 2721
Not Neoptolemus so mirable—
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud’st “Oyez”
Cries “This is he”—could promise to himself
A thought of added honor torn from Hector.
160
AENEAS
FTLN 2722
FTLN 2723
FTLN 2724
FTLN 2725
There is expectance here from both the sides
What further you will do.
HECTOR
We’ll answer it;
The issue is embracement.—Ajax, farewell.
They embrace again.
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
AJAX
FTLN 2726
FTLN 2727
FTLN 2728
If I might in entreaties find success,
As seld I have the chance, I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2729
FTLN 2730
’Tis Agamemnon’s wish; and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.
170
HECTOR
FTLN 2731
FTLN 2732
FTLN 2733
FTLN 2734
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FTLN 2736
Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home.
175
Aeneas speaks to Trojans, who exit; he then
returns with Troilus.
To Ajax. Give me thy hand, my cousin.
I will go eat with thee and see your knights.
Agamemnon and the rest come forward.
AJAX
FTLN 2737
FTLN 2738
FTLN 2739
FTLN 2740
Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.
HECTOR, to Aeneas
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, my own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.
180
AGAMEMNON
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FTLN 2742
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FTLN 2745
FTLN 2746
FTLN 2747
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FTLN 2749
Worthy all arms! As welcome as to one
That would be rid of such an enemy—
But that’s no welcome. Understand more clear:
What’s past and what’s to come is strewed with husks
And formless ruin of oblivion;
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strained purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
Bids thee, with most divine integrity,
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.
HECTOR
FTLN 2750
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
AGAMEMNON,
FTLN 2751
to Troilus
My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2752
FTLN 2753
FTLN 2754
FTLN 2755
Let me confirm my princely brother’s greeting:
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
HECTOR, to Aeneas
Who must we answer?
AENEAS
The noble Menelaus.
195
HECTOR
FTLN 2756
FTLN 2757
FTLN 2758
FTLN 2759
O, you, my lord? By Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
Mock not that I affect th’ untraded oath;
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus’ glove.
She’s well, but bade me not commend her to you.
200
MENELAUS
FTLN 2760
FTLN 2761
Name her not now, sir; she’s a deadly theme.
HECTOR O, pardon! I offend.
NESTOR
FTLN 2762
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I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
Laboring for destiny, make cruel way
Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen
thee,
As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
Despising many forfeits and subduments,
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i’ th’ air,
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I have said to some my standers-by
“Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!”
And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath
When that a ring of Greeks have hemmed thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling. This have I seen.
But this thy countenance, still locked in steel,
I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire
And once fought with him; he was a soldier good,
But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
Never like thee! O, let an old man embrace thee;
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.
205
210
215
220
201
FTLN 2781
AENEAS,
Troilus and Cressida
to Hector
ACT 4. SC. 5
’Tis the old Nestor.
HECTOR
FTLN 2782
FTLN 2783
FTLN 2784
Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle
That hast so long walked hand in hand with time.
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
They embrace.
225
NESTOR
FTLN 2785
FTLN 2786
FTLN 2787
I would my arms could match thee in contention
As they contend with thee in courtesy.
HECTOR I would they could.
NESTOR
FTLN 2788
FTLN 2789
Ha! By this white beard, I’d fight with thee tomorrow.
Well, welcome, welcome. I have seen the time!
230
ULYSSES
FTLN 2790
FTLN 2791
I wonder now how yonder city stands
When we have here her base and pillar by us.
HECTOR
FTLN 2792
FTLN 2793
FTLN 2794
FTLN 2795
I know your favor, Lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, sir, there’s many a Greek and Trojan dead
Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
In Ilium, on your Greekish embassy.
235
ULYSSES
FTLN 2796
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FTLN 2810
Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue.
My prophecy is but half his journey yet,
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
Yon towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
Must kiss their own feet.
HECTOR
I must not believe you.
There they stand yet, and modestly I think
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood. The end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.
ULYSSES
So to him we leave it.
Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome.
After the General, I beseech you next
To feast with me and see me at my tent.
240
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250
203
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
ACHILLES
FTLN 2811
FTLN 2812
FTLN 2813
FTLN 2814
FTLN 2815
FTLN 2816
I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou!—
Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,
And quoted joint by joint.
HECTOR
Is this Achilles?
ACHILLES I am Achilles.
255
HECTOR
FTLN 2817
Stand fair, I pray thee. Let me look on thee.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2818
FTLN 2819
Behold thy fill.
HECTOR
Nay, I have done already.
260
ACHILLES
FTLN 2820
FTLN 2821
Thou art too brief. I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
HECTOR
FTLN 2822
FTLN 2823
FTLN 2824
O, like a book of sport thou ’lt read me o’er;
But there’s more in me than thou understand’st.
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?
265
ACHILLES
FTLN 2825
FTLN 2826
FTLN 2827
FTLN 2828
FTLN 2829
FTLN 2830
Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him—whether there, or there, or
there—
That I may give the local wound a name
And make distinct the very breach whereout
Hector’s great spirit flew. Answer me, heavens!
270
HECTOR
FTLN 2831
FTLN 2832
FTLN 2833
FTLN 2834
FTLN 2835
FTLN 2836
It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question. Stand again.
Think’st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
As to prenominate in nice conjecture
Where thou wilt hit me dead?
ACHILLES
I tell thee, yea.
HECTOR
FTLN 2837
FTLN 2838
Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,
I’d not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well,
275
205
FTLN 2839
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
For I’ll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,
But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,
I’ll kill thee everywhere, yea, o’er and o’er.—
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
His insolence draws folly from my lips.
But I’ll endeavor deeds to match these words,
Or may I never—
AJAX
Do not chafe thee, cousin.—
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone
Till accident or purpose bring you to ’t.
You may have every day enough of Hector
If you have stomach. The general state, I fear,
Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.
HECTOR, to Achilles
I pray you, let us see you in the field.
We have had pelting wars since you refused
The Grecians’ cause.
ACHILLES
Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
Tomorrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
Tonight all friends.
HECTOR
Thy hand upon that match.
280
285
290
295
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2859
FTLN 2860
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FTLN 2862
FTLN 2863
FTLN 2864
First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive we. Afterwards,
As Hector’s leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally entreat him.
Beat loud the taborins; let the trumpets blow,
That this great soldier may his welcome know.
Flourish.
All but Troilus and Ulysses exit.
TROILUS
FTLN 2865
FTLN 2866
My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2867
FTLN 2868
At Menelaus’ tent, most princely Troilus.
There Diomed doth feast with him tonight,
300
305
207
FTLN 2869
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ACT 4. SC. 5
Troilus and Cressida
Who neither looks upon the heaven nor Earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
On the fair Cressid.
310
TROILUS
FTLN 2872
FTLN 2873
FTLN 2874
FTLN 2875
FTLN 2876
FTLN 2877
FTLN 2878
Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
After we part from Agamemnon’s tent,
To bring me thither?
ULYSSES
You shall command me, sir.
As gentle tell me, of what honor was
This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
That wails her absence?
315
TROILUS
FTLN 2879
FTLN 2880
FTLN 2881
FTLN 2882
O sir, to such as boasting show their scars
A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
She was beloved, she loved; she is, and doth;
But still sweet love is food for Fortune’s tooth.
320
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter Achilles and Patroclus.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2883
FTLN 2884
FTLN 2885
I’ll heat his blood with Greekish wine tonight,
Which with my scimitar I’ll cool tomorrow.
Patroclus, let us feast him to the height.
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2886
Here comes Thersites.
Enter Thersites.
FTLN 2887
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FTLN 2901
How now, thou core of envy?
Thou crusty botch of nature, what’s the news?
THERSITES Why, thou picture of what thou seemest and
idol of idiot-worshippers, here’s a letter for thee.
ACHILLES From whence, fragment?
THERSITES Why, thou full dish of fool, from Troy.
Achilles takes the letter and moves aside to read it.
PATROCLUS Who keeps the tent now?
THERSITES The surgeon’s box or the patient’s wound.
PATROCLUS Well said, adversity. And what need these
tricks?
THERSITES Prithee, be silent, boy. I profit not by thy
talk. Thou art said to be Achilles’ male varlet.
PATROCLUS “Male varlet,” you rogue! What’s that?
THERSITES Why, his masculine whore. Now the rotten
diseases of the south, the guts-griping, ruptures,
211
ACHILLES
5
10
15
213
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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 1
catarrhs, loads o’ gravel in the back, lethargies,
cold palsies, raw eyes, dirt-rotten livers, whissing
lungs, bladders full of impostume, sciaticas,
limekilns i’ th’ palm, incurable bone-ache, and the
rivelled fee-simple of the tetter, take and take
again such preposterous discoveries.
PATROCLUS Why, thou damnable box of envy, thou,
what means thou to curse thus?
THERSITES Do I curse thee?
PATROCLUS Why, no, you ruinous butt, you whoreson
indistinguishable cur, no.
THERSITES No? Why art thou then exasperate, thou idle
immaterial skein of sleave-silk, thou green sarsenet
flap for a sore eye, thou tassel of a prodigal’s purse,
thou? Ah, how the poor world is pestered with such
waterflies, diminutives of nature!
PATROCLUS Out, gall!
THERSITES Finch egg!
ACHILLES, coming forward
My sweet Patroclus, I am thwarted quite
From my great purpose in tomorrow’s battle.
Here is a letter from Queen Hecuba,
A token from her daughter, my fair love,
Both taxing me and gaging me to keep
An oath that I have sworn. I will not break it.
Fall, Greeks; fail, fame; honor, or go or stay;
My major vow lies here; this I’ll obey.
Come, come, Thersites, help to trim my tent.
This night in banqueting must all be spent.
Away, Patroclus.
He exits with Patroclus.
THERSITES With too much blood and too little brain,
these two may run mad; but if with too much brain
and too little blood they do, I’ll be a curer of madmen.
Here’s Agamemnon, an honest fellow enough
and one that loves quails, but he has not so much
brain as earwax. And the goodly transformation
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
215
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 1
of Jupiter there, his brother, the bull—the primitive
statue and oblique memorial of cuckolds, a
thrifty shoeing-horn in a chain, hanging at his
brother’s leg—to what form but that he is should
wit larded with malice and malice forced with
wit turn him to? To an ass were nothing; he is both
ass and ox. To an ox were nothing; he is both ox
and ass. To be a dog, a mule, a cat, a fitchew, a
toad, a lizard, an owl, a puttock, or a herring without
a roe, I would not care; but to be Menelaus! I
would conspire against destiny. Ask me not what I
would be, if I were not Thersites, for I care not to be
the louse of a lazar so I were not Menelaus.
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FTLN 2943
FTLN 2944
FTLN 2945
FTLN 2946
FTLN 2947
FTLN 2948
FTLN 2949
55
60
65
Enter Hector, Troilus, Ajax, Agamemnon, Ulysses,
Nestor, Menelaus, and Diomedes, with lights.
Heyday! Sprites and fires!
We go wrong, we go wrong.
FTLN 2950
FTLN 2951
AGAMEMNON
AJAX
FTLN 2952
FTLN 2953
FTLN 2954
No, yonder—’tis there, where we see the lights.
I trouble you.
AJAX No, not a whit.
70
HECTOR
Enter Achilles.
FTLN 2955
ULYSSES,
to Hector
Here comes himself to guide you.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2956
FTLN 2957
FTLN 2958
Welcome, brave Hector. Welcome, princes all.
AGAMEMNON, to Hector
So now, fair prince of Troy, I bid good night.
Ajax commands the guard to tend on you.
75
HECTOR
FTLN 2959
Thanks, and good night to the Greeks’ general.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2960
FTLN 2961
FTLN 2962
Good night, my lord.
HECTOR
Menelaus.
Good night, sweet lord
80
217
FTLN 2963
FTLN 2964
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 1
THERSITES,
aside
Sweet draught. “Sweet,” quoth he?
Sweet sink, sweet sewer.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2965
FTLN 2966
FTLN 2967
Good night and welcome, both at once , to those
That go or tarry.
AGAMEMNON Good night.
Agamemnon and Menelaus exit.
85
ACHILLES
FTLN 2968
FTLN 2969
Old Nestor tarries, and you too, Diomed.
Keep Hector company an hour or two.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2970
FTLN 2971
FTLN 2972
FTLN 2973
FTLN 2974
FTLN 2975
I cannot, lord. I have important business,
The tide whereof is now.—Good night, great Hector.
HECTOR Give me your hand.
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
Follow his torch; he goes to Calchas’ tent.
I’ll keep you company.
TROILUS
Sweet sir, you honor me.
90
HECTOR
FTLN 2976
FTLN 2977
FTLN 2978
FTLN 2979
FTLN 2980
FTLN 2981
FTLN 2982
FTLN 2983
FTLN 2984
FTLN 2985
FTLN 2986
FTLN 2987
FTLN 2988
And so, good night.
Diomedes exits, followed by Troilus and Ulysses.
ACHILLES
Come, come, enter my tent.
Achilles, Ajax, Nestor, and Hector exit.
THERSITES That same Diomed’s a false-hearted rogue,
a most unjust knave. I will no more trust him when
he leers than I will a serpent when he hisses. He
will spend his mouth and promise like Brabbler
the hound, but when he performs, astronomers
foretell it; it is prodigious, there will come some
change. The sun borrows of the moon when
Diomed keeps his word. I will rather leave to see
Hector than not to dog him. They say he keeps a
Trojan drab and uses the traitor Calchas his tent.
I’ll after. Nothing but lechery! All incontinent varlets!
He exits.
95
100
105
219
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
Scene 2
Enter Diomedes.
FTLN 2989
FTLN 2990
FTLN 2991
FTLN 2992
FTLN 2993
What, are you up here, ho? Speak.
CALCHAS, within
Who calls?
DIOMEDES Diomed. Calchas, I think? Where’s your
daughter?
CALCHAS, within
She comes to you.
DIOMEDES
5
Enter Troilus and Ulysses, at a distance, and then,
apart from them, Thersites.
ULYSSES,
FTLN 2994
aside to Troilus
Stand where the torch may not discover us.
Enter Cressida.
TROILUS,
FTLN 2995
FTLN 2996
aside to Ulysses
Cressid comes forth to him.
DIOMEDES
How now, my charge?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2997
FTLN 2998
FTLN 2999
FTLN 3000
FTLN 3001
FTLN 3002
FTLN 3003
FTLN 3004
FTLN 3005
FTLN 3006
FTLN 3007
FTLN 3008
Now, my sweet guardian. Hark, a word with you.
She whispers to him.
TROILUS, aside
Yea, so familiar?
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
She will sing any man at
first sight.
THERSITES, aside
And any man may sing her, if he
can take her clef. She’s noted.
DIOMEDES Will you remember?
Remember? Yes.
CRESSIDA
DIOMEDES Nay, but do, then, and let your mind be
coupled with your words.
TROILUS, aside
What should she remember?
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
List!
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3009
FTLN 3010
FTLN 3011
Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more to folly.
THERSITES, aside
Roguery!
DIOMEDES Nay, then—
10
15
20
221
FTLN 3012
CRESSIDA
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
I’ll tell you what—
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3013
Foh, foh, come, tell a pin! You are forsworn.
25
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3014
FTLN 3015
In faith, I cannot. What would you have me do?
THERSITES, aside
A juggling trick: to be secretly open!
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3016
What did you swear you would bestow on me?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3017
FTLN 3018
FTLN 3019
FTLN 3020
FTLN 3021
FTLN 3022
I prithee, do not hold me to mine oath.
Bid me do anything but that, sweet Greek.
DIOMEDES Good night.
TROILUS, aside
Hold, patience!
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
How now, Trojan?
CRESSIDA Diomed—
30
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3023
FTLN 3024
FTLN 3025
FTLN 3026
FTLN 3027
FTLN 3028
FTLN 3029
FTLN 3030
FTLN 3031
FTLN 3032
FTLN 3033
FTLN 3034
FTLN 3035
FTLN 3036
FTLN 3037
No, no, good night. I’ll be your fool no more.
aside
Thy better must.
CRESSIDA Hark, a word in your ear.
She whispers to him.
TROILUS, aside
O plague and madness!
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
You are moved, prince. Let us depart, I pray you,
Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself
To wrathful terms. This place is dangerous;
The time right deadly. I beseech you, go.
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
Behold, I pray you.
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
Nay, good my lord, go off.
You flow to great distraction. Come, my lord.
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
I prithee, stay.
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
You have not patience. Come.
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
I pray you, stay. By hell and all hell’s torments,
I will not speak a word.
35
TROILUS,
40
45
223
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3038
And so good night.
FTLN 3039
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3040
TROILUS,
FTLN 3041
FTLN 3042
FTLN 3043
He starts to leave.
Nay, but you part in anger.
Doth that grieve thee? O withered
aside
truth!
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
How now, my lord?
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
By Jove, I will be patient.
50
55
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3044
FTLN 3045
Guardian! Why, Greek!
DIOMEDES
Foh foh! Adieu. You palter.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3046
FTLN 3047
FTLN 3048
FTLN 3049
FTLN 3050
FTLN 3051
FTLN 3052
FTLN 3053
FTLN 3054
FTLN 3055
FTLN 3056
FTLN 3057
In faith, I do not. Come hither once again.
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
You shake, my lord, at something. Will you go?
You will break out.
TROILUS, aside
She strokes his cheek!
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
Come, come.
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
Nay, stay. By Jove, I will not speak a word.
There is between my will and all offenses
A guard of patience. Stay a little while.
THERSITES, aside
How the devil Luxury, with his fat
rump and potato finger, tickles these together.
Fry, lechery, fry!
DIOMEDES
But will you, then?
60
65
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3058
In faith, I will, la. Never trust me else.
70
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3059
FTLN 3060
FTLN 3061
FTLN 3062
FTLN 3063
FTLN 3064
Give me some token for the surety of it.
CRESSIDA I’ll fetch you one.
She exits.
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
You have sworn patience.
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
Fear me not, my lord.
I will not be myself nor have cognition
Of what I feel. I am all patience.
75
225
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
Enter Cressida with Troilus’s sleeve.
FTLN 3065
THERSITES,
FTLN 3066
CRESSIDA,
FTLN 3067
FTLN 3068
FTLN 3069
FTLN 3070
aside
Now the pledge, now, now, now!
giving the sleeve
Here, Diomed. Keep this
sleeve.
TROILUS, aside
O beauty, where is thy faith?
ULYSSES, aside to Troilus
My lord—
TROILUS, aside to Ulysses
I will be patient; outwardly I will.
80
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3071
FTLN 3072
FTLN 3073
You look upon that sleeve? Behold it well.
He loved me—O false wench!—Give ’t me again.
She snatches the sleeve from Diomedes.
DIOMEDES Whose was ’t?
85
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3074
FTLN 3075
FTLN 3076
FTLN 3077
FTLN 3078
FTLN 3079
FTLN 3080
FTLN 3081
It is no matter, now I ha ’t again.
I will not meet with you tomorrow night.
I prithee, Diomed, visit me no more.
THERSITES, aside
Now she sharpens. Well said,
whetstone.
DIOMEDES I shall have it.
CRESSIDA What, this?
DIOMEDES Ay, that.
90
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3082
FTLN 3083
FTLN 3084
FTLN 3085
FTLN 3086
FTLN 3087
O all you gods!—O pretty, pretty pledge!
Thy master now lies thinking on his bed
Of thee and me, and sighs, and takes my glove,
And gives memorial dainty kisses to it
As I kiss thee.
He grabs the sleeve, and she tries to retrieve it.
DIOMEDES
Nay, do not snatch it from me.
95
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3088
He that takes that doth take my heart withal.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3089
FTLN 3090
I had your heart before. This follows it.
aside
I did swear patience.
TROILUS,
100
227
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3091
FTLN 3092
FTLN 3093
FTLN 3094
FTLN 3095
You shall not have it, Diomed, faith, you shall not.
I’ll give you something else.
DIOMEDES I will have this. Whose was it?
CRESSIDA It is no matter.
DIOMEDES Come, tell me whose it was.
105
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3096
FTLN 3097
FTLN 3098
’Twas one’s that loved me better than you will.
But now you have it, take it.
DIOMEDES
Whose was it?
110
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3099
FTLN 3100
By all Diana’s waiting-women yond,
And by herself, I will not tell you whose.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3101
FTLN 3102
FTLN 3103
FTLN 3104
Tomorrow will I wear it on my helm
And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it.
TROILUS, aside
Wert thou the devil and wor’st it on thy horn,
It should be challenged.
115
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3105
FTLN 3106
FTLN 3107
FTLN 3108
Well, well, ’tis done, ’tis past. And yet it is not.
I will not keep my word.
DIOMEDES
Why, then, farewell.
Thou never shalt mock Diomed again.
He starts to leave.
120
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3109
FTLN 3110
FTLN 3111
FTLN 3112
FTLN 3113
FTLN 3114
You shall not go. One cannot speak a word
But it straight starts you.
DIOMEDES
I do not like this fooling.
TROILUS, aside
Nor I, by Pluto! But that that likes not you
Pleases me best.
DIOMEDES
What, shall I come? The hour?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3115
Ay, come.—O Jove!—Do, come.—I shall be plagued.
125
229
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3116
FTLN 3117
FTLN 3118
FTLN 3119
FTLN 3120
FTLN 3121
FTLN 3122
FTLN 3123
FTLN 3124
FTLN 3125
Farewell, till then.
Good night. I prithee, come.—
He exits.
Troilus, farewell. One eye yet looks on thee,
But with my heart the other eye doth see.
Ah, poor our sex! This fault in us I find:
The error of our eye directs our mind.
What error leads must err. O, then conclude:
Minds swayed by eyes are full of turpitude.
She exits.
THERSITES, aside
A proof of strength she could not publish more,
Unless she said “My mind is now turned whore.”
CRESSIDA
130
135
ULYSSES
FTLN 3126
All’s done, my lord.
FTLN 3127
TROILUS
FTLN 3128
ULYSSES
It is.
Why stay we then?
140
TROILUS
FTLN 3129
FTLN 3130
FTLN 3131
FTLN 3132
FTLN 3133
FTLN 3134
FTLN 3135
FTLN 3136
FTLN 3137
FTLN 3138
FTLN 3139
FTLN 3140
FTLN 3141
To make a recordation to my soul
Of every syllable that here was spoke.
But if I tell how these two did co-act,
Shall I not lie in publishing a truth?
Sith yet there is a credence in my heart,
An esperance so obstinately strong.
That doth invert th’ attest of eyes and ears,
As if those organs had deceptious functions,
Created only to calumniate.
Was Cressid here?
ULYSSES
I cannot conjure, Trojan.
TROILUS She was not, sure.
ULYSSES Most sure she was.
145
150
TROILUS
FTLN 3142
Why, my negation hath no taste of madness.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3143
Nor mine, my lord. Cressid was here but now.
155
231
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
TROILUS
FTLN 3144
FTLN 3145
FTLN 3146
FTLN 3147
FTLN 3148
Let it not be believed for womanhood!
Think, we had mothers. Do not give advantage
To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme
For depravation, to square the general sex
By Cressid’s rule. Rather, think this not Cressid.
160
ULYSSES
FTLN 3149
FTLN 3150
What hath she done, prince, that can soil our
mothers?
TROILUS
FTLN 3151
FTLN 3152
FTLN 3153
Nothing at all, unless that this were she.
aside
Will he swagger himself out on ’s
own eyes?
THERSITES,
165
TROILUS
FTLN 3154
FTLN 3155
FTLN 3156
FTLN 3157
FTLN 3158
FTLN 3159
FTLN 3160
FTLN 3161
FTLN 3162
FTLN 3163
FTLN 3164
FTLN 3165
FTLN 3166
FTLN 3167
FTLN 3168
FTLN 3169
FTLN 3170
FTLN 3171
FTLN 3172
FTLN 3173
FTLN 3174
FTLN 3175
This she? No, this is Diomed’s Cressida.
If beauty have a soul, this is not she;
If souls guide vows, if vows be sanctimonies,
If sanctimony be the gods’ delight,
If there be rule in unity itself,
This is not she. O madness of discourse,
That cause sets up with and against itself!
Bifold authority, where reason can revolt
Without perdition, and loss assume all reason
Without revolt. This is and is not Cressid.
Within my soul there doth conduce a fight
Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparate
Divides more wider than the sky and Earth,
And yet the spacious breadth of this division
Admits no orifex for a point as subtle
As Ariachne’s broken woof to enter.
Instance, O instance, strong as Pluto’s gates,
Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heaven;
Instance, O instance, strong as heaven itself,
The bonds of heaven are slipped, dissolved, and
loosed,
And with another knot, five-finger-tied,
170
175
180
185
233
FTLN 3176
FTLN 3177
FTLN 3178
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
The fractions of her faith, orts of her love,
The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics
Of her o’er-eaten faith are given to Diomed.
190
ULYSSES
FTLN 3179
FTLN 3180
May worthy Troilus be half attached
With that which here his passion doth express?
TROILUS
FTLN 3181
FTLN 3182
FTLN 3183
FTLN 3184
FTLN 3185
FTLN 3186
FTLN 3187
FTLN 3188
FTLN 3189
FTLN 3190
FTLN 3191
FTLN 3192
FTLN 3193
FTLN 3194
FTLN 3195
Ay, Greek, and that shall be divulgèd well
In characters as red as Mars his heart
Inflamed with Venus. Never did young man fancy
With so eternal and so fixed a soul.
Hark, Greek: as much as I do Cressid love,
So much by weight hate I her Diomed.
That sleeve is mine that he’ll bear on his helm.
Were it a casque composed by Vulcan’s skill,
My sword should bite it. Not the dreadful spout
Which shipmen do the hurricano call,
Constringed in mass by the almighty sun,
Shall dizzy with more clamor Neptune’s ear
In his descent than shall my prompted sword
Falling on Diomed.
THERSITES, aside
He’ll tickle it for his concupy.
195
200
205
TROILUS
FTLN 3196
FTLN 3197
FTLN 3198
FTLN 3199
FTLN 3200
O Cressid! O false Cressid! False, false, false!
Let all untruths stand by thy stainèd name,
And they’ll seem glorious.
ULYSSES
O, contain yourself.
Your passion draws ears hither.
210
Enter Aeneas.
AENEAS,
FTLN 3201
FTLN 3202
FTLN 3203
to Troilus
I have been seeking you this hour, my lord.
Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy.
Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.
TROILUS
FTLN 3204
Have with you, prince.—My courteous lord, adieu.—
215
235
FTLN 3205
FTLN 3206
FTLN 3207
FTLN 3208
FTLN 3209
FTLN 3210
FTLN 3211
FTLN 3212
FTLN 3213
FTLN 3214
FTLN 3215
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
Farewell, revolted fair!—And, Diomed,
Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!
ULYSSES I’ll bring you to the gates.
TROILUS Accept distracted thanks.
Troilus, Aeneas, and Ulysses exit.
THERSITES Would I could meet that rogue Diomed! I
would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would
bode. Patroclus will give me anything for the intelligence
of this whore. The parrot will not do more
for an almond than he for a commodious drab.
Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery! Nothing
else holds fashion. A burning devil take them!
He exits.
220
225
Scene 3
Enter Hector, armed, and Andromache.
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3216
FTLN 3217
FTLN 3218
When was my lord so much ungently tempered
To stop his ears against admonishment?
Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.
HECTOR
FTLN 3219
FTLN 3220
You train me to offend you. Get you in.
By all the everlasting gods, I’ll go!
5
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3221
My dreams will sure prove ominous to the day.
HECTOR
FTLN 3222
No more, I say.
Enter Cassandra.
FTLN 3223
CASSANDRA
Where is my brother Hector?
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3224
FTLN 3225
FTLN 3226
Here, sister, armed and bloody in intent.
Consort with me in loud and dear petition;
Pursue we him on knees. For I have dreamt
10
237
FTLN 3227
FTLN 3228
ACT 5. SC. 3
Troilus and Cressida
Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night
Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3229
FTLN 3230
O, ’tis true!
HECTOR, calling out
Ho! Bid my trumpet sound!
15
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3231
No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother!
HECTOR
FTLN 3232
Begone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3233
FTLN 3234
FTLN 3235
FTLN 3236
FTLN 3237
FTLN 3238
FTLN 3239
The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows.
They are polluted off’rings more abhorred
Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.
ANDROMACHE, to Hector
O, be persuaded! Do not count it holy
To hurt by being just. It is as lawful,
For we would give much, to use violent thefts
And rob in the behalf of charity.
20
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3240
FTLN 3241
FTLN 3242
FTLN 3243
FTLN 3244
FTLN 3245
FTLN 3246
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
But vows to every purpose must not hold.
Unarm, sweet Hector.
HECTOR
Hold you still, I say.
Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate.
Life every man holds dear, but the dear man
Holds honor far more precious-dear than life.
25
30
Enter Troilus, armed.
FTLN 3247
How now, young man? Meanest thou to fight today?
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3248
Cassandra, call my father to persuade.
Cassandra exits.
HECTOR
FTLN 3249
FTLN 3250
FTLN 3251
No, faith, young Troilus, doff thy harness, youth.
I am today i’ th’ vein of chivalry.
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
35
239
FTLN 3252
FTLN 3253
FTLN 3254
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
I’ll stand today for thee and me and Troy.
TROILUS
FTLN 3255
FTLN 3256
Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you
Which better fits a lion than a man.
40
HECTOR
FTLN 3257
What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.
TROILUS
FTLN 3258
FTLN 3259
FTLN 3260
When many times the captive Grecian falls,
Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
You bid them rise and live.
45
HECTOR
FTLN 3261
FTLN 3262
O, ’tis fair play.
TROILUS
Fool’s play, by heaven. Hector.
HECTOR
FTLN 3263
FTLN 3264
FTLN 3265
FTLN 3266
FTLN 3267
FTLN 3268
How now? How now?
For th’ love of all the gods,
Let’s leave the hermit Pity with our mother,
And when we have our armors buckled on,
The venomed Vengeance ride upon our swords,
Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth.
TROILUS
50
HECTOR
FTLN 3269
FTLN 3270
Fie, savage, fie!
TROILUS
Hector, then ’tis wars.
55
HECTOR
FTLN 3271
FTLN 3272
FTLN 3273
FTLN 3274
FTLN 3275
FTLN 3276
FTLN 3277
FTLN 3278
FTLN 3279
Troilus, I would not have you fight today.
Who should withhold me?
Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars,
Beck’ning with fiery truncheon my retire;
Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
Their eyes o’er-gallèd with recourse of tears;
Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn
Opposed to hinder me, should stop my way,
But by my ruin.
TROILUS
60
241
ACT 5. SC. 3
Troilus and Cressida
Enter Priam and Cassandra.
CASSANDRA,
FTLN 3280
FTLN 3281
FTLN 3282
FTLN 3283
FTLN 3284
FTLN 3285
FTLN 3286
FTLN 3287
FTLN 3288
FTLN 3289
FTLN 3290
FTLN 3291
FTLN 3292
FTLN 3293
FTLN 3294
FTLN 3295
FTLN 3296
FTLN 3297
FTLN 3298
FTLN 3299
indicating Hector
Lay hold upon him, Priam; hold him fast.
He is thy crutch. Now if thou loose thy stay,
Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
Fall all together.
PRIAM
Come, Hector, come. Go back.
Thy wife hath dreamt, thy mother hath had visions,
Cassandra doth foresee, and I myself
Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt
To tell thee that this day is ominous.
Therefore, come back.
HECTOR
Aeneas is afield,
And I do stand engaged to many Greeks,
Even in the faith of valor, to appear
This morning to them.
PRIAM
Ay, but thou shalt not go.
HECTOR I must not break my faith.
You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir,
Let me not shame respect, but give me leave
To take that course by your consent and voice
Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.
65
70
75
80
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3300
FTLN 3301
O Priam, yield not to him!
ANDROMACHE
85
Do not, dear father.
HECTOR
FTLN 3302
FTLN 3303
Andromache, I am offended with you.
Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
Andromache exits.
TROILUS
FTLN 3304
FTLN 3305
FTLN 3306
FTLN 3307
FTLN 3308
This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl
Makes all these bodements.
CASSANDRA
O farewell, dear Hector.
Look how thou diest! Look how thy eye turns pale!
Look how thy wounds do bleed at many vents!
90
243
FTLN 3309
FTLN 3310
FTLN 3311
FTLN 3312
FTLN 3313
FTLN 3314
ACT 5. SC. 3
Troilus and Cressida
Hark, how Troy roars, how Hecuba cries out,
How poor Andromache shrills her dolor forth!
Behold, distraction, frenzy, and amazement,
Like witless antics, one another meet,
And all cry “Hector! Hector’s dead! O, Hector!”
TROILUS Away, away!
95
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3315
FTLN 3316
Farewell.—Yet soft! Hector, I take my leave.
Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive.
100
She exits.
HECTOR
FTLN 3317
FTLN 3318
FTLN 3319
You are amazed, my liege, at her exclaim.
Go in and cheer the town. We’ll forth and fight,
Do deeds worth praise, and tell you them at night.
PRIAM
FTLN 3320
Farewell. The gods with safety stand about thee!
Hector and Priam exit at separate doors.
Alarum.
105
TROILUS
FTLN 3321
FTLN 3322
They are at it, hark! Proud Diomed, believe,
I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.
Enter Pandarus, with a paper.
FTLN 3323
FTLN 3324
FTLN 3325
FTLN 3326
FTLN 3327
FTLN 3328
FTLN 3329
FTLN 3330
FTLN 3331
FTLN 3332
FTLN 3333
Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?
TROILUS What now?
PANDARUS Here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.
TROILUS Let me read.
He reads.
PANDARUS A whoreson phthisic, a whoreson rascally
phthisic so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of
this girl, and what one thing, what another, that I
shall leave you one o’ these days. And I have a
rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ache in my
bones that, unless a man were cursed, I cannot tell
what to think on ’t.—What says she there?
PANDARUS
110
115
TROILUS
FTLN 3334
FTLN 3335
Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.
Th’ effect doth operate another way.
120
245
FTLN 3336
FTLN 3337
FTLN 3338
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 4
Go, wind, to wind! There turn and change together.
He tears up the paper and throws the pieces in the air.
My love with words and errors still she feeds,
But edifies another with her deeds.
They exit.
Scene 4
Alarum. Excursions. Enter Thersites.
FTLN 3339
FTLN 3340
FTLN 3341
FTLN 3342
FTLN 3343
FTLN 3344
FTLN 3345
FTLN 3346
FTLN 3347
FTLN 3348
FTLN 3349
FTLN 3350
FTLN 3351
FTLN 3352
FTLN 3353
FTLN 3354
FTLN 3355
FTLN 3356
Now they are clapper-clawing one another.
I’ll go look on. That dissembling abominable varlet,
Diomed, has got that same scurvy doting foolish
young knave’s sleeve of Troy there in his helm.
I would fain see them meet, that that same young
Trojan ass that loves the whore there might send
that Greekish whoremasterly villain with the sleeve
back to the dissembling luxurious drab, of a sleeveless
errand. O’ th’ t’other side, the policy of those
crafty swearing rascals—that stale old mouse-eaten
dry cheese, Nestor, and that same dog-fox,
Ulysses—is proved not worth a blackberry. They
set me up, in policy, that mongrel cur, Ajax, against
that dog of as bad a kind, Achilles. And now is the
cur Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles, and will
not arm today, whereupon the Grecians begin to
proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill
opinion.
THERSITES
5
10
15
Enter Diomedes, and Troilus pursuing him.
FTLN 3357
FTLN 3358
FTLN 3359
FTLN 3360
Soft! Here comes sleeve and t’ other.
Thersites moves aside.
TROILUS, to Diomedes
Fly not, for shouldst thou take the river Styx
I would swim after.
DIOMEDES
Thou dost miscall retire.
20
247
FTLN 3361
FTLN 3362
FTLN 3363
FTLN 3364
FTLN 3365
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 5
I do not fly, but advantageous care
Withdrew me from the odds of multitude.
Have at thee!
They fight.
THERSITES Hold thy whore, Grecian! Now for thy
whore, Trojan! Now the sleeve, now the sleeve!
Diomedes and Troilus exit fighting.
25
Enter Hector.
HECTOR
FTLN 3366
FTLN 3367
FTLN 3368
FTLN 3369
FTLN 3370
FTLN 3371
FTLN 3372
FTLN 3373
FTLN 3374
FTLN 3375
FTLN 3376
What art thou, Greek? Art thou for Hector’s match?
Art thou of blood and honor?
THERSITES No, no, I am a rascal, a scurvy railing
knave, a very filthy rogue.
HECTOR I do believe thee. Live.
He exits.
THERSITES God-a-mercy, that thou wilt believe me!
But a plague break thy neck for frighting me!
What’s become of the wenching rogues? I think
they have swallowed one another. I would laugh at
that miracle—yet, in a sort, lechery eats itself. I’ll
seek them.
He exits.
30
35
Scene 5
Enter Diomedes and Servingman.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3377
FTLN 3378
FTLN 3379
FTLN 3380
FTLN 3381
FTLN 3382
Go, go, my servant, take thou Troilus’ horse;
Present the fair steed to my Lady Cressid.
Fellow, commend my service to her beauty.
Tell her I have chastised the amorous Trojan
And am her knight by proof.
MAN
I go, my lord.
Enter Agamemnon.
5
He exits.
249
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 5
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 3383
FTLN 3384
FTLN 3385
FTLN 3386
FTLN 3387
FTLN 3388
FTLN 3389
FTLN 3390
FTLN 3391
FTLN 3392
FTLN 3393
Renew, renew! The fierce Polydamas
Hath beat down Menon; bastard Margareton
Hath Doreus prisoner,
And stands colossus-wise, waving his beam
Upon the pashèd corses of the kings
Epistrophus and Cedius. Polyxenes is slain,
Amphimachus and Thoas deadly hurt,
Patroclus ta’en or slain, and Palamedes
Sore hurt and bruised. The dreadful Sagittary
Appals our numbers. Haste we, Diomed,
To reinforcement, or we perish all.
10
15
Enter Nestor, with Soldiers bearing the body of
Patroclus.
NESTOR
FTLN 3394
FTLN 3395
FTLN 3396
FTLN 3397
FTLN 3398
FTLN 3399
FTLN 3400
FTLN 3401
FTLN 3402
FTLN 3403
FTLN 3404
FTLN 3405
FTLN 3406
Go, bear Patroclus’ body to Achilles,
And bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame.
Soldiers exit with Patroclus’s body.
There is a thousand Hectors in the field.
Now here he fights on Galathe his horse,
And here lacks work; anon he’s there afoot
And there they fly or die, like scalèd schools
Before the belching whale; then is he yonder,
And there the strawy Greeks, ripe for his edge,
Fall down before him like a mower’s swath.
Here, there, and everywhere he leaves and takes,
Dexterity so obeying appetite
That what he will he does, and does so much
That proof is called impossibility.
Enter Ulysses.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3407
FTLN 3408
FTLN 3409
FTLN 3410
O, courage, courage, princes! Great Achilles
Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance.
Patroclus’ wounds have roused his drowsy blood,
Together with his mangled Myrmidons,
20
25
30
251
FTLN 3411
FTLN 3412
FTLN 3413
FTLN 3414
FTLN 3415
FTLN 3416
FTLN 3417
FTLN 3418
FTLN 3419
FTLN 3420
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 6
That noseless, handless, hacked and chipped, come
to him,
Crying on Hector. Ajax hath lost a friend
And foams at mouth, and he is armed and at it,
Roaring for Troilus, who hath done today
Mad and fantastic execution,
Engaging and redeeming of himself
With such a careless force and forceless care
As if that luck, in very spite of cunning,
Bade him win all.
35
40
Enter Ajax.
FTLN 3421
FTLN 3422
FTLN 3423
Troilus, thou coward Troilus!
DIOMEDES Ay, there, there!
NESTOR So, so, we draw together.
AJAX
He exits.
He exits.
45
Enter Achilles.
FTLN 3424
FTLN 3425
FTLN 3426
FTLN 3427
Where is this Hector?—
Come, come, thou boy-queller, show thy face!
Know what it is to meet Achilles angry.
Hector! Where’s Hector? I will none but Hector.
He exits, with the others.
ACHILLES
50
Scene 6
Enter Ajax.
AJAX
FTLN 3428
Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head!
Enter Diomedes.
FTLN 3429
FTLN 3430
FTLN 3431
Troilus, I say! Where’s Troilus?
AJAX What wouldst thou?
DIOMEDES I would correct him.
DIOMEDES
AJAX
FTLN 3432
FTLN 3433
Were I the General, thou shouldst have my office
Ere that correction.—Troilus, I say! What, Troilus!
5
253
ACT 5. SC. 6
Troilus and Cressida
Enter Troilus.
TROILUS
FTLN 3434
FTLN 3435
FTLN 3436
O traitor Diomed! Turn thy false face, thou traitor,
And pay the life thou owest me for my horse!
DIOMEDES Ha! Art thou there?
AJAX
FTLN 3437
I’ll fight with him alone. Stand, Diomed.
10
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3438
He is my prize. I will not look upon.
TROILUS
FTLN 3439
Come, both you cogging Greeks. Have at you both!
Enter Hector.
Troilus exits, fighting Diomedes and Ajax.
HECTOR
FTLN 3440
Yea, Troilus? O, well fought, my youngest brother!
Enter Achilles.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3441
Now do I see thee. Ha! Have at thee, Hector!
They fight.
FTLN 3442
HECTOR
Pause if thou wilt.
15
ACHILLES
FTLN 3443
FTLN 3444
FTLN 3445
FTLN 3446
FTLN 3447
FTLN 3448
FTLN 3449
FTLN 3450
I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan.
Be happy that my arms are out of use.
My rest and negligence befriends thee now,
But thou anon shalt hear of me again;
Till when, go seek thy fortune.
He exits.
HECTOR
Fare thee well.
I would have been much more a fresher man
Had I expected thee.
Enter Troilus.
FTLN 3451
How now, my brother?
20
255
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 7
TROILUS
FTLN 3452
FTLN 3453
FTLN 3454
FTLN 3455
FTLN 3456
Ajax hath ta’en Aeneas. Shall it be?
No, by the flame of yonder glorious heaven,
He shall not carry him. I’ll be ta’en too
Or bring him off. Fate, hear me what I say!
I reck not though I end my life today.
25
He exits.
Enter one in Greek armor.
HECTOR
FTLN 3457
FTLN 3458
FTLN 3459
FTLN 3460
FTLN 3461
FTLN 3462
Stand, stand, thou Greek! Thou art a goodly mark.
No? Wilt thou not? I like thy armor well.
I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all,
But I’ll be master of it.
The Greek exits.
Wilt thou not, beast, abide?
Why then, fly on. I’ll hunt thee for thy hide.
He exits.
30
35
Scene 7
Enter Achilles, with Myrmidons.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3463
FTLN 3464
FTLN 3465
FTLN 3466
FTLN 3467
FTLN 3468
FTLN 3469
FTLN 3470
Come here about me, you my Myrmidons.
Mark what I say. Attend me where I wheel.
Strike not a stroke, but keep yourselves in breath,
And, when I have the bloody Hector found,
Empale him with your weapons round about.
In fellest manner execute your arms.
Follow me, sirs, and my proceedings eye.
It is decreed Hector the great must die.
They exit.
5
257
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 9
Scene 8
Enter Thersites; then Menelaus fighting Paris.
FTLN 3471
FTLN 3472
FTLN 3473
FTLN 3474
The cuckold and the cuckold-maker are at
it. Now, bull! Now, dog! Loo, Paris, loo! Now, my
double-horned Spartan! Loo, Paris, loo! The bull
has the game. Ware horns, ho!
Paris and Menelaus exit, fighting.
THERSITES
Enter Bastard.
FTLN 3475
FTLN 3476
FTLN 3477
FTLN 3478
FTLN 3479
FTLN 3480
FTLN 3481
FTLN 3482
FTLN 3483
FTLN 3484
FTLN 3485
Turn, slave, and fight.
THERSITES What art thou?
BASTARD A bastard son of Priam’s.
THERSITES I am a bastard too. I love bastards. I am
bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind,
bastard in valor, in everything illegitimate. One
bear will not bite another, and wherefore should
one bastard? Take heed: the quarrel’s most ominous
to us. If the son of a whore fight for a whore,
he tempts judgment. Farewell, bastard.
He exits.
BASTARD The devil take thee, coward!
He exits.
BASTARD
Scene 9
Enter Hector, with the body of the Greek in armor.
HECTOR
FTLN 3486
FTLN 3487
FTLN 3488
FTLN 3489
Most putrefied core, so fair without,
Thy goodly armor thus hath cost thy life.
Now is my day’s work done. I’ll take my breath.
Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death.
He begins to disarm.
Enter Achilles and his Myrmidons.
5
10
15
259
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 10
ACHILLES
FTLN 3490
FTLN 3491
FTLN 3492
FTLN 3493
Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set,
How ugly night comes breathing at his heels.
Even with the vail and dark’ning of the sun
To close the day up, Hector’s life is done.
5
HECTOR
FTLN 3494
I am unarmed. Forgo this vantage, Greek.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3495
FTLN 3496
FTLN 3497
FTLN 3498
FTLN 3499
FTLN 3500
Strike, fellows, strike! This is the man I seek.
The Myrmidons kill Hector.
So, Ilium, fall thou next! Come, Troy, sink down!
Here lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone.
On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain
“Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.”
Retreat sounded from both armies.
Hark! A retire upon our Grecian part.
10
15
A MYRMIDON
FTLN 3501
The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3502
FTLN 3503
FTLN 3504
FTLN 3505
FTLN 3506
FTLN 3507
The dragon wing of night o’erspreads the Earth
And, stickler-like, the armies separates.
My half-supped sword, that frankly would have fed,
Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed.
He sheathes his sword.
Come, tie his body to my horse’s tail;
Along the field I will the Trojan trail.
They exit with the bodies.
Scene 10
Sound retreat. Enter Agamemnon, Ajax, Menelaus,
Nestor, Diomedes, and the rest, marching to the beat of
drums. Shout within.
Hark, hark, what shout is this?
Peace, drums!
The drums cease.
FTLN 3508
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 3509
NESTOR
20
261
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 11
SOLDIERS,
FTLN 3510
within
Achilles! Achilles! Hector’s slain! Achilles!
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3511
The bruit is Hector’s slain, and by Achilles.
AJAX
FTLN 3512
FTLN 3513
If it be so, yet bragless let it be.
Great Hector was as good a man as he.
5
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 3514
FTLN 3515
FTLN 3516
FTLN 3517
March patiently along. Let one be sent
To pray Achilles see us at our tent.
If in his death the gods have us befriended,
Great Troy is ours, and our sharp wars are ended.
They exit, marching.
10
Scene 11
Enter Aeneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and Trojan
soldiers.
AENEAS
FTLN 3518
FTLN 3519
Stand, ho! Yet are we masters of the field.
Never go home; here starve we out the night.
Enter Troilus.
TROILUS
FTLN 3520
FTLN 3521
Hector is slain.
ALL
Hector! The gods forbid!
TROILUS
FTLN 3522
FTLN 3523
FTLN 3524
FTLN 3525
FTLN 3526
FTLN 3527
He’s dead, and at the murderer’s horse’s tail,
In beastly sort, dragged through the shameful field.
Frown on, you heavens; effect your rage with speed.
Sit, gods, upon your thrones, and smite at Troy!
I say at once: let your brief plagues be mercy,
And linger not our sure destructions on!
AENEAS
FTLN 3528
My lord, you do discomfort all the host.
5
10
263
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 11
TROILUS
FTLN 3529
FTLN 3530
FTLN 3531
FTLN 3532
FTLN 3533
FTLN 3534
FTLN 3535
FTLN 3536
FTLN 3537
FTLN 3538
FTLN 3539
FTLN 3540
FTLN 3541
FTLN 3542
FTLN 3543
FTLN 3544
FTLN 3545
FTLN 3546
FTLN 3547
FTLN 3548
FTLN 3549
FTLN 3550
You understand me not that tell me so.
I do not speak of flight, of fear, of death,
But dare all imminence that gods and men
Address their dangers in. Hector is gone.
Who shall tell Priam so, or Hecuba?
Let him that will a screech-owl aye be called
Go into Troy and say their Hector’s dead.
There is a word will Priam turn to stone,
Make wells and Niobes of the maids and wives,
Cold statues of the youth and, in a word,
Scare Troy out of itself. But march away.
Hector is dead. There is no more to say.
Stay yet. You vile abominable tents,
Thus proudly pitched upon our Phrygian plains,
Let Titan rise as early as he dare,
I’ll through and through you! And, thou great-sized
coward,
No space of earth shall sunder our two hates.
I’ll haunt thee like a wicked conscience still,
That moldeth goblins swift as frenzy’s thoughts.
Strike a free march to Troy! With comfort go.
Hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe.
15
20
25
30
Enter Pandarus.
FTLN 3551
PANDARUS
But hear you, hear you!
TROILUS
FTLN 3552
FTLN 3553
FTLN 3554
FTLN 3555
FTLN 3556
FTLN 3557
FTLN 3558
FTLN 3559
Hence, broker, lackey! Ignomy and shame
Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name!
All but Pandarus exit.
PANDARUS A goodly medicine for my aching bones! O
world, world, world ! Thus is the poor agent despised.
O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are
you set a-work, and how ill requited! Why should
our endeavor be so loved and the performance so
loathed? What verse for it? What instance for it?
35
40
265
FTLN 3560
FTLN 3561
FTLN 3562
FTLN 3563
FTLN 3564
FTLN 3565
FTLN 3566
FTLN 3567
FTLN 3568
FTLN 3569
FTLN 3570
FTLN 3571
FTLN 3572
FTLN 3573
FTLN 3574
FTLN 3575
FTLN 3576
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 11
Let me see:
Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing,
Till he hath lost his honey and his sting;
And being once subdued in armèd tail,
Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail.
Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted
cloths:
As many as be here of panders’ hall,
Your eyes, half out, weep out at Pandar’s fall;
Or if you cannot weep, yet give some groans,
Though not for me, yet for your aching bones.
Brethren and sisters of the hold-door trade,
Some two months hence my will shall here be made.
It should be now, but that my fear is this:
Some gallèd goose of Winchester would hiss.
Till then I’ll sweat and seek about for eases,
And at that time bequeath you my diseases.
He exits.
45
50
55
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