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Contents

Front Matter |
ACT 1 |
ACT 2 |
ACT 3 |
ACT 4 |
ACT 5 |

From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library

It is hard to imagine a world without Shakespeare. Since their composition four hundred years ago, Shakespeare’s plays and poems have traveled the globe, inviting those who see and read his works to make them their own.

Readers of the New Folger Editions are part of this ongoing process of “taking up Shakespeare,” finding our own thoughts and feelings in language that strikes us as old or unusual and, for that very reason, new. We still struggle to keep up with a writer who could think a mile a minute, whose words paint pictures that shift like clouds. These expertly edited texts are presented to the public as a resource for study, artistic adaptation, and enjoyment. By making the classic texts of the New Folger Editions available in electronic form as Folger Digital Texts, we place a trusted resource in the hands of anyone who wants them.

The New Folger Editions of Shakespeare’s plays, which are the basis for the texts realized here in digital form, are special because of their origin. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is the single greatest documentary source of Shakespeare’s works. An unparalleled collection of early modern books, manuscripts, and artwork connected to Shakespeare, the Folger’s holdings have been consulted extensively in the preparation of these texts. The Editions also reflect the expertise gained through the regular performance of Shakespeare’s works in the Folger’s Elizabethan Theater.

I want to express my deep thanks to editors Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine for creating these indispensable editions of Shakespeare’s works, which incorporate the best of textual scholarship with a richness of commentary that is both inspired and engaging. Readers who want to know more about Shakespeare and his plays can follow the paths these distinguished scholars have tread by visiting the Folger either in-person or online, where a range of physical and digital resources exists to supplement the material in these texts. I commend to you these words, and hope that they inspire.

Michael Witmore
Director, Folger Shakespeare Library

Textual Introduction
By Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine

Until now, with the release of the Folger Digital Texts, readers in search of a free online text of Shakespeare’s plays had to be content primarily with using the Moby™ Text, which reproduces a late-nineteenth century version of the plays. What is the difference? Many ordinary readers assume that there is a single text for the plays: what Shakespeare wrote. But Shakespeare’s plays were not published the way modern novels or plays are published today: as a single, authoritative text. In some cases, the plays have come down to us in multiple published versions, represented by various Quartos (Qq) and by the great collection put together by his colleagues in 1623, called the First Folio (F). There are, for example, three very different versions of Hamlet, two of King Lear, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, and others. Editors choose which version to use as their base text, and then amend that text with words, lines or speech prefixes from the other versions that, in their judgment, make for a better or more accurate text.

Other editorial decisions involve choices about whether an unfamiliar word could be understood in light of other writings of the period or whether it should be changed; decisions about words that made it into Shakespeare’s text by accident through four hundred years of printings and misprinting; and even decisions based on cultural preference and taste. When the Moby™ Text was created, for example, it was deemed “improper” and “indecent” for Miranda to chastise Caliban for having attempted to rape her. (See The Tempest, 1.2: “Abhorred slave,/Which any print of goodness wilt not take,/Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee…”). All Shakespeare editors at the time took the speech away from her and gave it to her father, Prospero.

The editors of the Moby™ Shakespeare produced their text long before scholars fully understood the proper grounds on which to make the thousands of decisions that Shakespeare editors face. The Folger Library Shakespeare Editions, on which the Folger Digital Texts depend, make this editorial process as nearly transparent as is possible, in contrast to older texts, like the Moby™, which hide editorial interventions. The reader of the Folger Shakespeare knows where the text has been altered because editorial interventions are signaled by square brackets (for example, from Othello: “If she in chains of magic were not bound,”), half-square brackets (for example, from Henry V: “With blood and sword and fire to win your right,”), or angle brackets (for example, from Hamlet: “O farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved/you?”). At any point in the text, you can hover your cursor over a bracket for more information.

Because the Folger Digital Texts are edited in accord with twenty-first century knowledge about Shakespeare’s texts, the Folger here provides them to readers, scholars, teachers, actors, directors, and students, free of charge, confident of their quality as texts of the plays and pleased to be able to make this contribution to the study and enjoyment of Shakespeare.

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
Helenus
Deiphobus
Bastard
Priam’s sons
Andromache, Hector’s wife
Aeneas
Antenor
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
Diomedes
Menelaus, brother to Agamemnon
Ajax
Achilles
Greek leaders
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

Enter the Prologue in armor.
PROLOGUE
FTLN 0001 In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
FTLN 0002 The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,
FTLN 0003 Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
FTLN 0004 Fraught with the ministers and instruments
FTLN 0005 5 Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
FTLN 0006 Their crownets regal, from th’ Athenian bay
FTLN 0007 Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
FTLN 0008 To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
FTLN 0009 The ravished Helen, Menelaus’ queen,
FTLN 0010 10 With wanton Paris sleeps; and that’s the quarrel.
FTLN 0011 To Tenedos they come,
FTLN 0012 And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
FTLN 0013 Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains
FTLN 0014 The fresh and yet unbruisèd Greeks do pitch
FTLN 0015 15 Their brave pavilions. Priam’s six-gated city—
FTLN 0016 Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
FTLN 0017 And Antenorides—with massy staples
FTLN 0018 And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
FTLN 0019 Spar up the sons of Troy.
FTLN 0020 20 Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits
FTLN 0021 On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
FTLN 0022 Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
FTLN 0023 A prologue armed, but not in confidence
FTLN 0024 Of author’s pen or actor’s voice, but suited
FTLN 0025 25 In like conditions as our argument,
FTLN 0026 To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
FTLN 0027 Leaps o’er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
FTLN 0028 Beginning in the middle, starting thence away
FTLN 0029 To what may be digested in a play.
FTLN 0030 30 Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are.
FTLN 0031 Now, good or bad, ’tis but the chance of war.
Prologue exits.
13

ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Pandarus and Troilus.
TROILUS
FTLN 0032 Call here my varlet; I’ll unarm again.
FTLN 0033 Why should I war without the walls of Troy
FTLN 0034 That find such cruel battle here within?
FTLN 0035 Each Trojan that is master of his heart,
FTLN 0036 5 Let him to field; Troilus, alas, hath none.
PANDARUS FTLN 0037 Will this gear ne’er be mended?
TROILUS
FTLN 0038 The Greeks are strong and skilful to their strength,
FTLN 0039 Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant;
FTLN 0040 But I am weaker than a woman’s tear,
FTLN 0041 10 Tamer than sleep, fonder than ignorance,
FTLN 0042 Less valiant than the virgin in the night,
FTLN 0043 And skilless as unpracticed infancy.
PANDARUS FTLN 0044 Well, I have told you enough of this. For my
FTLN 0045 part, I’ll not meddle nor make no farther. He that will
FTLN 0046 15 have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding.
TROILUS FTLN 0047 Have I not tarried?
PANDARUS FTLN 0048 Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the
FTLN 0049 bolting.
TROILUS FTLN 0050 Have I not tarried?
PANDARUS FTLN 0051 20 Ay, the bolting; but you must tarry the
FTLN 0052 leavening.
15

17
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 1
TROILUS FTLN 0053 Still have I tarried.
PANDARUS FTLN 0054 Ay, to the leavening; but here’s yet in the word
FTLN 0055 hereafter the kneading, the making of the cake, the
FTLN 0056 25 heating the oven, and the baking. Nay, you must stay
FTLN 0057 the cooling too, or you may chance burn your lips.
TROILUS
FTLN 0058 Patience herself, what goddess e’er she be,
FTLN 0059 Doth lesser blench at suff’rance than I do.
FTLN 0060 At Priam’s royal table do I sit
FTLN 0061 30 And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts—
FTLN 0062 So, traitor! “When she comes”? When is she
FTLN 0063 thence?
PANDARUS FTLN 0064 Well, she looked yesternight fairer than ever
FTLN 0065 I saw her look, or any woman else.
TROILUS
FTLN 0066 35 I was about to tell thee: when my heart,
FTLN 0067 As wedgèd with a sigh, would rive in twain,
FTLN 0068 Lest Hector or my father should perceive me,
FTLN 0069 I have, as when the sun doth light a-scorn,
FTLN 0070 Buried this sigh in wrinkle of a smile;
FTLN 0071 40 But sorrow that is couched in seeming gladness
FTLN 0072 Is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness.
PANDARUS FTLN 0073 An her hair were not somewhat darker than
FTLN 0074 Helen’s—well, go to—there were no more comparison
FTLN 0075 between the women. But, for my part, she is
FTLN 0076 45 my kinswoman; I would not, as they term it, praise
FTLN 0077 her, but I would somebody had heard her talk yesterday,
FTLN 0078 as I did. I will not dispraise your sister Cassandra’s
FTLN 0079 wit, but—
TROILUS
FTLN 0080 O, Pandarus! I tell thee, Pandarus:
FTLN 0081 50 When I do tell thee there my hopes lie drowned,
FTLN 0082 Reply not in how many fathoms deep
FTLN 0083 They lie indrenched. I tell thee I am mad
FTLN 0084 In Cressid’s love. Thou answer’st she is fair;
FTLN 0085 Pourest in the open ulcer of my heart

19
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0086 55 Her eyes, her hair, her cheek, her gait, her voice;
FTLN 0087 Handiest in thy discourse—O—that her hand,
FTLN 0088 In whose comparison all whites are ink
FTLN 0089 Writing their own reproach, to whose soft seizure
FTLN 0090 The cygnet’s down is harsh, and spirit of sense
FTLN 0091 60 Hard as the palm of plowman. This thou tell’st me,
FTLN 0092 As true thou tell’st me, when I say I love her.
FTLN 0093 But, saying thus, instead of oil and balm
FTLN 0094 Thou lay’st in every gash that love hath given me
FTLN 0095 The knife that made it.
PANDARUS FTLN 0096 65 I speak no more than truth.
TROILUS FTLN 0097 Thou dost not speak so much.
PANDARUS FTLN 0098 Faith, I’ll not meddle in it. Let her be as she
FTLN 0099 is. If she be fair, ’tis the better for her; an she be
FTLN 0100 not, she has the mends in her own hands.
TROILUS FTLN 0101 70 Good Pandarus—how now, Pandarus?
PANDARUS FTLN 0102 I have had my labor for my travail, ill thought
FTLN 0103 on of her, and ill thought on of you; gone between
FTLN 0104 and between, but small thanks for my labor.
TROILUS FTLN 0105 What, art thou angry, Pandarus? What, with
FTLN 0106 75 me?
PANDARUS FTLN 0107 Because she’s kin to me, therefore she’s not
FTLN 0108 so fair as Helen; an she were not kin to me, she
FTLN 0109 would be as fair o’ Friday as Helen is on Sunday.
FTLN 0110 But what care I? I care not an she were a blackamoor;
FTLN 0111 80 ’tis all one to me.
TROILUS FTLN 0112 Say I she is not fair?
PANDARUS FTLN 0113 I do not care whether you do or no. She’s a
FTLN 0114 fool to stay behind her father. Let her to the Greeks,
FTLN 0115 and so I’ll tell her the next time I see her. For my
FTLN 0116 85 part, I’ll meddle nor make no more i’ th’ matter.
TROILUS FTLN 0117 Pandarus—
PANDARUS FTLN 0118 Not I.
TROILUS FTLN 0119 Sweet Pandarus—
PANDARUS FTLN 0120 Pray you speak no more to me. I will leave
FTLN 0121 90 all as I found it, and there an end. He exits.

21
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 1
Sound alarum.
TROILUS
FTLN 0122 Peace, you ungracious clamors! Peace, rude sounds!
FTLN 0123 Fools on both sides! Helen must needs be fair
FTLN 0124 When with your blood you daily paint her thus.
FTLN 0125 I cannot fight upon this argument;
FTLN 0126 95 It is too starved a subject for my sword.
FTLN 0127 But Pandarus—O gods, how do you plague me!
FTLN 0128 I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar,
FTLN 0129 And he’s as tetchy to be wooed to woo
FTLN 0130 As she is stubborn-chaste against all suit.
FTLN 0131 100 Tell me, Apollo, for thy Daphnes love,
FTLN 0132 What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we.
FTLN 0133 Her bed is India; there she lies, a pearl.
FTLN 0134 Between our Ilium and where she resides,
FTLN 0135 Let it be called the wild and wand’ring flood,
FTLN 0136 105 Ourself the merchant, and this sailing Pandar
FTLN 0137 Our doubtful hope, our convoy, and our bark.
Alarum. Enter Aeneas.
AENEAS
FTLN 0138 How now, Prince Troilus? Wherefore not afield?
TROILUS
FTLN 0139 Because not there. This woman’s answer sorts,
FTLN 0140 For womanish it is to be from thence.
FTLN 0141 110 What news, Aeneas, from the field today?
AENEAS
FTLN 0142 That Paris is returnèd home, and hurt.
TROILUS
FTLN 0143 By whom, Aeneas?
AENEAS FTLN 0144 Troilus, by Menelaus.
TROILUS
FTLN 0145 Let Paris bleed. ’Tis but a scar to scorn;
FTLN 0146 115 Paris is gored with Menelaus’ horn.
Alarum.

23
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
AENEAS
FTLN 0147 Hark what good sport is out of town today!
TROILUS
FTLN 0148 Better at home, if “would I might” were “may.”
FTLN 0149 But to the sport abroad. Are you bound thither?
AENEAS
FTLN 0150 In all swift haste.
TROILUS FTLN 0151 120 Come, go we then together.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Cressida and her man Alexander.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 0152 Who were those went by?
ALEXANDER FTLN 0153 Queen Hecuba and Helen.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 0154 And whither go they?
ALEXANDER FTLN 0155 Up to the eastern tower,
FTLN 0156 5 Whose height commands as subject all the vale,
FTLN 0157 To see the battle. Hector, whose patience
FTLN 0158 Is as a virtue fixed, today was moved.
FTLN 0159 He chid Andromache and struck his armorer;
FTLN 0160 And, like as there were husbandry in war,
FTLN 0161 10 Before the sun rose he was harnessed light,
FTLN 0162 And to the field goes he, where every flower
FTLN 0163 Did as a prophet weep what it foresaw
FTLN 0164 In Hector’s wrath.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0165 What was his cause of anger?
ALEXANDER
FTLN 0166 15 The noise goes, this: there is among the Greeks
FTLN 0167 A lord of Trojan blood, nephew to Hector.
FTLN 0168 They call him Ajax.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0169 Good; and what of him?

25
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
ALEXANDER
FTLN 0170 They say he is a very man per se
FTLN 0171 20 And stands alone.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0172 So do all men unless they are drunk, sick,
FTLN 0173 or have no legs.
ALEXANDER FTLN 0174 This man, lady, hath robbed many beasts
FTLN 0175 of their particular additions. He is as valiant as the
FTLN 0176 25 lion, churlish as the bear, slow as the elephant, a
FTLN 0177 man into whom nature hath so crowded humors
FTLN 0178 that his valor is crushed into folly, his folly sauced
FTLN 0179 with discretion. There is no man hath a virtue that
FTLN 0180 he hath not a glimpse of, nor any man an attaint
FTLN 0181 30 but he carries some stain of it. He is melancholy
FTLN 0182 without cause and merry against the hair. He hath
FTLN 0183 the joints of everything, but everything so out of
FTLN 0184 joint that he is a gouty Briareus, many hands and
FTLN 0185 no use, or purblind Argus, all eyes and no sight.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0186 35 But how should this man that makes me
FTLN 0187 smile make Hector angry?
ALEXANDER FTLN 0188 They say he yesterday coped Hector in the
FTLN 0189 battle and struck him down, the disdain and
FTLN 0190 shame whereof hath ever since kept Hector fasting
FTLN 0191 40 and waking.
Enter Pandarus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0192 Who comes here?
ALEXANDER FTLN 0193 Madam, your Uncle Pandarus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0194 Hector’s a gallant man.
ALEXANDER FTLN 0195 As may be in the world, lady.
PANDARUS FTLN 0196 45 What’s that? What’s that?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0197 Good morrow, Uncle Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 0198 Good morrow, Cousin Cressid. What do you
FTLN 0199 talk of?— Good morrow, Alexander.—How do you,
FTLN 0200 cousin? When were you at Ilium?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0201 50 This morning, uncle.

27
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
PANDARUS FTLN 0202 What were you talking of when I came?
FTLN 0203 Was Hector armed and gone ere you came to
FTLN 0204 Ilium? Helen was not up, was she?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0205 Hector was gone, but Helen was not up.
PANDARUS FTLN 0206 55 E’en so. Hector was stirring early.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0207 That were we talking of, and of his anger.
PANDARUS FTLN 0208 Was he angry?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0209 So he says here.
PANDARUS FTLN 0210 True, he was so. I know the cause too. He’ll
FTLN 0211 60 lay about him today, I can tell them that; and
FTLN 0212 there’s Troilus will not come far behind him. Let
FTLN 0213 them take heed of Troilus, I can tell them that too.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0214 What, is he angry too?
PANDARUS FTLN 0215 Who, Troilus? Troilus is the better man of
FTLN 0216 65 the two.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0217 O Jupiter, there’s no comparison.
PANDARUS FTLN 0218 What, not between Troilus and Hector? Do
FTLN 0219 you know a man if you see him?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0220 Ay, if I ever saw him before and knew him.
PANDARUS FTLN 0221 70 Well, I say Troilus is Troilus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0222 Then you say as I say, for I am sure he is not
FTLN 0223 Hector.
PANDARUS FTLN 0224 No, nor Hector is not Troilus in some degrees.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0225’Tis just to each of them; he is himself.
PANDARUS FTLN 0226 75 Himself? Alas, poor Troilus, I would he were.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0227 So he is.
PANDARUS FTLN 0228 Condition I had gone barefoot to India.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0229 He is not Hector.
PANDARUS FTLN 0230 Himself? No, he’s not himself. Would he
FTLN 0231 80 were himself! Well, the gods are above. Time must
FTLN 0232 friend or end. Well, Troilus, well, I would my heart
FTLN 0233 were in her body. No, Hector is not a better man
FTLN 0234 than Troilus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0235 Excuse me.
PANDARUS FTLN 0236 85 He is elder.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0237 Pardon me, pardon me.

29
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
PANDARUS FTLN 0238 Th’ other’s not come to ’t. You shall tell me
FTLN 0239 another tale when th’ other’s come to ’t. Hector
FTLN 0240 shall not have his wit this year.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0241 90 He shall not need it, if he have his own.
PANDARUS FTLN 0242 Nor his qualities.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0243 No matter.
PANDARUS FTLN 0244 Nor his beauty.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0245’Twould not become him. His own ’s better.
PANDARUS FTLN 0246 95 You have no judgment, niece. Helen herself
FTLN 0247 swore th’ other day that Troilus, for a brown favor—
FTLN 0248 for so ’tis, I must confess—not brown neither—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0249 No, but brown.
PANDARUS FTLN 0250 Faith, to say truth, brown and not brown.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0251 100 To say the truth, true and not true.
PANDARUS FTLN 0252 She praised his complexion above Paris’.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0253 Why, Paris hath color enough.
PANDARUS FTLN 0254 So he has.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0255 Then Troilus should have too much. If she
FTLN 0256 105 praised him above, his complexion is higher than
FTLN 0257 his. He having color enough, and the other higher,
FTLN 0258 is too flaming a praise for a good complexion. I
FTLN 0259 had as lief Helen’s golden tongue had commended
FTLN 0260 Troilus for a copper nose.
PANDARUS FTLN 0261 110 I swear to you, I think Helen loves him better
FTLN 0262 than Paris.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0263 Then she’s a merry Greek indeed.
PANDARUS FTLN 0264 Nay, I am sure she does. She came to him
FTLN 0265 th’ other day into the compassed window—and
FTLN 0266 115 you know he has not past three or four hairs on his
FTLN 0267 chin—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0268 Indeed, a tapster’s arithmetic may soon bring
FTLN 0269 his particulars therein to a total.
PANDARUS FTLN 0270 Why, he is very young, and yet will he within
FTLN 0271 120 three pound lift as much as his brother Hector.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0272 Is he so young a man and so old a lifter?

31
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
PANDARUS FTLN 0273 But to prove to you that Helen loves him: she
FTLN 0274 came and puts me her white hand to his cloven
FTLN 0275 chin—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0276 125 Juno have mercy! How came it cloven?
PANDARUS FTLN 0277 Why, you know ’tis dimpled. I think his
FTLN 0278 smiling becomes him better than any man in all
FTLN 0279 Phrygia.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0280 O, he smiles valiantly.
PANDARUS FTLN 0281 130 Does he not?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0282 O yes, an ’twere a cloud in autumn.
PANDARUS FTLN 0283 Why, go to, then. But to prove to you that
FTLN 0284 Helen loves Troilus—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0285 Troilus will stand to the proof if you’ll
FTLN 0286 135 prove it so.
PANDARUS FTLN 0287 Troilus? Why, he esteems her no more than
FTLN 0288 I esteem an addle egg.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0289 If you love an addle egg as well as you love
FTLN 0290 an idle head, you would eat chickens i’ th’ shell.
PANDARUS FTLN 0291 140 I cannot choose but laugh to think how she
FTLN 0292 tickled his chin. Indeed, she has a marvellous
FTLN 0293 white hand, I must needs confess—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0294 Without the rack.
PANDARUS FTLN 0295 And she takes upon her to spy a white hair
FTLN 0296 145 on his chin.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0297 Alas, poor chin! Many a wart is richer.
PANDARUS FTLN 0298 But there was such laughing! Queen Hecuba
FTLN 0299 laughed that her eyes ran o’er—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0300 With millstones.
PANDARUS FTLN 0301 150 And Cassandra laughed—
CRESSIDA FTLN 0302 But there was a more temperate fire under
FTLN 0303 the pot of her eyes. Did her eyes run o’er too?
PANDARUS FTLN 0304 And Hector laughed.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0305 At what was all this laughing?
PANDARUS FTLN 0306 155 Marry, at the white hair that Helen spied on
FTLN 0307 Troilus’ chin.

33
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
CRESSIDA FTLN 0308 An ’t had been a green hair, I should have
FTLN 0309 laughed too.
PANDARUS FTLN 0310 They laughed not so much at the hair as at
FTLN 0311 160 his pretty answer.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0312 What was his answer?
PANDARUS FTLN 0313 Quoth she “Here’s but two-and-fifty hairs
FTLN 0314 on your chin, and one of them is white.”
CRESSIDA FTLN 0315 This is her question.
PANDARUS FTLN 0316 165 That’s true, make no question of that. “Two-and-fifty
FTLN 0317 hairs,” quoth he, “and one white. That
FTLN 0318 white hair is my father, and all the rest are his
FTLN 0319 sons.” “Jupiter!” quoth she, “which of these hairs
FTLN 0320 is Paris, my husband?” “The forked one,” quoth he.
FTLN 0321 170 “Pluck ’t out, and give it him.” But there was such
FTLN 0322 laughing, and Helen so blushed, and Paris so
FTLN 0323 chafed, and all the rest so laughed that it passed.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0324 So let it now, for it has been a great while
FTLN 0325 going by.
PANDARUS FTLN 0326 175 Well, cousin, I told you a thing yesterday.
FTLN 0327 Think on ’t.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0328 So I do.
PANDARUS FTLN 0329 I’ll be sworn ’tis true. He will weep you an
FTLN 0330 ’twere a man born in April.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0331 180 And I’ll spring up in his tears an ’twere a nettle
FTLN 0332 against May. Sound a retreat.
PANDARUS FTLN 0333 Hark, they are coming from the field. Shall
FTLN 0334 we stand up here and see them as they pass toward
FTLN 0335 Ilium? Good niece, do, sweet niece Cressida.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0336 185 At your pleasure.
PANDARUS FTLN 0337 Here, here, here’s an excellent place. Here
FTLN 0338 we may see most bravely. I’ll tell you them all by
FTLN 0339 their names as they pass by, but mark Troilus
FTLN 0340 above the rest.
They cross the stage; Alexander exits.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0341 190 Speak not so loud.

35
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
Enter Aeneas and crosses the stage.
PANDARUS FTLN 0342 That’s Aeneas. Is not that a brave man? He’s
FTLN 0343 one of the flowers of Troy, I can tell you. But mark
FTLN 0344 Troilus; you shall see anon.
Enter Antenor and crosses the stage.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0345 Who’s that?
PANDARUS FTLN 0346 195 That’s Antenor. He has a shrewd wit, I can
FTLN 0347 tell you, and he’s a man good enough. He’s one o’
FTLN 0348 th’ soundest judgments in Troy whosoever; and a
FTLN 0349 proper man of person. When comes Troilus? I’ll
FTLN 0350 show you Troilus anon. If he see me, you shall see
FTLN 0351 200 him nod at me.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0352 Will he give you the nod?
PANDARUS FTLN 0353 You shall see.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0354 If he do, the rich shall have more.
Enter Hector and crosses the stage.
PANDARUS FTLN 0355 That’s Hector, that, that, look you, that.
FTLN 0356 205 There’s a fellow!—Go thy way, Hector!—There’s a
FTLN 0357 brave man, niece. O brave Hector! Look how he
FTLN 0358 looks. There’s a countenance! Is ’t not a brave man?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0359 O, a brave man!
PANDARUS FTLN 0360 Is he not? It does a man’s heart good. Look
FTLN 0361 210 you what hacks are on his helmet. Look you yonder,
FTLN 0362 do you see? Look you there. There’s no jesting;
FTLN 0363 there’s laying on, take ’t off who will, as they say.
FTLN 0364 There be hacks.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0365 Be those with swords?
PANDARUS FTLN 0366 215 Swords, anything, he cares not. An the devil
FTLN 0367 come to him, it’s all one. By God’s lid, it does one’s
FTLN 0368 heart good.
Enter Paris and crosses the stage.
FTLN 0369 Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris! Look you
FTLN 0370 yonder, niece. Is ’t not a gallant man too? Is ’t not?

37
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
FTLN 0371 220 Why, this is brave now. Who said he came hurt
FTLN 0372 home today? He’s not hurt. Why, this will do
FTLN 0373 Helen’s heart good now, ha? Would I could see
FTLN 0374 Troilus now! You shall see Troilus anon.
Enter Helenus and crosses the stage.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0375 Who’s that?
PANDARUS FTLN 0376 225 That’s Helenus. I marvel where Troilus is.
FTLN 0377 That’s Helenus. I think he went not forth today.
FTLN 0378 That’s Helenus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0379 Can Helenus fight, uncle?
PANDARUS FTLN 0380 Helenus? No. Yes, he’ll fight indifferent
FTLN 0381 230 well. I marvel where Troilus is. Hark, do you not
FTLN 0382 hear the people cry “Troilus”? Helenus is a priest.
Enter Troilus and crosses the stage.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0383 What sneaking fellow comes yonder?
PANDARUS FTLN 0384 Where? Yonder? That’s Deiphobus. ’Tis
FTLN 0385 Troilus! There’s a man, niece. Hem! Brave Troilus,
FTLN 0386 235 the prince of chivalry!
CRESSIDA FTLN 0387 Peace, for shame, peace.
PANDARUS FTLN 0388 Mark him. Note him. O brave Troilus! Look
FTLN 0389 well upon him, niece. Look you how his sword is
FTLN 0390 bloodied and his helm more hacked than Hector’s,
FTLN 0391 240 and how he looks, and how he goes. O admirable
FTLN 0392 youth! He never saw three and twenty.—Go thy
FTLN 0393 way, Troilus; go thy way!—Had I a sister were a
FTLN 0394 Grace, or a daughter a goddess, he should take his
FTLN 0395 choice. O admirable man! Paris? Paris is dirt to
FTLN 0396 245 him; and I warrant Helen, to change, would give
FTLN 0397 an eye to boot.
Enter Common Soldiers and cross the stage.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0398 Here comes more.
PANDARUS FTLN 0399 Asses, fools, dolts, chaff and bran, chaff and
FTLN 0400 bran, porridge after meat. I could live and die in

39
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 2
FTLN 0401 250 the eyes of Troilus. Ne’er look, ne’er look; the
FTLN 0402 eagles are gone. Crows and daws, crows and daws!
FTLN 0403 I had rather be such a man as Troilus than
FTLN 0404 Agamemnon and all Greece.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0405 There is amongst the Greeks Achilles, a better
FTLN 0406 255 man than Troilus.
PANDARUS FTLN 0407 Achilles? A drayman, a porter, a very camel!
CRESSIDA FTLN 0408 Well, well.
PANDARUS FTLN 0409“Well, well”? Why, have you any discretion?
FTLN 0410 Have you any eyes? Do you know what a man is? Is
FTLN 0411 260 not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, manhood,
FTLN 0412 learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality and
FTLN 0413 such-like the spice and salt that season a man?
CRESSIDA FTLN 0414 Ay, a minced man; and then to be baked with
FTLN 0415 no date in the pie, for then the man’s date is out.
PANDARUS FTLN 0416 265 You are such a woman a man knows not at
FTLN 0417 what ward you lie.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0418 Upon my back to defend my belly, upon my
FTLN 0419 wit to defend my wiles, upon my secrecy to defend
FTLN 0420 mine honesty, my mask to defend my beauty, and
FTLN 0421 270 you to defend all these; and at all these wards I lie,
FTLN 0422 at a thousand watches.
PANDARUS FTLN 0423 Say one of your watches.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0424 Nay, I’ll watch you for that, and that’s one of
FTLN 0425 the chiefest of them too. If I cannot ward what I
FTLN 0426 275 would not have hit, I can watch you for telling how
FTLN 0427 I took the blow—unless it swell past hiding, and
FTLN 0428 then it’s past watching.
PANDARUS FTLN 0429 You are such another!
Enter Troilus’s Boy.
BOY FTLN 0430 Sir, my lord would instantly speak with you.
PANDARUS FTLN 0431 280 Where?
BOY FTLN 0432 At your own house. There he unarms him.
PANDARUS FTLN 0433 Good boy, tell him I come. Boy exits.
FTLN 0434 I doubt he be hurt.—Fare you well, good niece.

41
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
CRESSIDA FTLN 0435 Adieu, uncle.
PANDARUS FTLN 0436 285 I will be with you, niece, by and by.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0437 To bring, uncle?
PANDARUS FTLN 0438 Ay, a token from Troilus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 0439 By the same token, you are a bawd.
Pandarus exits.
FTLN 0440 Words, vows, gifts, tears, and love’s full sacrifice
FTLN 0441 290 He offers in another’s enterprise;
FTLN 0442 But more in Troilus thousandfold I see
FTLN 0443 Than in the glass of Pandar’s praise may be.
FTLN 0444 Yet hold I off. Women are angels, wooing;
FTLN 0445 Things won are done; joy’s soul lies in the doing.
FTLN 0446 295 That she beloved knows naught that knows not this:
FTLN 0447 Men prize the thing ungained more than it is.
FTLN 0448 That she was never yet that ever knew
FTLN 0449 Love got so sweet as when desire did sue.
FTLN 0450 Therefore this maxim out of love I teach:
FTLN 0451 300 Achievement is command; ungained, beseech.
FTLN 0452 Then though my heart’s content firm love doth bear,
FTLN 0453 Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear.
She exits.
Scene 3
Sennet. Enter Agamemnon, Nestor, Ulysses, Diomedes,
Menelaus, with others.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0454 Princes, what grief hath set the jaundice o’er your
FTLN 0455 cheeks?
FTLN 0456 The ample proposition that hope makes
FTLN 0457 In all designs begun on Earth below
FTLN 0458 5 Fails in the promised largeness. Checks and disasters
FTLN 0459 Grow in the veins of actions highest reared,
FTLN 0460 As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap,
FTLN 0461 Infects the sound pine and diverts his grain

43
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0462 Tortive and errant from his course of growth.
FTLN 0463 10 Nor, princes, is it matter new to us
FTLN 0464 That we come short of our suppose so far
FTLN 0465 That after seven years’ siege yet Troy walls stand,
FTLN 0466 Sith every action that hath gone before,
FTLN 0467 Whereof we have record, trial did draw
FTLN 0468 15 Bias and thwart, not answering the aim
FTLN 0469 And that unbodied figure of the thought
FTLN 0470 That gave ’t surmisèd shape. Why then, you princes,
FTLN 0471 Do you with cheeks abashed behold our works
FTLN 0472 And call them shames, which are indeed naught else
FTLN 0473 20 But the protractive trials of great Jove
FTLN 0474 To find persistive constancy in men?
FTLN 0475 The fineness of which metal is not found
FTLN 0476 In Fortune’s love; for then the bold and coward,
FTLN 0477 The wise and fool, the artist and unread,
FTLN 0478 25 The hard and soft seem all affined and kin.
FTLN 0479 But in the wind and tempest of her frown,
FTLN 0480 Distinction, with a broad and powerful fan,
FTLN 0481 Puffing at all, winnows the light away,
FTLN 0482 And what hath mass or matter by itself
FTLN 0483 30 Lies rich in virtue and unmingled.
NESTOR
FTLN 0484 With due observance of thy godlike seat,
FTLN 0485 Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply
FTLN 0486 Thy latest words. In the reproof of chance
FTLN 0487 Lies the true proof of men. The sea being smooth,
FTLN 0488 35 How many shallow bauble boats dare sail
FTLN 0489 Upon her patient breast, making their way
FTLN 0490 With those of nobler bulk!
FTLN 0491 But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
FTLN 0492 The gentle Thetis, and anon behold
FTLN 0493 40 The strong-ribbed bark through liquid mountains cut,
FTLN 0494 Bounding between the two moist elements,
FTLN 0495 Like Perseus’ horse. Where’s then the saucy boat
FTLN 0496 Whose weak untimbered sides but even now

45
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0497 Corrivaled greatness? Either to harbor fled
FTLN 0498 45 Or made a toast for Neptune. Even so
FTLN 0499 Doth valor’s show and valor’s worth divide
FTLN 0500 In storms of Fortune. For in her ray and brightness
FTLN 0501 The herd hath more annoyance by the breese
FTLN 0502 Than by the tiger, but when the splitting wind
FTLN 0503 50 Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks,
FTLN 0504 And flies flee under shade, why, then the thing of
FTLN 0505 courage,
FTLN 0506 As roused with rage, with rage doth sympathize,
FTLN 0507 And with an accent tuned in selfsame key
FTLN 0508 55 Retorts to chiding Fortune.
ULYSSES FTLN 0509 Agamemnon,
FTLN 0510 Thou great commander, nerves and bone of Greece,
FTLN 0511 Heart of our numbers, soul and only sprite,
FTLN 0512 In whom the tempers and the minds of all
FTLN 0513 60 Should be shut up, hear what Ulysses speaks.
FTLN 0514 Besides th’ applause and approbation,
FTLN 0515 The which, (to Agamemnon) most mighty for thy
FTLN 0516 place and sway,
FTLN 0517 (To Nestor) And thou most reverend for thy
FTLN 0518 65 stretched-out life,
FTLN 0519 I give to both your speeches, which were such
FTLN 0520 As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece
FTLN 0521 Should hold up high in brass; and such again
FTLN 0522 As venerable Nestor, hatched in silver,
FTLN 0523 70 Should with a bond of air, strong as the axletree
FTLN 0524 On which heaven rides, knit all the Greekish ears
FTLN 0525 To his experienced tongue, yet let it please both,
FTLN 0526 Thou great, and wise, to hear Ulysses speak.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0527 Speak, Prince of Ithaca, and be ’t of less expect
FTLN 0528 75 That matter needless, of importless burden,
FTLN 0529 Divide thy lips than we are confident
FTLN 0530 When rank Thersites opes his mastic jaws
FTLN 0531 We shall hear music, wit, and oracle.

47
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
ULYSSES
FTLN 0532 Troy, yet upon his basis, had been down,
FTLN 0533 80 And the great Hector’s sword had lacked a master
FTLN 0534 But for these instances:
FTLN 0535 The specialty of rule hath been neglected,
FTLN 0536 And look how many Grecian tents do stand
FTLN 0537 Hollow upon this plain, so many hollow factions.
FTLN 0538 85 When that the general is not like the hive
FTLN 0539 To whom the foragers shall all repair,
FTLN 0540 What honey is expected? Degree being vizarded,
FTLN 0541 Th’ unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask.
FTLN 0542 The heavens themselves, the planets, and this center
FTLN 0543 90 Observe degree, priority, and place,
FTLN 0544 Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
FTLN 0545 Office, and custom, in all line of order.
FTLN 0546 And therefore is the glorious planet Sol
FTLN 0547 In noble eminence enthroned and sphered
FTLN 0548 95 Amidst the other, whose med’cinable eye
FTLN 0549 Corrects the influence of evil planets,
FTLN 0550 And posts, like the commandment of a king,
FTLN 0551 Sans check, to good and bad. But when the planets
FTLN 0552 In evil mixture to disorder wander,
FTLN 0553 100 What plagues and what portents, what mutiny,
FTLN 0554 What raging of the sea, shaking of Earth,
FTLN 0555 Commotion in the winds, frights, changes, horrors
FTLN 0556 Divert and crack, rend and deracinate
FTLN 0557 The unity and married calm of states
FTLN 0558 105 Quite from their fixture! O, when degree is shaked,
FTLN 0559 Which is the ladder of all high designs,
FTLN 0560 The enterprise is sick. How could communities,
FTLN 0561 Degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities,
FTLN 0562 Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
FTLN 0563 110 The primogeneity and due of birth,
FTLN 0564 Prerogative of age, crowns, scepters, laurels,
FTLN 0565 But by degree stand in authentic place?
FTLN 0566 Take but degree away, untune that string,

49
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0567 And hark what discord follows. Each thing meets
FTLN 0568 115 In mere oppugnancy. The bounded waters
FTLN 0569 Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores
FTLN 0570 And make a sop of all this solid globe;
FTLN 0571 Strength should be lord of imbecility,
FTLN 0572 And the rude son should strike his father dead;
FTLN 0573 120 Force should be right, or, rather, right and wrong,
FTLN 0574 Between whose endless jar justice resides,
FTLN 0575 Should lose their names, and so should justice too.
FTLN 0576 Then everything includes itself in power,
FTLN 0577 Power into will, will into appetite,
FTLN 0578 125 And appetite, an universal wolf,
FTLN 0579 So doubly seconded with will and power,
FTLN 0580 Must make perforce an universal prey
FTLN 0581 And last eat up himself. Great Agamemnon,
FTLN 0582 This chaos, when degree is suffocate,
FTLN 0583 130 Follows the choking.
FTLN 0584 And this neglection of degree it is
FTLN 0585 That by a pace goes backward, with a purpose
FTLN 0586 It hath to climb. The General’s disdained
FTLN 0587 By him one step below, he by the next,
FTLN 0588 135 That next by him beneath; so every step,
FTLN 0589 Exampled by the first pace that is sick
FTLN 0590 Of his superior, grows to an envious fever
FTLN 0591 Of pale and bloodless emulation.
FTLN 0592 And ’tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot,
FTLN 0593 140 Not her own sinews. To end a tale of length,
FTLN 0594 Troy in our weakness stands, not in her strength.
NESTOR
FTLN 0595 Most wisely hath Ulysses here discovered
FTLN 0596 The fever whereof all our power is sick.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0597 The nature of the sickness found, Ulysses,
FTLN 0598 145 What is the remedy?
ULYSSES
FTLN 0599 The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns

51
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0600 The sinew and the forehand of our host,
FTLN 0601 Having his ear full of his airy fame,
FTLN 0602 Grows dainty of his worth and in his tent
FTLN 0603 150 Lies mocking our designs. With him Patroclus,
FTLN 0604 Upon a lazy bed, the live-long day
FTLN 0605 Breaks scurril jests,
FTLN 0606 And with ridiculous and silly action,
FTLN 0607 Which, slanderer, he imitation calls,
FTLN 0608 155 He pageants us. Sometime, great Agamemnon,
FTLN 0609 Thy topless deputation he puts on,
FTLN 0610 And, like a strutting player whose conceit
FTLN 0611 Lies in his hamstring and doth think it rich
FTLN 0612 To hear the wooden dialogue and sound
FTLN 0613 160 ’Twixt his stretched footing and the scaffollage,
FTLN 0614 Such to-be-pitied and o’erwrested seeming
FTLN 0615 He acts thy greatness in; and when he speaks,
FTLN 0616 ’Tis like a chime a-mending, with terms unsquared
FTLN 0617 Which from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropped
FTLN 0618 165 Would seem hyperboles. At this fusty stuff,
FTLN 0619 The large Achilles, on his pressed bed lolling,
FTLN 0620 From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause,
FTLN 0621 Cries “Excellent! ’Tis Agamemnon right.
FTLN 0622 Now play me Nestor; hem and stroke thy beard,
FTLN 0623 170 As he being dressed to some oration.”
FTLN 0624 That’s done, as near as the extremest ends
FTLN 0625 Of parallels, as like as Vulcan and his wife;
FTLN 0626 Yet god Achilles still cries “Excellent!
FTLN 0627 ’Tis Nestor right. Now play him me, Patroclus,
FTLN 0628 175 Arming to answer in a night alarm.”
FTLN 0629 And then, forsooth, the faint defects of age
FTLN 0630 Must be the scene of mirth—to cough and spit,
FTLN 0631 And, with a palsy fumbling on his gorget,
FTLN 0632 Shake in and out the rivet. And at this sport
FTLN 0633 180 Sir Valor dies, cries “O, enough, Patroclus,
FTLN 0634 Or give me ribs of steel! I shall split all
FTLN 0635 In pleasure of my spleen.” And in this fashion,
FTLN 0636 All our abilities, gifts, natures, shapes,

53
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0637 Severals and generals of grace exact,
FTLN 0638 185 Achievements, plots, orders, preventions,
FTLN 0639 Excitements to the field, or speech for truce,
FTLN 0640 Success or loss, what is or is not, serves
FTLN 0641 As stuff for these two to make paradoxes.
NESTOR
FTLN 0642 And in the imitation of these twain,
FTLN 0643 190 Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
FTLN 0644 With an imperial voice, many are infect:
FTLN 0645 Ajax is grown self-willed and bears his head
FTLN 0646 In such a rein, in full as proud a place
FTLN 0647 As broad Achilles; keeps his tent like him,
FTLN 0648 195 Makes factious feasts; rails on our state of war,
FTLN 0649 Bold as an oracle, and sets Thersites—
FTLN 0650 A slave whose gall coins slanders like a mint—
FTLN 0651 To match us in comparisons with dirt,
FTLN 0652 To weaken and discredit our exposure,
FTLN 0653 200 How rank soever rounded in with danger.
ULYSSES
FTLN 0654 They tax our policy and call it cowardice,
FTLN 0655 Count wisdom as no member of the war,
FTLN 0656 Forestall prescience, and esteem no act
FTLN 0657 But that of hand. The still and mental parts
FTLN 0658 205 That do contrive how many hands shall strike
FTLN 0659 When fitness calls them on and know by measure
FTLN 0660 Of their observant toil the enemy’s weight—
FTLN 0661 Why, this hath not a fingers dignity.
FTLN 0662 They call this bed-work, mapp’ry, closet war;
FTLN 0663 210 So that the ram that batters down the wall,
FTLN 0664 For the great swinge and rudeness of his poise,
FTLN 0665 They place before his hand that made the engine
FTLN 0666 Or those that with the fineness of their souls
FTLN 0667 By reason guide his execution.
NESTOR
FTLN 0668 215 Let this be granted, and Achilles’ horse
FTLN 0669 Makes many Thetis’ sons. Tucket.

55
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0670 What trumpet? Look, Menelaus.
MENELAUS FTLN 0671 From Troy.
Enter Aeneas, with a Trumpeter.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0672 What would you ’fore our tent?
AENEAS
FTLN 0673 220 Is this great Agamemnon’s tent, I pray you?
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0674 Even this.
AENEAS
FTLN 0675 May one that is a herald and a prince
FTLN 0676 Do a fair message to his kingly eyes?
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0677 With surety stronger than Achilles’ arm
FTLN 0678 225 ’Fore all the Greekish host, which with one voice
FTLN 0679 Call Agamemnon head and general.
AENEAS
FTLN 0680 Fair leave and large security. How may
FTLN 0681 A stranger to those most imperial looks
FTLN 0682 Know them from eyes of other mortals?
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0683 230 How?
AENEAS
FTLN 0684 Ay. I ask that I might waken reverence
FTLN 0685 And bid the cheek be ready with a blush
FTLN 0686 Modest as morning when she coldly eyes
FTLN 0687 The youthful Phoebus.
FTLN 0688 235 Which is that god in office, guiding men?
FTLN 0689 Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0690 This Trojan scorns us, or the men of Troy
FTLN 0691 Are ceremonious courtiers.
AENEAS
FTLN 0692 Courtiers as free, as debonair, unarmed,
FTLN 0693 240 As bending angels—that’s their fame in peace.
FTLN 0694 But when they would seem soldiers, they have galls,

57
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0695 Good arms, strong joints, true swords, and—great
FTLN 0696 Jove’s accord—
FTLN 0697 Nothing so full of heart. But peace, Aeneas.
FTLN 0698 245 Peace, Trojan. Lay thy finger on thy lips.
FTLN 0699 The worthiness of praise distains his worth
FTLN 0700 If that the praised himself bring the praise forth.
FTLN 0701 But what the repining enemy commends,
FTLN 0702 That breath fame blows; that praise, sole pure,
FTLN 0703 250 transcends.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0704 Sir, you of Troy, call you yourself Aeneas?
AENEAS FTLN 0705 Ay, Greek, that is my name.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0706 What’s your affair, I pray you?
AENEAS
FTLN 0707 Sir, pardon. ’Tis for Agamemnon’s ears.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0708 255 He hears naught privately that comes from Troy.
AENEAS
FTLN 0709 Nor I from Troy come not to whisper with him.
FTLN 0710 I bring a trumpet to awake his ear,
FTLN 0711 To set his sense on the attentive bent,
FTLN 0712 And then to speak.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 0713 260 Speak frankly as the wind;
FTLN 0714 It is not Agamemnon’s sleeping hour.
FTLN 0715 That thou shalt know, Trojan, he is awake,
FTLN 0716 He tells thee so himself.
AENEAS FTLN 0717 Trumpet, blow loud!
FTLN 0718 265 Send thy brass voice through all these lazy tents;
FTLN 0719 And every Greek of mettle, let him know
FTLN 0720 What Troy means fairly shall be spoke aloud.
Sound trumpet.
FTLN 0721 We have, great Agamemnon, here in Troy
FTLN 0722 A prince called Hector—Priam is his father—
FTLN 0723 270 Who in this dull and long-continued truce
FTLN 0724 Is resty grown. He bade me take a trumpet
FTLN 0725 And to this purpose speak: “Kings, princes, lords,

59
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0726 If there be one among the fair’st of Greece
FTLN 0727 That holds his honor higher than his ease,
FTLN 0728 275 That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril,
FTLN 0729 That knows his valor and knows not his fear,
FTLN 0730 That loves his mistress more than in confession
FTLN 0731 With truant vows to her own lips he loves
FTLN 0732 And dare avow her beauty and her worth
FTLN 0733 280 In other arms than hers—to him this challenge.
FTLN 0734 Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks,
FTLN 0735 Shall make it good, or do his best to do it,
FTLN 0736 He hath a lady wiser, fairer, truer
FTLN 0737 Than ever Greek did couple in his arms
FTLN 0738 285 And will tomorrow with his trumpet call,
FTLN 0739 Midway between your tents and walls of Troy,
FTLN 0740 To rouse a Grecian that is true in love.
FTLN 0741 If any come, Hector shall honor him;
FTLN 0742 If none, he’ll say in Troy when he retires
FTLN 0743 290 The Grecian dames are sunburnt and not worth
FTLN 0744 The splinter of a lance.” Even so much.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0745 This shall be told our lovers, Lord Aeneas.
FTLN 0746 If none of them have soul in such a kind,
FTLN 0747 We left them all at home. But we are soldiers,
FTLN 0748 295 And may that soldier a mere recreant prove
FTLN 0749 That means not, hath not, or is not in love!
FTLN 0750 If then one is, or hath, or means to be,
FTLN 0751 That one meets Hector. If none else, I am he.
NESTOR , to Aeneas
FTLN 0752 Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man
FTLN 0753 300 When Hector’s grandsire sucked. He is old now,
FTLN 0754 But if there be not in our Grecian host
FTLN 0755 A noble man that hath one spark of fire
FTLN 0756 To answer for his love, tell him from me
FTLN 0757 I’ll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver
FTLN 0758 305 And in my vambrace put my withered brawns
FTLN 0759 And, meeting him, will tell him that my lady

61
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0760 Was fairer than his grandam and as chaste
FTLN 0761 As may be in the world. His youth in flood,
FTLN 0762 I’ll prove this troth with my three drops of blood.
AENEAS
FTLN 0763 310 Now heavens forfend such scarcity of youth!
ULYSSES FTLN 0764 Amen.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 0765 Fair Lord Aeneas, let me touch your hand.
FTLN 0766 To our pavilion shall I lead you, sir.
FTLN 0767 Achilles shall have word of this intent;
FTLN 0768 315 So shall each lord of Greece from tent to tent.
FTLN 0769 Yourself shall feast with us before you go,
FTLN 0770 And find the welcome of a noble foe.
All but Ulysses and Nestor exit.
ULYSSES FTLN 0771 Nestor.
NESTOR FTLN 0772 What says Ulysses?
ULYSSES
FTLN 0773 320 I have a young conception in my brain;
FTLN 0774 Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
NESTOR FTLN 0775 What is ’t?
ULYSSES FTLN 0776 This ’tis:
FTLN 0777 Blunt wedges rive hard knots; the seeded pride
FTLN 0778 325 That hath to this maturity blown up
FTLN 0779 In rank Achilles must or now be cropped
FTLN 0780 Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil
FTLN 0781 To overbulk us all.
NESTOR FTLN 0782 Well, and how?
ULYSSES
FTLN 0783 330 This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,
FTLN 0784 However it is spread in general name,
FTLN 0785 Relates in purpose only to Achilles.
NESTOR
FTLN 0786 True. The purpose is perspicuous as substance
FTLN 0787 Whose grossness little characters sum up;
FTLN 0788 335 And, in the publication, make no strain
FTLN 0789 But that Achilles, were his brain as barren

63
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0790 As banks of Libya—though, Apollo knows,
FTLN 0791 ’Tis dry enough—will, with great speed of judgment,
FTLN 0792 Ay, with celerity, find Hector’s purpose
FTLN 0793 340 Pointing on him.
ULYSSES FTLN 0794 And wake him to the answer, think you?
NESTOR
FTLN 0795 Why, ’tis most meet. Who may you else oppose
FTLN 0796 That can from Hector bring his honor off
FTLN 0797 If not Achilles? Though ’t be a sportful combat,
FTLN 0798 345 Yet in the trial much opinion dwells,
FTLN 0799 For here the Trojans taste our dear’st repute
FTLN 0800 With their fin’st palate. And, trust to me, Ulysses,
FTLN 0801 Our imputation shall be oddly poised
FTLN 0802 In this vile action. For the success,
FTLN 0803 350 Although particular, shall give a scantling
FTLN 0804 Of good or bad unto the general;
FTLN 0805 And in such indexes, although small pricks
FTLN 0806 To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
FTLN 0807 The baby figure of the giant mass
FTLN 0808 355 Of things to come at large. It is supposed
FTLN 0809 He that meets Hector issues from our choice;
FTLN 0810 And choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
FTLN 0811 Makes merit her election and doth boil,
FTLN 0812 As ’twere from forth us all, a man distilled
FTLN 0813 360 Out of our virtues, who, miscarrying,
FTLN 0814 What heart receives from hence a conquering part
FTLN 0815 To steel a strong opinion to themselves?—
FTLN 0816 Which entertained, limbs are his instruments,
FTLN 0817 In no less working than are swords and bows
FTLN 0818 365 Directive by the limbs.
ULYSSES
FTLN 0819 Give pardon to my speech: therefore ’tis meet
FTLN 0820 Achilles meet not Hector. Let us like merchants
FTLN 0821 First show foul wares and think perchance they’ll sell;
FTLN 0822 If not, the luster of the better shall exceed
FTLN 0823 370 By showing the worse first. Do not consent

65
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ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0824 That ever Hector and Achilles meet,
FTLN 0825 For both our honor and our shame in this
FTLN 0826 Are dogged with two strange followers.
NESTOR
FTLN 0827 I see them not with my old eyes. What are they?
ULYSSES
FTLN 0828 375 What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
FTLN 0829 Were he not proud, we all should share with him;
FTLN 0830 But he already is too insolent,
FTLN 0831 And it were better parch in Afric sun
FTLN 0832 Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes
FTLN 0833 380 Should he scape Hector fair. If he were foiled,
FTLN 0834 Why then we do our main opinion crush
FTLN 0835 In taint of our best man. No, make a lott’ry,
FTLN 0836 And, by device, let blockish Ajax draw
FTLN 0837 The sort to fight with Hector. Among ourselves
FTLN 0838 385 Give him allowance for the better man,
FTLN 0839 For that will physic the great Myrmidon,
FTLN 0840 Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
FTLN 0841 His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends.
FTLN 0842 If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off,
FTLN 0843 390 We’ll dress him up in voices; if he fail,
FTLN 0844 Yet go we under our opinion still
FTLN 0845 That we have better men. But, hit or miss,
FTLN 0846 Our project’s life this shape of sense assumes:
FTLN 0847 Ajax employed plucks down Achilles’ plumes.
NESTOR
FTLN 0848 395 Now, Ulysses, I begin to relish thy advice,
FTLN 0849 And I will give a taste thereof forthwith
FTLN 0850 To Agamemnon. Go we to him straight.
FTLN 0851 Two curs shall tame each other; pride alone
FTLN 0852 Must tar the mastiffs on, as ’twere a bone.
They exit.

ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter Ajax and Thersites.
AJAX FTLN 0853 Thersites!
THERSITES FTLN 0854 Agamemnon—how if he had boils, full, all
FTLN 0855 over, generally?
AJAX FTLN 0856 Thersites!
THERSITES FTLN 0857 5 And those boils did run? Say so. Did not the
FTLN 0858 general run, then? Were not that a botchy core?
AJAX FTLN 0859 Dog!
THERSITES FTLN 0860 Then there would come some matter
FTLN 0861 from him. I see none now.
AJAX FTLN 0862 10 Thou bitchwolf’s son, canst thou not hear? Feel,
FTLN 0863 then. Strikes him.
THERSITES FTLN 0864 The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mongrel
FTLN 0865 beef-witted lord!
AJAX FTLN 0866 Speak, then, thou unsalted leaven, speak. I will
FTLN 0867 15 beat thee into handsomeness.
THERSITES FTLN 0868 I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness,
FTLN 0869 but I think thy horse will sooner con an oration
FTLN 0870 than thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst
FTLN 0871 strike, canst thou? A red murrain o’ thy jade’s tricks.
AJAX FTLN 0872 20 Toadstool, learn me the proclamation.
THERSITES FTLN 0873 Dost thou think I have no sense, thou strikest
FTLN 0874 me thus?
AJAX FTLN 0875 The proclamation!
THERSITES FTLN 0876 Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think.
69

71
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 1
AJAX FTLN 0877 25 Do not, porpentine, do not. My fingers itch.
THERSITES FTLN 0878 I would thou didst itch from head to foot,
FTLN 0879 and I had the scratching of thee; I would make
FTLN 0880 thee the loathsomest scab in Greece. When thou
FTLN 0881 art forth in the incursions, thou strikest as slow as
FTLN 0882 30 another.
AJAX FTLN 0883 I say, the proclamation!
THERSITES FTLN 0884 Thou grumblest and railest every hour on
FTLN 0885 Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his greatness
FTLN 0886 as Cerberus is at Proserpina’s beauty, ay, that
FTLN 0887 35 thou bark’st at him.
AJAX FTLN 0888 Mistress Thersites!
THERSITES FTLN 0889 Thou shouldst strike him—
AJAX FTLN 0890 Cobloaf!
THERSITES FTLN 0891 He would pound thee into shivers with his
FTLN 0892 40 fist as a sailor breaks a biscuit.
AJAX FTLN 0893 You whoreson cur! Strikes him.
THERSITES FTLN 0894 Do, do.
AJAX FTLN 0895 Thou stool for a witch!
THERSITES FTLN 0896 Ay, do, do, thou sodden-witted lord. Thou
FTLN 0897 45 hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows; an
FTLN 0898 asinego may tutor thee, thou scurvy-valiant ass.
FTLN 0899 Thou art here but to thrash Trojans, and thou art
FTLN 0900 bought and sold among those of any wit, like a
FTLN 0901 barbarian slave. If thou use to beat me, I will begin
FTLN 0902 50 at thy heel and tell what thou art by inches, thou
FTLN 0903 thing of no bowels, thou.
AJAX FTLN 0904 You dog!
THERSITES FTLN 0905 You scurvy lord!
AJAX FTLN 0906 You cur! Strikes him.
THERSITES FTLN 0907 55 Mars his idiot! Do, rudeness, do, camel, do,
FTLN 0908 do.
Enter Achilles and Patroclus.
ACHILLES FTLN 0909 Why, how now, Ajax? Wherefore do you
FTLN 0910 thus?—How now, Thersites? What’s the matter,
FTLN 0911 man?

73
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ACT 2. SC. 1
THERSITES FTLN 0912 60 You see him there, do you?
ACHILLES FTLN 0913 Ay, what’s the matter?
THERSITES FTLN 0914 Nay, look upon him.
ACHILLES FTLN 0915 So I do. What’s the matter?
THERSITES FTLN 0916 Nay, but regard him well.
ACHILLES FTLN 0917 65 Well, why, so I do.
THERSITES FTLN 0918 But yet you look not well upon him, for
FTLN 0919 whosomever you take him to be, he is Ajax.
ACHILLES FTLN 0920 I know that, fool.
THERSITES FTLN 0921 Ay, but that fool knows not himself.
AJAX FTLN 0922 70 Therefore I beat thee.
THERSITES FTLN 0923 Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he utters!
FTLN 0924 His evasions have ears thus long. I have
FTLN 0925 bobbed his brain more than he has beat my bones.
FTLN 0926 I will buy nine sparrows for a penny, and his pia
FTLN 0927 75 mater is not worth the ninth part of a sparrow.
FTLN 0928 This lord, Achilles—Ajax, who wears his wit in his
FTLN 0929 belly, and his guts in his head—I’ll tell you what I
FTLN 0930 say of him.
ACHILLES FTLN 0931 What?
THERSITES FTLN 0932 80 I say, this Ajax— Ajax menaces him.
ACHILLES FTLN 0933 Nay, good Ajax.
THERSITES FTLN 0934 Has not so much wit—
ACHILLES , to Ajax FTLN 0935 Nay, I must hold you.
THERSITES FTLN 0936 As will stop the eye of Helen’s needle, for
FTLN 0937 85 whom he comes to fight.
ACHILLES FTLN 0938 Peace, fool!
THERSITES FTLN 0939 I would have peace and quietness, but the
FTLN 0940 fool will not—he there, that he. Look you there.
AJAX FTLN 0941 O, thou damned cur, I shall—
ACHILLES FTLN 0942 90 Will you set your wit to a fool’s?
THERSITES FTLN 0943 No, I warrant you. The fool’s will shame it.
PATROCLUS FTLN 0944 Good words, Thersites.
ACHILLES , to Ajax FTLN 0945 What’s the quarrel?
AJAX FTLN 0946 I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenor of the
FTLN 0947 95 proclamation, and he rails upon me.

75
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 1
THERSITES FTLN 0948 I serve thee not.
AJAX FTLN 0949 Well, go to, go to.
THERSITES FTLN 0950 I serve here voluntary.
ACHILLES FTLN 0951 Your last service was suff’rance; ’twas not
FTLN 0952 100 voluntary. No man is beaten voluntary. Ajax was
FTLN 0953 here the voluntary, and you as under an impress.
THERSITES FTLN 0954 E’en so. A great deal of your wit, too, lies in
FTLN 0955 your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall
FTLN 0956 have a great catch an he knock out either of
FTLN 0957 105 your brains; he were as good crack a fusty nut with
FTLN 0958 no kernel.
ACHILLES FTLN 0959 What, with me too, Thersites?
THERSITES FTLN 0960 There’s Ulysses and old Nestor—whose wit
FTLN 0961 was moldy ere your grandsires had nails on
FTLN 0962 110 their toes—yoke you like draft-oxen and make
FTLN 0963 you plow up the wars.
ACHILLES FTLN 0964 What? What?
THERSITES FTLN 0965 Yes, good sooth. To, Achilles! To, Ajax! To—
AJAX FTLN 0966 I shall cut out your tongue.
THERSITES FTLN 0967 115’Tis no matter. I shall speak as much as
FTLN 0968 thou afterwards.
PATROCLUS FTLN 0969 No more words, Thersites. Peace.
THERSITES FTLN 0970 I will hold my peace when Achilles’ brach
FTLN 0971 bids me, shall I?
ACHILLES FTLN 0972 120 There’s for you, Patroclus.
THERSITES FTLN 0973 I will see you hanged like clodpolls ere I
FTLN 0974 come any more to your tents. I will keep where
FTLN 0975 there is wit stirring and leave the faction of fools.
He exits.
PATROCLUS FTLN 0976 A good riddance.
ACHILLES , to Ajax
FTLN 0977 125 Marry, this, sir, is proclaimed through all our host:
FTLN 0978 That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun,
FTLN 0979 Will with a trumpet ’twixt our tents and Troy
FTLN 0980 Tomorrow morning call some knight to arms
FTLN 0981 That hath a stomach, and such a one that dare
FTLN 0982 130 Maintain—I know not what; ’tis trash. Farewell.

77
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
AJAX FTLN 0983 Farewell. Who shall answer him?
ACHILLES
FTLN 0984 I know not. ’Tis put to lott’ry. Otherwise,
FTLN 0985 He knew his man. Achilles and Patroclus exit.
AJAX FTLN 0986 O, meaning you? I will go learn more of it.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris and Helenas.
PRIAM
FTLN 0987 After so many hours, lives, speeches spent,
FTLN 0988 Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks:
FTLN 0989 “Deliver Helen, and all damage else—
FTLN 0990 As honor, loss of time, travel, expense,
FTLN 0991 5 Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is consumed
FTLN 0992 In hot digestion of this cormorant war—
FTLN 0993 Shall be struck off.”—Hector, what say you to ’t?
HECTOR
FTLN 0994 Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I
FTLN 0995 As far as toucheth my particular,
FTLN 0996 10 Yet, dread Priam,
FTLN 0997 There is no lady of more softer bowels,
FTLN 0998 More spongy to suck in the sense of fear,
FTLN 0999 More ready to cry out “Who knows what follows?”
FTLN 1000 Than Hector is. The wound of peace is surety,
FTLN 1001 15 Surety secure; but modest doubt is called
FTLN 1002 The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches
FTLN 1003 To th’ bottom of the worst. Let Helen go.
FTLN 1004 Since the first sword was drawn about this question,
FTLN 1005 Every tithe soul, ’mongst many thousand dismes,
FTLN 1006 20 Hath been as dear as Helen; I mean, of ours.
FTLN 1007 If we have lost so many tenths of ours
FTLN 1008 To guard a thing not ours—nor worth to us,
FTLN 1009 Had it our name, the value of one ten—

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 1010 What merit’s in that reason which denies
FTLN 1011 25 The yielding of her up?
TROILUS FTLN 1012 Fie, fie, my brother,
FTLN 1013 Weigh you the worth and honor of a king
FTLN 1014 So great as our dread father’s in a scale
FTLN 1015 Of common ounces? Will you with counters sum
FTLN 1016 30 The past-proportion of his infinite,
FTLN 1017 And buckle in a waist most fathomless
FTLN 1018 With spans and inches so diminutive
FTLN 1019 As fears and reasons? Fie, for godly shame!
HELENUS
FTLN 1020 No marvel though you bite so sharp at reasons,
FTLN 1021 35 You are so empty of them. Should not our father
FTLN 1022 Bear the great sway of his affairs with reason,
FTLN 1023 Because your speech hath none that tell him so?
TROILUS
FTLN 1024 You are for dreams and slumbers, brother priest.
FTLN 1025 You fur your gloves with reason. Here are your
FTLN 1026 40 reasons:
FTLN 1027 You know an enemy intends you harm;
FTLN 1028 You know a sword employed is perilous,
FTLN 1029 And reason flies the object of all harm.
FTLN 1030 Who marvels, then, when Helenus beholds
FTLN 1031 45 A Grecian and his sword, if he do set
FTLN 1032 The very wings of reason to his heels
FTLN 1033 And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove
FTLN 1034 Or like a star disorbed? Nay, if we talk of reason,
FTLN 1035 Let’s shut our gates and sleep. Manhood and honor
FTLN 1036 50 Should have hare hearts, would they but fat their
FTLN 1037 thoughts
FTLN 1038 With this crammed reason. Reason and respect
FTLN 1039 Make livers pale and lustihood deject.
HECTOR
FTLN 1040 Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost
FTLN 1041 55 The keeping.
TROILUS FTLN 1042 What’s aught but as ’tis valued?

81
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
HECTOR
FTLN 1043 But value dwells not in particular will;
FTLN 1044 It holds his estimate and dignity
FTLN 1045 As well wherein ’tis precious of itself
FTLN 1046 60 As in the prizer. ’Tis mad idolatry
FTLN 1047 To make the service greater than the god;
FTLN 1048 And the will dotes that is attributive
FTLN 1049 To what infectiously itself affects
FTLN 1050 Without some image of th’ affected merit.
TROILUS
FTLN 1051 65 I take today a wife, and my election
FTLN 1052 Is led on in the conduct of my will—
FTLN 1053 My will enkindled by mine eyes and ears,
FTLN 1054 Two traded pilots ’twixt the dangerous shores
FTLN 1055 Of will and judgment. How may I avoid,
FTLN 1056 70 Although my will distaste what it elected,
FTLN 1057 The wife I choose? There can be no evasion
FTLN 1058 To blench from this and to stand firm by honor.
FTLN 1059 We turn not back the silks upon the merchant
FTLN 1060 When we have soiled them, nor the remainder
FTLN 1061 75 viands
FTLN 1062 We do not throw in unrespective sieve
FTLN 1063 Because we now are full. It was thought meet
FTLN 1064 Paris should do some vengeance on the Greeks.
FTLN 1065 Your breath with full consent bellied his sails;
FTLN 1066 80 The seas and winds, old wranglers, took a truce
FTLN 1067 And did him service. He touched the ports desired,
FTLN 1068 And for an old aunt whom the Greeks held captive,
FTLN 1069 He brought a Grecian queen, whose youth and
FTLN 1070 freshness
FTLN 1071 85 Wrinkles Apollo’s and makes pale the morning.
FTLN 1072 Why keep we her? The Grecians keep our aunt.
FTLN 1073 Is she worth keeping? Why, she is a pearl
FTLN 1074 Whose price hath launched above a thousand ships
FTLN 1075 And turned crowned kings to merchants.
FTLN 1076 90 If you’ll avouch ’twas wisdom Paris went—

83
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 1077 As you must needs, for you all cried “Go, go”—
FTLN 1078 If you’ll confess he brought home worthy prize—
FTLN 1079 As you must needs, for you all clapped your hands
FTLN 1080 And cried “Inestimable”—why do you now
FTLN 1081 95 The issue of your proper wisdoms rate
FTLN 1082 And do a deed that never Fortune did,
FTLN 1083 Beggar the estimation which you prized
FTLN 1084 Richer than sea and land? O, theft most base,
FTLN 1085 That we have stol’n what we do fear to keep!
FTLN 1086 100 But thieves unworthy of a thing so stol’n,
FTLN 1087 That in their country did them that disgrace
FTLN 1088 We fear to warrant in our native place.
CASSANDRA , within
FTLN 1089 Cry, Trojans, cry!
PRIAM FTLN 1090 What noise? What shriek is this?
TROILUS
FTLN 1091 105 ’Tis our mad sister. I do know her voice.
CASSANDRA , within FTLN 1092 Cry, Trojans!
HECTOR FTLN 1093 It is Cassandra.
Enter Cassandra raving.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 1094 Cry, Trojans, cry! Lend me ten thousand eyes,
FTLN 1095 And I will fill them with prophetic tears.
HECTOR FTLN 1096 110 Peace, sister, peace!
CASSANDRA
FTLN 1097 Virgins and boys, mid-age and wrinkled elders,
FTLN 1098 Soft infancy, that nothing canst but cry,
FTLN 1099 Add to my clamors. Let us pay betimes
FTLN 1100 A moiety of that mass of moan to come.
FTLN 1101 115 Cry, Trojans, cry! Practice your eyes with tears.
FTLN 1102 Troy must not be, nor goodly Ilium stand.
FTLN 1103 Our firebrand brother Paris burns us all.
FTLN 1104 Cry, Trojans, cry! A Helen and a woe!
FTLN 1105 Cry, cry! Troy burns, or else let Helen go. She exits.

85
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
HECTOR
FTLN 1106 120 Now, youthful Troilus, do not these high strains
FTLN 1107 Of divination in our sister work
FTLN 1108 Some touches of remorse? Or is your blood
FTLN 1109 So madly hot that no discourse of reason
FTLN 1110 Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause
FTLN 1111 125 Can qualify the same?
TROILUS FTLN 1112 Why, brother Hector,
FTLN 1113 We may not think the justness of each act
FTLN 1114 Such and no other than event doth form it,
FTLN 1115 Nor once deject the courage of our minds
FTLN 1116 130 Because Cassandra’s mad. Her brainsick raptures
FTLN 1117 Cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel
FTLN 1118 Which hath our several honors all engaged
FTLN 1119 To make it gracious. For my private part,
FTLN 1120 I am no more touched than all Priam’s sons;
FTLN 1121 135 And Jove forbid there should be done amongst us
FTLN 1122 Such things as might offend the weakest spleen
FTLN 1123 To fight for and maintain!
PARIS
FTLN 1124 Else might the world convince of levity
FTLN 1125 As well my undertakings as your counsels.
FTLN 1126 140 But I attest the gods, your full consent
FTLN 1127 Gave wings to my propension and cut off
FTLN 1128 All fears attending on so dire a project.
FTLN 1129 For what, alas, can these my single arms?
FTLN 1130 What propugnation is in one man’s valor
FTLN 1131 145 To stand the push and enmity of those
FTLN 1132 This quarrel would excite? Yet, I protest,
FTLN 1133 Were I alone to pass the difficulties
FTLN 1134 And had as ample power as I have will,
FTLN 1135 Paris should ne’er retract what he hath done
FTLN 1136 150 Nor faint in the pursuit.
PRIAM FTLN 1137 Paris, you speak
FTLN 1138 Like one besotted on your sweet delights.
FTLN 1139 You have the honey still, but these the gall.
FTLN 1140 So to be valiant is no praise at all.

87
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 2
PARIS
FTLN 1141 155 Sir, I propose not merely to myself
FTLN 1142 The pleasures such a beauty brings with it,
FTLN 1143 But I would have the soil of her fair rape
FTLN 1144 Wiped off in honorable keeping her.
FTLN 1145 What treason were it to the ransacked queen,
FTLN 1146 160 Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me,
FTLN 1147 Now to deliver her possession up
FTLN 1148 On terms of base compulsion? Can it be
FTLN 1149 That so degenerate a strain as this
FTLN 1150 Should once set footing in your generous bosoms?
FTLN 1151 165 There’s not the meanest spirit on our party
FTLN 1152 Without a heart to dare or sword to draw
FTLN 1153 When Helen is defended, nor none so noble
FTLN 1154 Whose life were ill bestowed or death unfamed
FTLN 1155 Where Helen is the subject. Then I say,
FTLN 1156 170 Well may we fight for her whom, we know well,
FTLN 1157 The world’s large spaces cannot parallel.
HECTOR
FTLN 1158 Paris and Troilus, you have both said well,
FTLN 1159 And on the cause and question now in hand
FTLN 1160 Have glozed—but superficially, not much
FTLN 1161 175 Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought
FTLN 1162 Unfit to hear moral philosophy.
FTLN 1163 The reasons you allege do more conduce
FTLN 1164 To the hot passion of distempered blood
FTLN 1165 Than to make up a free determination
FTLN 1166 180 ’Twixt right and wrong, for pleasure and revenge
FTLN 1167 Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice
FTLN 1168 Of any true decision. Nature craves
FTLN 1169 All dues be rendered to their owners. Now,
FTLN 1170 What nearer debt in all humanity
FTLN 1171 185 Than wife is to the husband? If this law
FTLN 1172 Of nature be corrupted through affection,
FTLN 1173 And that great minds, of partial indulgence
FTLN 1174 To their benumbèd wills, resist the same,

89
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ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 1175 There is a law in each well-ordered nation
FTLN 1176 190 To curb those raging appetites that are
FTLN 1177 Most disobedient and refractory.
FTLN 1178 If Helen, then, be wife to Sparta’s king,
FTLN 1179 As it is known she is, these moral laws
FTLN 1180 Of nature and of nations speak aloud
FTLN 1181 195 To have her back returned. Thus to persist
FTLN 1182 In doing wrong extenuates not wrong,
FTLN 1183 But makes it much more heavy. Hector’s opinion
FTLN 1184 Is this in way of truth; yet, ne’ertheless,
FTLN 1185 My sprightly brethren, I propend to you
FTLN 1186 200 In resolution to keep Helen still,
FTLN 1187 For ’tis a cause that hath no mean dependence
FTLN 1188 Upon our joint and several dignities.
TROILUS
FTLN 1189 Why, there you touched the life of our design!
FTLN 1190 Were it not glory that we more affected
FTLN 1191 205 Than the performance of our heaving spleens,
FTLN 1192 I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood
FTLN 1193 Spent more in her defense. But, worthy Hector,
FTLN 1194 She is a theme of honor and renown,
FTLN 1195 A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds,
FTLN 1196 210 Whose present courage may beat down our foes,
FTLN 1197 And fame in time to come canonize us;
FTLN 1198 For I presume brave Hector would not lose
FTLN 1199 So rich advantage of a promised glory
FTLN 1200 As smiles upon the forehead of this action
FTLN 1201 215 For the wide world’s revenue.
HECTOR FTLN 1202 I am yours,
FTLN 1203 You valiant offspring of great Priamus.
FTLN 1204 I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
FTLN 1205 The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks
FTLN 1206 220 Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits.
FTLN 1207 I was advertised their great general slept,
FTLN 1208 Whilst emulation in the army crept.
FTLN 1209 This, I presume, will wake him.
They exit.

91
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 2. SC. 3
Scene 3
Enter Thersites, alone.
THERSITES FTLN 1210 How now, Thersites? What, lost in the
FTLN 1211 labyrinth of thy fury? Shall the elephant Ajax carry
FTLN 1212 it thus? He beats me, and I rail at him. O, worthy
FTLN 1213 satisfaction! Would it were otherwise, that I could
FTLN 1214 5 beat him whilst he railed at me. ’Sfoot, I’ll learn to
FTLN 1215 conjure and raise devils but I’ll see some issue of
FTLN 1216 my spiteful execrations. Then there’s Achilles, a
FTLN 1217 rare enginer! If Troy be not taken till these two undermine
FTLN 1218 it, the walls will stand till they fall of
FTLN 1219 10 themselves. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus,
FTLN 1220 forget that thou art Jove, the king of gods;
FTLN 1221 and, Mercury, lose all the serpentine craft of thy
FTLN 1222 caduceus, if you take not that little, little, less than
FTLN 1223 little wit from them that they have, which short-armed
FTLN 1224 15 ignorance itself knows is so abundant
FTLN 1225 scarce it will not in circumvention deliver a fly
FTLN 1226 from a spider without drawing their massy irons
FTLN 1227 and cutting the web. After this, the vengeance on
FTLN 1228 the whole camp! Or rather, the Neapolitan bone-ache!
FTLN 1229 20 For that, methinks, is the curse depending
FTLN 1230 on those that war for a placket. I have said my
FTLN 1231 prayers, and devil Envy say “Amen.”—What ho,
FTLN 1232 my lord Achilles!
PATROCLUS , within FTLN 1233 Who’s there? Thersites? Good
FTLN 1234 25 Thersites, come in and rail.
THERSITES FTLN 1235 If I could ’a remembered a gilt counterfeit,
FTLN 1236 thou couldst not have slipped out of my contemplation.
FTLN 1237 But it is no matter. Thyself upon thyself! The
FTLN 1238 common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance,
FTLN 1239 30 be thine in great revenue! Heaven bless thee from
FTLN 1240 a tutor, and discipline come not near thee! Let thy
FTLN 1241 blood be thy direction till thy death; then if she
FTLN 1242 that lays thee out says thou art a fair corse, I’ll be

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FTLN 1243 sworn and sworn upon ’t she never shrouded any
FTLN 1244 35 but lazars. Amen.
Enter Patroclus.
FTLN 1245 Where’s Achilles?
PATROCLUS FTLN 1246 What, art thou devout? Wast thou in
FTLN 1247 prayer?
THERSITES FTLN 1248 Ay. The heavens hear me!
PATROCLUS FTLN 1249 40 Amen.
ACHILLES , within FTLN 1250 Who’s there?
PATROCLUS FTLN 1251 Thersites, my lord.
ACHILLES , within FTLN 1252 Where? Where? O, where?
Enter Achilles.
FTLN 1253 To Thersites. Art thou come? Why, my cheese, my
FTLN 1254 45 digestion, why hast thou not served thyself in to my
FTLN 1255 table so many meals? Come, what’s Agamemnon?
THERSITES FTLN 1256 Thy commander, Achilles.—Then, tell me,
FTLN 1257 Patroclus, what’s Achilles?
PATROCLUS FTLN 1258 Thy lord, Thersites. Then, tell me, I pray
FTLN 1259 50 thee, what’s Thersites?
THERSITES FTLN 1260 Thy knower, Patroclus. Then, tell me, Patroclus,
FTLN 1261 what art thou?
PATROCLUS FTLN 1262 Thou must tell that knowest.
ACHILLES FTLN 1263 O tell, tell.
THERSITES FTLN 1264 55 I’ll decline the whole question. Agamemnon
FTLN 1265 commands Achilles, Achilles is my lord, I am
FTLN 1266 Patroclus’ knower, and Patroclus is a fool.
PATROCLUS FTLN 1267 You rascal!
THERSITES FTLN 1268 Peace, fool. I have not done.
ACHILLES , to Patroclus FTLN 1269 60 He is a privileged man.—Proceed,
FTLN 1270 Thersites.
THERSITES FTLN 1271 Agamemnon is a fool, Achilles is a fool,
FTLN 1272 Thersites is a fool, and, as aforesaid, Patroclus is a
FTLN 1273 fool.
ACHILLES FTLN 1274 65 Derive this. Come.

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THERSITES FTLN 1275 Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command
FTLN 1276 Achilles, Achilles is a fool to be commanded of
FTLN 1277 Agamemnon, Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool,
FTLN 1278 and this Patroclus is a fool positive.
PATROCLUS FTLN 1279 70 Why am I a fool?
THERSITES FTLN 1280 Make that demand of the creator. It suffices
FTLN 1281 me thou art.
Enter at a distance Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor,
Diomedes, Ajax, and Calchas.
FTLN 1282 Look you, who comes here?
ACHILLES FTLN 1283 Patroclus, I’ll speak with nobody.—Come in
FTLN 1284 75 with me, Thersites. He exits.
THERSITES FTLN 1285 Here is such patchery, such juggling, and
FTLN 1286 such knavery. All the argument is a whore and a
FTLN 1287 cuckold, a good quarrel to draw emulous factions
FTLN 1288 and bleed to death upon. Now the dry serpigo on
FTLN 1289 80 the subject, and war and lechery confound all!
He exits.
AGAMEMNON , to Patroclus FTLN 1290 Where is Achilles?
PATROCLUS
FTLN 1291 Within his tent, but ill-disposed, my lord.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1292 Let it be known to him that we are here.
FTLN 1293 He shent our messengers, and we lay by
FTLN 1294 85 Our appertainments, visiting of him.
FTLN 1295 Let him be told so, lest perchance he think
FTLN 1296 We dare not move the question of our place
FTLN 1297 Or know not what we are.
PATROCLUS FTLN 1298 I shall say so to him. He exits.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1299 90 We saw him at the opening of his tent.
FTLN 1300 He is not sick.
AJAX FTLN 1301 Yes, lion-sick, sick of proud heart. You may call
FTLN 1302 it melancholy if you will favor the man, but, by my

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FTLN 1303 head, ’tis pride. But, why, why? Let him show us a
FTLN 1304 95 cause.—A word, my lord.
He and Agamemnon walk aside.
NESTOR FTLN 1305 What moves Ajax thus to bay at him?
ULYSSES FTLN 1306 Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him.
NESTOR FTLN 1307 Who, Thersites?
ULYSSES FTLN 1308 He.
NESTOR FTLN 1309 100 Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his
FTLN 1310 argument.
ULYSSES FTLN 1311 No. You see, he is his argument that has his
FTLN 1312 argument: Achilles.
NESTOR FTLN 1313 All the better. Their fraction is more our wish
FTLN 1314 105 than their faction. But it was a strong composure a
FTLN 1315 fool could disunite.
ULYSSES FTLN 1316 The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may
FTLN 1317 easily untie.
Enter Patroclus.
FTLN 1318 Here comes Patroclus.
NESTOR FTLN 1319 110 No Achilles with him.
ULYSSES FTLN 1320 The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy;
FTLN 1321 his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure.
PATROCLUS , to Agamemnon
FTLN 1322 Achilles bids me say he is much sorry
FTLN 1323 If anything more than your sport and pleasure
FTLN 1324 115 Did move your greatness and this noble state
FTLN 1325 To call upon him. He hopes it is no other
FTLN 1326 But for your health and your digestion sake,
FTLN 1327 An after-dinner’s breath.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1328 Hear you, Patroclus:
FTLN 1329 120 We are too well acquainted with these answers,
FTLN 1330 But his evasion, winged thus swift with scorn,
FTLN 1331 Cannot outfly our apprehensions.
FTLN 1332 Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
FTLN 1333 Why we ascribe it to him. Yet all his virtues,
FTLN 1334 125 Not virtuously on his own part beheld,

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FTLN 1335 Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss,
FTLN 1336 Yea, and like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish,
FTLN 1337 Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him
FTLN 1338 We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin
FTLN 1339 130 If you do say we think him overproud
FTLN 1340 And underhonest, in self-assumption greater
FTLN 1341 Than in the note of judgment; and worthier than
FTLN 1342 himself
FTLN 1343 Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,
FTLN 1344 135 Disguise the holy strength of their command,
FTLN 1345 And underwrite in an observing kind
FTLN 1346 His humorous predominance—yea, watch
FTLN 1347 His course and time, his ebbs and flows, as if
FTLN 1348 The passage and whole carriage of this action
FTLN 1349 140 Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add
FTLN 1350 That, if he overhold his price so much,
FTLN 1351 We’ll none of him. But let him, like an engine
FTLN 1352 Not portable, lie under this report:
FTLN 1353 “Bring action hither; this cannot go to war.”
FTLN 1354 145 A stirring dwarf we do allowance give
FTLN 1355 Before a sleeping giant. Tell him so.
PATROCLUS
FTLN 1356 I shall, and bring his answer presently.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1357 In second voice we’ll not be satisfied;
FTLN 1358 We come to speak with him.—Ulysses, enter you.
Ulysses exits, with Patroclus.
AJAX FTLN 1359 150 What is he more than another?
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1360 No more than what he thinks he is.
AJAX FTLN 1361 Is he so much? Do you not think he thinks himself
FTLN 1362 a better man than I am?
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1363 No question.
AJAX FTLN 1364 155 Will you subscribe his thought and say he is?
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1365 No, noble Ajax. You are as strong, as
FTLN 1366 valiant, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle,
FTLN 1367 and altogether more tractable.

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AJAX FTLN 1368 Why should a man be proud? How doth pride
FTLN 1369 160 grow? I know not what pride is.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1370 Your mind is the clearer, Ajax, and your
FTLN 1371 virtues the fairer. He that is proud eats up himself.
FTLN 1372 Pride is his own glass, his own trumpet, his own
FTLN 1373 chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the
FTLN 1374 165 deed devours the deed in the praise.
AJAX FTLN 1375 I do hate a proud man as I hate the engendering
FTLN 1376 of toads.
NESTOR , aside
FTLN 1377 And yet he loves himself. Is ’t not strange?
Enter Ulysses.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1378 Achilles will not to the field tomorrow.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1379 170 What’s his excuse?
ULYSSES FTLN 1380 He doth rely on none,
FTLN 1381 But carries on the stream of his dispose,
FTLN 1382 Without observance or respect of any,
FTLN 1383 In will peculiar and in self-admission.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1384 175 Why, will he not, upon our fair request,
FTLN 1385 Untent his person and share th’ air with us?
ULYSSES
FTLN 1386 Things small as nothing, for request’s sake only,
FTLN 1387 He makes important. Possessed he is with greatness
FTLN 1388 And speaks not to himself but with a pride
FTLN 1389 180 That quarrels at self-breath. Imagined worth
FTLN 1390 Holds in his blood such swoll’n and hot discourse
FTLN 1391 That ’twixt his mental and his active parts
FTLN 1392 Kingdomed Achilles in commotion rages
FTLN 1393 And batters down himself. What should I say?
FTLN 1394 185 He is so plaguy proud that the death-tokens of it
FTLN 1395 Cry “No recovery.”
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1396 Let Ajax go to him.—

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ACT 2. SC. 3
FTLN 1397 Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent.
FTLN 1398 ’Tis said he holds you well and will be led
FTLN 1399 190 At your request a little from himself.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1400 O Agamemnon, let it not be so!
FTLN 1401 We’ll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes
FTLN 1402 When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord
FTLN 1403 That bastes his arrogance with his own seam
FTLN 1404 195 And never suffers matter of the world
FTLN 1405 Enter his thoughts, save such as doth revolve
FTLN 1406 And ruminate himself—shall he be worshipped
FTLN 1407 Of that we hold an idol more than he?
FTLN 1408 No. This thrice-worthy and right valiant lord
FTLN 1409 200 Shall not so stale his palm, nobly acquired,
FTLN 1410 Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit,
FTLN 1411 As amply titled as Achilles is,
FTLN 1412 By going to Achilles.
FTLN 1413 That were to enlard his fat-already pride
FTLN 1414 205 And add more coals to Cancer when he burns
FTLN 1415 With entertaining great Hyperion.
FTLN 1416 This lord go to him? Jupiter forbid
FTLN 1417 And say in thunder “Achilles, go to him.”
NESTOR , aside to Diomedes
FTLN 1418 O, this is well; he rubs the vein of him.
DIOMEDES , aside to Nestor
FTLN 1419 210 And how his silence drinks up this applause!
AJAX
FTLN 1420 If I go to him, with my armèd fist
FTLN 1421 I’ll pash him o’er the face.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1422 O, no, you shall not go.
AJAX
FTLN 1423 An he be proud with me, I’ll feeze his pride.
FTLN 1424 215 Let me go to him.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1425 Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel.
AJAX FTLN 1426 A paltry, insolent fellow.

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ACT 2. SC. 3
NESTOR , aside FTLN 1427 How he describes himself!
AJAX FTLN 1428 Can he not be sociable?
ULYSSES , aside FTLN 1429 220 The raven chides blackness.
AJAX FTLN 1430 I’ll let his humorous blood.
AGAMEMNON , aside FTLN 1431 He will be the physician that
FTLN 1432 should be the patient.
AJAX FTLN 1433 An all men were of my mind—
ULYSSES , aside FTLN 1434 225 Wit would be out of fashion.
AJAX FTLN 1435—he should not bear it so; he should eat swords
FTLN 1436 first. Shall pride carry it?
NESTOR , aside FTLN 1437 An ’twould, you’d carry half.
ULYSSES , aside FTLN 1438 He would have ten shares.
AJAX FTLN 1439 230 I will knead him; I’ll make him supple.
NESTOR , aside FTLN 1440 He’s not yet through warm. Force him
FTLN 1441 with praises. Pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry.
ULYSSES , to Agamemnon
FTLN 1442 My lord, you feed too much on this dislike.
NESTOR , to Agamemnon
FTLN 1443 Our noble general, do not do so.
DIOMEDES , to Agamemnon
FTLN 1444 235 You must prepare to fight without Achilles.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1445 Why, ’tis this naming of him does him harm.
FTLN 1446 Here is a man—but ’tis before his face;
FTLN 1447 I will be silent.
NESTOR FTLN 1448 Wherefore should you so?
FTLN 1449 240 He is not emulous, as Achilles is.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1450 Know the whole world, he is as valiant—
AJAX FTLN 1451 A whoreson dog, that shall palter with us thus!
FTLN 1452 Would he were a Trojan!
NESTOR FTLN 1453 What a vice were it in Ajax now—
ULYSSES FTLN 1454 245 If he were proud—
DIOMEDES FTLN 1455 Or covetous of praise—
ULYSSES FTLN 1456 Ay, or surly borne—
DIOMEDES FTLN 1457 Or strange, or self-affected—

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ULYSSES , to Ajax
FTLN 1458 Thank the heavens, lord, thou art of sweet
FTLN 1459 250 composure.
FTLN 1460 Praise him that gat thee, she that gave thee suck;
FTLN 1461 Famed be thy tutor, and thy parts of nature
FTLN 1462 Thrice famed beyond, beyond thy erudition;
FTLN 1463 But he that disciplined thine arms to fight,
FTLN 1464 255 Let Mars divide eternity in twain
FTLN 1465 And give him half; and for thy vigor,
FTLN 1466 Bull-bearing Milo his addition yield
FTLN 1467 To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom,
FTLN 1468 Which like a bourn, a pale, a shore confines
FTLN 1469 260 Thy spacious and dilated parts. Here’s Nestor,
FTLN 1470 Instructed by the antiquary times;
FTLN 1471 He must, he is, he cannot but be wise.—
FTLN 1472 But pardon, father Nestor, were your days
FTLN 1473 As green as Ajax’ and your brain so tempered,
FTLN 1474 265 You should not have the eminence of him,
FTLN 1475 But be as Ajax.
AJAX FTLN 1476 Shall I call you father?
NESTOR
FTLN 1477 Ay, my good son.
DIOMEDES FTLN 1478 Be ruled by him, Lord Ajax.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1479 270 There is no tarrying here; the hart Achilles
FTLN 1480 Keeps thicket. Please it our great general
FTLN 1481 To call together all his state of war.
FTLN 1482 Fresh kings are come to Troy. Tomorrow
FTLN 1483 We must with all our main of power stand fast.
FTLN 1484 275 And here’s a lord—come knights from east to west
FTLN 1485 And cull their flower, Ajax shall cope the best.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1486 Go we to council. Let Achilles sleep.
FTLN 1487 Light boats sail swift, though greater hulks draw deep.
They exit.

ACT 3
Scene 1
Music sounds within. Enter Pandarus and Paris’s
Servingman.
PANDARUS FTLN 1488 Friend, you, pray you, a word. Do you not
FTLN 1489 follow the young Lord Paris?
MAN FTLN 1490 Ay, sir, when he goes before me.
PANDARUS FTLN 1491 You depend upon him, I mean.
MAN FTLN 1492 5 Sir, I do depend upon the Lord.
PANDARUS FTLN 1493 You depend upon a notable gentleman. I
FTLN 1494 must needs praise him.
MAN FTLN 1495 The Lord be praised!
PANDARUS FTLN 1496 You know me, do you not?
MAN FTLN 1497 10 Faith, sir, superficially.
PANDARUS FTLN 1498 Friend, know me better. I am the Lord
FTLN 1499 Pandarus.
MAN FTLN 1500 I hope I shall know your Honor better.
PANDARUS FTLN 1501 I do desire it.
MAN FTLN 1502 15 You are in the state of grace?
PANDARUS FTLN 1503 Grace? Not so, friend. “Honor” and “Lordship”
FTLN 1504 are my titles. What music is this?
MAN FTLN 1505 I do but partly know, sir. It is music in parts.
PANDARUS FTLN 1506 Know you the musicians?
MAN FTLN 1507 20 Wholly, sir.
PANDARUS FTLN 1508 Who play they to?
MAN FTLN 1509 To the hearers, sir.
PANDARUS FTLN 1510 At whose pleasure, friend?
111

113
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
MAN FTLN 1511 At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
PANDARUS FTLN 1512 25 Command, I mean, friend.
MAN FTLN 1513 Who shall I command, sir?
PANDARUS FTLN 1514 Friend, we understand not one another. I
FTLN 1515 am too courtly and thou art too cunning. At whose
FTLN 1516 request do these men play?
MAN FTLN 1517 30 That’s to ’t indeed, sir. Marry, sir, at the request of
FTLN 1518 Paris my lord, who is there in person; with him the
FTLN 1519 mortal Venus, the heart blood of beauty, love’s visible
FTLN 1520 soul.
PANDARUS FTLN 1521 Who, my cousin Cressida?
MAN FTLN 1522 35 No, sir, Helen. Could not you find out that by her
FTLN 1523 attributes?
PANDARUS FTLN 1524 It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not
FTLN 1525 seen the Lady Cressid. I come to speak with Paris
FTLN 1526 from the Prince Troilus. I will make a complimental
FTLN 1527 40 assault upon him, for my business seethes.
MAN FTLN 1528 Sodden business! There’s a stewed phrase indeed.
Enter Paris and Helen with Attendants.
PANDARUS FTLN 1529 Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair
FTLN 1530 company! Fair desires in all fair measure fairly
FTLN 1531 guide them!—Especially to you, fair queen, fair
FTLN 1532 45 thoughts be your fair pillow!
HELEN FTLN 1533 Dear lord, you are full of fair words.
PANDARUS FTLN 1534 You speak your fair pleasure, sweet
FTLN 1535 queen.—Fair prince, here is good broken music.
PARIS FTLN 1536 You have broke it, cousin, and, by my life, you
FTLN 1537 50 shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out
FTLN 1538 with a piece of your performance.
HELEN FTLN 1539 He is full of harmony.
PANDARUS FTLN 1540 Truly, lady, no.
HELEN FTLN 1541 O, sir—
PANDARUS FTLN 1542 55 Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
PARIS FTLN 1543 Well said, my lord; well, you say so in fits.

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
PANDARUS FTLN 1544 I have business to my lord, dear queen.—
FTLN 1545 My lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?
HELEN FTLN 1546 Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you
FTLN 1547 60 sing, certainly.
PANDARUS FTLN 1548 Well, sweet queen, you are pleasant with
FTLN 1549 me.—But, marry, thus, my lord: my dear lord and
FTLN 1550 most esteemed friend, your brother Troilus—
HELEN FTLN 1551 My Lord Pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
PANDARUS FTLN 1552 65 Go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself
FTLN 1553 most affectionately to you—
HELEN FTLN 1554 You shall not bob us out of our melody. If you
FTLN 1555 do, our melancholy upon your head!
PANDARUS FTLN 1556 Sweet queen, sweet queen, that’s a sweet
FTLN 1557 70 queen, i’ faith—
HELEN FTLN 1558 And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
PANDARUS FTLN 1559 Nay, that shall not serve your turn, that
FTLN 1560 shall it not, in truth, la. Nay, I care not for such
FTLN 1561 words, no, no.—And, my lord, he desires you that
FTLN 1562 75 if the King call for him at supper, you will make his
FTLN 1563 excuse.
HELEN FTLN 1564 My Lord Pandarus—
PANDARUS FTLN 1565 What says my sweet queen, my very, very
FTLN 1566 sweet queen?
PARIS FTLN 1567 80 What exploit’s in hand? Where sups he tonight?
HELEN FTLN 1568 Nay, but, my lord—
PANDARUS FTLN 1569 What says my sweet queen? My cousin will
FTLN 1570 fall out with you.
HELEN , to Paris FTLN 1571 You must not know where he sups.
PARIS FTLN 1572 85 I’ll lay my life, with my disposer Cressida.
PANDARUS FTLN 1573 No, no, no such matter; you are wide.
FTLN 1574 Come, your disposer is sick.
PARIS FTLN 1575 Well, I’ll make ’s excuse.
PANDARUS FTLN 1576 Ay, good my lord. Why should you say Cressida?
FTLN 1577 90 No, your poor disposer’s sick.
PARIS FTLN 1578 I spy.

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
PANDARUS FTLN 1579 You spy? What do you spy?—Come, give me
FTLN 1580 an instrument. An Attendant gives him an instrument.
FTLN 1581 Now, sweet queen.
HELEN FTLN 1582 95 Why, this is kindly done.
PANDARUS FTLN 1583 My niece is horribly in love with a thing you
FTLN 1584 have, sweet queen.
HELEN FTLN 1585 She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my Lord
FTLN 1586 Paris.
PANDARUS FTLN 1587 100 He? No, she’ll none of him. They two are
FTLN 1588 twain.
HELEN FTLN 1589 Falling in after falling out may make them
FTLN 1590 three.
PANDARUS FTLN 1591 Come, come, I’ll hear no more of this. I’ll
FTLN 1592 105 sing you a song now.
HELEN FTLN 1593 Ay, ay, prithee. Now, by my troth, sweet lord,
FTLN 1594 thou hast a fine forehead.
PANDARUS FTLN 1595 Ay, you may, you may.
HELEN FTLN 1596 Let thy song be love. “This love will undo us all.”
FTLN 1597 110 O Cupid, Cupid, Cupid!
PANDARUS FTLN 1598 Love? Ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
PARIS FTLN 1599 Ay, good now, “Love, love, nothing but love.”
PANDARUS FTLN 1600 In good troth, it begins so.
FTLN 1601 Love, love, nothing but love, still love, still more!
FTLN 1602 115 For, O, love’s bow
FTLN 1603 Shoots buck and doe.
FTLN 1604 The shaft confounds
FTLN 1605 Not that it wounds
FTLN 1606 But tickles still the sore.
FTLN 1607 120 These lovers cry “O ho!” they die,
FTLN 1608 Yet that which seems the wound to kill
FTLN 1609 Doth turn “O ho!” to “Ha ha he!”
FTLN 1610 So dying love lives still.
FTLN 1611 “O ho!” awhile, but “Ha ha ha!”
FTLN 1612 125 “O ho!”groans out for “ha ha ha!”—Hey ho!

119
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 1
HELEN FTLN 1613 In love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
PARIS FTLN 1614 He eats nothing but doves, love, and that breeds
FTLN 1615 hot blood, and hot blood begets hot thoughts, and
FTLN 1616 hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot deeds is love.
PANDARUS FTLN 1617 130 Is this the generation of love? Hot blood,
FTLN 1618 hot thoughts, and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers.
FTLN 1619 Is love a generation of vipers? Sweet lord, who’s
FTLN 1620 afield today?
PARIS FTLN 1621 Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the
FTLN 1622 135 gallantry of Troy. I would fain have armed today,
FTLN 1623 but my Nell would not have it so. How chance my
FTLN 1624 brother Troilus went not?
HELEN FTLN 1625 He hangs the lip at something.—You know all,
FTLN 1626 Lord Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 1627 140 Not I, honey sweet queen. I long to hear how
FTLN 1628 they sped today.—You’ll remember your brother’s
FTLN 1629 excuse?
PARIS FTLN 1630 To a hair.
PANDARUS FTLN 1631 Farewell, sweet queen.
HELEN FTLN 1632 145 Commend me to your niece.
PANDARUS FTLN 1633 I will, sweet queen. He exits.
Sound a retreat.
PARIS
FTLN 1634 They’re come from the field. Let us to Priam’s hall
FTLN 1635 To greet the warriors. Sweet Helen, I must woo you
FTLN 1636 To help unarm our Hector. His stubborn buckles,
FTLN 1637 150 With these your white enchanting fingers touched,
FTLN 1638 Shall more obey than to the edge of steel
FTLN 1639 Or force of Greekish sinews. You shall do more
FTLN 1640 Than all the island kings: disarm great Hector.
HELEN
FTLN 1641 ’Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris.
FTLN 1642 155 Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty
FTLN 1643 Gives us more palm in beauty than we have,
FTLN 1644 Yea, overshines ourself.
PARIS FTLN 1645 Sweet, above thought I love thee.
They exit.

121
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 2
Scene 2
Enter Pandarus and Troilus’s Man, meeting.
PANDARUS FTLN 1646 How now? Where’s thy master? At my
FTLN 1647 cousin Cressida’s?
MAN FTLN 1648 No, sir, he stays for you to conduct him thither.
Enter Troilus.
PANDARUS FTLN 1649 O, here he comes.—How now, how now?
TROILUS , to his Man FTLN 1650 5 Sirrah, walk off. Man exits.
PANDARUS FTLN 1651 Have you seen my cousin?
TROILUS
FTLN 1652 No, Pandarus. I stalk about her door
FTLN 1653 Like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks
FTLN 1654 Staying for waftage. O, be thou my Charon,
FTLN 1655 10 And give me swift transportance to those fields
FTLN 1656 Where I may wallow in the lily beds
FTLN 1657 Proposed for the deserver! O, gentle Pandar,
FTLN 1658 From Cupid’s shoulder pluck his painted wings
FTLN 1659 And fly with me to Cressid!
PANDARUS FTLN 1660 15 Walk here i’ th’ orchard. I’ll bring her
FTLN 1661 straight.
Pandarus exits.
TROILUS
FTLN 1662 I am giddy; expectation whirls me round.
FTLN 1663 Th’ imaginary relish is so sweet
FTLN 1664 That it enchants my sense. What will it be
FTLN 1665 20 When that the wat’ry palate taste indeed
FTLN 1666 Love’s thrice-repurèd nectar? Death, I fear me,
FTLN 1667 Swooning destruction, or some joy too fine,
FTLN 1668 Too subtle-potent, tuned too sharp in sweetness
FTLN 1669 For the capacity of my ruder powers.
FTLN 1670 25 I fear it much; and I do fear besides
FTLN 1671 That I shall lose distinction in my joys,
FTLN 1672 As doth a battle when they charge on heaps
FTLN 1673 The enemy flying.

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Enter Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 1674 She’s making her ready; she’ll come straight.
FTLN 1675 30 You must be witty now. She does so blush and
FTLN 1676 fetches her wind so short as if she were frayed with
FTLN 1677 a spirit. I’ll fetch her. It is the prettiest villain. She
FTLN 1678 fetches her breath as short as a new-ta’en sparrow.
Pandarus exits.
TROILUS
FTLN 1679 Even such a passion doth embrace my bosom.
FTLN 1680 35 My heart beats thicker than a feverous pulse,
FTLN 1681 And all my powers do their bestowing lose,
FTLN 1682 Like vassalage at unawares encount’ring
FTLN 1683 The eye of majesty.
Enter Pandarus, and Cressida veiled.
PANDARUS , to Cressida FTLN 1684 Come, come, what need you
FTLN 1685 40 blush? Shame’s a baby.—Here she is now. Swear
FTLN 1686 the oaths now to her that you have sworn to me.
FTLN 1687 Cressida offers to leave. What, are you gone again?
FTLN 1688 You must be watched ere you be made tame, must
FTLN 1689 you? Come your ways; come your ways. An you
FTLN 1690 45 draw backward, we’ll put you i’ th’ thills.—Why
FTLN 1691 do you not speak to her?—Come, draw this curtain
FTLN 1692 and let’s see your picture. He draws back her veil.
FTLN 1693 Alas the day, how loath you are to offend daylight!
FTLN 1694 An ’twere dark, you’d close sooner.—So, so, rub on,
FTLN 1695 50 and kiss the mistress. (They kiss.) How now? A
FTLN 1696 kiss in fee-farm? Build there, carpenter; the air is
FTLN 1697 sweet. Nay, you shall fight your hearts out ere I
FTLN 1698 part you. The falcon as the tercel, for all the ducks
FTLN 1699 i’ th’ river. Go to, go to.
TROILUS FTLN 1700 55 You have bereft me of all words, lady.
PANDARUS FTLN 1701 Words pay no debts; give her deeds. But
FTLN 1702 she’ll bereave you o’ th’ deeds too, if she call your
FTLN 1703 activity in question. (They kiss.) What, billing

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FTLN 1704 again? Here’s “In witness whereof the parties
FTLN 1705 60 interchangeably—.” Come in, come in. I’ll go get a fire.
Pandarus exits.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1706 Will you walk in, my lord?
TROILUS FTLN 1707 O Cressid, how often have I wished me thus!
CRESSIDA FTLN 1708“Wished,” my lord? The gods grant—O, my
FTLN 1709 lord!
TROILUS FTLN 1710 65 What should they grant? What makes this
FTLN 1711 pretty abruption? What too-curious dreg espies
FTLN 1712 my sweet lady in the fountain of our love?
CRESSIDA FTLN 1713 More dregs than water, if my fears have eyes.
TROILUS FTLN 1714 Fears make devils of cherubins; they never
FTLN 1715 70 see truly.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1716 Blind fear, that seeing reason leads, finds
FTLN 1717 safer footing than blind reason, stumbling without
FTLN 1718 fear. To fear the worst oft cures the worse.
TROILUS FTLN 1719 O, let my lady apprehend no fear. In all
FTLN 1720 75 Cupid’s pageant there is presented no monster.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1721 Nor nothing monstrous neither?
TROILUS FTLN 1722 Nothing but our undertakings, when we vow
FTLN 1723 to weep seas, live in fire, eat rocks, tame tigers,
FTLN 1724 thinking it harder for our mistress to devise imposition
FTLN 1725 80 enough than for us to undergo any difficulty
FTLN 1726 imposed. This is the monstruosity in love, lady, that
FTLN 1727 the will is infinite and the execution confined, that
FTLN 1728 the desire is boundless and the act a slave to limit.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1729 They say all lovers swear more performance
FTLN 1730 85 than they are able and yet reserve an ability that
FTLN 1731 they never perform, vowing more than the perfection
FTLN 1732 of ten and discharging less than the tenth part
FTLN 1733 of one. They that have the voice of lions and the
FTLN 1734 act of hares, are they not monsters?
TROILUS FTLN 1735 90 Are there such? Such are not we. Praise us as
FTLN 1736 we are tasted, allow us as we prove; our head shall
FTLN 1737 go bare till merit crown it. No perfection in reversion
FTLN 1738 shall have a praise in present. We will not

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FTLN 1739 name desert before his birth, and, being born, his
FTLN 1740 95 addition shall be humble. Few words to fair faith.
FTLN 1741 Troilus shall be such to Cressid as what envy can
FTLN 1742 say worst shall be a mock for his truth, and what
FTLN 1743 truth can speak truest not truer than Troilus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1744 Will you walk in, my lord?
Enter Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 1745 100 What, blushing still? Have you not done
FTLN 1746 talking yet?
CRESSIDA FTLN 1747 Well, uncle, what folly I commit I dedicate
FTLN 1748 to you.
PANDARUS FTLN 1749 I thank you for that. If my lord get a boy of
FTLN 1750 105 you, you’ll give him me. Be true to my lord. If he
FTLN 1751 flinch, chide me for it.
TROILUS , to Cressida FTLN 1752 You know now your hostages:
FTLN 1753 your uncle’s word and my firm faith.
PANDARUS FTLN 1754 Nay, I’ll give my word for her too. Our kindred,
FTLN 1755 110 though they be long ere they be wooed, they
FTLN 1756 are constant being won. They are burrs, I can tell
FTLN 1757 you; they’ll stick where they are thrown.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 1758 Boldness comes to me now and brings me heart.
FTLN 1759 Prince Troilus, I have loved you night and day
FTLN 1760 115 For many weary months.
TROILUS
FTLN 1761 Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 1762 Hard to seem won; but I was won, my lord,
FTLN 1763 With the first glance that ever—pardon me;
FTLN 1764 If I confess much, you will play the tyrant.
FTLN 1765 120 I love you now, but till now not so much
FTLN 1766 But I might master it. In faith, I lie;
FTLN 1767 My thoughts were like unbridled children grown
FTLN 1768 Too headstrong for their mother. See, we fools!
FTLN 1769 Why have I blabbed? Who shall be true to us

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FTLN 1770 125 When we are so unsecret to ourselves?
FTLN 1771 But though I loved you well, I wooed you not;
FTLN 1772 And yet, good faith, I wished myself a man;
FTLN 1773 Or that we women had men’s privilege
FTLN 1774 Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue,
FTLN 1775 130 For in this rapture I shall surely speak
FTLN 1776 The thing I shall repent. See, see, your silence,
FTLN 1777 Cunning in dumbness, from my weakness draws
FTLN 1778 My very soul of counsel! Stop my mouth.
TROILUS
FTLN 1779 And shall, albeit sweet music issues thence.
They kiss.
PANDARUS FTLN 1780 135 Pretty, i’ faith!
CRESSIDA , to Troilus
FTLN 1781 My lord, I do beseech you pardon me.
FTLN 1782 ’Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss.
FTLN 1783 I am ashamed. O heavens, what have I done!
FTLN 1784 For this time will I take my leave, my lord.
TROILUS FTLN 1785 140 Your leave, sweet Cressid?
PANDARUS FTLN 1786 Leave? An you take leave till tomorrow
FTLN 1787 morning—
CRESSIDA FTLN 1788 Pray you, content you.
TROILUS FTLN 1789 What offends you, lady?
CRESSIDA FTLN 1790 145 Sir, mine own company.
TROILUS FTLN 1791 You cannot shun yourself.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1792 Let me go and try.
FTLN 1793 I have a kind of self resides with you,
FTLN 1794 But an unkind self that itself will leave
FTLN 1795 150 To be another’s fool. I would be gone.
FTLN 1796 Where is my wit? I know not what I speak.
TROILUS
FTLN 1797 Well know they what they speak that speak so wisely.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 1798 Perchance, my lord, I show more craft than love
FTLN 1799 And fell so roundly to a large confession
FTLN 1800 155 To angle for your thoughts. But you are wise,

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FTLN 1801 Or else you love not; for to be wise and love
FTLN 1802 Exceeds man’s might. That dwells with gods above.
TROILUS
FTLN 1803 O, that I thought it could be in a woman—
FTLN 1804 As, if it can, I will presume in you—
FTLN 1805 160 To feed for aye her lamp and flames of love,
FTLN 1806 To keep her constancy in plight and youth,
FTLN 1807 Outliving beauty’s outward, with a mind
FTLN 1808 That doth renew swifter than blood decays!
FTLN 1809 Or that persuasion could but thus convince me
FTLN 1810 165 That my integrity and truth to you
FTLN 1811 Might be affronted with the match and weight
FTLN 1812 Of such a winnowed purity in love;
FTLN 1813 How were I then uplifted! But, alas,
FTLN 1814 I am as true as truth’s simplicity
FTLN 1815 170 And simpler than the infancy of truth.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 1816 In that I’ll war with you.
TROILUS FTLN 1817 O virtuous fight,
FTLN 1818 When right with right wars who shall be most right!
FTLN 1819 True swains in love shall in the world to come
FTLN 1820 175 Approve their truth by Troilus. When their rhymes,
FTLN 1821 Full of protest, of oath and big compare,
FTLN 1822 Wants similes, truth tired with iteration—
FTLN 1823 “As true as steel, as plantage to the moon,
FTLN 1824 As sun to day, as turtle to her mate,
FTLN 1825 180 As iron to adamant, as Earth to th’ center”—
FTLN 1826 Yet, after all comparisons of truth,
FTLN 1827 As truth’s authentic author to be cited,
FTLN 1828 “As true as Troilus” shall crown up the verse
FTLN 1829 And sanctify the numbers.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1830 185 Prophet may you be!
FTLN 1831 If I be false or swerve a hair from truth,
FTLN 1832 When time is old and hath forgot itself,
FTLN 1833 When water drops have worn the stones of Troy
FTLN 1834 And blind oblivion swallowed cities up,

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FTLN 1835 190 And mighty states characterless are grated
FTLN 1836 To dusty nothing, yet let memory,
FTLN 1837 From false to false, among false maids in love,
FTLN 1838 Upbraid my falsehood! When they’ve said “as false
FTLN 1839 As air, as water, wind or sandy earth,
FTLN 1840 195 As fox to lamb, or wolf to heifer’s calf,
FTLN 1841 Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son,”
FTLN 1842 Yea, let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood,
FTLN 1843 “As false as Cressid.”
PANDARUS FTLN 1844 Go to, a bargain made. Seal it, seal it. I’ll be
FTLN 1845 200 the witness. Here I hold your hand, here my
FTLN 1846 cousin’s. If ever you prove false one to another, since
FTLN 1847 I have taken such pains to bring you together, let
FTLN 1848 all pitiful goers-between be called to the world’s
FTLN 1849 end after my name: call them all panders. Let all
FTLN 1850 205 constant men be Troiluses, all false women Cressids,
FTLN 1851 and all brokers-between panders. Say “Amen.”
TROILUS FTLN 1852 Amen.
CRESSIDA FTLN 1853 Amen.
PANDARUS FTLN 1854 Amen. Whereupon I will show you a chamber
FTLN 1855 210 with a bed, which bed, because it shall not
FTLN 1856 speak of your pretty encounters, press it to death.
FTLN 1857 Away. Troilus and Cressida exit.
FTLN 1858 And Cupid grant all tongue-tied maidens here
FTLN 1859 Bed, chamber, pander to provide this gear.
He exits.
Scene 3
Flourish. Enter Ulysses, Diomedes, Nestor,
Agamemnon, Calchas, Menelaus, and Ajax.
CALCHAS
FTLN 1860 Now, princes, for the service I have done you,
FTLN 1861 Th’ advantage of the time prompts me aloud
FTLN 1862 To call for recompense. Appear it to your mind

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FTLN 1863 That, through the sight I bear in things to come,
FTLN 1864 5 I have abandoned Troy, left my possessions,
FTLN 1865 Incurred a traitor’s name, exposed myself,
FTLN 1866 From certain and possessed conveniences,
FTLN 1867 To doubtful fortunes, sequest’ring from me all
FTLN 1868 That time, acquaintance, custom, and condition
FTLN 1869 10 Made tame and most familiar to my nature,
FTLN 1870 And here, to do you service, am become
FTLN 1871 As new into the world, strange, unacquainted.
FTLN 1872 I do beseech you, as in way of taste,
FTLN 1873 To give me now a little benefit
FTLN 1874 15 Out of those many regist’red in promise,
FTLN 1875 Which you say live to come in my behalf.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1876 What wouldst thou of us, Trojan, make demand?
CALCHAS
FTLN 1877 You have a Trojan prisoner called Antenor
FTLN 1878 Yesterday took. Troy holds him very dear.
FTLN 1879 20 Oft have you—often have you thanks therefor—
FTLN 1880 Desired my Cressid in right great exchange,
FTLN 1881 Whom Troy hath still denied; but this Antenor,
FTLN 1882 I know, is such a wrest in their affairs
FTLN 1883 That their negotiations all must slack,
FTLN 1884 25 Wanting his manage; and they will almost
FTLN 1885 Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam,
FTLN 1886 In change of him. Let him be sent, great princes,
FTLN 1887 And he shall buy my daughter; and her presence
FTLN 1888 Shall quite strike off all service I have done
FTLN 1889 30 In most accepted pain.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1890 Let Diomedes bear him,
FTLN 1891 And bring us Cressid hither. Calchas shall have
FTLN 1892 What he requests of us. Good Diomed,
FTLN 1893 Furnish you fairly for this interchange.
FTLN 1894 35 Withal, bring word if Hector will tomorrow
FTLN 1895 Be answered in his challenge. Ajax is ready.

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DIOMEDES
FTLN 1896 This shall I undertake, and ’tis a burden
FTLN 1897 Which I am proud to bear. He exits with Calchas.
Achilles and Patroclus stand in their tent.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1898 Achilles stands i’ th’ entrance of his tent.
FTLN 1899 40 Please it our General pass strangely by him
FTLN 1900 As if he were forgot, and, princes all,
FTLN 1901 Lay negligent and loose regard upon him.
FTLN 1902 I will come last. ’Tis like he’ll question me
FTLN 1903 Why such unplausive eyes are bent, why turned on
FTLN 1904 45 him.
FTLN 1905 If so, I have derision medicinable
FTLN 1906 To use between your strangeness and his pride,
FTLN 1907 Which his own will shall have desire to drink.
FTLN 1908 It may do good; pride hath no other glass
FTLN 1909 50 To show itself but pride, for supple knees
FTLN 1910 Feed arrogance and are the proud man’s fees.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 1911 We’ll execute your purpose and put on
FTLN 1912 A form of strangeness as we pass along;
FTLN 1913 So do each lord, and either greet him not
FTLN 1914 55 Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more
FTLN 1915 Than if not looked on. I will lead the way.
They pass before Achilles and Patroclus. Ulysses
remains in place, reading.
ACHILLES
FTLN 1916 What, comes the General to speak with me?
FTLN 1917 You know my mind: I’ll fight no more ’gainst Troy.
AGAMEMNON , to Nestor
FTLN 1918 What says Achilles? Would he aught with us?
NESTOR , to Achilles
FTLN 1919 60 Would you, my lord, aught with the General?
ACHILLES FTLN 1920 No.

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NESTOR FTLN 1921 Nothing, my lord.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 1922 The better. Agamemnon and Nestor exit.
ACHILLES , to Menelaus FTLN 1923 Good day, good day.
MENELAUS FTLN 1924 65 How do you? How do you? He exits.
ACHILLES FTLN 1925 What, does the cuckold scorn me?
AJAX FTLN 1926 How now, Patroclus?
ACHILLES FTLN 1927 Good morrow, Ajax.
AJAX FTLN 1928 Ha?
ACHILLES FTLN 1929 70 Good morrow.
AJAX FTLN 1930 Ay, and good next day too. He exits.
ACHILLES
FTLN 1931 What mean these fellows? Know they not Achilles?
PATROCLUS
FTLN 1932 They pass by strangely. They were used to bend,
FTLN 1933 To send their smiles before them to Achilles,
FTLN 1934 75 To come as humbly as they use to creep
FTLN 1935 To holy altars.
ACHILLES FTLN 1936 What, am I poor of late?
FTLN 1937 ’Tis certain, greatness, once fall’n out with Fortune,
FTLN 1938 Must fall out with men too. What the declined is
FTLN 1939 80 He shall as soon read in the eyes of others
FTLN 1940 As feel in his own fall, for men, like butterflies,
FTLN 1941 Show not their mealy wings but to the summer,
FTLN 1942 And not a man, for being simply man,
FTLN 1943 Hath any honor, but honor for those honors
FTLN 1944 85 That are without him—as place, riches, and favor,
FTLN 1945 Prizes of accident as oft as merit,
FTLN 1946 Which, when they fall, as being slippery slanders,
FTLN 1947 The love that leaned on them, as slippery too,
FTLN 1948 Doth one pluck down another and together
FTLN 1949 90 Die in the fall. But ’tis not so with me.
FTLN 1950 Fortune and I are friends. I do enjoy,
FTLN 1951 At ample point, all that I did possess,
FTLN 1952 Save these men’s looks, who do, methinks, find out
FTLN 1953 Something not worth in me such rich beholding

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FTLN 1954 95 As they have often given. Here is Ulysses.
FTLN 1955 I’ll interrupt his reading.—How now, Ulysses?
ULYSSES FTLN 1956 Now, great Thetis’ son—
ACHILLES FTLN 1957 What are you reading?
ULYSSES FTLN 1958 A strange fellow here
FTLN 1959 100 Writes me that man, how dearly ever parted,
FTLN 1960 How much in having, or without or in,
FTLN 1961 Cannot make boast to have that which he hath,
FTLN 1962 Nor feels not what he owes, but by reflection;
FTLN 1963 As when his virtues, shining upon others,
FTLN 1964 105 Heat them, and they retort that heat again
FTLN 1965 To the first giver.
ACHILLES FTLN 1966 This is not strange, Ulysses.
FTLN 1967 The beauty that is borne here in the face
FTLN 1968 The bearer knows not, but commends itself
FTLN 1969 110 To others’ eyes; nor doth the eye itself,
FTLN 1970 That most pure spirit of sense, behold itself,
FTLN 1971 Not going from itself, but eye to eye opposed
FTLN 1972 Salutes each other with each other’s form.
FTLN 1973 For speculation turns not to itself
FTLN 1974 115 Till it hath traveled and is mirrored there
FTLN 1975 Where it may see itself. This is not strange at all.
ULYSSES
FTLN 1976 I do not strain at the position—
FTLN 1977 It is familiar—but at the author’s drift,
FTLN 1978 Who in his circumstance expressly proves
FTLN 1979 120 That no man is the lord of anything—
FTLN 1980 Though in and of him there be much consisting—
FTLN 1981 Till he communicate his parts to others;
FTLN 1982 Nor doth he of himself know them for aught
FTLN 1983 Till he behold them formed in the applause
FTLN 1984 125 Where they’re extended; who, like an arch, reverb’rate
FTLN 1985 The voice again or, like a gate of steel
FTLN 1986 Fronting the sun, receives and renders back
FTLN 1987 His figure and his heat. I was much rapt in this
FTLN 1988 And apprehended here immediately

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FTLN 1989 130 Th’ unknown Ajax. Heavens, what a man is there!
FTLN 1990 A very horse, that has he knows not what!
FTLN 1991 Nature, what things there are
FTLN 1992 Most abject in regard, and dear in use,
FTLN 1993 What things again most dear in the esteem
FTLN 1994 135 And poor in worth! Now shall we see tomorrow—
FTLN 1995 An act that very chance doth throw upon him—
FTLN 1996 Ajax renowned. O, heavens, what some men do
FTLN 1997 While some men leave to do!
FTLN 1998 How some men creep in skittish Fortune’s hall,
FTLN 1999 140 Whiles others play the idiots in her eyes!
FTLN 2000 How one man eats into another’s pride,
FTLN 2001 While pride is fasting in his wantonness!
FTLN 2002 To see these Grecian lords—why, even already
FTLN 2003 They clap the lubber Ajax on the shoulder
FTLN 2004 145 As if his foot were on brave Hector’s breast
FTLN 2005 And great Troy shrieking.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2006 I do believe it, for they passed by me
FTLN 2007 As misers do by beggars, neither gave to me
FTLN 2008 Good word nor look. What, are my deeds forgot?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2009 150 Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back
FTLN 2010 Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,
FTLN 2011 A great-sized monster of ingratitudes.
FTLN 2012 Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devoured
FTLN 2013 As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
FTLN 2014 155 As done. Perseverance, dear my lord,
FTLN 2015 Keeps honor bright. To have done is to hang
FTLN 2016 Quite out of fashion like a rusty mail
FTLN 2017 In monumental mock’ry. Take the instant way,
FTLN 2018 For honor travels in a strait so narrow
FTLN 2019 160 Where one but goes abreast. Keep, then, the path,
FTLN 2020 For Emulation hath a thousand sons
FTLN 2021 That one by one pursue. If you give way
FTLN 2022 Or turn aside from the direct forthright,

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ACT 3. SC. 3
FTLN 2023 Like to an entered tide they all rush by
FTLN 2024 165 And leave you hindmost;
FTLN 2025 Or, like a gallant horse fall’n in first rank,
FTLN 2026 Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,
FTLN 2027 O’errun and trampled on. Then what they do in
FTLN 2028 present,
FTLN 2029 170 Though less than yours in past, must o’ertop yours;
FTLN 2030 For Time is like a fashionable host
FTLN 2031 That slightly shakes his parting guest by th’ hand
FTLN 2032 And, with his arms outstretched as he would fly,
FTLN 2033 Grasps in the comer. Welcome ever smiles,
FTLN 2034 175 And Farewell goes out sighing. Let not virtue seek
FTLN 2035 Remuneration for the thing it was,
FTLN 2036 For beauty, wit,
FTLN 2037 High birth, vigor of bone, desert in service,
FTLN 2038 Love, friendship, charity are subjects all
FTLN 2039 180 To envious and calumniating Time.
FTLN 2040 One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
FTLN 2041 That all, with one consent, praise newborn gauds,
FTLN 2042 Though they are made and molded of things past,
FTLN 2043 And give to dust that is a little gilt
FTLN 2044 185 More laud than gilt o’erdusted.
FTLN 2045 The present eye praises the present object.
FTLN 2046 Then marvel not, thou great and complete man,
FTLN 2047 That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax,
FTLN 2048 Since things in motion sooner catch the eye
FTLN 2049 190 Than what stirs not. The cry went once on thee,
FTLN 2050 And still it might, and yet it may again,
FTLN 2051 If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive
FTLN 2052 And case thy reputation in thy tent,
FTLN 2053 Whose glorious deeds but in these fields of late
FTLN 2054 195 Made emulous missions ’mongst the gods themselves
FTLN 2055 And drave great Mars to faction.
ACHILLES FTLN 2056 Of this my privacy,
FTLN 2057 I have strong reasons.
ULYSSES FTLN 2058 But ’gainst your privacy

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ACT 3. SC. 3
FTLN 2059 200 The reasons are more potent and heroical.
FTLN 2060 ’Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love
FTLN 2061 With one of Priam’s daughters.
ACHILLES FTLN 2062 Ha? Known?
ULYSSES FTLN 2063 Is that a wonder?
FTLN 2064 205 The providence that’s in a watchful state
FTLN 2065 Knows almost every grain of Pluto’s gold,
FTLN 2066 Finds bottom in the uncomprehensive deep,
FTLN 2067 Keeps place with thought and almost, like the gods,
FTLN 2068 Do thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles.
FTLN 2069 210 There is a mystery—with whom relation
FTLN 2070 Durst never meddle—in the soul of state,
FTLN 2071 Which hath an operation more divine
FTLN 2072 Than breath or pen can give expressure to.
FTLN 2073 All the commerce that you have had with Troy
FTLN 2074 215 As perfectly is ours as yours, my lord;
FTLN 2075 And better would it fit Achilles much
FTLN 2076 To throw down Hector than Polyxena.
FTLN 2077 But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home
FTLN 2078 When Fame shall in our islands sound her trump,
FTLN 2079 220 And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing
FTLN 2080 “Great Hector’s sister did Achilles win,
FTLN 2081 But our great Ajax bravely beat down him.”
FTLN 2082 Farewell, my lord. I as your lover speak.
FTLN 2083 The fool slides o’er the ice that you should break.
He exits.
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2084 225 To this effect, Achilles, have I moved you.
FTLN 2085 A woman impudent and mannish grown
FTLN 2086 Is not more loathed than an effeminate man
FTLN 2087 In time of action. I stand condemned for this.
FTLN 2088 They think my little stomach to the war,
FTLN 2089 230 And your great love to me, restrains you thus.
FTLN 2090 Sweet, rouse yourself, and the weak wanton Cupid
FTLN 2091 Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold

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FTLN 2092 And, like a dewdrop from the lion’s mane,
FTLN 2093 Be shook to air.
ACHILLES FTLN 2094 235 Shall Ajax fight with Hector?
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2095 Ay, and perhaps receive much honor by him.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2096 I see my reputation is at stake;
FTLN 2097 My fame is shrewdly gored.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2098 O, then, beware!
FTLN 2099 240 Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves.
FTLN 2100 Omission to do what is necessary
FTLN 2101 Seals a commission to a blank of danger,
FTLN 2102 And danger, like an ague, subtly taints
FTLN 2103 Even then when they sit idly in the sun.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2104 245 Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus.
FTLN 2105 I’ll send the fool to Ajax and desire him
FTLN 2106 T’ invite the Trojan lords after the combat
FTLN 2107 To see us here unarmed. I have a woman’s longing,
FTLN 2108 An appetite that I am sick withal,
FTLN 2109 250 To see great Hector in his weeds of peace,
FTLN 2110 To talk with him, and to behold his visage,
FTLN 2111 Even to my full of view.
Enter Thersites.
FTLN 2112 A labor saved.
THERSITES FTLN 2113 A wonder!
ACHILLES FTLN 2114 255 What?
THERSITES FTLN 2115 Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for
FTLN 2116 himself.
ACHILLES FTLN 2117 How so?
THERSITES FTLN 2118 He must fight singly tomorrow with Hector
FTLN 2119 260 and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgeling
FTLN 2120 that he raves in saying nothing.
ACHILLES FTLN 2121 How can that be?

151
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 3
THERSITES FTLN 2122 Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock—
FTLN 2123 a stride and a stand; ruminates like an hostess
FTLN 2124 265 that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set
FTLN 2125 down her reckoning; bites his lip with a politic regard,
FTLN 2126 as who should say “There were wit in this
FTLN 2127 head an ’twould out”—and so there is, but it lies
FTLN 2128 as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not
FTLN 2129 270 show without knocking. The man’s undone forever,
FTLN 2130 for if Hector break not his neck i’ th’ combat,
FTLN 2131 he’ll break ’t himself in vainglory. He knows not
FTLN 2132 me. I said “Good morrow, Ajax,” and he replies
FTLN 2133 “Thanks, Agamemnon.” What think you of this
FTLN 2134 275 man that takes me for the General? He’s grown a
FTLN 2135 very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of
FTLN 2136 opinion! A man may wear it on both sides, like a
FTLN 2137 leather jerkin.
ACHILLES FTLN 2138 Thou must be my ambassador to him,
FTLN 2139 280 Thersites.
THERSITES FTLN 2140 Who, I? Why, he’ll answer nobody. He professes
FTLN 2141 not answering; speaking is for beggars; he
FTLN 2142 wears his tongue in ’s arms. I will put on his presence.
FTLN 2143 Let Patroclus make his demands to me. You
FTLN 2144 285 shall see the pageant of Ajax.
ACHILLES FTLN 2145 To him, Patroclus. Tell him I humbly desire
FTLN 2146 the valiant Ajax to invite the most valorous Hector
FTLN 2147 to come unarmed to my tent, and to procure safe-conduct
FTLN 2148 for his person of the magnanimous and
FTLN 2149 290 most illustrious, six-or-seven-times-honored captain
FTLN 2150 general of the Grecian army, Agamemnon,
FTLN 2151 et cetera. Do this.
PATROCLUS , to Thersites, who is playing Ajax FTLN 2152 Jove
FTLN 2153 bless great Ajax.
THERSITES FTLN 2154 295 Hum!
PATROCLUS FTLN 2155 I come from the worthy Achilles—
THERSITES FTLN 2156 Ha?

153
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 3. SC. 3
PATROCLUS FTLN 2157 Who most humbly desires you to invite
FTLN 2158 Hector to his tent—
THERSITES FTLN 2159 300 Hum!
PATROCLUS FTLN 2160 And to procure safe-conduct from
FTLN 2161 Agamemnon.
THERSITES FTLN 2162 Agamemnon?
PATROCLUS FTLN 2163 Ay, my lord.
THERSITES FTLN 2164 305 Ha!
PATROCLUS FTLN 2165 What say you to ’t?
THERSITES FTLN 2166 God b’ wi’ you, with all my heart.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2167 Your answer, sir.
THERSITES FTLN 2168 If tomorrow be a fair day, by eleven of the
FTLN 2169 310 clock it will go one way or other. Howsoever, he
FTLN 2170 shall pay for me ere he has me.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2171 Your answer, sir.
THERSITES FTLN 2172 Fare you well with all my heart.
He pretends to exit.
ACHILLES FTLN 2173 Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?
THERSITES FTLN 2174 315 No, but he’s out of tune thus. What music
FTLN 2175 will be in him when Hector has knocked out his
FTLN 2176 brains I know not. But I am sure none, unless the
FTLN 2177 fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings on.
ACHILLES FTLN 2178 Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him
FTLN 2179 320 straight.
THERSITES FTLN 2180 Let me bear another to his horse, for that’s
FTLN 2181 the more capable creature.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2182 My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred,
FTLN 2183 And I myself see not the bottom of it.
Achilles and Patroclus exit.
THERSITES FTLN 2184 325 Would the fountain of your mind were clear
FTLN 2185 again, that I might water an ass at it. I had rather
FTLN 2186 be a tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance.
He exits.

ACT 4
Scene 1
Enter at one door Aeneas with a Torchbearer, at
another Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes and
Grecians with torches.
PARIS FTLN 2187 See, ho! Who is that there?
DEIPHOBUS FTLN 2188 It is the Lord Aeneas.
AENEAS FTLN 2189 Is the Prince there in person?—
FTLN 2190 Had I so good occasion to lie long
FTLN 2191 5 As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business
FTLN 2192 Should rob my bedmate of my company.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2193 That’s my mind too.—Good morrow, Lord Aeneas.
PARIS
FTLN 2194 A valiant Greek, Aeneas; take his hand.
FTLN 2195 Witness the process of your speech, wherein
FTLN 2196 10 You told how Diomed a whole week by days
FTLN 2197 Did haunt you in the field.
AENEAS FTLN 2198 Health to you, valiant sir,
FTLN 2199 During all question of the gentle truce;
FTLN 2200 But when I meet you armed, as black defiance
FTLN 2201 15 As heart can think or courage execute.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2202 The one and other Diomed embraces.
FTLN 2203 Our bloods are now in calm, and, so long, health;
FTLN 2204 But when contention and occasion meet,
157

159
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 1
FTLN 2205 By Jove, I’ll play the hunter for thy life
FTLN 2206 20 With all my force, pursuit, and policy.
AENEAS
FTLN 2207 And thou shalt hunt a lion that will fly
FTLN 2208 With his face backward. In human gentleness,
FTLN 2209 Welcome to Troy. Now, by Anchises’ life,
FTLN 2210 Welcome indeed. By Venus’ hand I swear
FTLN 2211 25 No man alive can love in such a sort
FTLN 2212 The thing he means to kill more excellently.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2213 We sympathize. Jove, let Aeneas live,
FTLN 2214 If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
FTLN 2215 A thousand complete courses of the sun!
FTLN 2216 30 But in mine emulous honor let him die
FTLN 2217 With every joint a wound and that tomorrow.
AENEAS FTLN 2218 We know each other well.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2219 We do, and long to know each other worse.
PARIS
FTLN 2220 This is the most despiteful gentle greeting,
FTLN 2221 35 The noblest hateful love, that e’er I heard of.
FTLN 2222 To Aeneas. What business, lord, so early?
AENEAS
FTLN 2223 I was sent for to the King, but why I know not.
PARIS
FTLN 2224 His purpose meets you. ’Twas to bring this Greek
FTLN 2225 To Calchas’ house, and there to render him,
FTLN 2226 40 For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid.
FTLN 2227 Let’s have your company, or, if you please,
FTLN 2228 Haste there before us. (Aside to Aeneas.) I constantly
FTLN 2229 believe—
FTLN 2230 Or, rather, call my thought a certain knowledge—
FTLN 2231 45 My brother Troilus lodges there tonight.
FTLN 2232 Rouse him, and give him note of our approach,
FTLN 2233 With the whole quality whereof. I fear
FTLN 2234 We shall be much unwelcome.

161
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ACT 4. SC. 1
AENEAS , aside to Paris FTLN 2235 That I assure you.
FTLN 2236 50 Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
FTLN 2237 Than Cressid borne from Troy.
PARIS , aside to Aeneas FTLN 2238 There is no help.
FTLN 2239 The bitter disposition of the time
FTLN 2240 Will have it so.—On, lord, we’ll follow you.
AENEAS FTLN 2241 55 Good morrow, all.
Aeneas exits with the Torchbearer.
PARIS
FTLN 2242 And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,
FTLN 2243 Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,
FTLN 2244 Who, in your thoughts, deserves fair Helen best,
FTLN 2245 Myself or Menelaus?
DIOMEDES FTLN 2246 60 Both alike.
FTLN 2247 He merits well to have her that doth seek her,
FTLN 2248 Not making any scruple of her soilure,
FTLN 2249 With such a hell of pain and world of charge;
FTLN 2250 And you as well to keep her that defend her,
FTLN 2251 65 Not palating the taste of her dishonor,
FTLN 2252 With such a costly loss of wealth and friends.
FTLN 2253 He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
FTLN 2254 The lees and dregs of a flat tamèd piece;
FTLN 2255 You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
FTLN 2256 70 Are pleased to breed out your inheritors.
FTLN 2257 Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor more;
FTLN 2258 But he as he, the heavier for a whore.
PARIS
FTLN 2259 You are too bitter to your countrywoman.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2260 She’s bitter to her country. Hear me, Paris:
FTLN 2261 75 For every false drop in her bawdy veins
FTLN 2262 A Grecian’s life hath sunk; for every scruple
FTLN 2263 Of her contaminated carrion weight
FTLN 2264 A Trojan hath been slain. Since she could speak,
FTLN 2265 She hath not given so many good words breath
FTLN 2266 80 As for her Greeks and Trojans suffered death.

163
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
PARIS
FTLN 2267 Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
FTLN 2268 Dispraise the thing that they desire to buy.
FTLN 2269 But we in silence hold this virtue well:
FTLN 2270 We’ll not commend that not intend to sell.
FTLN 2271 85 Here lies our way.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Troilus and Cressida.
TROILUS
FTLN 2272 Dear, trouble not yourself. The morn is cold.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2273 Then, sweet my lord, I’ll call mine uncle down.
FTLN 2274 He shall unbolt the gates.
TROILUS FTLN 2275 Trouble him not.
FTLN 2276 5 To bed, to bed! Sleep kill those pretty eyes
FTLN 2277 And give as soft attachment to thy senses
FTLN 2278 As infants’ empty of all thought!
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2279 Good morrow, then.
TROILUS FTLN 2280 I prithee now, to bed.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2281 10 Are you aweary of me?
TROILUS
FTLN 2282 O Cressida! But that the busy day,
FTLN 2283 Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows,
FTLN 2284 And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer,
FTLN 2285 I would not from thee.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2286 15 Night hath been too brief.
TROILUS
FTLN 2287 Beshrew the witch! With venomous wights she stays
FTLN 2288 As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love
FTLN 2289 With wings more momentary-swift than thought.
FTLN 2290 You will catch cold and curse me.

165
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2291 20 Prithee, tarry. You men will never tarry.
FTLN 2292 O foolish Cressid! I might have still held off,
FTLN 2293 And then you would have tarried. Hark, there’s one up.
PANDARUS , within FTLN 2294 What’s all the doors open here?
TROILUS FTLN 2295 It is your uncle.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2296 25 A pestilence on him! Now will he be mocking.
FTLN 2297 I shall have such a life!
Enter Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 2298 How now, how now? How go maidenheads?
FTLN 2299 Here, you maid! Where’s my Cousin Cressid?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2300 Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle.
FTLN 2301 30 You bring me to do—and then you flout me too.
PANDARUS FTLN 2302 To do what, to do what?—Let her say
FTLN 2303 what.—What have I brought you to do?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2304 Come, come, beshrew your heart! You’ll ne’er be good
FTLN 2305 Nor suffer others.
PANDARUS FTLN 2306 35 Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! Ah, poor capocchia!
FTLN 2307 Has ’t not slept tonight? Would he not—a
FTLN 2308 naughty man—let it sleep? A bugbear take him!
CRESSIDA , to Troilus
FTLN 2309 Did not I tell you? Would he were knocked i’ th’ head!
One knocks.
FTLN 2310 Who’s that at door?—Good uncle, go and see.—
FTLN 2311 40 My lord, come you again into my chamber.
FTLN 2312 You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.
TROILUS FTLN 2313 Ha, ha!
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2314 Come, you are deceived. I think of no such thing.
Knock.
FTLN 2315 How earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in.
FTLN 2316 45 I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
Troilus and Cressida exit.

167
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
PANDARUS FTLN 2317 Who’s there? What’s the matter? Will you
FTLN 2318 beat down the door?
Enter Aeneas.
FTLN 2319 How now? What’s the matter?
AENEAS FTLN 2320 Good morrow, lord, good morrow.
PANDARUS FTLN 2321 50 Who’s there? My Lord Aeneas? By my troth,
FTLN 2322 I knew you not. What news with you so early?
AENEAS FTLN 2323 Is not Prince Troilus here?
PANDARUS FTLN 2324 Here? What should he do here?
AENEAS
FTLN 2325 Come, he is here, my lord. Do not deny him.
FTLN 2326 55 It doth import him much to speak with me.
PANDARUS FTLN 2327 Is he here, say you? It’s more than I know,
FTLN 2328 I’ll be sworn. For my own part, I came in late.
FTLN 2329 What should he do here?
AENEAS FTLN 2330 Ho, nay, then! Come, come, you’ll do him
FTLN 2331 60 wrong ere you are ware. You’ll be so true to him to
FTLN 2332 be false to him. Do not you know of him, but yet go
FTLN 2333 fetch him hither. Go.
Enter Troilus.
TROILUS FTLN 2334 How now? What’s the matter?
AENEAS
FTLN 2335 My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
FTLN 2336 65 My matter is so rash. There is at hand
FTLN 2337 Paris your brother and Deiphobus,
FTLN 2338 The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
FTLN 2339 Delivered to us; and for him forthwith,
FTLN 2340 Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
FTLN 2341 70 We must give up to Diomedes’ hand
FTLN 2342 The Lady Cressida.
TROILUS FTLN 2343 Is it so concluded?
AENEAS
FTLN 2344 By Priam and the general state of Troy.
FTLN 2345 They are at hand and ready to effect it.

169
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 2
TROILUS FTLN 2346 75 How my achievements mock me!
FTLN 2347 I will go meet them. And, my Lord Aeneas,
FTLN 2348 We met by chance; you did not find me here.
AENEAS
FTLN 2349 Good, good, my lord; the secrets of nature
FTLN 2350 Have not more gift in taciturnity.
Troilus and Aeneas exit.
PANDARUS FTLN 2351 80 Is ’t possible? No sooner got but lost? The
FTLN 2352 devil take Antenor! The young prince will go mad.
FTLN 2353 A plague upon Antenor! I would they had broke ’s
FTLN 2354 neck!
Enter Cressida.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2355 How now? What’s the matter? Who was here?
PANDARUS FTLN 2356 85 Ah, ah!
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2357 Why sigh you so profoundly? Where’s my lord?
FTLN 2358 Gone? Tell me, sweet uncle, what’s the matter?
PANDARUS FTLN 2359 Would I were as deep under the earth as I
FTLN 2360 am above!
CRESSIDA FTLN 2361 90 O the gods! What’s the matter?
PANDARUS FTLN 2362 Pray thee, get thee in. Would thou hadst
FTLN 2363 ne’er been born! I knew thou wouldst be his death.
FTLN 2364 O, poor gentleman! A plague upon Antenor!
CRESSIDA FTLN 2365 Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I
FTLN 2366 95 beseech you, what’s the matter?
PANDARUS FTLN 2367 Thou must be gone, wench; thou must be
FTLN 2368 gone. Thou art changed for Antenor. Thou must to
FTLN 2369 thy father and be gone from Troilus. ’Twill be his
FTLN 2370 death; ’twill be his bane. He cannot bear it.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2371 100 O you immortal gods! I will not go.
PANDARUS FTLN 2372 Thou must.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2373 I will not, uncle. I have forgot my father.

171
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 3
FTLN 2374 I know no touch of consanguinity,
FTLN 2375 No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me
FTLN 2376 105 As the sweet Troilus. O you gods divine,
FTLN 2377 Make Cressid’s name the very crown of falsehood
FTLN 2378 If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death
FTLN 2379 Do to this body what extremes you can,
FTLN 2380 But the strong base and building of my love
FTLN 2381 110 Is as the very center of the Earth,
FTLN 2382 Drawing all things to it. I’ll go in and weep—
PANDARUS FTLN 2383 Do, do.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2384 Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praisèd cheeks,
FTLN 2385 Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
FTLN 2386 115 With sounding “Troilus.” I will not go from Troy.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Paris, Troilus, Aeneas, Deiphobus, Antenor,
and Diomedes.
PARIS
FTLN 2387 It is great morning, and the hour prefixed
FTLN 2388 For her delivery to this valiant Greek
FTLN 2389 Comes fast upon. Good my brother Troilus,
FTLN 2390 Tell you the lady what she is to do
FTLN 2391 5 And haste her to the purpose.
TROILUS FTLN 2392 Walk into her house.
FTLN 2393 I’ll bring her to the Grecian presently;
FTLN 2394 And to his hand when I deliver her,
FTLN 2395 Think it an altar and thy brother Troilus
FTLN 2396 10 A priest there off’ring to it his own heart. He exits.
PARIS FTLN 2397 I know what ’tis to love,
FTLN 2398 And would, as I shall pity, I could help.—
FTLN 2399 Please you walk in, my lords?
They exit.

173
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
Scene 4
Enter Pandarus and Cressida, weeping.
PANDARUS FTLN 2400 Be moderate, be moderate.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2401 Why tell you me of moderation?
FTLN 2402 The grief is fine, full, perfect that I taste,
FTLN 2403 And violenteth in a sense as strong
FTLN 2404 5 As that which causeth it. How can I moderate it?
FTLN 2405 If I could temporize with my affection
FTLN 2406 Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
FTLN 2407 The like allayment could I give my grief.
FTLN 2408 My love admits no qualifying dross;
FTLN 2409 10 No more my grief in such a precious loss.
Enter Troilus.
PANDARUS FTLN 2410 Here, here, here he comes. Ah, sweet
FTLN 2411 ducks!
CRESSIDA , embracing Troilus FTLN 2412 O Troilus, Troilus!
PANDARUS FTLN 2413 What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me
FTLN 2414 15 embrace too. “O heart,” as the goodly saying is,
FTLN 2415 O heart, heavy heart,
FTLN 2416 Why sigh’st thou without breaking?
FTLN 2417 where he answers again,
FTLN 2418 Because thou canst not ease thy smart
FTLN 2419 20 By friendship nor by speaking.
FTLN 2420 There was never a truer rhyme. Let us cast away
FTLN 2421 nothing, for we may live to have need of such a
FTLN 2422 verse. We see it, we see it. How now, lambs?
TROILUS
FTLN 2423 Cressid, I love thee in so strained a purity
FTLN 2424 25 That the blest gods, as angry with my fancy—
FTLN 2425 More bright in zeal than the devotion which
FTLN 2426 Cold lips blow to their deities—take thee from me.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2427 Have the gods envy?
PANDARUS FTLN 2428 Ay, ay, ay, ay, ’tis too plain a case.

175
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2429 30 And is it true that I must go from Troy?
TROILUS
FTLN 2430 A hateful truth.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2431 What, and from Troilus too?
TROILUS FTLN 2432 From Troy and Troilus.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2433 Is ’t possible?
TROILUS
FTLN 2434 35 And suddenly, where injury of chance
FTLN 2435 Puts back leave-taking, jostles roughly by
FTLN 2436 All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
FTLN 2437 Of all rejoindure, forcibly prevents
FTLN 2438 Our locked embrasures, strangles our dear vows
FTLN 2439 40 Even in the birth of our own laboring breath.
FTLN 2440 We two, that with so many thousand sighs
FTLN 2441 Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves
FTLN 2442 With the rude brevity and discharge of one.
FTLN 2443 Injurious Time now with a robber’s haste
FTLN 2444 45 Crams his rich thiev’ry up, he knows not how.
FTLN 2445 As many farewells as be stars in heaven,
FTLN 2446 With distinct breath and consigned kisses to them,
FTLN 2447 He fumbles up into a loose adieu
FTLN 2448 And scants us with a single famished kiss,
FTLN 2449 50 Distasted with the salt of broken tears.
AENEAS , within FTLN 2450 My lord, is the lady ready?
TROILUS
FTLN 2451 Hark, you are called. Some say the genius
FTLN 2452 Cries so to him that instantly must die.—
FTLN 2453 Bid them have patience. She shall come anon.
PANDARUS FTLN 2454 55 Where are my tears? Rain, to lay this wind,
FTLN 2455 or my heart will be blown up by the root.
He exits.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2456 I must, then, to the Grecians?
TROILUS FTLN 2457 No remedy.

177
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2458 A woeful Cressid ’mongst the merry Greeks.
FTLN 2459 60 When shall we see again?
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 Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,
FTLN 2463 For it is parting from us.
FTLN 2464 65 I speak not “Be thou true” as fearing thee,
FTLN 2465 For I will throw my glove to Death himself
FTLN 2466 That there is no maculation in thy heart;
FTLN 2467 But “Be thou true,” say I, to fashion in
FTLN 2468 My sequent protestation: “Be thou true,
FTLN 2469 70 And I will see thee.”
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2470 O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers
FTLN 2471 As infinite as imminent! But I’ll be true.
TROILUS
FTLN 2472 And I’ll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2473 And you this glove. When shall I see you?
They exchange love-tokens.
TROILUS
FTLN 2474 75 I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels,
FTLN 2475 To give thee nightly visitation.
FTLN 2476 But yet, be true.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2477 O heavens! “Be true” again?
TROILUS FTLN 2478 Hear why I speak it, love.
FTLN 2479 80 The Grecian youths are full of quality,
FTLN 2480 Their loving well composed, with gift of nature
FTLN 2481 flowing,
FTLN 2482 And swelling o’er with arts and exercise.
FTLN 2483 How novelty may move, and parts with person,
FTLN 2484 85 Alas, a kind of godly jealousy—
FTLN 2485 Which I beseech you call a virtuous sin—
FTLN 2486 Makes me afeard.

179
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
CRESSIDA FTLN 2487 O heavens, you love me not!
TROILUS FTLN 2488 Die I a villain then!
FTLN 2489 90 In this I do not call your faith in question
FTLN 2490 So mainly as my merit. I cannot sing,
FTLN 2491 Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk,
FTLN 2492 Nor play at subtle games—fair virtues all,
FTLN 2493 To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant.
FTLN 2494 95 But I can tell that in each grace of these
FTLN 2495 There lurks a still and dumb-discursive devil
FTLN 2496 That tempts most cunningly. But be not tempted.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2497 Do you think I will?
TROILUS FTLN 2498 No.
FTLN 2499 100 But something may be done that we will not,
FTLN 2500 And sometimes we are devils to ourselves
FTLN 2501 When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,
FTLN 2502 Presuming on their changeful potency.
AENEAS , within
FTLN 2503 Nay, good my lord—
TROILUS FTLN 2504 105 Come, kiss, and let us part.
They kiss.
PARIS , within
FTLN 2505 Brother Troilus!
TROILUS , calling FTLN 2506 Good brother, come you hither,
FTLN 2507 And bring Aeneas and the Grecian with you.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2508 My lord, will you be true?
TROILUS
FTLN 2509 110 Who, I? Alas, it is my vice, my fault.
FTLN 2510 Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,
FTLN 2511 I with great truth catch mere simplicity.
FTLN 2512 Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns,
FTLN 2513 With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.
FTLN 2514 115 Fear not my truth. The moral of my wit
FTLN 2515 Is “plain and true”; there’s all the reach of it.
Enter Aeneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and
Diomedes.

181
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 4
FTLN 2516 Welcome, Sir Diomed. Here is the lady
FTLN 2517 Which for Antenor we deliver you.
FTLN 2518 At the port, lord, I’ll give her to thy hand
FTLN 2519 120 And by the way possess thee what she is.
FTLN 2520 Entreat her fair and, by my soul, fair Greek,
FTLN 2521 If e’er thou stand at mercy of my sword,
FTLN 2522 Name Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
FTLN 2523 As Priam is in Ilium.
DIOMEDES FTLN 2524 125 Fair Lady Cressid,
FTLN 2525 So please you, save the thanks this prince expects.
FTLN 2526 The luster in your eye, heaven in your cheek,
FTLN 2527 Pleads your fair usage, and to Diomed
FTLN 2528 You shall be mistress and command him wholly.
TROILUS
FTLN 2529 130 Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,
FTLN 2530 To shame the zeal of my petition to thee
FTLN 2531 In praising her. I tell thee, lord of Greece,
FTLN 2532 She is as far high-soaring o’er thy praises
FTLN 2533 As thou unworthy to be called her servant.
FTLN 2534 135 I charge thee use her well, even for my charge,
FTLN 2535 For, by the dreadful Pluto, if thou dost not,
FTLN 2536 Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard,
FTLN 2537 I’ll cut thy throat.
DIOMEDES FTLN 2538 O, be not moved, Prince Troilus.
FTLN 2539 140 Let me be privileged by my place and message
FTLN 2540 To be a speaker free. When I am hence,
FTLN 2541 I’ll answer to my lust, and know you, lord,
FTLN 2542 I’ll nothing do on charge. To her own worth
FTLN 2543 She shall be prized; but that you say “Be ’t so,”
FTLN 2544 145 I speak it in my spirit and honor: “no.”
TROILUS
FTLN 2545 Come, to the port. I’ll tell thee, Diomed,
FTLN 2546 This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—
FTLN 2547 Lady, give me your hand, and, as we walk,
FTLN 2548 To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
Cressida, Diomedes, and Troilus exit.

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ACT 4. SC. 5
Sound trumpet within.
PARIS
FTLN 2549 150 Hark, Hector’s trumpet.
AENEAS FTLN 2550 How have we spent this
FTLN 2551 morning!
FTLN 2552 The Prince must think me tardy and remiss
FTLN 2553 That swore to ride before him to the field.
PARIS
FTLN 2554 155 ’Tis Troilus’ fault. Come, come to field with him.
DEIPHOBUS FTLN 2555 Let us make ready straight.
AENEAS
FTLN 2556 Yea, with a bridegroom’s fresh alacrity
FTLN 2557 Let us address to tend on Hector’s heels.
FTLN 2558 The glory of our Troy doth this day lie
FTLN 2559 160 On his fair worth and single chivalry.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Ajax, armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon,
Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, etc. and Trumpeter.
AGAMEMNON , to Ajax
FTLN 2560 Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
FTLN 2561 Anticipating time with starting courage.
FTLN 2562 Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
FTLN 2563 Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appallèd air
FTLN 2564 5 May pierce the head of the great combatant
FTLN 2565 And hale him hither.
AJAX FTLN 2566 Thou, trumpet, there’s my purse.
He gives money to Trumpeter.
FTLN 2567 Now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe.
FTLN 2568 Blow, villain, till thy spherèd bias cheek
FTLN 2569 10 Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
FTLN 2570 Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood.
FTLN 2571 Thou blowest for Hector. Sound trumpet.

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ACT 4. SC. 5
ULYSSES
FTLN 2572 No trumpet answers.
ACHILLES FTLN 2573 ’Tis but early days.
Enter Cressida and Diomedes.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2574 15 Is not yond Diomed with Calchas’ daughter?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2575 ’Tis he. I ken the manner of his gait.
FTLN 2576 He rises on the toe; that spirit of his
FTLN 2577 In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2578 Is this the Lady Cressid?
DIOMEDES FTLN 2579 20 Even she.
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 Yet is the kindness but particular.
FTLN 2583 ’Twere better she were kissed in general.
NESTOR
FTLN 2584 25 And very courtly counsel. I’ll begin. He kisses her.
FTLN 2585 So much for Nestor.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2586 I’ll take that winter from your lips, fair lady.
FTLN 2587 Achilles bids you welcome. He kisses her.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2588 I had good argument for kissing once.
PATROCLUS , stepping between Menelaus and Cressida
FTLN 2589 30 But that’s no argument for kissing now,
FTLN 2590 For thus popped Paris in his hardiment
FTLN 2591 And parted thus you and your argument.
He kisses her.

187
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
ULYSSES
FTLN 2592 O deadly gall and theme of all our scorns,
FTLN 2593 For which we lose our heads to gild his horns!
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2594 35 The first was Menelaus’ kiss; this mine.
FTLN 2595 Patroclus kisses you. He kisses her again.
MENELAUS FTLN 2596 O, this is trim!
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 40 In kissing, do you render or receive?
MENELAUS
FTLN 2600 Both take and give.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2601 I’ll make my match to live,
FTLN 2602 The kiss you take is better than you give.
FTLN 2603 Therefore no kiss.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2604 45 I’ll give you boot: I’ll give you three for one.
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 No, Paris is not, for you know ’tis true
FTLN 2608 That you are odd, and he is even with you.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2609 50 You fillip me o’ th’ head.
CRESSIDA FTLN 2610 No, I’ll be sworn.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2611 It were no match, your nail against his horn.
FTLN 2612 May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2613 You may.
ULYSSES FTLN 2614 55 I do desire it.

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ACT 4. SC. 5
CRESSIDA FTLN 2615 Why, beg two.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2616 Why, then, for Venus’ sake, give me a kiss
FTLN 2617 When Helen is a maid again and his.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2618 I am your debtor; claim it when ’tis due.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2619 60 Never’s my day, and then a kiss of you.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2620 Lady, a word. I’ll bring you to your father.
Diomedes and Cressida talk aside.
NESTOR
FTLN 2621 A woman of quick sense.
ULYSSES FTLN 2622 Fie, fie upon her!
FTLN 2623 There’s language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
FTLN 2624 65 Nay, her foot speaks. Her wanton spirits look out
FTLN 2625 At every joint and motive of her body.
FTLN 2626 O, these encounterers, so glib of tongue,
FTLN 2627 That give accosting welcome ere it comes
FTLN 2628 And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
FTLN 2629 70 To every tickling reader! Set them down
FTLN 2630 For sluttish spoils of opportunity
FTLN 2631 And daughters of the game.
Diomedes and Cressida exit.
Flourish.
ALL
FTLN 2632 The Trojan’s trumpet.
Enter all of Troy: Hector, armed, Paris, Aeneas,
Helenus, Troilus, and Attendants.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 2633 Yonder comes the troop.
AENEAS
FTLN 2634 75 Hail, all the state of Greece! What shall be done
FTLN 2635 To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose
FTLN 2636 A victor shall be known? Will you the knights
FTLN 2637 Shall to the edge of all extremity

191
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
FTLN 2638 Pursue each other, or shall they be divided
FTLN 2639 80 By any voice or order of the field?
FTLN 2640 Hector bade ask.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 2641 Which way would Hector have it?
AENEAS
FTLN 2642 He cares not; he’ll obey conditions.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2643 ’Tis done like Hector.
ACHILLES FTLN 2644 85 But securely done,
FTLN 2645 A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
FTLN 2646 The knight opposed.
AENEAS FTLN 2647 If not Achilles, sir,
FTLN 2648 What is your name?
ACHILLES FTLN 2649 90 If not Achilles, nothing.
AENEAS
FTLN 2650 Therefore Achilles. But whate’er, know this:
FTLN 2651 In the extremity of great and little,
FTLN 2652 Valor and pride excel themselves in Hector,
FTLN 2653 The one almost as infinite as all,
FTLN 2654 95 The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
FTLN 2655 And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
FTLN 2656 This Ajax is half made of Hector’s blood,
FTLN 2657 In love whereof half Hector stays at home;
FTLN 2658 Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
FTLN 2659 100 This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2660 A maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.
Enter Diomedes.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2661 Here is Sir Diomed.—Go, gentle knight;
FTLN 2662 Stand by our Ajax. As you and Lord Aeneas
FTLN 2663 Consent upon the order of their fight,
FTLN 2664 105 So be it, either to the uttermost
FTLN 2665 Or else a breath. The combatants being kin
FTLN 2666 Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.

193
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
Hector and Ajax enter the lists.
ULYSSES FTLN 2667 They are opposed already.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2668 What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2669 110 The youngest son of Priam, a true knight,
FTLN 2670 Not yet mature, yet matchless firm of word,
FTLN 2671 Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue,
FTLN 2672 Not soon provoked, nor being provoked soon calmed,
FTLN 2673 His heart and hand both open and both free.
FTLN 2674 115 For what he has, he gives; what thinks, he shows;
FTLN 2675 Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty,
FTLN 2676 Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath;
FTLN 2677 Manly as Hector, but more dangerous,
FTLN 2678 For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
FTLN 2679 120 To tender objects, but he in heat of action
FTLN 2680 Is more vindicative than jealous love.
FTLN 2681 They call him Troilus, and on him erect
FTLN 2682 A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
FTLN 2683 Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth
FTLN 2684 125 Even to his inches, and with private soul
FTLN 2685 Did in great Ilium thus translate him to me.
Alarum. The fight begins.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 2686 They are in action.
NESTOR FTLN 2687 Now, Ajax, hold thine own!
TROILUS FTLN 2688 Hector, thou sleep’st. Awake thee!
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2689 130 His blows are well disposed.—There, Ajax!
Trumpets cease.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2690 You must no more.
AENEAS FTLN 2691 Princes, enough, so please you.
AJAX
FTLN 2692 I am not warm yet. Let us fight again.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2693 As Hector pleases.

195
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
HECTOR FTLN 2694 135 Why, then, will I no more.—
FTLN 2695 Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,
FTLN 2696 A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed.
FTLN 2697 The obligation of our blood forbids
FTLN 2698 A gory emulation ’twixt us twain.
FTLN 2699 140 Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
FTLN 2700 That thou couldst say “This hand is Grecian all,
FTLN 2701 And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
FTLN 2702 All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
FTLN 2703 Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
FTLN 2704 145 Bounds in my father’s,” by Jove multipotent,
FTLN 2705 Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
FTLN 2706 Wherein my sword had not impressure made
FTLN 2707 Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay
FTLN 2708 That any drop thou borrowd’st from thy mother,
FTLN 2709 150 My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
FTLN 2710 Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
FTLN 2711 By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms!
FTLN 2712 Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
FTLN 2713 Cousin, all honor to thee! They embrace.
AJAX FTLN 2714 155 I thank thee, Hector.
FTLN 2715 Thou art too gentle and too free a man.
FTLN 2716 I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
FTLN 2717 A great addition earnèd in thy death.
HECTOR
FTLN 2718 Not Neoptolemus so mirable—
FTLN 2719 160 On whose bright crest Fame with her loud’st “Oyez”
FTLN 2720 Cries “This is he”—could promise to himself
FTLN 2721 A thought of added honor torn from Hector.
AENEAS
FTLN 2722 There is expectance here from both the sides
FTLN 2723 What further you will do.
HECTOR FTLN 2724 165 We’ll answer it;
FTLN 2725 The issue is embracement.—Ajax, farewell.
They embrace again.

197
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
AJAX
FTLN 2726 If I might in entreaties find success,
FTLN 2727 As seld I have the chance, I would desire
FTLN 2728 My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2729 170 ’Tis Agamemnon’s wish; and great Achilles
FTLN 2730 Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.
HECTOR
FTLN 2731 Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
FTLN 2732 And signify this loving interview
FTLN 2733 To the expecters of our Trojan part;
FTLN 2734 175 Desire them home.
Aeneas speaks to Trojans, who exit; he then
returns with Troilus.
FTLN 2735 To Ajax. Give me thy hand, my cousin.
FTLN 2736 I will go eat with thee and see your knights.
Agamemnon and the rest come forward.
AJAX
FTLN 2737 Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.
HECTOR , to Aeneas
FTLN 2738 The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
FTLN 2739 180 But for Achilles, my own searching eyes
FTLN 2740 Shall find him by his large and portly size.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2741 Worthy all arms! As welcome as to one
FTLN 2742 That would be rid of such an enemy—
FTLN 2743 But that’s no welcome. Understand more clear:
FTLN 2744 185 What’s past and what’s to come is strewed with husks
FTLN 2745 And formless ruin of oblivion;
FTLN 2746 But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
FTLN 2747 Strained purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
FTLN 2748 Bids thee, with most divine integrity,
FTLN 2749 190 From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.
HECTOR
FTLN 2750 I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

199
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
AGAMEMNON , to Troilus
FTLN 2751 My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2752 Let me confirm my princely brother’s greeting:
FTLN 2753 You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
HECTOR , to Aeneas
FTLN 2754 195 Who must we answer?
AENEAS FTLN 2755 The noble Menelaus.
HECTOR
FTLN 2756 O, you, my lord? By Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
FTLN 2757 Mock not that I affect th’ untraded oath;
FTLN 2758 Your quondam wife swears still by Venus’ glove.
FTLN 2759 200 She’s well, but bade me not commend her to you.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2760 Name her not now, sir; she’s a deadly theme.
HECTOR FTLN 2761 O, pardon! I offend.
NESTOR
FTLN 2762 I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
FTLN 2763 Laboring for destiny, make cruel way
FTLN 2764 205 Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen
FTLN 2765 thee,
FTLN 2766 As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
FTLN 2767 Despising many forfeits and subduments,
FTLN 2768 When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i’ th’ air,
FTLN 2769 210 Not letting it decline on the declined,
FTLN 2770 That I have said to some my standers-by
FTLN 2771 “Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!”
FTLN 2772 And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath
FTLN 2773 When that a ring of Greeks have hemmed thee in,
FTLN 2774 215 Like an Olympian wrestling. This have I seen.
FTLN 2775 But this thy countenance, still locked in steel,
FTLN 2776 I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire
FTLN 2777 And once fought with him; he was a soldier good,
FTLN 2778 But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
FTLN 2779 220 Never like thee! O, let an old man embrace thee;
FTLN 2780 And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.

201
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
AENEAS , to Hector FTLN 2781’Tis the old Nestor.
HECTOR
FTLN 2782 Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle
FTLN 2783 That hast so long walked hand in hand with time.
FTLN 2784 225 Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
They embrace.
NESTOR
FTLN 2785 I would my arms could match thee in contention
FTLN 2786 As they contend with thee in courtesy.
HECTOR FTLN 2787 I would they could.
NESTOR
FTLN 2788 Ha! By this white beard, I’d fight with thee tomorrow.
FTLN 2789 230 Well, welcome, welcome. I have seen the time!
ULYSSES
FTLN 2790 I wonder now how yonder city stands
FTLN 2791 When we have here her base and pillar by us.
HECTOR
FTLN 2792 I know your favor, Lord Ulysses, well.
FTLN 2793 Ah, sir, there’s many a Greek and Trojan dead
FTLN 2794 235 Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
FTLN 2795 In Ilium, on your Greekish embassy.
ULYSSES
FTLN 2796 Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue.
FTLN 2797 My prophecy is but half his journey yet,
FTLN 2798 For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
FTLN 2799 240 Yon towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
FTLN 2800 Must kiss their own feet.
HECTOR FTLN 2801 I must not believe you.
FTLN 2802 There they stand yet, and modestly I think
FTLN 2803 The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
FTLN 2804 245 A drop of Grecian blood. The end crowns all,
FTLN 2805 And that old common arbitrator, Time,
FTLN 2806 Will one day end it.
ULYSSES FTLN 2807 So to him we leave it.
FTLN 2808 Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome.
FTLN 2809 250 After the General, I beseech you next
FTLN 2810 To feast with me and see me at my tent.

203
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
ACHILLES
FTLN 2811 I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou!—
FTLN 2812 Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
FTLN 2813 I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,
FTLN 2814 255 And quoted joint by joint.
HECTOR FTLN 2815 Is this Achilles?
ACHILLES FTLN 2816 I am Achilles.
HECTOR
FTLN 2817 Stand fair, I pray thee. Let me look on thee.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2818 Behold thy fill.
HECTOR FTLN 2819 260 Nay, I have done already.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2820 Thou art too brief. I will the second time,
FTLN 2821 As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
HECTOR
FTLN 2822 O, like a book of sport thou ’lt read me o’er;
FTLN 2823 But there’s more in me than thou understand’st.
FTLN 2824 265 Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?
ACHILLES
FTLN 2825 Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
FTLN 2826 Shall I destroy him—whether there, or there, or
FTLN 2827 there—
FTLN 2828 That I may give the local wound a name
FTLN 2829 270 And make distinct the very breach whereout
FTLN 2830 Hector’s great spirit flew. Answer me, heavens!
HECTOR
FTLN 2831 It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
FTLN 2832 To answer such a question. Stand again.
FTLN 2833 Think’st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
FTLN 2834 275 As to prenominate in nice conjecture
FTLN 2835 Where thou wilt hit me dead?
ACHILLES FTLN 2836 I tell thee, yea.
HECTOR
FTLN 2837 Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,
FTLN 2838 I’d not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well,

205
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
FTLN 2839 280 For I’ll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,
FTLN 2840 But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,
FTLN 2841 I’ll kill thee everywhere, yea, o’er and o’er.—
FTLN 2842 You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
FTLN 2843 His insolence draws folly from my lips.
FTLN 2844 285 But I’ll endeavor deeds to match these words,
FTLN 2845 Or may I never—
AJAX FTLN 2846 Do not chafe thee, cousin.—
FTLN 2847 And you, Achilles, let these threats alone
FTLN 2848 Till accident or purpose bring you to ’t.
FTLN 2849 290 You may have every day enough of Hector
FTLN 2850 If you have stomach. The general state, I fear,
FTLN 2851 Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.
HECTOR , to Achilles
FTLN 2852 I pray you, let us see you in the field.
FTLN 2853 We have had pelting wars since you refused
FTLN 2854 295 The Grecians’ cause.
ACHILLES FTLN 2855 Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
FTLN 2856 Tomorrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
FTLN 2857 Tonight all friends.
HECTOR FTLN 2858 Thy hand upon that match.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 2859 300 First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
FTLN 2860 There in the full convive we. Afterwards,
FTLN 2861 As Hector’s leisure and your bounties shall
FTLN 2862 Concur together, severally entreat him.
FTLN 2863 Beat loud the taborins; let the trumpets blow,
FTLN 2864 305 That this great soldier may his welcome know.
Flourish.
All but Troilus and Ulysses exit.
TROILUS
FTLN 2865 My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
FTLN 2866 In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?
ULYSSES
FTLN 2867 At Menelaus’ tent, most princely Troilus.
FTLN 2868 There Diomed doth feast with him tonight,

207
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 4. SC. 5
FTLN 2869 310 Who neither looks upon the heaven nor Earth,
FTLN 2870 But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
FTLN 2871 On the fair Cressid.
TROILUS
FTLN 2872 Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
FTLN 2873 After we part from Agamemnon’s tent,
FTLN 2874 315 To bring me thither?
ULYSSES FTLN 2875 You shall command me, sir.
FTLN 2876 As gentle tell me, of what honor was
FTLN 2877 This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
FTLN 2878 That wails her absence?
TROILUS
FTLN 2879 320 O sir, to such as boasting show their scars
FTLN 2880 A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
FTLN 2881 She was beloved, she loved; she is, and doth;
FTLN 2882 But still sweet love is food for Fortune’s tooth.
They exit.

ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter Achilles and Patroclus.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2883 I’ll heat his blood with Greekish wine tonight,
FTLN 2884 Which with my scimitar I’ll cool tomorrow.
FTLN 2885 Patroclus, let us feast him to the height.
PATROCLUS
FTLN 2886 Here comes Thersites.
Enter Thersites.
ACHILLES FTLN 2887 5 How now, thou core of envy?
FTLN 2888 Thou crusty botch of nature, what’s the news?
THERSITES FTLN 2889 Why, thou picture of what thou seemest and
FTLN 2890 idol of idiot-worshippers, here’s a letter for thee.
ACHILLES FTLN 2891 From whence, fragment?
THERSITES FTLN 2892 10 Why, thou full dish of fool, from Troy.
Achilles takes the letter and moves aside to read it.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2893 Who keeps the tent now?
THERSITES FTLN 2894 The surgeon’s box or the patient’s wound.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2895 Well said, adversity. And what need these
FTLN 2896 tricks?
THERSITES FTLN 2897 15 Prithee, be silent, boy. I profit not by thy
FTLN 2898 talk. Thou art said to be Achilles’ male varlet.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2899“Male varlet,” you rogue! What’s that?
THERSITES FTLN 2900 Why, his masculine whore. Now the rotten
FTLN 2901 diseases of the south, the guts-griping, ruptures,
211

213
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 1
FTLN 2902 20 catarrhs, loads o’ gravel in the back, lethargies,
FTLN 2903 cold palsies, raw eyes, dirt-rotten livers, whissing
FTLN 2904 lungs, bladders full of impostume, sciaticas,
FTLN 2905 limekilns i’ th’ palm, incurable bone-ache, and the
FTLN 2906 rivelled fee-simple of the tetter, take and take
FTLN 2907 25 again such preposterous discoveries.
PATROCLUS FTLN 2908 Why, thou damnable box of envy, thou,
FTLN 2909 what means thou to curse thus?
THERSITES FTLN 2910 Do I curse thee?
PATROCLUS FTLN 2911 Why, no, you ruinous butt, you whoreson
FTLN 2912 30 indistinguishable cur, no.
THERSITES FTLN 2913 No? Why art thou then exasperate, thou idle
FTLN 2914 immaterial skein of sleave-silk, thou green sarsenet
FTLN 2915 flap for a sore eye, thou tassel of a prodigal’s purse,
FTLN 2916 thou? Ah, how the poor world is pestered with such
FTLN 2917 35 waterflies, diminutives of nature!
PATROCLUS FTLN 2918 Out, gall!
THERSITES FTLN 2919 Finch egg!
ACHILLES , coming forward
FTLN 2920 My sweet Patroclus, I am thwarted quite
FTLN 2921 From my great purpose in tomorrow’s battle.
FTLN 2922 40 Here is a letter from Queen Hecuba,
FTLN 2923 A token from her daughter, my fair love,
FTLN 2924 Both taxing me and gaging me to keep
FTLN 2925 An oath that I have sworn. I will not break it.
FTLN 2926 Fall, Greeks; fail, fame; honor, or go or stay;
FTLN 2927 45 My major vow lies here; this I’ll obey.
FTLN 2928 Come, come, Thersites, help to trim my tent.
FTLN 2929 This night in banqueting must all be spent.
FTLN 2930 Away, Patroclus. He exits with Patroclus.
THERSITES FTLN 2931 With too much blood and too little brain,
FTLN 2932 50 these two may run mad; but if with too much brain
FTLN 2933 and too little blood they do, I’ll be a curer of madmen.
FTLN 2934 Here’s Agamemnon, an honest fellow enough
FTLN 2935 and one that loves quails, but he has not so much
FTLN 2936 brain as earwax. And the goodly transformation

215
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 1
FTLN 2937 55 of Jupiter there, his brother, the bull—the primitive
FTLN 2938 statue and oblique memorial of cuckolds, a
FTLN 2939 thrifty shoeing-horn in a chain, hanging at his
FTLN 2940 brother’s leg—to what form but that he is should
FTLN 2941 wit larded with malice and malice forced with
FTLN 2942 60 wit turn him to? To an ass were nothing; he is both
FTLN 2943 ass and ox. To an ox were nothing; he is both ox
FTLN 2944 and ass. To be a dog, a mule, a cat, a fitchew, a
FTLN 2945 toad, a lizard, an owl, a puttock, or a herring without
FTLN 2946 a roe, I would not care; but to be Menelaus! I
FTLN 2947 65 would conspire against destiny. Ask me not what I
FTLN 2948 would be, if I were not Thersites, for I care not to be
FTLN 2949 the louse of a lazar so I were not Menelaus.
Enter Hector, Troilus, Ajax, Agamemnon, Ulysses,
Nestor, Menelaus, and Diomedes, with lights.
FTLN 2950 Heyday! Sprites and fires!
AGAMEMNON FTLN 2951 We go wrong, we go wrong.
AJAX
FTLN 2952 70 No, yonder—’tis there, where we see the lights.
HECTOR FTLN 2953 I trouble you.
AJAX FTLN 2954 No, not a whit.
Enter Achilles.
ULYSSES , to Hector FTLN 2955 Here comes himself to guide you.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2956 Welcome, brave Hector. Welcome, princes all.
AGAMEMNON , to Hector
FTLN 2957 75 So now, fair prince of Troy, I bid good night.
FTLN 2958 Ajax commands the guard to tend on you.
HECTOR
FTLN 2959 Thanks, and good night to the Greeks’ general.
MENELAUS
FTLN 2960 Good night, my lord.
HECTOR FTLN 2961 Good night, sweet lord
FTLN 2962 80 Menelaus.

217
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ACT 5. SC. 1
THERSITES , aside FTLN 2963 Sweet draught. “Sweet,” quoth he?
FTLN 2964 Sweet sink, sweet sewer.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2965 Good night and welcome, both at once, to those
FTLN 2966 That go or tarry.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 2967 85 Good night.
Agamemnon and Menelaus exit.
ACHILLES
FTLN 2968 Old Nestor tarries, and you too, Diomed.
FTLN 2969 Keep Hector company an hour or two.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 2970 I cannot, lord. I have important business,
FTLN 2971 The tide whereof is now.—Good night, great Hector.
HECTOR FTLN 2972 90 Give me your hand.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 2973 Follow his torch; he goes to Calchas’ tent.
FTLN 2974 I’ll keep you company.
TROILUS FTLN 2975 Sweet sir, you honor me.
HECTOR
FTLN 2976 And so, good night.
Diomedes exits, followed by Troilus and Ulysses.
ACHILLES FTLN 2977 95 Come, come, enter my tent.
Achilles, Ajax, Nestor, and Hector exit.
THERSITES FTLN 2978 That same Diomed’s a false-hearted rogue,
FTLN 2979 a most unjust knave. I will no more trust him when
FTLN 2980 he leers than I will a serpent when he hisses. He
FTLN 2981 will spend his mouth and promise like Brabbler
FTLN 2982 100 the hound, but when he performs, astronomers
FTLN 2983 foretell it; it is prodigious, there will come some
FTLN 2984 change. The sun borrows of the moon when
FTLN 2985 Diomed keeps his word. I will rather leave to see
FTLN 2986 Hector than not to dog him. They say he keeps a
FTLN 2987 105 Trojan drab and uses the traitor Calchas his tent.
FTLN 2988 I’ll after. Nothing but lechery! All incontinent varlets!
He exits.

219
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
Scene 2
Enter Diomedes.
DIOMEDES FTLN 2989 What, are you up here, ho? Speak.
CALCHAS , within FTLN 2990 Who calls?
DIOMEDES FTLN 2991 Diomed. Calchas, I think? Where’s your
FTLN 2992 daughter?
CALCHAS , within FTLN 2993 5 She comes to you.
Enter Troilus and Ulysses, at a distance, and then,
apart from them, Thersites.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 2994 Stand where the torch may not discover us.
Enter Cressida.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 2995 Cressid comes forth to him.
DIOMEDES FTLN 2996 How now, my charge?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 2997 Now, my sweet guardian. Hark, a word with you.
She whispers to him.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 2998 10 Yea, so familiar?
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 2999 She will sing any man at
FTLN 3000 first sight.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3001 And any man may sing her, if he
FTLN 3002 can take her clef. She’s noted.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3003 15 Will you remember?
CRESSIDA FTLN 3004 Remember? Yes.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3005 Nay, but do, then, and let your mind be
FTLN 3006 coupled with your words.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3007 What should she remember?
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3008 20 List!
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3009 Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more to folly.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3010 Roguery!
DIOMEDES FTLN 3011 Nay, then—

221
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
CRESSIDA FTLN 3012 I’ll tell you what—
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3013 25 Foh, foh, come, tell a pin! You are forsworn.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3014 In faith, I cannot. What would you have me do?
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3015 A juggling trick: to be secretly open!
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3016 What did you swear you would bestow on me?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3017 I prithee, do not hold me to mine oath.
FTLN 3018 30 Bid me do anything but that, sweet Greek.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3019 Good night.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3020 Hold, patience!
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3021 How now, Trojan?
CRESSIDA FTLN 3022 Diomed—
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3023 35 No, no, good night. I’ll be your fool no more.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3024 Thy better must.
CRESSIDA FTLN 3025 Hark, a word in your ear.
She whispers to him.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3026 O plague and madness!
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 3027 You are moved, prince. Let us depart, I pray you,
FTLN 3028 40 Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself
FTLN 3029 To wrathful terms. This place is dangerous;
FTLN 3030 The time right deadly. I beseech you, go.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 3031 Behold, I pray you.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3032 Nay, good my lord, go off.
FTLN 3033 45 You flow to great distraction. Come, my lord.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 3034 I prithee, stay.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3035 You have not patience. Come.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 3036 I pray you, stay. By hell and all hell’s torments,
FTLN 3037 I will not speak a word.

223
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3038 50 And so good night. He starts to leave.
CRESSIDA FTLN 3039 Nay, but you part in anger.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3040 Doth that grieve thee? O withered
FTLN 3041 truth!
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 3042 How now, my lord?
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses FTLN 3043 55 By Jove, I will be patient.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3044 Guardian! Why, Greek!
DIOMEDES FTLN 3045 Foh foh! Adieu. You palter.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3046 In faith, I do not. Come hither once again.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 3047 You shake, my lord, at something. Will you go?
FTLN 3048 60 You will break out.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3049 She strokes his cheek!
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3050 Come, come.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 3051 Nay, stay. By Jove, I will not speak a word.
FTLN 3052 There is between my will and all offenses
FTLN 3053 65 A guard of patience. Stay a little while.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3054 How the devil Luxury, with his fat
FTLN 3055 rump and potato finger, tickles these together.
FTLN 3056 Fry, lechery, fry!
DIOMEDES FTLN 3057 But will you, then?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3058 70 In faith, I will, la. Never trust me else.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3059 Give me some token for the surety of it.
CRESSIDA FTLN 3060 I’ll fetch you one. She exits.
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus
FTLN 3061 You have sworn patience.
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses FTLN 3062 Fear me not, my lord.
FTLN 3063 75 I will not be myself nor have cognition
FTLN 3064 Of what I feel. I am all patience.

225
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
Enter Cressida with Troilus’s sleeve.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3065 Now the pledge, now, now, now!
CRESSIDA , giving the sleeve FTLN 3066 Here, Diomed. Keep this
FTLN 3067 sleeve.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3068 80 O beauty, where is thy faith?
ULYSSES , aside to Troilus FTLN 3069 My lord—
TROILUS , aside to Ulysses
FTLN 3070 I will be patient; outwardly I will.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3071 You look upon that sleeve? Behold it well.
FTLN 3072 He loved me—O false wench!—Give ’t me again.
She snatches the sleeve from Diomedes.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3073 85 Whose was ’t?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3074 It is no matter, now I ha ’t again.
FTLN 3075 I will not meet with you tomorrow night.
FTLN 3076 I prithee, Diomed, visit me no more.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3077 Now she sharpens. Well said,
FTLN 3078 90 whetstone.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3079 I shall have it.
CRESSIDA FTLN 3080 What, this?
DIOMEDES FTLN 3081 Ay, that.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3082 O all you gods!—O pretty, pretty pledge!
FTLN 3083 95 Thy master now lies thinking on his bed
FTLN 3084 Of thee and me, and sighs, and takes my glove,
FTLN 3085 And gives memorial dainty kisses to it
FTLN 3086 As I kiss thee.
He grabs the sleeve, and she tries to retrieve it.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3087 Nay, do not snatch it from me.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3088 100 He that takes that doth take my heart withal.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3089 I had your heart before. This follows it.
TROILUS , aside FTLN 3090 I did swear patience.

227
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3091 You shall not have it, Diomed, faith, you shall not.
FTLN 3092 I’ll give you something else.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3093 105 I will have this. Whose was it?
CRESSIDA FTLN 3094 It is no matter.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3095 Come, tell me whose it was.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3096 ’Twas one’s that loved me better than you will.
FTLN 3097 But now you have it, take it.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3098 110 Whose was it?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3099 By all Diana’s waiting-women yond,
FTLN 3100 And by herself, I will not tell you whose.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3101 Tomorrow will I wear it on my helm
FTLN 3102 And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it.
TROILUS , aside
FTLN 3103 115 Wert thou the devil and wor’st it on thy horn,
FTLN 3104 It should be challenged.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3105 Well, well, ’tis done, ’tis past. And yet it is not.
FTLN 3106 I will not keep my word.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3107 Why, then, farewell.
FTLN 3108 120 Thou never shalt mock Diomed again.
He starts to leave.
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3109 You shall not go. One cannot speak a word
FTLN 3110 But it straight starts you.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3111 I do not like this fooling.
TROILUS , aside
FTLN 3112 Nor I, by Pluto! But that that likes not you
FTLN 3113 125 Pleases me best.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3114 What, shall I come? The hour?
CRESSIDA
FTLN 3115 Ay, come.—O Jove!—Do, come.—I shall be plagued.

229
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3116 Farewell, till then.
CRESSIDA FTLN 3117 Good night. I prithee, come.—
He exits.
FTLN 3118 130 Troilus, farewell. One eye yet looks on thee,
FTLN 3119 But with my heart the other eye doth see.
FTLN 3120 Ah, poor our sex! This fault in us I find:
FTLN 3121 The error of our eye directs our mind.
FTLN 3122 What error leads must err. O, then conclude:
FTLN 3123 135 Minds swayed by eyes are full of turpitude. She exits.
THERSITES , aside
FTLN 3124 A proof of strength she could not publish more,
FTLN 3125 Unless she said “My mind is now turned whore.”
ULYSSES
FTLN 3126 All’s done, my lord.
TROILUS FTLN 3127 It is.
ULYSSES FTLN 3128 140 Why stay we then?
TROILUS
FTLN 3129 To make a recordation to my soul
FTLN 3130 Of every syllable that here was spoke.
FTLN 3131 But if I tell how these two did co-act,
FTLN 3132 Shall I not lie in publishing a truth?
FTLN 3133 145 Sith yet there is a credence in my heart,
FTLN 3134 An esperance so obstinately strong.
FTLN 3135 That doth invert th’ attest of eyes and ears,
FTLN 3136 As if those organs had deceptious functions,
FTLN 3137 Created only to calumniate.
FTLN 3138 150 Was Cressid here?
ULYSSES FTLN 3139 I cannot conjure, Trojan.
TROILUS FTLN 3140 She was not, sure.
ULYSSES FTLN 3141 Most sure she was.
TROILUS
FTLN 3142 Why, my negation hath no taste of madness.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3143 155 Nor mine, my lord. Cressid was here but now.

231
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
TROILUS
FTLN 3144 Let it not be believed for womanhood!
FTLN 3145 Think, we had mothers. Do not give advantage
FTLN 3146 To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme
FTLN 3147 For depravation, to square the general sex
FTLN 3148 160 By Cressid’s rule. Rather, think this not Cressid.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3149 What hath she done, prince, that can soil our
FTLN 3150 mothers?
TROILUS
FTLN 3151 Nothing at all, unless that this were she.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3152 Will he swagger himself out on ’s
FTLN 3153 165 own eyes?
TROILUS
FTLN 3154 This she? No, this is Diomed’s Cressida.
FTLN 3155 If beauty have a soul, this is not she;
FTLN 3156 If souls guide vows, if vows be sanctimonies,
FTLN 3157 If sanctimony be the gods’ delight,
FTLN 3158 170 If there be rule in unity itself,
FTLN 3159 This is not she. O madness of discourse,
FTLN 3160 That cause sets up with and against itself!
FTLN 3161 Bifold authority, where reason can revolt
FTLN 3162 Without perdition, and loss assume all reason
FTLN 3163 175 Without revolt. This is and is not Cressid.
FTLN 3164 Within my soul there doth conduce a fight
FTLN 3165 Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparate
FTLN 3166 Divides more wider than the sky and Earth,
FTLN 3167 And yet the spacious breadth of this division
FTLN 3168 180 Admits no orifex for a point as subtle
FTLN 3169 As Ariachne’s broken woof to enter.
FTLN 3170 Instance, O instance, strong as Pluto’s gates,
FTLN 3171 Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heaven;
FTLN 3172 Instance, O instance, strong as heaven itself,
FTLN 3173 185 The bonds of heaven are slipped, dissolved, and
FTLN 3174 loosed,
FTLN 3175 And with another knot, five-finger-tied,

233
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 2
FTLN 3176 The fractions of her faith, orts of her love,
FTLN 3177 The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics
FTLN 3178 190 Of her o’er-eaten faith are given to Diomed.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3179 May worthy Troilus be half attached
FTLN 3180 With that which here his passion doth express?
TROILUS
FTLN 3181 Ay, Greek, and that shall be divulgèd well
FTLN 3182 In characters as red as Mars his heart
FTLN 3183 195 Inflamed with Venus. Never did young man fancy
FTLN 3184 With so eternal and so fixed a soul.
FTLN 3185 Hark, Greek: as much as I do Cressid love,
FTLN 3186 So much by weight hate I her Diomed.
FTLN 3187 That sleeve is mine that he’ll bear on his helm.
FTLN 3188 200 Were it a casque composed by Vulcan’s skill,
FTLN 3189 My sword should bite it. Not the dreadful spout
FTLN 3190 Which shipmen do the hurricano call,
FTLN 3191 Constringed in mass by the almighty sun,
FTLN 3192 Shall dizzy with more clamor Neptune’s ear
FTLN 3193 205 In his descent than shall my prompted sword
FTLN 3194 Falling on Diomed.
THERSITES , aside FTLN 3195 He’ll tickle it for his concupy.
TROILUS
FTLN 3196 O Cressid! O false Cressid! False, false, false!
FTLN 3197 Let all untruths stand by thy stainèd name,
FTLN 3198 210 And they’ll seem glorious.
ULYSSES FTLN 3199 O, contain yourself.
FTLN 3200 Your passion draws ears hither.
Enter Aeneas.
AENEAS , to Troilus
FTLN 3201 I have been seeking you this hour, my lord.
FTLN 3202 Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy.
FTLN 3203 215 Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.
TROILUS
FTLN 3204 Have with you, prince.—My courteous lord, adieu.—

235
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
FTLN 3205 Farewell, revolted fair!—And, Diomed,
FTLN 3206 Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!
ULYSSES FTLN 3207 I’ll bring you to the gates.
TROILUS FTLN 3208 220 Accept distracted thanks.
Troilus, Aeneas, and Ulysses exit.
THERSITES FTLN 3209 Would I could meet that rogue Diomed! I
FTLN 3210 would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would
FTLN 3211 bode. Patroclus will give me anything for the intelligence
FTLN 3212 of this whore. The parrot will not do more
FTLN 3213 225 for an almond than he for a commodious drab.
FTLN 3214 Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery! Nothing
FTLN 3215 else holds fashion. A burning devil take them!
He exits.
Scene 3
Enter Hector, armed, and Andromache.
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3216 When was my lord so much ungently tempered
FTLN 3217 To stop his ears against admonishment?
FTLN 3218 Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.
HECTOR
FTLN 3219 You train me to offend you. Get you in.
FTLN 3220 5 By all the everlasting gods, I’ll go!
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3221 My dreams will sure prove ominous to the day.
HECTOR
FTLN 3222 No more, I say.
Enter Cassandra.
CASSANDRA FTLN 3223 Where is my brother Hector?
ANDROMACHE
FTLN 3224 Here, sister, armed and bloody in intent.
FTLN 3225 10 Consort with me in loud and dear petition;
FTLN 3226 Pursue we him on knees. For I have dreamt

237
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
FTLN 3227 Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night
FTLN 3228 Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3229 O, ’tis true!
HECTOR , calling out FTLN 3230 15 Ho! Bid my trumpet sound!
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 The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows.
FTLN 3234 They are polluted off’rings more abhorred
FTLN 3235 20 Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.
ANDROMACHE , to Hector
FTLN 3236 O, be persuaded! Do not count it holy
FTLN 3237 To hurt by being just. It is as lawful,
FTLN 3238 For we would give much, to use violent thefts
FTLN 3239 And rob in the behalf of charity.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3240 25 It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
FTLN 3241 But vows to every purpose must not hold.
FTLN 3242 Unarm, sweet Hector.
HECTOR FTLN 3243 Hold you still, I say.
FTLN 3244 Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate.
FTLN 3245 30 Life every man holds dear, but the dear man
FTLN 3246 Holds honor far more precious-dear than life.
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 No, faith, young Troilus, doff thy harness, youth.
FTLN 3250 35 I am today i’ th’ vein of chivalry.
FTLN 3251 Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,

239
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
FTLN 3252 And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
FTLN 3253 Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
FTLN 3254 I’ll stand today for thee and me and Troy.
TROILUS
FTLN 3255 40 Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you
FTLN 3256 Which better fits a lion than a man.
HECTOR
FTLN 3257 What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.
TROILUS
FTLN 3258 When many times the captive Grecian falls,
FTLN 3259 Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
FTLN 3260 45 You bid them rise and live.
HECTOR
FTLN 3261 O, ’tis fair play.
TROILUS FTLN 3262 Fool’s play, by heaven. Hector.
HECTOR
FTLN 3263 How now? How now?
TROILUS FTLN 3264 For th’ love of all the gods,
FTLN 3265 50 Let’s leave the hermit Pity with our mother,
FTLN 3266 And when we have our armors buckled on,
FTLN 3267 The venomed Vengeance ride upon our swords,
FTLN 3268 Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth.
HECTOR
FTLN 3269 Fie, savage, fie!
TROILUS FTLN 3270 55 Hector, then ’tis wars.
HECTOR
FTLN 3271 Troilus, I would not have you fight today.
TROILUS FTLN 3272 Who should withhold me?
FTLN 3273 Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars,
FTLN 3274 Beck’ning with fiery truncheon my retire;
FTLN 3275 60 Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
FTLN 3276 Their eyes o’er-gallèd with recourse of tears;
FTLN 3277 Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn
FTLN 3278 Opposed to hinder me, should stop my way,
FTLN 3279 But by my ruin.

241
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
Enter Priam and Cassandra.
CASSANDRA , indicating Hector
FTLN 3280 65 Lay hold upon him, Priam; hold him fast.
FTLN 3281 He is thy crutch. Now if thou loose thy stay,
FTLN 3282 Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
FTLN 3283 Fall all together.
PRIAM FTLN 3284 Come, Hector, come. Go back.
FTLN 3285 70 Thy wife hath dreamt, thy mother hath had visions,
FTLN 3286 Cassandra doth foresee, and I myself
FTLN 3287 Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt
FTLN 3288 To tell thee that this day is ominous.
FTLN 3289 Therefore, come back.
HECTOR FTLN 3290 75 Aeneas is afield,
FTLN 3291 And I do stand engaged to many Greeks,
FTLN 3292 Even in the faith of valor, to appear
FTLN 3293 This morning to them.
PRIAM FTLN 3294 Ay, but thou shalt not go.
HECTOR FTLN 3295 80 I must not break my faith.
FTLN 3296 You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir,
FTLN 3297 Let me not shame respect, but give me leave
FTLN 3298 To take that course by your consent and voice
FTLN 3299 Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3300 85 O Priam, yield not to him!
ANDROMACHE FTLN 3301 Do not, dear father.
HECTOR
FTLN 3302 Andromache, I am offended with you.
FTLN 3303 Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
Andromache exits.
TROILUS
FTLN 3304 This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl
FTLN 3305 90 Makes all these bodements.
CASSANDRA FTLN 3306 O farewell, dear Hector.
FTLN 3307 Look how thou diest! Look how thy eye turns pale!
FTLN 3308 Look how thy wounds do bleed at many vents!

243
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 3
FTLN 3309 Hark, how Troy roars, how Hecuba cries out,
FTLN 3310 95 How poor Andromache shrills her dolor forth!
FTLN 3311 Behold, distraction, frenzy, and amazement,
FTLN 3312 Like witless antics, one another meet,
FTLN 3313 And all cry “Hector! Hector’s dead! O, Hector!”
TROILUS FTLN 3314 Away, away!
CASSANDRA
FTLN 3315 100 Farewell.—Yet soft! Hector, I take my leave.
FTLN 3316 Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive. She exits.
HECTOR
FTLN 3317 You are amazed, my liege, at her exclaim.
FTLN 3318 Go in and cheer the town. We’ll forth and fight,
FTLN 3319 Do deeds worth praise, and tell you them at night.
PRIAM
FTLN 3320 105 Farewell. The gods with safety stand about thee!
Hector and Priam exit at separate doors.
Alarum.
TROILUS
FTLN 3321 They are at it, hark! Proud Diomed, believe,
FTLN 3322 I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.
Enter Pandarus, with a paper.
PANDARUS FTLN 3323 Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?
TROILUS FTLN 3324 What now?
PANDARUS FTLN 3325 110 Here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.
TROILUS FTLN 3326 Let me read. He reads.
PANDARUS FTLN 3327 A whoreson phthisic, a whoreson rascally
FTLN 3328 phthisic so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of
FTLN 3329 this girl, and what one thing, what another, that I
FTLN 3330 115 shall leave you one o’ these days. And I have a
FTLN 3331 rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ache in my
FTLN 3332 bones that, unless a man were cursed, I cannot tell
FTLN 3333 what to think on ’t.—What says she there?
TROILUS
FTLN 3334 Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.
FTLN 3335 120 Th’ effect doth operate another way.

245
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ACT 5. SC. 4
FTLN 3336 Go, wind, to wind! There turn and change together.
He tears up the paper and throws the pieces in the air.
FTLN 3337 My love with words and errors still she feeds,
FTLN 3338 But edifies another with her deeds.
They exit.
Scene 4
Alarum. Excursions. Enter Thersites.
THERSITES FTLN 3339 Now they are clapper-clawing one another.
FTLN 3340 I’ll go look on. That dissembling abominable varlet,
FTLN 3341 Diomed, has got that same scurvy doting foolish
FTLN 3342 young knave’s sleeve of Troy there in his helm.
FTLN 3343 5 I would fain see them meet, that that same young
FTLN 3344 Trojan ass that loves the whore there might send
FTLN 3345 that Greekish whoremasterly villain with the sleeve
FTLN 3346 back to the dissembling luxurious drab, of a sleeveless
FTLN 3347 errand. O’ th’ t’other side, the policy of those
FTLN 3348 10 crafty swearing rascals—that stale old mouse-eaten
FTLN 3349 dry cheese, Nestor, and that same dog-fox,
FTLN 3350 Ulysses—is proved not worth a blackberry. They
FTLN 3351 set me up, in policy, that mongrel cur, Ajax, against
FTLN 3352 that dog of as bad a kind, Achilles. And now is the
FTLN 3353 15 cur Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles, and will
FTLN 3354 not arm today, whereupon the Grecians begin to
FTLN 3355 proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill
FTLN 3356 opinion.
Enter Diomedes, and Troilus pursuing him.
FTLN 3357 Soft! Here comes sleeve and t’ other.
Thersites moves aside.
TROILUS , to Diomedes
FTLN 3358 20 Fly not, for shouldst thou take the river Styx
FTLN 3359 I would swim after.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3360 Thou dost miscall retire.

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ACT 5. SC. 5
FTLN 3361 I do not fly, but advantageous care
FTLN 3362 Withdrew me from the odds of multitude.
FTLN 3363 25 Have at thee! They fight.
THERSITES FTLN 3364 Hold thy whore, Grecian! Now for thy
FTLN 3365 whore, Trojan! Now the sleeve, now the sleeve!
Diomedes and Troilus exit fighting.
Enter Hector.
HECTOR
FTLN 3366 What art thou, Greek? Art thou for Hector’s match?
FTLN 3367 Art thou of blood and honor?
THERSITES FTLN 3368 30 No, no, I am a rascal, a scurvy railing
FTLN 3369 knave, a very filthy rogue.
HECTOR FTLN 3370 I do believe thee. Live. He exits.
THERSITES FTLN 3371 God-a-mercy, that thou wilt believe me!
FTLN 3372 But a plague break thy neck for frighting me!
FTLN 3373 35 What’s become of the wenching rogues? I think
FTLN 3374 they have swallowed one another. I would laugh at
FTLN 3375 that miracle—yet, in a sort, lechery eats itself. I’ll
FTLN 3376 seek them.
He exits.
Scene 5
Enter Diomedes and Servingman.
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3377 Go, go, my servant, take thou Troilus’ horse;
FTLN 3378 Present the fair steed to my Lady Cressid.
FTLN 3379 Fellow, commend my service to her beauty.
FTLN 3380 Tell her I have chastised the amorous Trojan
FTLN 3381 5 And am her knight by proof.
MAN FTLN 3382 I go, my lord. He exits.
Enter Agamemnon.

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 5
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 3383 Renew, renew! The fierce Polydamas
FTLN 3384 Hath beat down Menon; bastard Margareton
FTLN 3385 Hath Doreus prisoner,
FTLN 3386 10 And stands colossus-wise, waving his beam
FTLN 3387 Upon the pashèd corses of the kings
FTLN 3388 Epistrophus and Cedius. Polyxenes is slain,
FTLN 3389 Amphimachus and Thoas deadly hurt,
FTLN 3390 Patroclus ta’en or slain, and Palamedes
FTLN 3391 15 Sore hurt and bruised. The dreadful Sagittary
FTLN 3392 Appals our numbers. Haste we, Diomed,
FTLN 3393 To reinforcement, or we perish all.
Enter Nestor, with Soldiers bearing the body of
Patroclus.
NESTOR
FTLN 3394 Go, bear Patroclus’ body to Achilles,
FTLN 3395 And bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame.
Soldiers exit with Patroclus’s body.
FTLN 3396 20 There is a thousand Hectors in the field.
FTLN 3397 Now here he fights on Galathe his horse,
FTLN 3398 And here lacks work; anon he’s there afoot
FTLN 3399 And there they fly or die, like scalèd schools
FTLN 3400 Before the belching whale; then is he yonder,
FTLN 3401 25 And there the strawy Greeks, ripe for his edge,
FTLN 3402 Fall down before him like a mower’s swath.
FTLN 3403 Here, there, and everywhere he leaves and takes,
FTLN 3404 Dexterity so obeying appetite
FTLN 3405 That what he will he does, and does so much
FTLN 3406 30 That proof is called impossibility.
Enter Ulysses.
ULYSSES
FTLN 3407 O, courage, courage, princes! Great Achilles
FTLN 3408 Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance.
FTLN 3409 Patroclus’ wounds have roused his drowsy blood,
FTLN 3410 Together with his mangled Myrmidons,

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ACT 5. SC. 6
FTLN 3411 35 That noseless, handless, hacked and chipped, come
FTLN 3412 to him,
FTLN 3413 Crying on Hector. Ajax hath lost a friend
FTLN 3414 And foams at mouth, and he is armed and at it,
FTLN 3415 Roaring for Troilus, who hath done today
FTLN 3416 40 Mad and fantastic execution,
FTLN 3417 Engaging and redeeming of himself
FTLN 3418 With such a careless force and forceless care
FTLN 3419 As if that luck, in very spite of cunning,
FTLN 3420 Bade him win all.
Enter Ajax.
AJAX FTLN 3421 45 Troilus, thou coward Troilus! He exits.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3422 Ay, there, there! He exits.
NESTOR FTLN 3423 So, so, we draw together.
Enter Achilles.
ACHILLES FTLN 3424 Where is this Hector?—
FTLN 3425 Come, come, thou boy-queller, show thy face!
FTLN 3426 50 Know what it is to meet Achilles angry.
FTLN 3427 Hector! Where’s Hector? I will none but Hector.
He exits, with the others.
Scene 6
Enter Ajax.
AJAX
FTLN 3428 Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head!
Enter Diomedes.
DIOMEDES FTLN 3429 Troilus, I say! Where’s Troilus?
AJAX FTLN 3430 What wouldst thou?
DIOMEDES FTLN 3431 I would correct him.
AJAX
FTLN 3432 5 Were I the General, thou shouldst have my office
FTLN 3433 Ere that correction.—Troilus, I say! What, Troilus!

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 6
Enter Troilus.
TROILUS
FTLN 3434 O traitor Diomed! Turn thy false face, thou traitor,
FTLN 3435 And pay the life thou owest me for my horse!
DIOMEDES FTLN 3436 Ha! Art thou there?
AJAX
FTLN 3437 10 I’ll fight with him alone. Stand, Diomed.
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.
HECTOR FTLN 3442 15 Pause if thou wilt.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3443 I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan.
FTLN 3444 Be happy that my arms are out of use.
FTLN 3445 My rest and negligence befriends thee now,
FTLN 3446 But thou anon shalt hear of me again;
FTLN 3447 20 Till when, go seek thy fortune. He exits.
HECTOR FTLN 3448 Fare thee well.
FTLN 3449 I would have been much more a fresher man
FTLN 3450 Had I expected thee.
Enter Troilus.
FTLN 3451 How now, my brother?

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 7
TROILUS
FTLN 3452 25 Ajax hath ta’en Aeneas. Shall it be?
FTLN 3453 No, by the flame of yonder glorious heaven,
FTLN 3454 He shall not carry him. I’ll be ta’en too
FTLN 3455 Or bring him off. Fate, hear me what I say!
FTLN 3456 I reck not though I end my life today.
He exits.
Enter one in Greek armor.
HECTOR
FTLN 3457 30 Stand, stand, thou Greek! Thou art a goodly mark.
FTLN 3458 No? Wilt thou not? I like thy armor well.
FTLN 3459 I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all,
FTLN 3460 But I’ll be master of it. The Greek exits.
FTLN 3461 Wilt thou not, beast, abide?
FTLN 3462 35 Why then, fly on. I’ll hunt thee for thy hide.
He exits.
Scene 7
Enter Achilles, with Myrmidons.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3463 Come here about me, you my Myrmidons.
FTLN 3464 Mark what I say. Attend me where I wheel.
FTLN 3465 Strike not a stroke, but keep yourselves in breath,
FTLN 3466 And, when I have the bloody Hector found,
FTLN 3467 5 Empale him with your weapons round about.
FTLN 3468 In fellest manner execute your arms.
FTLN 3469 Follow me, sirs, and my proceedings eye.
FTLN 3470 It is decreed Hector the great must die.
They exit.

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 9
Scene 8
Enter Thersites; then Menelaus fighting Paris.
THERSITES FTLN 3471 The cuckold and the cuckold-maker are at
FTLN 3472 it. Now, bull! Now, dog! Loo, Paris, loo! Now, my
FTLN 3473 double-horned Spartan! Loo, Paris, loo! The bull
FTLN 3474 has the game. Ware horns, ho!
Paris and Menelaus exit, fighting.
Enter Bastard.
BASTARD FTLN 3475 5 Turn, slave, and fight.
THERSITES FTLN 3476 What art thou?
BASTARD FTLN 3477 A bastard son of Priam’s.
THERSITES FTLN 3478 I am a bastard too. I love bastards. I am
FTLN 3479 bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind,
FTLN 3480 10 bastard in valor, in everything illegitimate. One
FTLN 3481 bear will not bite another, and wherefore should
FTLN 3482 one bastard? Take heed: the quarrel’s most ominous
FTLN 3483 to us. If the son of a whore fight for a whore,
FTLN 3484 he tempts judgment. Farewell, bastard. He exits.
BASTARD FTLN 3485 15 The devil take thee, coward!
He exits.
Scene 9
Enter Hector, with the body of the Greek in armor.
HECTOR
FTLN 3486 Most putrefied core, so fair without,
FTLN 3487 Thy goodly armor thus hath cost thy life.
FTLN 3488 Now is my day’s work done. I’ll take my breath.
FTLN 3489 Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death.
He begins to disarm.
Enter Achilles and his Myrmidons.

259
Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 10
ACHILLES
FTLN 3490 5 Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set,
FTLN 3491 How ugly night comes breathing at his heels.
FTLN 3492 Even with the vail and dark’ning of the sun
FTLN 3493 To close the day up, Hector’s life is done.
HECTOR
FTLN 3494 I am unarmed. Forgo this vantage, Greek.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3495 10 Strike, fellows, strike! This is the man I seek.
The Myrmidons kill Hector.
FTLN 3496 So, Ilium, fall thou next! Come, Troy, sink down!
FTLN 3497 Here lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone.
FTLN 3498 On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain
FTLN 3499 “Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.”
Retreat sounded from both armies.
FTLN 3500 15 Hark! A retire upon our Grecian part.
A MYRMIDON
FTLN 3501 The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord.
ACHILLES
FTLN 3502 The dragon wing of night o’erspreads the Earth
FTLN 3503 And, stickler-like, the armies separates.
FTLN 3504 My half-supped sword, that frankly would have fed,
FTLN 3505 20 Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed.
He sheathes his sword.
FTLN 3506 Come, tie his body to my horse’s tail;
FTLN 3507 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.
AGAMEMNON FTLN 3508 Hark, hark, what shout is this?
NESTOR FTLN 3509 Peace, drums! The drums cease.

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ACT 5. SC. 11
SOLDIERS , within
FTLN 3510 Achilles! Achilles! Hector’s slain! Achilles!
DIOMEDES
FTLN 3511 The bruit is Hector’s slain, and by Achilles.
AJAX
FTLN 3512 5 If it be so, yet bragless let it be.
FTLN 3513 Great Hector was as good a man as he.
AGAMEMNON
FTLN 3514 March patiently along. Let one be sent
FTLN 3515 To pray Achilles see us at our tent.
FTLN 3516 If in his death the gods have us befriended,
FTLN 3517 10 Great Troy is ours, and our sharp wars are ended.
They exit, marching.
Scene 11
Enter Aeneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and Trojan
soldiers.
AENEAS
FTLN 3518 Stand, ho! Yet are we masters of the field.
FTLN 3519 Never go home; here starve we out the night.
Enter Troilus.
TROILUS
FTLN 3520 Hector is slain.
ALL FTLN 3521 Hector! The gods forbid!
TROILUS
FTLN 3522 5 He’s dead, and at the murderer’s horse’s tail,
FTLN 3523 In beastly sort, dragged through the shameful field.
FTLN 3524 Frown on, you heavens; effect your rage with speed.
FTLN 3525 Sit, gods, upon your thrones, and smite at Troy!
FTLN 3526 I say at once: let your brief plagues be mercy,
FTLN 3527 10 And linger not our sure destructions on!
AENEAS
FTLN 3528 My lord, you do discomfort all the host.

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Troilus and Cressida
ACT 5. SC. 11
TROILUS
FTLN 3529 You understand me not that tell me so.
FTLN 3530 I do not speak of flight, of fear, of death,
FTLN 3531 But dare all imminence that gods and men
FTLN 3532 15 Address their dangers in. Hector is gone.
FTLN 3533 Who shall tell Priam so, or Hecuba?
FTLN 3534 Let him that will a screech-owl aye be called
FTLN 3535 Go into Troy and say their Hector’s dead.
FTLN 3536 There is a word will Priam turn to stone,
FTLN 3537 20 Make wells and Niobes of the maids and wives,
FTLN 3538 Cold statues of the youth and, in a word,
FTLN 3539 Scare Troy out of itself. But march away.
FTLN 3540 Hector is dead. There is no more to say.
FTLN 3541 Stay yet. You vile abominable tents,
FTLN 3542 25 Thus proudly pitched upon our Phrygian plains,
FTLN 3543 Let Titan rise as early as he dare,
FTLN 3544 I’ll through and through you! And, thou great-sized
FTLN 3545 coward,
FTLN 3546 No space of earth shall sunder our two hates.
FTLN 3547 30 I’ll haunt thee like a wicked conscience still,
FTLN 3548 That moldeth goblins swift as frenzy’s thoughts.
FTLN 3549 Strike a free march to Troy! With comfort go.
FTLN 3550 Hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe.
Enter Pandarus.
PANDARUS FTLN 3551 But hear you, hear you!
TROILUS
FTLN 3552 35 Hence, broker, lackey! Ignomy and shame
FTLN 3553 Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name!
All but Pandarus exit.
PANDARUS FTLN 3554 A goodly medicine for my aching bones! O
FTLN 3555 world, world, world! Thus is the poor agent despised.
FTLN 3556 O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are
FTLN 3557 40 you set a-work, and how ill requited! Why should
FTLN 3558 our endeavor be so loved and the performance so
FTLN 3559 loathed? What verse for it? What instance for it?

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ACT 5. SC. 11
FTLN 3560 Let me see:
FTLN 3561 Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing,
FTLN 3562 45 Till he hath lost his honey and his sting;
FTLN 3563 And being once subdued in armèd tail,
FTLN 3564 Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail.
FTLN 3565 Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted
FTLN 3566 cloths:
FTLN 3567 50 As many as be here of panders’ hall,
FTLN 3568 Your eyes, half out, weep out at Pandar’s fall;
FTLN 3569 Or if you cannot weep, yet give some groans,
FTLN 3570 Though not for me, yet for your aching bones.
FTLN 3571 Brethren and sisters of the hold-door trade,
FTLN 3572 55 Some two months hence my will shall here be made.
FTLN 3573 It should be now, but that my fear is this:
FTLN 3574 Some gallèd goose of Winchester would hiss.
FTLN 3575 Till then I’ll sweat and seek about for eases,
FTLN 3576 And at that time bequeath you my diseases.
He exits.