Ulyss.
Achilles stands in th'entrance of his Tent:
Please it our General to pass strangely by him,
As if he were forgot, and Princes all
Look on him with neglectful eyes and scorn:
Pride must be cur'd by pride.

Agam.
We'll execute your purpose, and put on
A form of strangness as we pass along
So do each Prince either salute him not
Or else disdainfully, which will shake him more
Then if not look'd on: I will lead the way.

Achill.
What, comes the General to speak with me!
You know my mind; I'll fight no more with Troy.

Agam.
What says Achilles, wou'd he ought with us?

Nest.
Wou'd you, my Lord, ought with the General!

Achill.
No.

Nest.
Nothing my Lord.

Agam.
The better.

Menel.
How do you, how do you!

Achill.
What does the Cuckold scorn me!

Ajax.
How now Patroclus!

Achill.
Good morrow Ajax.

Ajax.
Ha!

Achill.
Good morrow.

Ajax.
I; and good next day too. [Exeunt all but Achilles, and Patroclus.

Achill.
What mean these fellows! know they not Achilles?

Patroc.
They pass by strangely; they were us'd to bow;
And send their smiles before 'em to Achilles,
To come as humbly as they us'd to creep, to holy Altars.

Achill.
Am I poor of late!
'Tis certain, greatness once fall'n out with fortune
Must fall out with men too! what the declind is
He shall as soon read in the eyes of others
As feel in his own fall: for men like butter-flyes,
Show not their mealy wings but to the Summer.

Patroc.
'Tis known you are in love with Hector's Sister,
And therefore will not fight: and your not fighting

Draws on you this contempt: I oft have told you
A woman impudent and mannish grown
Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man,
In time of action: I'm condemn'd for this:
They think my little appetite to warr
Deads all the fire in you: but rowse your self,
And love shall from your neck unloose his folds;
Or like a dew drop from a Lyons Mane
Be shaken into ayr.

Achill.

Shall Ajax fight with Hector?

Patrocl.

Yes, and perhaps shall gain much honour by him.

Achill.

I see my reputation is at stake.

Patroc.

O then beware, those wounds heal ill that men have giv'n themselves, because they give e'm deepest.

Achill.
I'le do something:
But what I know not yet,—No more our Champion. Re-enter Ajax, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nest. Diomede, Trumpet.

Agam.
Here art thou daring combat, valiant Ajax.
Give with thy Trumpet, a loud note to Troy,
Thou Noble Champion, that the sounding ayr
May pierce the ears of the great challenger,
And call him hither.

Ajax.
Trumpet take that purse:
Now crack thy lungs, and split the sounding brass;
Thou blow'st for Hector. [Trumpet sounds, and is answer'd from within. Enter Hector, Æneas, and other Trojans.

Agam.
Yonder comes the Troop. Æneas, coming to the Greeks.
Health to the Grecian Lords; what shall be done
To him that shall be vanquish'd? or do you purpose,
A Victor should be known! will you the Knights,
Shall to the edg of all extremity,
Pursue each other, or shall be divided
By any voice or order of the field;
Hector bad ask.

Agam.
Which way wou'd Hector have it?

Æne.
He cares not, he'll obey conditions.

Achill.
'Tis done like Hector but securely done;
A little proudly, and too much dispising
The Knight oppos'd, he might have found his match.

Æne.
If not Achilles, Sir, what is your name!

Achill.
If not Achilles nothing.

Æne.
Therefore Achilles, but who ere know this;
Great Hector knows no pride, weigh him but well,
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hectors blood,
In love whereof half Hector stays at home;

Achill.
A Maiden battle! I perceive you then.

Agam.
Go Diomede, and stand by valiant Ajax:
As you and Lord Æneas shall consent,
So let the fight proceed or terminate. [The Trumpets sound on both sides, while Æneas and Diomede take their places, as Judges of the Field: The Trojans and Grecians rank themselves on either side.

Ulyss.
They are oppos'd already. [Fight equal at first, then Ajax has Hector at disadvantage: at last Hector clos s, Ajax falls on one knee, Hector stands over him but striks not, and Ajax rises. Æneas throwing his Gantlet betwixt them.
Princes enough, you both have shown much valour.

Diomede.
And we as Judges of the Field declare;
The combat here shall cease.

Ajax.
I am not warm yet, let us fight again.

Æne.
Then let it be as Hector shall determine.

Hect.
If it be left to me, I will no more.
Ajax, thou art my Aunt Hesion's Son;
The Obligation of our blood forbids us.
But were thy mixture Greek and Trojan so,
That thou cou'dst say, this part is Grecian all
And this is Trojan, hence thou shou'dst not bear
One Grecian limb, wherein my pointed Sword
Had not impression made, but Heav'n forbid
That any drop thou borrowst from my Mother,
Shou'd ere be draind by me, let me embrace thee Cousin:
By him who thunders thou hast sinnewy arms,
Hector wou'd have 'em fall upon him thus:—[Embrace]
Thine be the honour, Ajax.

Ajax.
I thank thee Hector,
Thou art too gentle, and too free a Man:
I came to kill thee Cousin, and to gain
A great addition from that glorious act:
But thou hast quite disarm'd me.

Hect.
I am glad.

For 'tis the only way I cou'd disarm thee.

Ajax.
If I might in intreaty finde success,
I wou'd desire to see thee at my Tent.

Diom.
'Tis Agamemnons wish, and great Achilles,
Both long to see the valiant Hector there.

Hect.
Æneas, call my Brother Troilus to me;
And you two signe this friendly enterview. [Agamemnon, and the chief of both sides approach,

Agam. to Hect.
Worthy of Arms, as welcome as to one
Who wou'd be rid of such an Enemy. To Troil.
My well fam'd Lord of Troy, no less to you.

Nest.
I have, thou gallant Trojan seen thee often
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way,
Through ranks of Grecian youth, and I have seen thee
As swift as lightning spur thy Phrygian Steed,
And seen thee scorning many forfeit lives,
When thou hast hung thy advanc'd Sword ith'ayr,
Not leting it decline, on prostrate foes:
That I have said to all the standers by
Lo Jove is yonder, distributing life.

Hect.
Let me embrace thee, good old Chronicle,
Who hast so long walkt hand in hand with time:
Most Reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.

Ulyss.
I wonder now, how yonder City stands,
When we have here, her base and pillar by us.

Hect.
I know your count'nance, Lord Ulysses well;
Ah Sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw your self and Diomede,
In Ilion, on your Greekish Embassy.

Achill.
Now Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perus'd thee Hector,
And quoted joint by joint.

Hect.
Is this Achilles!

Achill.
I am Achilles.

Hect.
Stand fair, I prithee let me look on thee.

Achill.
Behold thy fill.

Hect.
Nay, I have done already.

Achill.
Thou art too brief, I will the second time
As I wou'd buy thee, view thee limb by limb.

Hect.
O, like a Book of sport thou read'st me ore;
But there's more in me then thou understand'st.

Achill.
Tell me ye Heav'ns, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? there, or there, or there!
That I may give th' imagin'd wound a name,
And make distinct the very breach, whereout

Hectors great spirit flew! answer me Heavens!

Hect.
Wert thou an Oracle to tell me this!
I'de not believe thee, henceforth guard thee well,
I'le kill thee every where:
Ye Noble Grecians pardon me this boast,
His insolence draws folly from my lips,
But I'le endeavour deeds to match these words;
Else may I never.—

Ajax.
Do not chase thee Cousin,
And you Achilles let these threats alone:
You may have every day enough of Hector,
If you have stomack, the General State I fear
Can scarce intreat you to perform your boast.

Hect.
I pray you let us see you in the field;
We have had paltry Wars, since you refus'd
The Grecian cause.

Achill.
Dost thou entreat me Hector!
To morrow will I meet thee fierce as death;
To Night all peace.

Hect.
Thy hand upon that match.

Agam.
First all you Grecian Princes go with me,
And entertain great Hector, afterwards,
As his own leasure, shall concur with yours,
You may invite him to your several Tents. [Exeunt Agam. Hect. Menel. Nestor, Diomede, together.

Troil.
My Lord Ulysses.
Tell me I beseech you;
In what part of the field does Calchas lodg!

Ulyss.
At Menelaus Tent;
There Diomede does feast with him to Night:
Who neither looks on Heaven or on Earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view,
On Cressida alone.

Troil.
Shall I, brave Lord be bound to you so much
After we part from Agamemnons Tent.
To bring me thither!

Ulyss.
I shall wait on you.
As freely tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy? had she no Lovers there
Who mourn her absence?

Troil.
O Sir, to such as boasting show their scars,
Reproof is due, she lov'd and was belov'd:
That's all I must impart. Lead on my Lord. [Exeunt Ulysses Troilus.

Achill. to Patro.
I'le heat his blood with Greckish wine to Night,

Which with my Sword I mean to cool to morrow.
Patroclus, let us feast him to the height. Enter Thersites.

Patro.
Here comes Thersites.

Achill.
How now thou core of envy,
Thou crusty batch of Nature, what's the news?

Thers.
Why thou picture of what thou seemst, thou Idoll of
Ideot worshippers, there's a Letter for thee.

Achill.
From whence fragment?

Thers.
Why thou full dish of fool, from Troy.

Patroc.
Well said adversity! what makes thee so keen to day?

Thers.
Because a fool's my whetstone.

Patro.
Meaning me?

Thers.

Yes meaning thy no meaning; prithee be silent, boy, I profit not by thy talk: Now the rotten diseases of the South, gut gripings, ruptures, Catarrhs; loads of gravell in the back, Lethargies, cold palsies, and the like, take thee, and take thee again; thou green Sarcenet flap for a sore eye, thou tassell of a prodigals purse, thou: Ah how the poor world is pester'd with such water-flys: such diminitives of nature.

Achill.
My dear Patroclus, I am quite prevented
From my great purpose, bent on Hector's life:
Here is a Letter from my love Polixena,
Both taxing, and ingaging me to keep
An Oath that I have sworn: and will not break it
To save all Greece: let honour go or stay,
There's more Religion in my love than fame: Exeunt Achilles, Patroclus.

Thers.

With too much blood and too little brain, these two are running mad before the dog-days. There's Agamemnon too, an honest fellow enough, and loves a brimmer heartily; but he has not so much brains as an old gander. But his brother Menelaus, there's a fellow: the goodly transformation of Iupiter when he lov'd Europa: the primitive Cuckold: A vile Monkey ty'd eternally to his brothers table. To be a D g, a Mule, a Cat, a toad, an Owle, a Lizard, a Herring without a roe, I wou'd not care: but to be Menelaus I wou'd conspire against destiny—Hey day! will with a wispe, and Jack a lanthorn!

Agam.
We go wrong; we go wrong.

Ajax.
No, yonder 'tis; there where we see the light.

Hect.
I trouble you.

Ajax.
Not at all Cousin: Here comes Achilles himself to guide us.

Enter Achilles.

Achill.
Welcome brave Hector, welcome princes all:

Agam.
So now, brave Prince of Troy, I take my leave;
Ajax commands the guard, to wait on you.

Men.
Good night my Lord!

Hect.
Good night Sweet Lord Menelaus.

Thers. aside.
Sweet quoth a! sweet Sink, sweet shore, sweet Jakes!

Achill.
Nestor will stay; and you Lord Diomede.
Keep Hector company an hour or two.

Diom.
I cannot Sir: I have important business.

Achill.
Enter my Lords.

Uliss. to Troil.
Follow his torch: he goes to Calchas's tent. [Exeunt Achill. Hect. Ajax at one way, Diomede, another; and after him Ulyss, Troylus.

Thers.

This Diomede's a most false-hearted rogue, an unjust Knave: I will no more trust him when he winks with one eye, then I will a Serpent when he hisses. He will spend his mouth and promise, like Brabbler the Hound: but when he performs, Astronomers set it down for a prodigy; Though I long to see Hector, I cannot forbear dogging him. They say a keeps a Trojan Drabb: and uses Calchas tent, that fugitive Priest of Troy; that Canonical Rogue of our side. I'le after him: nothing but whoring in this Age: all incontinent Rascalls!

Calch.
O, what a blessing is a vertuous child!
Thou hast reclam'd my mind, and calm'd my passions
Of anger and revenge: my love to Troy
Revives within me, and my lost Tyara
No more disturbs my mind:

Cress.
A vertuous conquest.

Calch.
I have a womans longing to return
But yet which way without your ayd I know not.

Cress.
Time must instruct us how.

Calch.
You must dissemble love to Diomede still:
False Diomede, bred in Ulysses School
Can never be deceiv'd,
But by strong Arts and blandishments of love:
Put 'em in practice all; seem lost and won,
And draw him on, and give him line again.
This Argus then may close his hundred eyes
And leave our flight more easy.

Cress.
How can I answer this to love and Troilus?

Calch.
Why 'tis for him you do it: promise largely;
That Ring he saw you wear, he much suspects

Was given you by a Lover; let him have it.

Diom. within.
Hoa; Calchas, Calchas!

Calch.
Hark! I hear his voice.
Pursue your project: doubt not the success.

Cress.
Heaven knows against my will: and yet my hopes
This night to meet my Triolus, while 'tis truce
Afford my minde some ease.

Calch.
No more: retire. Exit Cressida. Enter Diomede; Troilus and Ulysses appear listening at one door, and Thersites watching at another.

Diom.
I came to see your Daughter, worthy Calchas.

Calch.
My Lord I'le call her to you. Exit Calchas.

Ulyss. to Troil.
Stand where the torch may not discover us. Enter Cressida.

Troil.
Cressida comes forth to him!

Diom.
How now my charge?

Cress.
Now my sweet Guardian: hark a word with you. Whisper.

Troil.
I, so familiar!

Diom.
Will you remember?

Cress.
Remember: yes.

Troil.
Heav'ns! what shou'd she remember! plague and madnesse!

Ulysses.
Prince, you are mov'd: let us depart in time
Lest your displeasure should enlarge it self
To wrathfull terms: this place is dangerous;
The time unfit: 'beseech you let us go.

Troil.
I pray you stay; by Hell, and by Hell torments
I will not speak a word.

Diom.
I'le hear no more: good night.

Cress.
Nay, but you part in anger!

Troil.
Does that grieve thee! O wither'd truth!

Diom.
Farewell Cousner.

Cress.
Indeed I am not: pray come back again.

Ulyss.
You shake my Lord, at something: will you go?
You will break out.

Troil.
By all the Gods I will not.
There is between my will and all my actions,
A guard of patience! stay a little while.

Thers. aside.

How the devill luxury with his fat rump, and potato finger, tickles these together! put him off a little, you foolish Harlot! 'twill sharpen him the more.

Diom.
But will you then?

Cressi.
I will as soon as ere the War's concluded.

Diom.
Give me some token, for the surety of it:
The Ring I saw you wear.

Cressi. Giving it.
If you must have it.

Troil.

The Ring! nay then 'tis plain! O beauty where's thy faith!

Ulyss.

You have sworn patience.

Thersi.

That's well, that's well, the pledge is given, hold her to her word good Devil, and her soul's thine I warrant thee.

Diom.
Who's wast?

Cressi.
By all Diana's waiting train of stars,
And by her self, I will not tell you whose.

Diom.
Why then thou lov'st him still, farewell for ever:
Thou never shalt mock Diomede again.

Cressi.
You shall not go, one cannot speak a word
But straight it starts you.

Diom.
I do not like this fooling.

Thersi.
Nor I by Pluto: but that which likes not me, pleases me best.

Diom.
I shall expect your promise.

Cressi.
I'le perform it.
Not a word more, good night—I hope for ever: [aside.
Thus to deceive deceivers is no fraud. [Exeunt Diomede Cressida severally.

Ulyss.
All's done my Lord.

Troil.
Is it?

Ulyss.
Pray let us go.

Troil.
Was Cressida here?

Ulyss.
I cannot conjure Trojan.

Troil.
She was not sure! she was not.
Let it not be believ'd for womanhood:
Think we had Mothers, do not give advantage,
To biting Satyr, apt without a theme,
For defamation, to square all the sex
By Cressid's rule, rather think this not Cressida.

Thersi.
Will he swagger himself out on's own eyes!

Troil.
This she! no this was Diomedes Cressida.
If beauty have a Soul, this is not she:
I cannot speak for rage, that Ring was mine,
By Heaven I gave it, in that point of time
When both our joys were fullest!—if he keeps it
Let dogs eat Troilus.

Thersi.

He'll tickle it for his Concupy: this will be sport to see! Patroclus will give me any thing for the intelligence of this whore; a parrot will not do more for an almond, than he will for a commodious drab: I would I cou'd meet with this Rogue Diomede too; I wou'd croke like a Raven to him; I wou'd bode: it shall go hard but I'le find him out.

Enter Æneas.

Æn.
I have been seeking you this hour, my Lord:
Hector by this is arming him in Troy.

Ulyss.
Commend me gallant Troilus to your Brother:
Tell him I hope he shall not need to arm:
The fair Polixena has by a letter
Disarm'd our great Achilles of his rage.

Troil.
This I shall say to Hector.

Ulyss.
So I hope!
Pray Heaven Thersites have inform'd me true,— [aside.

Troil.
Good night, my Lord; accept distracted thanks. [Exit Ulisses. Enter Pandarus.

Pand.
Hear ye, my Lord, hear ye; I have been seeing yon poor girl.
There have been old doings there i'faith.

Troil. aside.
Hold yet, my Spirits; let him powr it in:
The poyson's kind: the more I drink of it
The sooner 'twill dispatch me.

Æne. to Pand.

Peace you babbler!

Pand.

She has been mightily made on by the Greeks: she takes most wonderfully among 'em: Achilles kiss'd her, and Patroclus kiss'd her: Nay and old Nestor put aside his gray beard and brush'd her with his whiskers. Then comes me Agamemnon with his Generals Staff, diving with a low bow e'en to the ground, and rising again, just at her lips: And after him came Ulysses, and Ajax, and Menelaus: and they so pelted her i'faith: pitter patter, pitter patter, as thick as hayl-stones. And after that a whole rout of 'em: Never was woman in Phrygia better kiss'd.

Troil. aside.

Hector said true: I finde, I finde it now!

Pand.

And last of all comes me Diomede so demurely: that's a notable sly Rogue I warrant him! mercy upon us, how he layd her on upon the lips! for as I told you, she's most mightily made on among the Greekes. What, cheer up I say Man! she has every ones good word. I think in my conscience, she was born with a caull upon her head.

Troil. aside.

Hell, death, confusion, how he tortures me!

Pand.

And that Rogue-Priest my Brother, is so courted and treated for her sake: the young Sparks do so pull him about, and hall him by the Cassock: nothing but invitations to his Tent, and his Tent, and his Tent. Nay and one of'em was so bold, as to ask him if she were a Virgin, and with that the Rogue my Brother, takes me up a little God in his hand, and kisses it; and swears devoutly that she was, then was I ready to burst my sides with laughing, to think what had pass'd betwixt you two.

Troil.
O I can bear no more: she's falshood all:
False by both kinds; for with her mothers milk

She suck'd th'infusion of her Fathers Soul.
She only wants an opportunity,
Her Soul's a whore already.

Pand.

What wou'd you make a Monopoly of a womans lips: a little consolation or so, might be allow'd one wou'd think in a lovers absence!

Troil.
Hence from my sight: let ignominy brand thy hated name:
Let Modest Matrons at thy mention start;
And blushing Virgins, when they read our Annals,
Skip o're the guilty page that holds thy Legend,
And blots the noble work.

Pand.

O world world; thou art an ungratefull patch of Earth! Thus the poor Agent is despis'd! he labours painfully in his calling, and trudges between parties: but when their turns are serv'd, come out's too good for him. I am mighty melancholy: I'le e'en go home, and shut up my doors; and dye o'th sullens like an old bird in a Cage!