SCENE I.
A street in Troy.
Enter at one door Æneas, and Servant, with a torch; at
another, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, and Diomed, &c. with torches.
Par.
See, ho! who is that there?
Dei.
It is the lord Æneas.
Æne.
Is the prince there in person?—
Had I so good occasion to lie long,
As you, prince Paris, nought but heavenly business
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.
Dio.
That's my mind too.—Good morrow, lord Æneas.
Par.
A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand:
Witness the process of your speech, wherein
You told—how Diomed, a whole week by days,
Did haunt you in the field.
Æne.
Health to you, valiant sir,
2 note
During all question of the gentle truce:
But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance,
As heart can think, or courage execute.
Dio.
The one and other Diomed embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health:
But when contention and occasion meet,
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life,
With all my force, pursuit, and policy.
Æne.
3 noteAnd thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly
-- 100 --
With his face backward. In humane gentleness,
Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed! 4 note
By Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love, in such a sort,
The thing he means to kill, more excellently.
Dio.
We sympathize:—Jove, let Æneas live,
If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
A thousand complete courses of the sun!
But, in mine emulous honour, let him die,
With every joint a wound; and that to-morrow!
Æne.
We know each other well.
Dio.
We do; and long to know each other worse.
Par.
This is the most despightful gentle greeting,
The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.—
What business, lord, so early?
Æne.
I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.
Par.
5 noteHis purpose meets you; 'Twas to bring this Greek
-- 101 --
To Calchas' house; and there to render him
For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid:
Let's have your company; or, if you please,
Haste there before us: I constantly do think,
(Or, rather, call my thought a certain knowledge)
My brother Troilus lodges there to-night;
Rouse him, and give him note of our approach,
With the whole quality wherefore: I fear,
We shall be much unwelcome.
Æne.
That I assure you;
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece,
Than Cressid borne from Troy.
Par.
There is no help;
The bitter disposition of the time
Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you.
Æne.
Good morrow, all.
[Exit.
Par.
And tell me, noble Diomed; 'faith, tell me true,
Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,—
Who, in your thoughts, merits fair Helen best,
Myself, or Menelaus?
Dio.
Both alike:
He merits well to have her, that doth seek her
(Not making any scruple of her soylure)
With such a hell of pain, and world of charge;
And you as well to keep her, that defend her
(Not palating the taste of her dishonour)
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends:
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
The lees and dregs of 6 notea flat tamed piece;
You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
Are pleas'd to breed out your inheritors:
7 note
Both merits pois'd, each weighs nor less nor more;
But he as he, the heavier for a whore.
-- 102 --
Par.
You are too bitter to your country-woman.
Dio.
She's bitter to her country: Hear me, Paris,—
For every false drop in her bawdy veins
A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
A Trojan hath been slain: since she could speak,
She hath not given so many good words breath,
As for her Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death.
Par.
Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy:
But we in silence hold this virtue well,—
8 note
We'll not commend what we intend to sell.
Here lies our way.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Pandarus' house.
Enter Troilus, and Cressida.
Troi.
Dear, trouble not yourself; the morn is cold.
-- 103 --
Cre.
Then, sweet my lord, I'll call my uncle down;
He shall unbolt the gates.
Troi.
Trouble him not;
To bed, to bed: 9 note
Sleep kill those pretty eyes,
And give as soft attachment to thy senses,
As infants' empty of all thought!
Cre.
Good morrow then.
Troi.
I pr'ythee now, to bed.
Cre.
Are you aweary of me?
Troi.
O Cressida! but that the busy day,
Wak'd by the lark, has rouz'd the ribald crows,
And dreaming night will hide our joys9Q1028 no longer,
I would not from thee.
Cre.
Night hath been too brief.
Troi.
Beshrew the witch! with venomous wights she stays,
1 note
As tediously as hell; but flies the grasps of love,
With wings more momentary-swift than thought.9Q1029
You will catch cold, and curse me.
Cre.
Pr'ythee, tarry;—you men will never tarry.
O foolish Cressida!—I might have still held off,
And then you would have tarry'd. Hark! there's one up.
Pan. [within]
What's all the doors open here?
Troi.
It is your uncle.
Enter Pandarus2 note
.
Cre.
A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking:
I shall have such a life,—
-- 104 --
Pan.
How now, how now? how go maiden-heads?
—Here, you maid! where's my cousin Cressid?
Cre.
Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle!
You bring me to do3 note, and then you flout me too.
Pan.
To do what? to do what?—let her say what:
What have I brought you to do?
Cre.
Come, come; beshrew your heart! you'll ne'er be good,
Nor suffer others.
Pan.
Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! 4 notea poor capochia!
—hast not slept to-night? would he not, a
naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him!
[One knocks.
Cre.
Did not I tell you?—'would he were knock'd o' the head!—
Who's that at door? good uncle, go and see.—
-- 105 --
My lord, come you again into my chamber:
You smile, and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.
Troi.
Ha, ha!
Cre.
Come, you are deceiv'd, I think of no such thing.—
How earnestly they knock!—pray you, come in;
[Knock.
I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
[Exeunt.
Pan.
Who's there? what's the matter? will you
beat down the door? How now? what's the matter?
Enter Æneas.
Æne.
Good morrow, lord, good morrow.
Pan.
Who's there? my lord Æneas? By my troth,
I knew you not: What news with you so early?
Æne.
Is not prince Troilus here?
Pan.
Here! what should he do here?
Æne.
Come, he is here, my lord, do not deny him;
It doth import him much, to speak with me.
Pan.
Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know,
I'll be sworn:—For my own part, I came in late:—
What should he do here?
Æne.
Who!—nay, then:—
Come, come, you'll do him wrong ere you are 'ware:
You'll be so true to him, to be false to him:
Do not you know of him, but yet fetch him hither;
Go.
As Pandarus is going out, enter Troilus.
Troi.
How now? what's the matter?
Æne.
My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My 5 note
matter is so rash: There is at hand
Paris your brother, and Deiphobus,
-- 106 --
The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
6 note
Deliver'd to us; and for him forthwith,
Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
We must give up to Diomedes' hand
The lady Cressida.
Tro.
Is it concluded so?
Æne.
By Priam, and the general state of Troy:
They are at hand, and ready to effect it.
Troi.
How my atchievements mock me!—
I will go meet them: and, my lord Æneas,
We met by chance; you did not find me here.
Æne.
Good, good, my lord; 7 note
the secrets of neighbour Pandar
Have not more gift in taciturnity.
[Exeunt Troilus, and Æneas.
Pan.
Is't possible? no sooner got, but lost? The
devil take Antenor! the young prince will go mad.
A plague upon Antenor! I would, they had broke's
neck!
Enter Cressida.
Cre.
How now? What is the matter? Who was
here?
-- 107 --
Pan.
Ah, ah!
Cre.
Why sigh you so profoundly? where's my lord? gone?
Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter?
Pan.
'Would I were as deep under the earth, as I
am above!
Cre.
O the gods!—what's the matter?
Pan.
Pr'ythee, get thee in; Would thou had'st ne'er
been born! I knew, thou wouldst be his death:—
O poor gentleman!—A plague upon Antenor!
Cre.
Good uncle, I beseech you on my knees,
I beseech you, what's the matter?
Pan.
Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be
gone; thou art chang'd for Antenor: thou must to
thy father, and be gone from Troilus; 'twill be his
death; 'twill be his bane; he cannot bear it.
Cre.
O you immortal gods!—I will not go.
Pan.
Thou must.
Cre.
I will not, uncle: I have forgot my father;
I know no touch of consanguinity;
No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me,
As the sweet Troilus.—O you gods divine!
Make Cressid's name the very crown of falshood,
If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death,9Q1031
Do to this body what extremes you can;
But the strong base and building of my love
Is as the very center of the earth,
Drawing all things to it.—I'll go in, and weep,—
Pan.
Do, do.
Cre.
Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praised cheeks;
Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy.
[Exeunt.
-- 108 --
SCENE III.
Before Pandarus' house
Enter Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Diomedes, &c.
Par.
It is great morning8 note; and the hour prefix'd
Of her delivery to this valiant Greek
Comes fast upon:—Good my brother Troilus,
Tell you the lady what she is to do,
And haste her to the purpose.
Troi.
Walk in to her house;
I'll bring her to the Grecian presently:
And to his hand when I deliver her,
Think it an altar; and thy brother Troilus
A priest, there offering to it his own heart.
[Exit Troi.
Par.
I know what 'tis to love;
And 'would, as I shall pity, I could help!—
Please you, walk in, my lords.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
An apartment in Pandarus' house.
Enter Pandarus, and Cressida.
Pan.
Be moderate, be moderate.
Cre.
Why tell you me of moderation?
9 note
The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste,
-- 109 --
And violenteth in a sense as strong
As that which causeth it: How can I moderate it?
If I could temporize with my affection,
Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
The like allayment could I give my grief:
My love admits no qualifying dross;
No more my grief, in such a precious loss.
Enter Troilus.
Pan.
Here, here, here he comes.—Ah sweet ducks!
Cre.
O Troilus! Troilus!
Pan.
What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me
embrace too: O heart,—as the goodly saying is,—
&lblank; o heart, o heavy heart,
Why sigh'st thou without breaking?
where he answers again,
Because thou canst not ease thy smart,
By friendship, nor by speaking.
There never was a truer rhyme. Let us cast away
nothing, for we may live to have need of such a verse;
we see it, we see it.—How now, lambs?
Troi.
Cressid, I love thee in so 1 notestrain'd a purity,
That the blest gods—as angry with my fancy,
More bright in zeal than the devotion which
Cold lips blow to their deities—take thee from me.
-- 110 --
Cre.
Have the gods envy?
Pan.
Ay, ay, ay, ay; 'tis too plain a case.
Cre.
And is it true, that I must go from Troy?
Troi.
A hateful truth.
Cre.
What, and from Troilus too?
Troi.
From Troy, and Troilus.
Cre.
Is it possible?
Troi.
And suddenly; where injury of chance
Puts back leave-taking, justles roughly by
All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
Of all rejoindure, forcibly prevents
Our lock'd embrasures, strangles our dear vows
Even in the birth of our own labouring breath:
We two, that with so many thousand sighs
Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves
With the rude brevity and discharge of one.
Injurious time now, with a robber's haste,
Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how:
As many farewels as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them,
He fumbles up into a loose adieu;
And scants us with a single famish'd kiss,
Distasted with the salt of broken tears.9Q1032
Æneas [within.]
My lord! is the lady ready?
Troi.
Hark! you are call'd: Some say, the Genius so
Cries, Come! to him that instantly must die.—
Bid them have patience; she shall come anon.
Pan.
Where are my tears? rain, to lay this wind,
Or my heart will be blown up by the root.
[Exit Pan.
Cre.
I must then to the Grecians?
Troi.
No remedy.
Cre.
A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks2 note!—
When shall we see again?
-- 111 --
Troi.
Hear me, my love: Be thou but true of heart,—
Cre.
I true! how now? what wicked deem is this?
Troi.
Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,
For it is parting from us:—
I speak not, be thou true, as fearing thee;
3 noteFor I will throw my glove to death himself,
That there's no maculation in thy heart:
But, be thou true, say I, to fashion in
My sequent protestation; be thou true,
And I will see thee.
Cre.
O, you shall be expos'd, my lord, to dangers
As infinite as imminent! but, I'll be true.
Troi.
And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.
Cre.
And you this glove. When shall I see you?
Troi.
I will corrupt the Grecian centinels,
To give thee nightly visitation.
But yet, be true.
Cre.
O heavens!—be true, again?
Troi.
Hear why I speak it, love: The Grecian youths
Are well compos'd, with gifts of nature flowing,
And swelling o'er with arts and exercise;9Q1033
How novelties may move, and parts 4 notewith person,
Alas, a kind of godly jealousy
(Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin)
Makes me afeard.
Cre.
O heavens! you love me not.
Troi.
Die I a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question,
So mainly as my merit: I cannot sing,
-- 112 --
Nor heel the high lavolt5 note, nor sweeten talk,
Nor play at subtle games; fair virtues all,
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant:
But I can tell, that in each grace of these
There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive devil,
That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted.
Cre.
Do you think, I will?
Troi.
No.
But something may be done, that we will not:
And sometimes we are devils to ourselves,
When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,
Presuming on their changeful potency.
Æneas [within.]
Nay, good my lord,—
Troi.
Come, kiss; and let us part.
Paris [within.]
Brother Troilus!
Troi.
Good brother, come you hither;
And bring Æneas, and the Grecian, with you.
Cre.
My lord, will you be true?
Troi.
Who I? alas, it is my vice, my fault:
While others fish with craft for great opinion,
I with great truth 6 notecatch mere simplicity;
Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns,
With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.
Fear not my truth; 7 note
the moral of my wit
Is—plain, and true,—there's all the reach of it.
-- 113 --
Enter Æneas, Paris, and Diomed.
Welcome, sir Diomed! here is the lady,
Whom for Antenor we deliver you:
At the port1 note, lord, I'll give her to thy hand;
And, by the way, 2 notepossess thee what she is.
Entreat her fair; and, by my soul, fair Greek,
If e'er thou stand at mercy of my sword,
Name Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
As Priam is in Ilion.
Dio.
Fair lady Cressid,
So please you, save the thanks this prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heaven in your cheek,
Pleads your fair usage; and to Diomed
You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.
Troi.
Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,
3 note
To shame the zeal of my petition to thee,
In praising her: I tell thee, lord of Greece,
She is as far high-soaring o'er thy praises,
As thou unworthy to be call'd her servant.
-- 114 --
I charge thee, use her well, even for my charge;
For, by the dreadful Pluto, if thou dost not,
Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard,
I'll cut thy throat.
Dio.
O, be not mov'd, prince Troilus:
Let me be privileg'd by my place, and message,
To be a speaker free; when I am hence,
I'll answer to 4 note
my lust: And know you, lord,
I'll nothing do on charge: to her own worth
She shall be priz'd; but that you say—be't so,
I speak it in my spirit and honour,—no.
Troi.
Come, to the port.—I'll tell thee, Diomed,
This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—
Lady, give me your hand; and, as we walk,
To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
[Exeunt Troilus and Cressid. Sound trumpet.
Paris.
Hark! Hector's trumpet.
Æne.
How have we spent this morning!
The prince must think me tardy and remiss,
That swore to ride before him to the field.
Paris.
'Tis Troilus' fault: Come, come, to field with him.
5 noteDio.
Let us make ready straight.
Æne.
Yea, with a bridegroom's fresh alacrity,
Let us address to tend on Hector's heels:
The glory of our Troy doth this day lie
On his fair worth, and single chivalry.
[Exeunt.
-- 115 --
SCENE V.
The Grecian Camp.
Enter Ajax arm'd, Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, &c.
Aga.
Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting courage.
Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax; that the appalled air
May pierce the head of the great combatant,
And hale him hither.
Ajax.
Thou, trumpet, there's my purse.
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
Blow, villain, 'till thy sphered 6 note
bias cheek
Out-swell the cholic of puff'd Aquilon:
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blow'st for Hector.
Ulyss.
No trumpet answers.
Achil.
'Tis but early days.
Aga.
Is not yon Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?
Ulyss.
'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait;
He rises on his toe; that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Enter Diomed, with Cressida.
Aga.
Is this the lady Cressida?
Dio.
Even she.
Aga.
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
-- 116 --
Nest.
Our general doth salute you with a kiss.
Ulyss.
Yet is the kindness but particular;
'Twere better, she were kiss'd in general.
Nest.
And very courtly counsel: I'll begin.—
So much for Nestor.
Achil.
I'll take that winter from your lips, fair lady:
Achilles bids you welcome.
Men.
I had good argument for kissing once.
Patr.
But that's no argument for kissing now:
For thus popp'd Paris in his hardiment;
And parted thus you and your argument.
Ulyss.
O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns!
For which we lose our heads, to gild his horns.
Patr.
The first was Menelaus' kiss;—this, mine:
Patroclus kisses you.
Men.
O, this is trim!
Patr.
Paris, and I, kiss evermore for him.
Men.
I'll have my kiss, sir:—Lady, by your leave.
Cre.
In kissing, do you render, or receive?
Patr.
7 noteBoth take and give.
Cre.
8 note
I'll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give;
Therefore no kiss.
Men.
I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.
Cre.
You're an odd man; give even, or give none.
Men.
An odd man, lady? every man is odd.
Cre.
No, Paris is not; for, you know, 'tis true,
That you are odd, and he is even with you.
Men.
You fillip me o'the head.
Cre.
No, I'll be sworn.
-- 117 --
Ulyss.
It were no match, your nail against his horn.—
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
Cre.
You may.
Ulyss.
I do desire it.
Cre.
9 note
Why, beg then.
Ulyss.
Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss,
When Helen is a maid again, and his.
Cre.
I am your debtor, claim it when 'tis due.
Ulyss.
1 note
Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.
Dio.
Lady, a word;—I'll bring you to your father.
[Diomed leads out Cressida.
Nest.
A woman of quick sense.
Ulyss.
Fie, fie upon her!
There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and 2 notemotive of her body.
O, these encounterers, so glib of tongue,
That give 3 notea coasting welcome ere it comes,
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
To every ticklish reader! set them down
For 4 notesluttish spoils of opportunity,
-- 118 --
And daughters of the game.
[Trumpet within.
All.
The Trojans' trumpet!
Aga.
Yonder comes the troop.
Enter Hector, Æneas, Troilus, &c. with attendants.
Æne.
Hail, all the state of Greece! What shall be done to him
That victory commands? Or do you purpose,
A victor shall be known? will you, the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
Pursue each other; or shall they be divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.
Aga.
Which way would Hector have it?
Æne.
He cares not, he'll obey conditions.
Aga.
5 note
'Tis done like Hector; but securely done,
-- 119 --
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
The knight oppos'd.
Æne.
If not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?
Achil.
If not Achilles, nothing.
Æne.
Therefore Achilles: But, whate'er, know this;—
In the extremity of great and little,
6 noteValour and pride excel themselves in Hector;
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
And that, which looks like pride, is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood;
In love whereof, half Hector stays at home;
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan, and half Greek.
Achil.
A maiden battle then?—O, I perceive you.
Re-enter Diomed.
Aga.
Here is sir Diomed:—Go, gentle knight,
Stand by our Ajax: as you and lord Æneas
Consent upon the order of their fight,
So be it; either to the uttermost,
Or else a breath: the combatants being kin,
-- 120 --
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
Ulyss.
They are oppos'd already.
Aga.
What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
Ulyss.
The youngest son of Priam, a true knight;
Not yet mature, yet matchless; firm of word;
Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue;
Not soon provok'd, nor, being provok'd, soon calm'd:
His heart and hand both open, and both free;
For what he has, he gives, what thinks, he shews;
Yet gives he not 'till judgment guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies 8 note
an impair thought with breath:
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector, in his blaze of wrath, 9 note
subscribes
To tender objects; but he, in heat of action,
Is more vindicative than jealous love:
They call him Troilus; and on him erect
A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Æneas; one that knows the youth
Even to his inches, and, with private soul,
Did in great Ilion 1 notethus translate him to me.
[Alarum. Hector and Ajax fight.
Aga.
They are in action.
Nest.
Now, Ajax, hold thine own!
Troi.
Hector, thou sleep'st, awake thee!
Aga.
His blows are well dispos'd:—there, Ajax!
[Trumpets cease.
-- 121 --
Dio.
You must no more.
Æne.
Princes, enough, so please you.
Ajax.
I am not warm yet, let us fight again.
Dio.
As Hector pleases.
Hect.
Why then, will I no more:—
Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son,
A cousin-german to great Priam's seed;
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation 'twixt us twain:
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so,
That thou could'st say—This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother's blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds-in my father's; by Jove multipotent,
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud: But the just gods gainsay,
That any drop thou borrow'st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
Hector would have them fall upon him thus:—
Cousin, all honour to thee!
Ajax.
I thank thee, Hector:
Thou art too gentle, and too free a man:
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition earned in thy death.
Hect.
2 note
Not Neoptolemus so mirable
-- 122 --
(On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st O yes
Cries, This is he) could promise to himself
-- 123 --
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.
Æne.
There is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will do.
Hect.
3 noteWe'll answer it;
The issue is embracement:—Ajax, farewel.
Ajax.
If I might in entreaties find success,
(As seld I have the chance) I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
Dio.
'Tis Agamemnon's wish; and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.
Hect.
Æneas, call my brother Troilus to me:
-- 124 --
And signify this loving interview.
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home.—Give me thy hand, my cousin;
I will go eat with thee, and see 4 noteyour knights.
Ajax.
Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.
Hect.
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, my own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.
Aga.
5 noteWorthy of arms! as welcome as to one
That would be rid of such an enemy;
But that's no welcome: Understand more clear,
What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with husks
And formless ruin of oblivion;
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
Bids thee, with most divine integrity,
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.
Hect.
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.
Aga.
My well-fam'd lord of Troy, no less to you.
[To Troilus.
Men.
Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting;—
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
Hect.
Whom must we answer?
Men.
The noble Menelaus.
-- 125 --
Hect.
O, you, my lord? by Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
6 note
Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath;
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove:
She's well, but bade me not commend her to you.
Men.
Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.
Hect.
O, pardon; I offend.
Nest.
I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
Through ranks of Greekish youth: and I have seen thee,
As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
7 note
Despising many forfeits and subduements,
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i'the air,
Not letting it decline on the declin'd;
That I have said to some my standers-by,
Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!
And I have seen thee pause, and take thy breath,
When that a ring of Greeks have hemm'd thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling: This have I seen;
But this thy countenance, still lock'd in steel,
I never saw 'till now. I knew thy grandsire,
And once fought with him: he was a soldier good;
But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
Never like thee: Let an old man embrace thee;
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.
Æne.
'Tis the old Nestor.
Hect.
Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:—
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
Nest.
I would, my arms could match thee in contention,
-- 126 --
8 noteAs they contend with thee in courtesy.
Hect.
I would, they could.
Nest.
Ha! by this white beard, I'd fight with thee to-morrow.
Well, welcome, welcome! I have seen the time—
Ulyss.
I wonder now how yonder city stands,
When we have here her base and pillar by us.
Hect.
I know your favour, lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy.
Ulyss.
Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue:
My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
Yon towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
Must kiss their own feet.
Hect.
I must not believe you:
There they stand yet; and modestly I think,
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood: The end crowns all;
And that old common arbitrator, time,
Will one day end it.
Ulyss.
So to him we leave it.
Most gentle, and most valiant Hector, welcome:
After the general, I beseech you next
To feast with me, and see me at my tent.
Achil.
9 note
I shall forestall thee, lord Ulysses, thou!—
-- 127 --
1 noteNow, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perus'd thee, Hector,
And quoted joint by joint2 note
.
Hect.
Is this Achilles?
Achil.
I am Achilles.
Hect.
Stand fair, I pray thee: let me look on thee.
Achil.
Behold thy fill.
Hect.
Nay, I have done already.
Achil.
Thou art too brief; I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
Hect.
O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er;
But there's more in me, than thou understand'st.
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?
Achil.
Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? whether there, there, or there?
That I may give the local wound a name;
And make distinct the very breach, whereout
Hector's great spirit flew: Answer me, heavens!
Hect.
It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: Stand again:
Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly,
As to prenominate in nice conjecture,
Where thou wilt hit me dead?
Achil.
I tell thee, yea.
Hect.
Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,
I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well;
For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
-- 128 --
But, by the forge that stithy'd Mars his helm,
I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er.—
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag,
His insolence draws folly from my lips;
But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words,
Or may I never—
Ajax.
Do not chase thee, cousin;—
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone,
'Till accident, or purpose, bring you to't:
You may have every day enough of Hector,
If you have stomach; the general state, I fear,
Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him3 note
.
Hect.
I pray you, let us see you in the field;
We have had pelting wars, since you refus'd
The Grecians' cause.
Achil.
Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
To-night, all friends.
Hect.
Thy hand upon that match.
Aga.
First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive we4 note: afterwards,
As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally intreat him.—
5 note
Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow,
-- 129 --
That this great soldier may his welcome know.
[Exeunt.
Manent Troilus, and Ulysses.
Troi.
My lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?
Ulyss.
At Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus:
There Diomed doth feast with him to-night;
Who neither looks on heaven, nor on the earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
On the fair Cressid.
Troi.
Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
To bring me thither?
Ulys.
You shall command me, sir.
As gentle tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there,
That wails her absence?
Troi.
O, sir, to such as boasting shew their scars,
A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
She was belov'd, she lov'd; she is, and doth:
But, still, sweet love is food for fortune's tooth.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
