180

190

Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, 120 Hect. 0! you, my lord ? by Mars his gauntlet, A cousin-german to great Priam's seed ;

thanks! The obligation of our blood forbids

Mock not that I affect the untraded oath; A gory emulation 'twixt us twain.

Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove: Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so She's well, but bade me not commend her to That thou could'st say “This hand is Grecian all, you. And this is Trojan ; the sinews of this leg

Men. Name her not now, sir ; she's a deadly All Greek, and this all Troy ; my mother's theme. blood

Hect. 0! pardon ; I offend. Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister

Nest. I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee Bounds in my father's'; by Jove multipotent, oft, Thou should'st not bear from me a Greekish Labouring for destiny, make cruel way member

130 Through ranks of Greekish youth: and I have
Wherein my sword had not impressure made seen thee,
Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother, And seen thee scorning forfeits and subduements,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i
Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax :

th' air,
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms; Not letting it decline on the declin'd;
Hector would have them fall upon him thus: That I have said to some my standers by,
Cousin, all honour to thee!

'Lol Jupiter is yonder, dealing life.' Ajax.

I thank thee, Hector: And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath, Thou art too gentle and too free a man : When that a ring Greeks have hemm å thee in, I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence 140 Like an Olympian wrestling : this have I seen; A great addition earned in thy death.

But this thy countenance, still, lock'd in steel, Hect. Not Neoptolemus so mirable,

I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire, On whose bright crest Fame with her loudest | And once fought with him : he was a soldier oyes

good; Cries. This is he!' could promise to himself But, by great Mars, the captain of us all, A thought of added honour torn from Hector. Never like thee. Let an old man embrace thee; Æne. There is expectance here from both the And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents. sides,

Æne. 'Tis the old Nestor. What further you will do.

Hect. Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle, Hect.

We'll answer it; That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewell.

time : Ajax. If I might in entreaties find success, Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee. As seld I have the chance, I would desire

Nest. I would my arms could match thee in My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

contention, Dio. 'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles As they contend with thee in courtesy. Doth long to see uparm'd the valiant Hector. Hect. I would they could.

Hect. Aneas, call my brother Troilus to me, Nest. Ha ! And signify this loving interview

By this white beard, I'd fight with thee to. To the expecters of our Trojan part; Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my Well, welcome, welcome! I have seen the timecousin;

Ulyss. I wonder now how yonder city stands, I will go eat with thee and see your knights. When we have here her base and pillar by us. Ajax. Great Agamemnon comes to meet us Hect. I know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well. here.

Ah! sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead, Hect. The worthiest of them tell me name by Since first I saw yourself and Diomed name;

In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy.
But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes Ulyss. Sir, I foretold you then what would
Shall find him by his large and portly size.

Agam. Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one My prophecy is but half his journey yet ;
That would be rid of such an enemy;

For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
But that's no welcome: understand more clear, Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the
What's past and what's to come is strew'd with clouds,
husks

Must kiss their own feet. And formless ruin of oblivion ;

llect.

I must not believe you : But in this extant moment, faith and troth, There they stand yet, and modestly I think, Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing, The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost Bids thee, with most divine integrity,

A drop of Grecian blood: the end crowns all, From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome. And that old common arbitrator, Time,

Hect. I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon. Will one day end it.
Agam. To TROILUS. My well-fam'd lord of

Ulyss.

So to him we leave it. Troy, no less to you.

Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome. Men. Let me confirm my princely brother's After the general, I beseech you next greeting :

To feast with me and see me at my tent. You brace of war-like brothers, welcome hither. Achil. I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, Hect. Who must we answer ?

thou! Æne.

The noble Menelaus. Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;

150

morrow.

160

ensue:

170

290

239

250

I have with exact view perus'd thee, Hector, After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
And quoted joint by joint.

To bring me thither?
Hect.
Is this Achilles ? Ulyss.

You shall command me, sir. Achil. I am Achilles.

As gentle tell me, of what honour was Hect. Stand fair, I pray thee : let me look on This Cressida in Tror ? Had she no lover there thee.

That wails her absence ? Achil. Behold thy fill.

I'ro. O, sir I to such as boasting show their Hect.

Nay, I have done already. scars Achil. Thou art too brief : I will the second A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord ? time,

She was belov’d, she lov'd; she is, and doth : As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb. But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth. Hect. 01 like a book of sport thou 'lt read

Exeunt. me o'er; But there's more in me than thou understand'st.

ACT V. Why dost thon so oppress me with thine eye? Achil. Tell me, you heavens, in which part of SCENE I. - The Grecian Camp. Before his body

ACHILLES' Tent. Shall I destroy him ? whether there, or there, or there?

Enter ACHILLES and PATROCLUS. That I may give the local wound a name,

Achil. I'll heat his blood with Greekish wipe
And make distinct the very breach whereout to-night,
Hector's great spirit flew. Answer me, heavens! Which with my scimitar I'll cool to-morrow.
Hect. It would discredit the bless'd gods, Patroclus, let us feast him to the height.
proud man,

Patr. Here comes Thersites.
To answer such a question. Stand again :
Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly

Enter THERSITES.
As to prenominate in nice conjecture

Achil.

How now, thou core of envy! Where thou wilt hit me dead ?

Thou crusty batch of nature, what's the news ? Achil.

I tell thee, yea.

Ther. Why, thou picture of what thou seemest, Hect. Wert thou the oracle to tell me so, and idol of idiot-worshippers, here's a letter for I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee thee. well,

Achil. From whence, fragment? For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there; Ther. Why, thou full dish of fool, from Troy. But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm, Patr. Who keeps the tent now? I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er. Ther. The surgeon's box, or the patient's You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag ; wound. His insolence draws folly from my lips ;

Patr. Well said, adversity! and what need But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words, these tricks ? Or may I never

Ther. Prithee, be silent, boy ; I profit not by Ajas.

Do not chafe thee, cousin : 260 thy talk: thou art thought to be Achilles' male And you, Achilles, let these threats alone, varlet. Till accident and purpose bring you to't:

Patr. Male varlet, you rogue ! what's that? You may have every day enough of Hector, Ther. Why, his masculine whore. Now the If you have stomach. The general state, I fear, rotten diseases of the south, the guts-griping, Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him. ruptures, catarrhs, loads o' gravel i' the back,

Hect. I pray you, let us see you in the field; lethargies, cold palsies, raw eyes, dirt-rotten We have had pelting wars since you refus'd livers, wheezing lungs, bladders full of imposThe Grecians' cause.

thume, sciaticas, lime-kilns i' the palm, incur. Achil.

Dost thou entreat me, Hector ? able bone-ache, and the rivelled fee-simple of To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death; the tetter, take and take again such preposteTo-night all friends.

rous discoveries ! llect.

Thy hand upon that match. 270 Patr. Why, thou damnable box of envy, thou, Agam. First, all you peers of Greece, go to what meanest thou to curse thus ? my tent;

Ther. Do I curse thee? There in the full convive we: afterwards,

Patr. Why, no, you ruinous butt, you whore. As Hector's leisure and vour bounties shall son indistinguishable car, no. Concur together, severally entreat him.

Ther. No! why art thou then exasperate, thou Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets idle immaterial skein of sleave silk, thou green blow,

sarcenet flap for a sore eye, thou tassel of a That this great soldier may his welcome know. prodigal's purse, thou? Ah! how the poor

Exeunt all but TROLLUS and C LYSSES. world is pestered with such water-flies, diminuTrn. My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you, tives of nature. In what place of the field doth Calehas keep? Patr. Out, gall !

L'l yas: At Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus: Ther. Finch-egg! There Diomed doth feast with him to-night ; 230 Achil. My sweet Patroclus, I am thwarted Who neither looks on heaven nor on earth,

quite But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view From my great purpose in to-morrow's battle. On the fair Cressid.

Here is a letter from Queen Hecuba, Tro. Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so A token from her daughter, my fair love, much,

Both taxing me and gaging me to keep

11

30

40 cover us.

An oath that I have sworn. I will not break it : Achil. Come, come; enter my tent.
Fall, Greeks ; fail, fame ; honour or go or stay ;

Exeunt ACHILLES, HECTOR, AJAX, My major vow lies here, this I 'll obey.

and NESTOR. Come, come, Thersites, help to trim my tent ; 50 Ther. That same Diomed's a false-hearted This night in banqueting must all be spent. rogue, a most unjust knave; I will no more Away, Patroclus !

trust him when he leers than I will a serpent Exeunt ACHILLES and PATROCLUS. when he hisses. He will spend his mouth, and Ther. With too much blood, and too little promise, like Brabbler the hound; but when brain, these two may run mad; but if with too he performs, astronomers foretell it: it is promuch brain and too little blood they do, I 'll be digious, there will come some change: the sun a curer of madmen. Here's Agamemnon, an borrows of the moon when Diomed keeps his honest fellow enough, and one that loves quails, word. I will rather leave to see Hector, than but he has not so much brain as ear-wax: and not to dog him : they say he keeps a Trojan the goodly transformation of Jupiter there, his drab, and uses the traitor Calchas tent. I'll brother, the bull, the primitive statue, and after. Nothing but lechery! all incontinent oblique memorial of cuckolds; a thrifty shoe- varlets !

Erit. 109 ing-horn in a chain, hanging at his brother's leg.--to what form but that he is, should wit larded with malice and malice forced with wit SCENE II.— The Same. Before CALCHAS' Tent. turn him to! To an ass, were nothing: he is

Enter DIOMEDES. both ass and ox; to an ox, were nothing: he is both ox and ass. To be a dog, a mule, a cat, a Dio. What, are you up here, ho ? speak. fitchew, a toad, a lizard, an owl, a puttock, or a Cal. Within. Who calls ? herring without a roe, I would not care ; but to Dio. Diomed. Calchas, I think. Where's your be Menelaus ! I would conspire against destiny. daughter ? Ask me not what I would be, if I were not Cal. Within. She comes to you. Thersites, for I care not to be the louse of a

Enter TROILUS and ULYSSES, at a distance ; lazar, so I were not Menelaus. Hey-day! spirits and fires !

after them, THERSITES, Enter HECTOR, TROILUS, AJAX, AGAMEMNON,

Ulyss. Stand where the torch may not dis. ULYSSES, NESTOR, MENELAUS, and DioMEDES, with lights.

Enter CRESSIDA. Agam. We go wrong ; we go wrong.

Tro. Cressid comes forth to him.
Ajax.

No, yonder 'tis.
Dio.

How now, my charge! There, where we see the lights.

Cres. Now, my sweet guardian! Hark! a Hect.

I trouble you.
word with you.

Whispers. Ajax. No, not a whit.

I'ro. Yea, so familiar! Ulyss. Here comes himself to guide you. Ulyss. She will sing any man at first sight.

Ther. And any man may sing her, if he can Re-enter ACHILLES.

take her clef; she's noted. Achil. Welcome, brave Hector ; welcome, Dio. Will you remember? princes all.

Cres. Remember! yes. Agam. So now, fair prince of Troy, I bid good Dio. Nay, but do then; night.

And let your mind be coupled with your words. Ajax commands the guard to tend on you.

Tro. What should she remember? Hect. Thanks and good night to the Greeks' Ulyss. List! general.

Cres. Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more Men. Good night, my lord.

to folly. Hect. Good night, sweet Lord Menelaus. Ther. Roguery!

Ther. Sweet draught: 'sweet' quoth a'! Dio. Nay, then,— sweet sink, sweet sewer.

Cres. I'll tell you what, -Achil. Good night and welcome both at once, Dio. Foh, fohl come, tell a pin : you are for.

to those That go or tarry:

Cres. In faith, I cannot. What would you Agam. Good night.

have me do? Exeunt AGAMEMNON and MENELAU'S. Ther. A juggling trick,—to be secretly open. Achil. Old Nestor tarries; and you too, Diomed, Dio. What did you swear you would bestow Keep Hector company an hour or two.

on me? Dio. I cannot, lord ; I have important business, Cres. I prithee, do not hold me to mine oath; The tide whereof is now. Good night, great Bid me do any thing but that, sweet Greek, Hector.

Dio. Good night. Hect. Give me your hand.

Tro.

Hold, patience! Ulyss. A side to TROILUS. Follow his torch ;

Ulyss.

How now, Trojan! he goes to Calchas' tent.

Cres.

Diomed, I'll keep you company.

Dio. No, no; good night : I'll be your fool
Tro. Sweet sir, you honour me.
Ilcct.

And so, good night. Tro. Thy better must.
Exit DIOMEDES; ULYSSES and TROJLUS Cres.

Hark! one word in your ear. » following. Tro. O plague and madness

11

80

Sworn.

91

no more.

80

you will.

91

Ulyss. You are mov'd, prince ; let us depart, Dio. I had your heart before ; this follows it. I pray you,

Tro. I did swear patience.
Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself Cres. You shall not have it, Diomed; faith,
To wrathful terms. This place is dangerous ; you shall not ;
The time right deadly : I beseech you, go. I'll give you something else.
Tro. Behold, I pray you !

Dio. I will have this. Whose was it?
Ulyss.
Nay, good my lord, go off : Cres.

'Tis no matter, You flow to great distraction; come, my lord. Dio. Come, tell me whose it was. Tro. I pray thee, stay.

Cres. 'Twas one's that lov'd me better than Ulyss.

You have not patience ; come. Tro. I pray you, stay. By hell and all hell's But, now you have it, take it. torments,

Dio.

Whose was it ? I will not speak a word !

Cres. By all Diana's waiting-women yond, Dio.

And so, good night. 40 And by herself, I will not tell you whose. Cres. Nay, but you part in anger.

Dio. To-morrow will I wear it on my helm, Tro.

Doth that grieve thee? | And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it. O wither'd truth!

Tro. Wert thou the devil, and wor’st it on Ulyss. Why, how now, lord !

thy horn, Tro.

By Jove, It should be challeng'd. I will be patient.

Cres. Well, well, 'tis done, 'tis past : and yet Cres. Guardian !-why, Greek!

it is not : Dio. Foh, foh! adieu ; you palter.

I will not keep my word. Cres. In faith, I do not: come hither once Dio.

Why then, farewell ; again.

Thou never shalt mock Diomed again. Ulyss. You shake, my lord, at something : will Cres. You shall not go: one cannot speak a word you go?

But it straight starts you. You will break out.

Dio.

I do not like this fooling. Tro. She strokes his cheek!

Ther. Nor I, by Pluto: but that that likes Ulyss.

Comne, come. not me Tro. Nay, stay ; by Jove, I will not speak a Pleases me best. word :

Dio. What! shall I come ? the hour ? There is between my will and all offences

Cres.

Ay, come :-O Jove ! - 100 A guard of patience : stay a little while. 50 Do come :--I shall be plagu’d. Ther. How the devil Luxury, with his fat Dio.

Farewell till then, rump and potato-finger, tickles these together! Cres. Good night : I prithee, come. Fry, lechery, fry!

Exit DIOMEDES. Dio. But will you then ?

Troilus, farewelll one eye yet looks on thee, Cres. In faith, I will, la ; never trust me else. But with my heart the other eye doth see. Dio. Give me some token for the surety of it. Ah! poor our sex; this fault in us I find, Cres. I'll fetch you one.

Erit. The error of our eye directs our mind. Ulyss. You have sworn patience.

What error leads must err. 0! then conclude Tro.

Fear me not, sweet lord; Minds sway'd by eyes are full of turpitude. I will not be myself, nor have cognition

Exit. Of what I feel : I am all patience.

Ther. A proof of strength she could not publish

more, Re-enter CRESSIDA.

Unless she said “My mind is now turn'd whore.' Ther. Now the pledge! now, now, now! Ulyss. All's done, my lord. Cres. Here, Diomed, keep this sleeve.

Tro.

It is. Tro. O beauty! where is thy faith?

Ulyss.

Why stay we then? Ulyss.

My lord, Tro. To make a recordation to my soul
Tro. I will be patient ; outwardly I will. Of every syllable that here was spoke.
Cres. You look upon that sleeve; behold it But if I tell how these two did co-act,
well.

Shall I not lie in publishing a truth?
He lov'd me-O false wench!--Give't me again. Sith yet there is a credence in my heart,
Dio. Whose was 't ?

An esperance so obstinately strong,
Cres. It is no matter, now I have't again : That doth invert the attest of eyes and ears,
I will not meet with you to-morrow night. As if those organs had deceptious functions,
I prithee, Diomed, visit me no more. 70 Created only to calumniate.
Ther. Now she sharpens: well said, whet. Was Cressid here?
stone!

Ulyss.

I cannot conjure, Trojan. Dio. I shall have

Tro. She was not, sure.
Cres.
What, this?

Ulyss.

Most sure she was. Dio.

Ay, that.

Tro. Why, my negation hath no taste of mad. Cres. O! all you gods. 0! pretty, pretty pledge.

Ulyss. Nor mine, my lord : Cressid was here Thy master now lies thinking in his bed

but now. of thee and me; and sighs, and takes my glove, Tro. Let it not be believ'd for womanhood ! And gives memorial dainty kisses to it,

Think we had mothers; do not give advantage As I kiss thee. Nay, do not snatch it from me; To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme, He that takes that doth take my heart withal. For depravation, to square the general sex

60

6

112

120

ness.

By Cressid's rule: rather think this not Cressid. Ulyss. What hath she done, prince, that can soil our mothers?

130

Tro. Nothing at all, unless that this were she.
Ther. Will he swagger himself out on's own
eyes?

Tro. This she? no; this is Diomed's Cressida.
If beauty have a soul, this is not she;
If souls guide vows, if vows be sanctimony,
If sanctimony be the gods' delight,
If there be rule in unity itself,

This is not she. O madness of discourse,
That cause sets up with and against thyself;
Bi-fold authority! where reason can revolt
Without perdition, and loss assume all reason
Without revolt: this is, and is not, Cressid.
Within my soul there doth conduce a fight
Of this strange nature that a thing inseparate
Divides more wider than the sky and earth;
And yet the spacious breadth of this division
Admits no orifice for a point as subtle
As Ariachne's broken woof to enter.
Instance, O instance! strong as Pluto's gates;
Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heaven:
Instance, O instance! strong as heaven itself;
The bonds of heaven are slipp'd, dissolv'd, and
loos'd;

152

And with another knot, five-finger-tied,
The fractions of her faith, orts of her love,
The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy
reliques

140

Let all untruths stand by thy stained name,

And they'll seem glorious.

I would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would bode. Patroclus will give me any thing for the intelligence of this whore: the parrot will not do more for an almond than he for a commodious drab. Lechery, lechery; still, wars and lechery: nothing else holds fashion. burning devil take them! Exit. 193

A

Ulyss.
O! contain yourself;
Your passion draws ears hither.

Enter ENEAS.

Ene. I have been seeking you this hour, my lord.

Of her o'er-eaten faith, are bound to Diomed.

Ulyss. May worthy Troilus be half attach'd With that which here his passion doth express? Tro. Ay, Greek; and that shall be divulged

well

In characters as red as Mars his heart

160

Cas. The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows:

Inflam'd with Venus: never did young man fancy They are polluted offerings, more abhorr'd
With so eternal and so fix'd a soul.
Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.

Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy :
Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.
Tro. Have with you, prince. My courteous
lord, adieu.
Farewell, revolted fair! and, Diomed,
Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!
Ulyss. I'll bring you to the gates.
Tro. Accept distracted thanks.

Exeunt TROILUS, ENEAS, and ULYSSES.
Ther. Would I could meet that rogue Diomed!

SCENE III.-Troy. Before PRIAM's Palace.

Enter HECTOR and ANDROMACHE,

And. When was my lord so much ungently
temper'd,

To stop his ears against admonishment?
Unarm, unarm, and do not fight to-day.

Hect. You train me to offend you; get you in:
By all the everlasting gods, I'll go!

And. My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.

Hect. No more, I say.

Hark, Greek as much as I do Cressid love,
So much by weight hate I her Diomed;
That sleeve is mine that he'll bear in his helm;
Were it a casque compos'd by Vulcan's skill,
My sword should bite it. Not the dreadful spout
Which shipmen do the hurricano call,
Constring'd in mass by the almighty sun,
Shall dizzy with more clamour Neptune's ear 170
In his descent than shall my prompted sword
Falling on Diomed.

Hect.
Hold you still, I say;
Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate:
Life every man holds dear; but the dear man

Ther. He'll tickle it for his concupy.

Tro. O Cressid! O false Cressid! false, false, Holds honour far more precious-dear than life. false !

Enter TROILUS.

181

Enter CASSANDRA.

Cas.

Where is my brother Hector? And. Here, sister; arm'd, and bloody in intent. Consort with me in loud and dear petition; Pursue we him on knees; for I have dream'd 19 Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.

Cas. O 'tis true.

Hect.
Ho! bid my trumpet sound.
Cas. No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet
brother.

Hect. Be gone, I say: the gods have heard

me swear.

29

And. O! be persuaded: do not count it holy
To hurt by being just it is as lawful,
For we would give much, to use violent thefts,
And rob in the behalf of charity.

Cas. It is the purpose that makes strong the

Vow ;

But vows to every purpose must not hold.
Unarm, sweet Hector.

How now, young man! mean'st thou to fight to-day?

And. Cassandra, call my father to persuade.
Exit CASSANDRA.
Hect. No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy
harness, youth;

31

I am to-day i' the vein of chivalry:
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
I'll stand to-day for thee and me and Troy.

Tro. Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you,
Which better fits a lion than a man.