Troilus and Cressida

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Original text
Act IV, Scene I
Enter at one doore Aneas with a Torch,
at another Paris, Diephobus, Anthenor, Diomed the
Grecian, with Torches.

Par.
See hoa, who is that there?

Dieph.
It is the Lord Aneas.

Ane.
Is the Prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lye long
As you Prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse,
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.

Diom.
That's my minde too: good morrow Lord Aneas.

Par.
A valiant Greeke Aneas, take his hand,
Witnesse the processe of your speech within;
You told how Diomed, in a whole weeke by dayes
Did haunt you in the Field.

Ane.
Health to you valiant sir,
During all question of the gentle truce:
But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance,
As heart can thinke, or courage execute.

Diom.
The one and other Diomed embraces,
Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health:
But when contention, and occasion meetes,
By Ioue, Ile play the hunter for thy life,
With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.

Ane.
And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye
With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse:
Welcome to Troy; now by Anchises life,
Welcome indeede: by Venus hand I sweare,
No man aliue can loue in such a sort,
The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.

Diom.
We simpathize. Ioue let Aneas liue
(If to my sword his fate be not the glory)
A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne,
But in mine emulous honor let him dye:
With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.

Ane.
We know each other well.

Dio.
We doe, and long to know each other worse.

Par.
This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting;
The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of.
What businesse Lord so early?

Ane.
I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.

Par.

His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek
To Calcha's house; and there to render him,
For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid:
Lers haue your company; or if you please,
Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke
(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)
My brother Troylus lodges there to night.
Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach,
With the whole quality whereof, I feare
We shall be much vnwelcome.

Ane.
That I assure you:
Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece,
Then Cressid borne from Troy.

Par.
There is no helpe:
The bitter disposition of the time
will haue it so. / On Lord, weele follow you.

Ane.
Good morrow all.
Exit Aneas

Par.
And tell me noble Diomed; faith tell me true,
Euen in the soule of sound good fellow ship,
Who in your thoughts merits faire Helen most?
My selfe, or Menelaus?

Diom.
Both alike.
He merits well to haue her, that doth seeke her,
Not making any scruple of her soylure,
With such a hell of paine, and world of charge.
And you as well to keepe her, that defend her,
Not pallating the taste of her dishonour,
With such a costly losse of wealth and friends:
He like a puling Cuckold, would drinke vp
The lees and dregs of a flat tamed peece:
You like a letcher, out of whorish loynes,
Are pleas'd to breede out your inheritors:
Both merits poyz'd, each weighs no lesse nor more,
But he as he, which heauier for a whore.

Par.
You are too bitter to your country-woman.

Dio.
Shee's bitter to her countrey: heare me Paris,
For euery false drop in her baudy veines,
A Grecians life hath sunke: for euery scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
A Troian hath beene slaine. Since she could speake,
She hath not giuen so many good words breath,
As for her, Greekes and Troians suffred death.

Par.
Faire Diomed, you doe as chapmen doe,
Dis praise the thing that you desire to buy:
But we in silence hold this vertue well;
Weele not commend, what we intend to sell.
Here lyes our way.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene II
Enter Troylus and Cressida.

Troy.
Deere trouble not your selfe: the morne is cold.

Cres.
Then sweet my Lord, Ile call mine Vnckle down;
He shall vnbolt the Gates.

Troy.
Trouble him not:
To bed, to bed: sleepe kill those pritty eyes,
And giue as soft attachment to thy sences,
As Infants empty of all thought.

Cres.
Good morrow then.

Troy.
I prithee now to bed.

Cres.
Are you a weary of me?

Troy.
O Cressida! but that the busie day
Wak't by the Larke, hath rouz'd the ribauld Crowes,
And dreaming night will hide our eyes no longer:
I would not from thee.

Cres.
Night hath beene too briefe.

Troy.
Beshrew the witch! with venemous wights she stayes,
As hidiously as hell; but flies the graspes of loue,
With wings more momentary, swift then thought:
You will catch cold, and curse me.

Cres.
Prithee tarry,
you men will neuer tarry;
O foolish Cressid, I might haue still held off,
And then you would haue tarried. Harke, ther's one vp?

Pand.
within.
What's all the doores open here?

Troy.
It is your Vnckle.

Cres.
A pestilence on him: now will he be mocking:
I shall haue such a life.
Enter Pandarus.

Pan.
How now, how now? how goe maiden-heads?
Heare you Maide: wher's my cozin Cressid?

Cres.
Go hang your self, you naughty mocking Vnckle:
You bring me to doo----and then you floute me too.

Pan.
To do what? to do what? let her say what:
What haue I brought you to doe?

Cres.
Come, come, beshrew your heart: youle nere be good,
nor suffer others.

Pan.
Ha, ha: alas poore wretch: a poore Chipochia,
hast not slept to night? would he not (a naughty
man) let it sleepe: a bug-beare take him.

Cres.
Did not I tell you? would he were knockt ith' head.
One knocks.
Who's that at doore? good Vnckle goe and see.
My Lord, come you againe into my Chamber:
You smile and mocke me, as if I meant naughtily.

Troy.
Ha, ha.

Cre.
Come you are deceiu'd, I thinke of no such thing.
Knocke.
How earnestly they knocke: pray you come in.
I would not for halfe Troy haue you seene here.
Exeunt

Pan.
Who's there? what's the matter? will you
beate downe the doore? How now, what's the matter?

Ane.
Good morrow Lord, good morrow.

Pan.
Who's there my Lord Aneas? by my troth
I knew you not: what newes with you so early?

Ane.
Is not Prince Troylus here?

Pan.
Here? what should he doe here?

Ane.
Come he is here, my Lord, doe not deny him:
It doth import him much to speake with me.

Pan.
Is he here say you? 'tis more then I know,
Ile be sworne: For my owne part I came in late: what
should he doe here?

Ane.
Who, nay then: Come, come, youle doe him
wrong, ere y'are ware: youle be so true to him, to be
false to him: Doe not you know of him, but yet goe fetch
him hither, goe.
Enter Troylus.

Troy.
How now, what's the matter?

Ane.
My Lord, I scarce haue leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash: there is at hand,
Paris your brother, and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomed, and our Anthenor
Deliuer'd to vs, and for him forth-with,
Ere the first sacrifice, within this houre,
We must giue vp to Diomeds hand
The Lady Cressida.

Troy.
Is it concluded so?

Ane.
By Priam, and the generall state of Troy,
They are at hand, and ready to effect it.

Troy.
How my atchieuements mocke me;
I will goe meete them: and my Lord Aneas,
We met by chance; you did not finde me here.

An.
Good, good, my Lord, the secrets of nature
Haue not more gift in taciturnitie.
Exennt.
Enter Pandarus and Cressid.

Pan.
Is't possible? no sooner got but lost: the
diuell take Anthenor; the yong Prince will goe mad:
a plague vpon Anthenor; I would they had brok's necke.

Cres.
How now? what's the matter? who was here?

Pan.
Ah, ha!

Cres.
Why sigh you so profoundly? wher's my
Lord? gone? tell me sweet Vnckle, what's the matter?

Pan.
Would I were as deepe vnder the earth as I
am aboue.

Cres.
O the gods! what's the matter?

Pan.
Prythee get thee in: would thou had'st nere
been borne; I knew thou would'st be his death. O poore
Gentleman: a plague vpon Anthenor.

Cres.
Good Vnckle I beseech you, on my knees, I
beseech you what's the matter?

Pan.
Thou must be gone wench, thou must be
gone; thou art chang'd for Anthenor: thou must to thy
Father, and be gone from Troylus: 'twill be his death:
'twill be his baine, he cannot beare it..

Cres.
O you immortall gods! I will not goe.

Pan.
Thou must.

Cres.
I will not Vnckle: I haue forgot my Father:
I know no touch of consanguinitie:
No kin, no loue, no bloud, no soule, so neere me,
As the sweet Troylus: O you gods diuine!
Make Cressids name the very crowne of falshood!
If euer she leaue Troylus: time, orce and death,
Do to this body what extremitie you can;
But the strong base and building of my loue,
Is as the very Center of the earth,
Drawing all things to it. I will goe in and weepe.

Pan.
Doe, doe.

Cres.
Teare my bright heire, and scratch my praised cheekes,
Cracke my cleere voyce with sobs, and breake my heart
With sounding Troylus. I will not goe from Troy.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene III
Enter Paris, Troylus, Aneas, Deiphebus, Anthenor
andDiomedes.

Par.
Itis great morning, and the houre prefixt
Of her deliuerie to this valiant Greeke
Comes fast vpon: good my brother Troylus,
Tell you the Lady what she is to doe,
And hast her to the purpose.

Troy.
Walke into her house:
Ile bring her to the Grecian presently;
And to his hand, when I deliuer her,
Thinke it an Altar, and thy brother Troylus
A Priest, there offring to it his heart.

Par.
I know what 'tis to loue,
And would, as I shall pittie, I could helpe.
Please you walke in, my Lords.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene IV
Enter Pandarus and Cressid.

Pan.
Be moderate, be moderate.

Cres.
Why tell you me of moderation?
The griefe is fine, full perfect that I taste,
And no lesse in a sense as strong
As that which causeth it. How can I moderate it?
If I could temporise with my affection,
Or brew it to a weake and colder pallat,
The like alaiment could I giue my griefe:
My loue admits no qualifying crosse;
Enter Troylus.
No more my griefe, in such a precious losse.

Pan.
Here, here, here, he comes, a sweet ducke.

Cres.
O Troylus, Troylus!

Pan.
What a paire of spectacles is here? let me
embrace too: oh hart, as the goodly saying is;
O heart, heauie heart,
why sighest thou without breaking?
where he answers againe;
because thou canst not ease thy smart
by friendship, nor by speaking:
there was neuer a truer rime; let vs cast away
nothing, for we may liue to haue neede of such a Verse:
we see it, we see it: how now Lambs?

Troy.
Cressid: I loue thee in so strange a puritie;
That the blest gods, as angry with my fancie,
More bright in zeale, then the deuotion which
Cold lips blow to their Deities: take thee from me.

Cres.
Haue the gods enuie?

Pan.
I, I, I, I, 'tis too plaine a case.

Cres.
And is it true, that I must goe from Troy?

Troy.
A hatefull truth.

Cres.
What, and from Troylus too?

Troy.
From Troy, and Troylus.

Cres.
Ist possible?

Troy.
And sodainely, where iniurie of chance
Puts backe leaue-taking, iustles roughly by
All time of pause; rudely beguiles our lips
Of all reioyndure: forcibly preuents
Our lockt embrasures; strangles our deare vowes,
Euen in the birth of our owne laboring breath.
We two, that with so many thousand sighes
Did buy each other, must poorely sell our selues,
With the rude breuitie and discharge of our
Iniurious time; now with a robbers haste
Crams his rich theeuerie vp, he knowes not how.
As many farwels as be stars in heauen,
With distinct breath, and consign'd kisses to them,
He fumbles vp into a loose adiew;
And scants vs with a single famisht kisse,
Distasting with the salt of broken teares.

Enter Aneus.
Aneas within.
My Lord, is the Lady ready?

Troy.
Harke, you are call'd: some say the genius so
Cries, come to him that instantly must dye.
Bid them haue patience: she shall come anon.

Pan.
Where are my teares? raine, to lay this winde,
or my heart will be blowne vp by the root.

Cres.
I must then to the Grecians?

Troy.
No remedy.

Cres.
A wofull Cressid 'mong'st the merry Greekes.
When shall we see againe?

Troy.
Here me my loue: be thou but true of heart.

Cres.
I true? how now? what wicked deeme is this?

Troy.
Nay, we must vse expostulation kindely,
For it is parting from vs:
I speake not, be thou true, as fearing thee:
For I will throw my Gloue to death himselfe,
That there's 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.

Cres.
O you shall be expos'd, my Lord to dangers
As infinite, as imminent: but Ile be true.

Troy.
And Ile grow friend with danger; / Weare this Sleeue.

Cres.
And you this Gloue. / When shall I see you?

Troy.
I will corrupt the Grecian Centinels,
To giue thee nightly visitation.
But yet be true.

Cres.
O heauens: be true againe?

Troy.
Heare why I speake it; Loue:
The Grecian youths are full of qualitie,
Their louing well compos'd, with guift of nature,
Flawing and swelling ore with Arts and exercise:
How nouelties may moue, and parts with person.
Alas, a kinde of godly iealousie;
Which I beseech you call a vertuous sinne:
Makes me affraid.

Cres.
O heauens, you loue me not!

Troy.
Dye I a villaine then:
In this I doe not call your faith in question
So mainely as my merit: I cannot sing,
Nor heele the high Lauolt; nor sweeten talke;
Nor play at subtill games; faire vertues all;
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant:
But I can tell that in each grace of these,
There lurkes a still and dumb-discoursiue diuell,
That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted.

Cres.
Doe you thinke I will:

Troy.
No,
but something may be done that we wil not:
And sometimes we are diuels to our selues,
When we will tempt the frailtie of our powers,
Presuming on their changefull potencie.

Aneas
within.
Nay, good my Lord?

Troy.
Come kisse, and let vs part.

Paris
within.
Brother Troylus?

Troy.
Good brother come you hither,
And bring Aneas and the Grecian with you.

Cres.
My Lord, will you be true? Exit.

Troy.
Who I? alas it is my vice, my fault:
Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,
I, with great truth, catch meere simplicitie;
Whil'st some with cunning guild their copper crownes,
With truth and plainnesse I doe weare mine bare:
Feare not my truth; the morrall of my wit
Is plaine and true, ther's all the reach of it.
Enter the Greekes.

Welcome sir Diomed, here is the Lady
Which for Antenor, we deliuer you.
At the port (Lord) Ile giue her to thy hand,
And by the way possesse thee what she is.
Entreate her faire; and by my soule, faire Greeke,
If ere thou stand at mercy of my Sword,
Name Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
As Priam is in Illion?

Diom.
Faire Lady Cressid,
So please you saue the thankes this Prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heauen in your cheeke,
Pleades your faire visage, and to Diomed
You shall be mistresse, and command him wholly.

Troy.
Grecian, thou do'st not vse me curteously,
To shame the seale of my petition towards,
I praising her. I tell thee Lord of Greece:
Shee is as farre high soaring o're thy praises,
As thou vnworthy to be cal'd her seruant:
I charge thee vse her well, euen for my charge:
For by the dreadfull Pluto, if thou do'st not,
(Though the great bulke Achilles be thy guard)
Ile cut thy throate.

Diom.
Oh be not mou'd Prince Troylus;
Let me be priuiledg'd by my place and message,
To be a speaker free? when I am hence,
Ile answer to my lust: and know my Lord;
Ile nothing doe on charge: to her owne worth
She shall be priz'd: but that you say, be't so;
Ile speake it in my spirit and honor, no.

Troy.
Come to the Port. Ile tell thee Diomed,
This braue, shall oft make thee to hide thy head:
Lady, giue me your hand, and as we walke,
To our owne selues bend we our needefull talke.
Sound Trumpet.

Par.
Harke, Hectors Trumpet.

Ane.
How haue we spent this morning
The Prince must thinke me tardy and remisse,
That swore to ride before him in the field.

Par.
'Tis Troylus fault: come, come, to field with him.

Dio.
Let vs make ready straight.

Ane.
Yea, with a Bridegroomes fresh alacritie
Let vs addresse to tend on Hectors heeles:
The glory of our Troy doth this day lye
On his faire worth, and single Chiualrie.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene V
Enter Aiax armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon,
Menelaus, Vlisses, Nestcr, Calcas, &c.

Aga.
Here art thou in appointment fresh and faire,
Anticipating time. With starting courage,
Giue with thy Trumpet a loud note to Troy
Thou dreadfull Aiax, that the appauled aire
May pierce the head of the great Combatant,
And hale him hither.

Aia.
Thou, Trumpet, ther's my purse;
Now cracke thy lungs, and split thy brasen pipe:
Blow villaine, till thy sphered Bias cheeke
Out-swell the collicke of puft Aquilon:
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout bloud:
Thou blowest for Hector.

Vlis.
No Trumpet answers.

Achil.
'Tis but early dayes.

Aga.
Is not yong Diomed with Calcas daughter?

Vlis.
'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gate,
He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.



Aga.
Is this the Lady Cressid?

Dio.
Euen she.

Aga.
Most deerely welcome to the Greekes, sweete Lady.

Nest.
Our Generall doth salute you with a kisse.

Ulis.
Yet is the kindenesse but particular;
'twere better she were kist in generall.

Nest.
And very courtly counsell: Ile begin.
So much for Nestor.

Achil.
Ile take that winter from your lips faire Lady
Achilles bids you welcome.

Mene.
I had good argument for kissing once.

Patro.
But that's no argument for kissing now;
For thus pop't Paris in his hardiment.


Vlis.

Oh deadly gall, and theame of all our scornes,
For which we loose our heads, to gild his hornes.

Patro.
The first was Menelaus kisse, this mine:
Patroclus kisses you.

Mene.
Oh this is trim.

Patr.
Paris and I kisse euermore for him.

Mene.
Ile haue my kisse sir: Lady by your leaue.

Cres.
In kissing doe you render, or receiue.

Patr.
Both take and giue.

Cres.
Ile make my match to liue,
The kisse you take is better then you giue:
therefore no kisse.

Mene.
Ile giue you boote, Ile giue you three for one.

Cres.
You are an odde man, giue euen, or giue none.

Mene.
An odde man Lady, euery man is odde.

Cres.
No, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true,
That you are odde, and he is euen with you.

Mene.
You fillip me a'th'head.

Cres.
No, Ile be sworne.

Vlis.
It were no match, your naile against his horne:
May I sweete Lady beg a kisse of you?

Cres.
You may.

Ulis.
I doe desire it.

Cres.
Why begge then?

Vlis.
Why then for Venus sake, giue me a kisse:
When Hellen is a maide againe, and his---

Cres.
I am your debtor, claime it when 'tis due.

Ulis.
Neuer's my day, and then a kisse of you.

Diom.
Lady a word, Ile bring you to your Father.

Nest.
A woman of quicke sence.

Vlis.
Fie, fie, vpon her:
Ther's a language in her eye, her cheeke, her lip;
Nay, her foote speakes, her wanton spirites looke out
At euery ioynt, and motiue of her body:
Oh these encounterers so glib of tongue,
That giue a coasting welcome ete it comes;
And wide vnclaspe the tables of their thoughts,
To euery tickling reader: set them downe,
For sluttish spoyles of opportunitie;
And daughters of the game. Exennt.
Florish.

All.
The Troians Trumpet.

Aga.
Yonder comes the troope.
Enter all of Troy, Hector, Paris, Aneas, Helenus
and Attendants.

Ane.
Haile all you state of Greece: what shalbe done
To him that victory commands? or doe you purpose,
A victor shall be knowne: will you the Knights
Shall to the edge of all extremitie
Pursue each other; or shall be diuided
By any voyce, or order of the field:
Hector bad aske?

Aga.
Which way would Hector haue it?

Ane.
He cares not, heele obey conditions.

Aga.
'Tis done like Hector,
but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deale disprising
The Knight oppos'd.

Ane.
If not Achilles sir,
what is your name?

Achil.
If not Achilles, nothing.

Ane.
Therefore Achilles: but what ere, know this,
In the extremity of great and little:
Valour and pride excell themselues in Hector;
The one almost as infinite as all;
The other blanke as nothing: weigh him well:
And that which lookes like pride, is curtesie:
This Aiax is halfe made of Hectors bloud;
In loue whereof, halfe Hector staies at home:
Halfe heart, halfe hand, halfe Hector, comes to seeke
This blended Knight, halfe Troian, and halfe Greeke.

Achil.
A maiden battaile then? O I perceiue you.


Aga.
Here is sir, Diomed: goe gentle Knight,
Stand by our Aiax: as you and Lord Aneas
Consent vpon the order of their fight,
So be it: either to the vttermost,
Or else a breach: the Combatants being kin,
Halfe stints their strife, before their strokes begin.


Vlis.
They are oppos'd already.

Aga.
What Troian is that same that lookes so heauy?

Vlis.
The yongest Sonne of Priam; / A true Knight; they call him Troylus;
Not yet mature, yet matchlesse, firme of word,
Speaking in deedes, and deedelesse in his tongue;
Not soone prouok't, nor being prouok't, soone calm'd;
His heart and hand both open, and both free:
For what he has, he giues; what thinkes, he shewes;
Yet giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender obiects; but he, in heate of action,
Is more vindecatiue then iealous loue.
They call him Troylus; and on him erect,
A second hope, as fairely built as Hector.
Thus saies Aneas, one that knowes the youth,
Euen to his inches: and with priuate soule,
Did in great Illion thus translate him to me.
Alarum.

Aga.
They are in action.

Nest.
Now Aiax hold thine owne.

Troy.
Hector, thou sleep'st,
awake thee.

Aga.
His blowes are wel dispos'd there Aiax.
trũpets cease.

Diom.
You must no more.

Ane.
Princes enough, so please you.

Aia.
I am not warme yet, let vs fight againe.

Diom.
As Hector pleases.

Hect.
Why then will I no more:
Thou art great Lord, my Fathers sisters Sonne;
A cousen german to great Priams seede:
The obligation of our bloud forbids
A gorie emulation 'twixt vs twaine:
Were thy commixion, Greeke and Troian so,
That thou could'st say, this hand is Grecian all,
And this is Troian: the sinewes of this Legge,
All Greeke, and this all Troy: my Mothers bloud
Runs on the dexter cheeke, and this sinister
Bounds in my fathers: by Ioue multipotent,
Thou should'st not beare from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our ranke feud: but the iust gods gainsay,
That any drop thou borrwd'st from thy mother,
My sacred Aunt, should by my mortall Sword
Be drained. Let me embrace thee Aiax:
By him that thunders, thou hast lustie Armes;
Hector would haue them fall vpon him thus.
Cozen, all honor to thee.

Aia.
I thanke thee Hector:
Thou art too gentle, and too free a man:
I came to kill thee Cozen, and beare hence
A great addition, earned in thy death.

Hect.
Not Neoptolymus so mirable,
On whose bright crest, fame with her lowd'st (O yes)
Cries, This is he; could'st promise to himselfe,
A thought of added honor, torne from Hector.

Ane.
There is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will doe?

Hect.
Weele answere it:
The issue is embracement: Aiax, farewell.

Aia.
If I might in entreaties finde successe,
As seld I haue the chance; I would desire
My famous Cousin to our Grecian Tents.

Diom.
'Tis Agamemnons wish, and great Achilles
Doth long to see vnarm'd the valiant Hector.

Hect.
Aneas, call my brother Troylus to me:
And signifie this louing enterview
To the expecters of our Troian part:
Desire them home. Giue me thy hand, my Cousin:
I will goe eate with thee, and see your Knights.
Enter Agamemnon and the rest.

Aia.
Great Agamemnon comes to meete vs here.

Hect.
The worthiest of them, tell me name by name:
But for Achilles, mine owne serching eyes
Shall finde him by his large and portly size.

Aga.
Worthy of Armes: as welcome as to one
That would be rid of such an enemie.
But that's no welcome: vnderstand more cleere
What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with huskes,
And formelesse ruine of obliuion:
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing:
Bids thee with most diuine integritie,
From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.

Hect.
I thanke thee most imperious Agamemnon.

Aga.
My well-fam'd Lord of Troy, no lesse to you.

Men.
Let me confirme my Princely brothers greeting,
You brace of warlike Brothers, welcome hither.

Hect.
Who must we answer?

Ane.
The Noble Menelaus.

Hect.
O, you my Lord, by Mars his gauntlet thanks,
Mocke not, that I affect th'vntraded Oath,
Your quondam wife sweares still by Venus Gloue
Shee's well, but bad me not commend her to you.

Men.
Name her not now sir, she's a deadly Theame.

Hect.
O pardon, I offend.

Nest.
I haue (thou gallant Troyan) seene thee oft
Labouring for destiny, make cruell way
Through rankes of Greekish youth: and I haue seen thee
As hot as Perseus, spurre thy Phrygian Steed,
And seene thee scorning forfeits and subduments,
When thou hast hung thy aduanced sword i'th'ayre,
Not letting it decline, on the declined:
That I haue said vnto my standers by,
Loe Iupiter is yonder, dealing life.
And I haue seene thee pause, and take thy breath,
When that a ring of Greekes haue hem'd thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling. This haue I seene,
But this thy countenance (still lockt in steele)
I neuer saw till now. I knew thy Grandsire,
And once fought with him; he was a Souldier good,
But by great Mars, the Captaine of vs all,
Neuer like thee. Let an oldman embrace thee,
And (worthy Warriour) welcome to our Tents.

Ane.
'Tis the old Nestor.

Hect.
Let me embrace thee good old Chronicle,
That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:
Most reuerend Nestor, I am glad to claspe thee.

Ne.
I would my armes could match thee in contention
As they contend with thee in courtesie.

Hect.
I would they could.

Nest.
Ha?
by this white beard I'ld fight with thee to morrow.
Well, welcom, welcome: I haue seen the time.

Vlys.
I wonder now, how yonder City stands,
When we haue heere her Base and pillar by vs.

Hect.
I know your fauour Lord Vlysses well.
Ah sir, there's many a Greeke and Troyan dead,
Since first I saw your selfe, and Diomed
In Illion, on your Greekish Embassie.

Vlys.
Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue,
My prophesie is but halfe his iourney yet;
For yonder wals that pertly front your Towne,
Yond Towers, whose wanton tops do busse the clouds,
Must kisse their owne feet.

Hect.
I must not beleeue you:
There they stand yet: and modestly I thinke,
The fall of euery Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood: the end crownes all,
And that old common Arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.

Vlys.
So to him we leaue it.
Most gentle, and most valiant Hector, welcome;
After the Generall, I beseech you next
To Feast with me, and see me at my Tent.

Achil.
I shall forestall thee Lord Vlysses, thou:
Now Hector I haue fed mine eyes on thee,
I haue with exact view perus'd thee Hector,
And quoted ioynt by ioynt.

Hect.
Is this Achilles?

Achil.
I am Achilles.

Hect.
Stand faire I prythee, let me looke on thee.

Achil.
Behold thy fill.

Hect.
Nay, I haue done already.

Achil.
Thou art to breefe, I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee, limbe by limbe.

Hect.
O like a Booke of sport thou'lt reade me ore:
But there's more in me then thou vnderstand'st.
Why doest thou so oppresse me with thine eye?

Achil.
Tell me you Heauens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? Whether there, or there, or there,
That I may giue the locall wound a name,
And make distinct the very breach, where-out
Hectors great spirit flew. Answer me heauens.

Hect.
It would discredit the blest Gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: Stand againe;
Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly,
As to prenominate in nice coniecture
Where thou wilt hit me dead?

Achil.
I tell thee yea.

Hect.
Wert thou the Oracle to tell me so,
I'ld not beleeue thee: henceforth guard thee well,
For Ile not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,
But by the forge that stythied Mars his helme,
Ile kill thee euery where, yea, ore and ore.
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this bragge,
His insolence drawes folly from my lips,
But Ile endeuour deeds to match these words,
Or may I neuer---

Aiax.
Do not chafe thee Cosin:
And you Achilles, let these threats alone
Till accident, or purpose bring you too't.
You may euery day enough of Hector
If you haue stomacke. The generall state I feare,
Can scarse intreat you to be odde with him.

Hect.
I pray you let vs see you in the field,
We haue had pelting Warres since you refus'd
The Grecians cause.

Achil.
Dost thou intreat me Hector?
To morrow do I meete thee fell as death,
To night, all Friends.

Hect.
Thy hand vpon that match.

Aga.
First, all you Peeres of Greece go to my Tent,
There in the full conuiue you: Afterwards,
As Hectors leysure, and your bounties shall
Concurre together, seuerally intreat him.
Beate lowd the Taborins, let the Trumpets blow,
That this great Souldier may his welcome know.
Exeunt

Troy.
My Lord Ulysses, tell me I beseech you,
In what place of the Field doth Calchas keepe?

Ulys.
At Menelaus Tent, most Princely Troylus,
There Diomed doth feast with him to night,
Who neither lookes on heauen, nor on earth,
But giues all gaze and bent of amorous view
On the faire Cressid.

Troy.
Shall I (sweet Lord) be bound to thee so much,
After we part from Agamemnons Tent,
To bring me thither?

Vlys.
You shall command me sir:
As gentle tell me, of what Honour was
This Cressida in Troy, had she no Louer there
That wailes her absence?

Troy.
O sir, to such as boasting shew their scarres,
A mocke is due: will you walke on my Lord?
She was belou'd, she lou'd; she is, and dooth;
But still sweet Loue is food for Fortunes tooth.
Exeunt.
Modern text
Act IV, Scene I
Enter, at one door, Aeneas and a servant with a torch;
at another, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes the
Grecian, and others with torches

PARIS
See, ho! Who is that there?

DEIPHOBUS
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 bed-mate of my company.

DIOMEDES
That's my mind too. – Good morrow, Lord Aeneas.

PARIS
A valiant Greek, Aeneas – take his hand –
Witness the process of your speech within;
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
The one and other Diomed embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health;
But when contention and occasion meet,
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life
With all my force, pursuit, and policy.

AENEAS
And thou shalt hunt a lion that will fly
With his face backward. – In humane 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.

DIOMEDES
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 honour let him die,
With every joint a wound, and that tomorrow!

AENEAS
We know each other well.

DIOMEDES
We do, and long to know each other worse.

PARIS
This is the most despiteful'st gentle greeting,
The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.
(To Aeneas) What business, lord, so early?

AENEAS
I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.

PARIS
(to Aeneas)
His purpose meets you: it was 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: I constantly do think –
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.

AENEAS
(to Paris)
That I assure you;
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
Than Cressid borne from Troy.

PARIS
(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.
Exit with servant

PARIS
And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,
Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,
Who, in your thoughts, merits fair Helen most,
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 dishonour,
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends.
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
The lees and dregs of a flat tamed 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 you, each heavier for a whore.

PARIS
You are too bitter to your countrywoman.

DIOMEDES
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.

PARIS
Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy;
But we in silence hold this virtue well:
We'll not commend what we intend to sell.
Here lies our way.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene II
Enter Troilus and Cressida

TROILUS
Dear, trouble not yourself; the morn is cold.

CRESSIDA
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!

CRESSIDA
Good morrow, then.

TROILUS
I prithee now, to bed.

CRESSIDA
Are you aweary of me?

TROILUS
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
Beshrew the witch! With venomous wights she stays
As hideously as hell, but flies the grasps of love
With wings more momentary-swift than thought.
You will catch cold, and curse me.

CRESSIDA
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.

CRESSIDA
A pestilence on him! Now will he be mocking:
I shall have such a life!
Enter Pandarus

PANDARUS
How now, how now, how go maidenheads? –
Here, you maid! Where's my cousin Cressid?

CRESSIDA
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?

CRESSIDA
Come, come, beshrew your heart; you'll ne'er be good,
Nor suffer others.

PANDARUS
Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! A poor capocchia,
hast not slept tonight? Would he not – a naughty
man – let it sleep? – A bugbear take him!

CRESSIDA
Did not I tell you? – Would he were knocked i'th' head!
Knocking within
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!

CRESSIDA
Come, you are deceived; I think of no such thing. –
Knocking within
How earnestly they knock! – Pray you, come in;
I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
Exeunt Troilus and Cressida

PANDARUS
Who's there? What's the matter? Will you
beat down the door? How now! What's the matter?
Enter Aeneas

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?

AENEAS
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? 'Tis more than I know,
I'll be sworn. For my own part, I came in late. What
should he do here?

AENEAS
Whoa! 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.
Exit Pandarus
Enter Troilus

TROILUS
How now! What's the matter?

AENEAS
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 concluded so?

AENEAS
By Priam and the general state of Troy.
They are at hand, and ready to effect it.

TROILUS
How my achievements mock me! –
I will go meet them; and, my Lord Aeneas,
We met by chance: you did not find me here.

AENEAS
Good, good, my lord; the secrets of nature
Have not more gift in taciturnity.
Exeunt
Enter Pandarus and Cressida

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!

CRESSIDA
How now! What's the matter? Who was here?

PANDARUS
Ah, ha!

CRESSIDA
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
Prithee, 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.

CRESSIDA
O you immortal gods! – I will not go.

PANDARUS
Thou must.

CRESSIDA
I will not, uncle. I have forgot my father;
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 extremity you can;
But the strong base and building of my love
Is as the very centre of the earth,
Drawing all things to it. I will go in and weep –

PANDARUS
Do, do.

CRESSIDA
Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praised cheeks;
Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
With sounding ‘ Troilus.’ I will not go from Troy.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene III
Enter Paris, Troilus, Aeneas, Deiphobus, Antenor,
and Diomedes

PARIS
It is great morning, and the hour prefixed
Of 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 offering to it his own heart.

PARIS
I know what 'tis to love;
And would, as I shall pity, I could help. –
Please you walk in, my lords.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene IV
Enter Pandarus and Cressida

PANDARUS
Be moderate, be moderate.

CRESSIDA
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.
Enter Troilus

PANDARUS
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!

TROILUS
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.

CRESSIDA
And is it true that I must go from Troy?

TROILUS
A hateful truth.

CRESSIDA
What, and from Troilus too?

TROILUS
From Troy and Troilus.

CRESSIDA
Is't possible?

TROILUS
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 labouring 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 thievery 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?

TROILUS
Hark, you are called: some say the Genius so
Cries ‘ Come!’ 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.
Exit

CRESSIDA
I must, then, to the Grecians?

TROILUS
No remedy.

CRESSIDA
A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks!
When shall we see again?

TROILUS
Hear me, my love: be thou but true of heart –

CRESSIDA
I true? How now, what wicked deem is this?

TROILUS
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's 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.

CRESSIDA
O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers
As infinite as imminent; but I'll be true!

TROILUS
And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.

CRESSIDA
And you this glove. When shall I see you?

TROILUS
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 gifts of nature,
And flowing 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 afraid.

CRESSIDA
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-discoursive 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.

PARIS
(within)
Brother Troilus!

TROILUS
Good brother, come you hither,
And bring Aeneas and the Grecian with you.

CRESSIDA
My lord, will you be true?

TROILUS
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
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 lustre in your eye, heaven in your cheek,
Pleads your fair usage, and to Diomed
You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.

TROILUS
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, my lord,
I'll nothing do on charge. To her own worth
She shall be prized; but that you say ‘ Be't so,’
I'll speak it in my spirit and honour: ‘ No.’

TROILUS
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.
Exeunt Troilus, Cressida, and Diomedes
Sound trumpet

PARIS
Hark! Hector's trumpet!

AENEAS
How have we spent this morning!
The prince must think me tardy and remiss,
That swore to ride before him to the field.

PARIS
‘Tis Troilus' fault; come, come, to field with him.

DEIPHOBUS
Let us make ready straight.

AENEAS
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.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene V
Enter Ajax, armed, Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus,
Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, Calchas, and trumpeter

AGAMEMNON
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 appalled air
May pierce the head of the great combatant,
And hale him hither.

AJAX
Thou, trumpet, there's my purse.
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe;
Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias cheek
Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blowest for Hector.
Trumpet sounds

ULYSSES
No trumpet answers.

ACHILLES
'Tis but early days.

AGAMEMNON
Is not yond Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?

ULYSSES
'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.
Enter Diomedes with Cressida

AGAMEMNON
Is this the Lady Cressid?

DIOMEDES
Even she.

AGAMEMNON
(kissing her)
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.

NESTOR
Our general doth salute you with a kiss.

ULYSSES
Yet is the kindness but particular;
'Twere better she were kissed in general.

NESTOR
And very courtly counsel; I'll begin.
He kisses her
So much for Nestor.

ACHILLES
I'll take what winter from your lips, fair lady.
He kisses her
Achilles bids you welcome.

MENELAUS
I had good argument for kissing once.

PATROCLUS
But that's no argument for kissing now;
For this popped Paris in his hardiment,
And parted thus you and your argument.
He kisses her

ULYSSES
(aside)
O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns,
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.

PATROCLUS
The first was Menelaus' kiss; this, mine –
He kisses her again
Patroclus kisses you.

MENELAUS
O, this is trim!

PATROCLUS
Paris and I kiss evermore for him.

MENELAUS
I'll have my kiss, sir. – Lady, by your leave.

CRESSIDA
In kissing, do you render or receive?

MENELAUS
Both take and give.

CRESSIDA
I'll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give;
Therefore no kiss.

MENELAUS
I'll give you boot; I'll give you three for one.

CRESSIDA
You are an odd man; give even, or give none.

MENELAUS
An odd man, lady? Every man is odd.

CRESSIDA
No, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true
That you are odd, and he is even with you.

MENELAUS
You fillip me o'the head.

CRESSIDA
No, I'll be sworn.

ULYSSES
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

CRESSIDA
You may.

ULYSSES
I do desire it.

CRESSIDA
Why, beg then.

ULYSSES
Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss –
When Helen is a maid again, and his.

CRESSIDA
I am your debtor; claim it when 'tis due.

ULYSSES
Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.

DIOMEDES
Lady, a word; I'll bring you to your father.
Exit with Cressida

NESTOR
A woman of quick sense.

ULYSSES
Fie, fie upon her!
There's a 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.
Flourish

ALL
The Trojan's trumpet.

AGAMEMNON
Yonder comes the troop.
Enter all of Troy: Hector, Paris, Aeneas, Helenus,
Troilus, and attendants

AENEAS
Hail, all you 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
Pursue each other, or shall be divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.

AGAMEMNON
Which way would Hector have it?

AENEAS
He cares not; he'll obey conditions.

AGAMEMNON
'Tis done like Hector –

ACHILLES
But securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal disprizing
The knight opposed.

AENEAS
If not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?

ACHILLES
If not Achilles, nothing.

AENEAS
Therefore, Achilles, but, whate'er, know this:
In the extremity of great and little,
Valour 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.

ACHILLES
A maiden battle, then? – O, I perceive you.
Enter Diomedes

AGAMEMNON
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.
Hector and Ajax prepare to fight

ULYSSES
They are opposed already.

AGAMEMNON
What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?

ULYSSES
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 judgement 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. Hector and Ajax fight

AGAMEMNON
They are in action.

NESTOR
Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

TROILUS
Hector, thou sleep'st;
Awake thee!

AGAMEMNON
His blows are well disposed – there, Ajax!
Trumpets cease

DIOMEDES
You must no more.

AENEAS
Princes, enough, so please you.

AJAX
I am not warm yet; let us fight again.

DIOMEDES
As Hector pleases.

HECTOR
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 commixion 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 borrowed'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 honour to thee!

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 earned in thy death.

HECTOR
Not Neoptolemus so mirable
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st oyes
Cries ‘ This is he ’ – could promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.

AENEAS
There is expectance here from both the sides
What further you will do.

HECTOR
We'll answer it;
The issue is embracement. Ajax, farewell.

AJAX
If I might in entreaties find success,
As seld I have the chance, I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

DIOMEDES
'Tis Agamemnon's wish; and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.

HECTOR
Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home. – Give me thy hand, my cousin;
I will go eat with thee, and see your knights.
Agamemnon and the rest come forward

AJAX
Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

HECTOR
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.

AGAMEMNON
Worthy of 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
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

AGAMEMNON
(to Troilus)
My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.

MENELAUS
Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting:
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.

HECTOR
Who must we answer?

AENEAS
The noble Menelaus.

HECTOR
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.

MENELAUS
Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.

HECTOR
O, pardon; I offend.

NESTOR
I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen thee,
As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
And seen thee scorning forfeits and subduements,
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i'th' air,
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I have said unto 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. Let an old man embrace thee;
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.

AENEAS
'Tis the old Nestor.

HECTOR
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.

NESTOR
I would my arms could match thee in contention,
As they contend with thee in courtesy.

HECTOR
I would they could.

NESTOR
Ha!
By this white beard, I'd fight with thee tomorrow.
Well, welcome, welcome! – I have seen the time –

ULYSSES
I wonder now how yonder city stands
When we have here her base and pillar by us.

HECTOR
I know your favour, 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.

ULYSSES
Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue.
My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
Yond 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.

ACHILLES
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.

HECTOR
Stand fair, I pray thee; let me look on thee.

ACHILLES
Behold thy fill.

HECTOR
Nay, I have done already.

ACHILLES
Thou art too brief; I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.

HECTOR
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?

ACHILLES
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!

HECTOR
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
Wert thou the oracle to tell me so,
I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well,
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 endeavour 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
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.

AGAMEMNON
First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive you. 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.
Exeunt all but Troilus and Ulysses
Drums and trumpets sound

TROILUS
My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?

ULYSSES
At Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus.
There Diomed doth feast with him tonight,
Who neither looks on heaven nor on earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
On the fair Cressid.

TROILUS
Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to thee 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 honour was
This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
That wails her absence?

TROILUS
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.
Exeunt
x

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