Troy.
Enter Pandarus, and a Servant.
[Musick within.
Pandarus.
Friend! you! Pray you, a word. Do not you
follow the young Lord Paris?
Serv.
Ay, Sir, when he goes before me.
Pan.
You do depend upon him, I mean?
Serv.
Sir, I do depend upon the Lord.
Pan.
You do depend upon a noble gentleman. I
must needs praise him.
Serv.
The Lord be praised!
Pan.
You know me, do you not?
Serv.
Faith, Sir, superficially.
Pan.
Friend, know me better. I am the Lord Pandarus.
Serv.
I hope, I shall know your honour better.
Pan.
I do desire it.
Serv.
You are in the state of grace.
Pan.
Grace? not so, friend. Honour, and Lordship,
are my titles.
What musick is this?
Serv.
I do but partly know, Sir; it is musick in
parts.
Pan.
You know the musicians?
Serv.
Wholly, Sir.
Pan.
Who play they to?
Serv.
To the hearers, Sir.
Pan.
At whose pleasure, friend?
Serv.
At mine, Sir, and theirs that love musick.
-- 465 --
Pan.
Command, I mean, friend.
Serv.
Who shall I command, Sir?
Pan.
Friend, we understand not one another. I am
too courtly, and thou art too cunning. At whose request
do these men play?
Serv.
That's to't, indeed, Sir. Marry, Sir, at the request
of Paris my Lord, who's there in person; with
him the mortal Venus, the heart-blood of beauty,
8 notelove's visible soul.
Pan.
Who, my cousin Cressida?
Serv.
No, Sir, Helen. Could you not find out that
by her attributes?
Pan.
It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not seen
the Lady Cressida. I come to speak with Paris from
the Prince Troilus; I will make a complimental assault
upon him, for my business seethes.
Serv.
Sodden business! there's a stew'd phrase, indeed.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
