Par. ^note
See, ho! who is that there?

Dei.
It is ^note the Lord Æneas.

Æne. ^note
Is the prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lie long
As you ^note, Prince Paris, nothing ^note 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 ^note told how Diomed a ^note whole week ^note by days

Did haunt ^note you in the field ^note.

Æne.
Health to you, valiant ^note sir,
During all question ^note 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 ^note Diomed embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health;
But ^note when contention and occasion meet ^note,
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life
With all my force, pursuit ^note and policy.

Æne.
And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly
With his face backward. In humane gentleness, ^note
Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed! By Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love in such a sort
The thing he means to kill more excellently.

Dio.
We sympathise. 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. ^note

Æne.
We know each other well.

Dio.
We do; and long ^note to know each other worse.

Par.
This is the most despiteful ^note gentle ^note greeting,
The noblest hateful ^note love, that e'er I heard of.
What business, lord, so early? ^note

Æne.
I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.

Par.
His purpose meets you: 'twas ^note to bring this Greek
To Calchas ^note' 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 ^note. I constantly do think ^note,
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: ^note I fear
We shall be much unwelcome ^note.

Æne.
That I ^note assure you:
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
Than Cressid borne from Troy ^note.

Par.
There is no help;
The bitter disposition of the time
Will have it so ^note. On, lord; we'll follow you.

Æne.
Good morrow, all. [Exit with Servant. ^note

Par.
And tell me, noble Diomed, faith ^note, tell me true,
Even in the ^note soul of sound good-fellowship ^note,
Who, in your thoughts, deserves fair Helen best ^note,
Myself or Menelaus?

Dio.
Both alike:
He merits well to have her that doth seek her,
Not making any scruple of her soilure ^note,
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 a flat tamed piece;
You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
Are pleased to breed out your inheritors:
Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor ^note more,
But he as he, the heavier for a whore. ^note

Par.
You are too bitter to your countrywoman.

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 ^note to buy:
But we in silence hold this virtue well,
We'll not ^note commend ^note what ^note we intend to sell ^note.
Here lies our way. [Exeunt. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: Court of ^note Pandarus' house. Enter Troilus and Cressida.

Tro.
Dear, trouble not yourself: the morn is cold.

Cres.
Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine ^note uncle down;
He shall unbolt the gates.

Tro.
Trouble him not;
To bed, to bed: sleep kill ^note those pretty eyes,
And give as soft attachment to thy senses
An infants' ^note empty of all thought!

Cres.
Good morrow, then.

Tro.
I prithee now, to bed.

Cres.
Are you a-weary of me?

Tro.
O Cressida! but that the busy day,
Waked by the lark, hath ^note roused the ribald ^note crows,
And dreaming night will hide our joys ^note no longer,
I would not from thee.

Cres.
Night hath been too brief.

Tro.
Beshrew the witch! with venomous ^note wights she stays
As tediously ^note as hell, but flies the grasps of love
With wings more momentary-swift ^note than thought.
You will catch cold, and curse me.

Cres.
Prithee, tarry:
You men will never tarry ^note.
O foolish Cressid ^note! ^note I might have still held off,
And then you would have tarried. ^note Hark! there's ^note one up.

Pan. [Within]
What, 's all ^note the doors open here?

Tro.
It is your uncle.

Cres.
A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking:
I shall have such a life!

Enter Pandarus. ^note

Pan.
How, now, how now! how go maidenheads?
Here ^note, you maid! where's my cousin Cressid? ^note

Cres.
Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle!
You bring me to do— ^noteand then you flout me too ^note.

Pan.

To do what? to do what? let her say what: what have I brought you to do? ^note

Cres.

Come, come, beshrew your heart! you'll ne'er be good, nor suffer others ^note.

Pan.

Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! a poor ^note capocchia ^note! hast not slept to-night? would he not, a naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him!

Cres.
Did not I tell you? would he were knock'd i' the ^note head ^note! [One knocks. ^note
Who's that at door? good uncle, go and see.
My lord, come you again into my chamber.
You smile and mock me, as if ^note I meant naughtily ^note.

Tro.
Ha, ha!

Cres.
Come, you are deceived, I think of no such thing. [Knocking. ^note
How earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in:
I would not for half Troy have you seen here. [Exeunt ^note Troilus and Cressida.

Pan. ^note

Who's there? what's the matter? will you beat down the door? ^note How now! what's the matter?

Æne.
Good morrow, lord, good morrow.

Pan.
Who's there? my Lord Æneas! ^note By my troth,
I knew ^note you not: what news with you so early? ^note

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 ^note more than I know, I'll be sworn: for my own part, I came in ^note late. What should he do here?

Æne.

Who! ^note nay, then: come, come, you'll do him wrong ere you are ware ^note: you'll be so true to him, to be false to him: do not you know of him, but yet ^note go fetch him hither ^note; go.

Tro.
How now! what's the matter?

Æne.
My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash ^note: there is at hand
Paris your brother and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
Deliver'd to us; and for him ^note forthwith,

Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
We must give up to Diomedes' ^note hand
The Lady Cressida.

Tro.
Is it so concluded ^note?

Æne.
By Priam and ^note the general state of Troy.
They are at hand and ready to effect ^note it.

Tro.
How my ^note achievements 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; the secrets of nature ^note
Have not ^note more gift in taciturnity ^note. [Exeunt ^note Troilus and Æneas. ^note

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!

Cres.

How now! what's the matter? who was here?

Pan.

Ah, ah! ^note

Cres.

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!

Cres.

O the gods! What's the matter?

Pan.

Prithee ^note, get thee in: would thou hadst ne'er been

born! I knew thou wouldst be his death: O, poor gentleman! A plague upon Antenor!

Cres.

Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I beseech you ^note, what's the matter?

Pan.

Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor: thou must to ^note thy father, and be gone from Troilus: 'twill be his death; 'twill be his bane ^note; he cannot bear it.

Cres.
O you immortal gods! I will not go.

Pan.

Thou must.

Cres.
I will not, uncle: I have ^note 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 falsehood,
If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force ^note, and death,
Do to this body what extremes ^note you can;
But the strong base and building of my love
Is as the very centre of the earth,
Drawing all things ^note to it. I'll ^note go in and weep,— ^note

Pan.
Do, do.

Cres.
Tear my bright hair ^note and scratch my praised cheeks,
Crack my clear voice with sobs and break my heart
With sounding Troilus. I will ^note not go ^note from Troy. [Exeunt. ^note

^note Scene III. [Footnote: Before ^note Pandarus' house. Enter Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Deiphobus, Antenor, and Diomedes.

Par.
It is great morning, and the hour prefix'd
For ^note her delivery to this valiant Greek
Comes fast upon ^note: good ^note my brother Troilus,
Tell you the lady what she is to do,
And haste her to the purpose.

Tro.
Walk into ^note 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 ^note his own ^note heart. [Exit. ^note

Par.
I know what 'tis to love;
And would, as I shall pity, I could help!
Please you walk in, my lords. [Exeunt. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: A room ^note in Pandarus' house. Enter Pandarus and Cressida.

Pan.
Be moderate, be moderate.

Cres.
Why tell you me of moderation?
The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste,
And violenteth in a sense as strong
As that which ^note causeth it: how can I moderate ^note it?

If I could temporise with my affection ^note,
Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
The like allayment could I give my grief:
My love admits no qualifying dross ^note;
No more my grief, in such a precious loss. Enter Troilus. ^note

Pan.

Here, here, here he comes. Ah, sweet ducks! ^note

Cres.

O Troilus! Troilus!

Pan.

What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me embrace too. ‘O heart ^note,’ as the goodly ^note saying is,

  ‘O heart, heavy heart,
Why sigh'st ^note thou without breaking? ^note’

where he answers again,

There was never 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!

Tro.
Cressid ^note, I love thee in so strain'd ^note 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 ^note, take thee from me.

Cres.
Have the gods envy?

Pan.
Ay, ay, ay, ay; ^note 'tis too plain a case.

Cres.
And is it true that I must go from Troy?

Tro.
A hateful truth.

Cres.
What, and from Troilus too?

Tro.
From Troy and Troilus.

Cres.
Is it ^note possible?

Tro.
And suddenly; where ^note injury of chance
Puts back leave-taking, justles ^note roughly by
All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
Of all rejoindure, forcibly prevents
Our lock'd embrasures ^note, 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 ^note, must poorly sell ourselves
With the rude brevity and discharge of one. ^note
Injurious time now ^note with a robber's haste
Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how:
As many farewells as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them,
He fumbles up into a ^note loose adieu,
And scants us with a single famish'd kiss,
Distasted ^note with the salt of broken tears.

Æneas. [Within ^note]
My lord, ^note is the lady ready?

Tro.
Hark! you are call'd: some say the Genius so
Cries ‘Come!’ ^note 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 ^note will be blown up by the root ^note.

Cres.
I must then to the Grecians? ^note

Tro.
No remedy. ^note

Cres.
A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks! ^note
When shall we see again?

Tro.
Hear ^note me, my ^note love: be thou but true of heart. ^note

Cres.
I true! how now! what wicked deem is this?

Tro.
Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,
For it is parting from us ^note:
I speak not ‘be thou true,’ as fearing thee;
For I will throw my glove to Death himself,
That there's ^note 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 ^note.

Cres.
O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers
As infinite as imminent: but I'll be true.

Tro.
And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear ^note this sleeve. ^note

Cres.
And you this glove. When shall I see you? ^{note note}

Tro.
I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels,
To give thee nightly visitation.
But yet, be true. ^note

Cres.
O heavens! ‘Be true’ again!

Tro.
Hear why I speak it, love:
The Grecian youths are full of quality ^note;
They're loving, well composed with gifts of nature,
And flowing o'er with arts and exercise: ^note
How novelties may move and parts with person ^{note note},
Alas, a kind of godly ^note jealousy—
Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin—

Makes me afeard ^note.

Cres.
O heavens! you love me not.

Tro.
Die I a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question,
So mainly ^note as my merit: I cannot sing,
Nor heel the high lavolt, 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.

Cres.
Do you think I will? ^{note note}

Tro.
No: ^note
But something may be done that we will not:
And sometimes we are devils to ourselves,
When we will tempt ^note the frailty of our powers,
Presuming on their changeful ^note potency.

Æne. [Within]
Nay, good my lord!

Tro.
Come, kiss; and let us part.

Par. [Within]
Brother Troilus!

Tro.
Good brother, come you hither;
And bring Æneas and the Grecian with you. ^note

Cres.
My lord, will you be true?

Tro.
Who, I? alas, it is my vice, my fault:
Whiles others ^note fish with craft for great opinion,
I with great truth catch mere simplicity;
Whilst ^note some with cunning gild their copper crowns,
With truth and plainness I do wear ^note mine bare.
Fear not my truth: the moral ^note of my wit
Is ‘plain and true;’ ^note there's all the reach of it.

Enter ^note Æneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and Diomedes. ^note
Welcome, Sir Diomed! here is the lady
Which ^note for Antenor we deliver you:
At the port, lord, I'll give her to thy hand;
And by the way possess 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 ^note.

Dio.
Fair ^note Lady Cressid,
So please you, save the thanks this prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heaven in your cheek,
Pleads ^note your fair usage ^note; and to Diomed
You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.

Tro.
Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,
To shame the zeal ^note of my petition to thee ^note
In praising ^note 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.
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 ^note throat.

Dio.
O, be not moved, Prince Troilus:
Let me be privileged by my place and message
To be a speaker free; when I am hence,
I'll answer to my lust ^note: and know you, lord ^note,
I'll nothing do on charge: to her own worth

She shall be prized; but that you say ‘Be't, so,’
I'll ^note speak it in my spirit and honour ‘No!’

Tro.
Come, ^note to the port. I'll tell ^note 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, Cressida, and Diomedes. ^note [A trumpet sounds. ^note

Par.
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 ^note. ^note

Par.
'Tis Troilus' fault: come, come, to field with him.

Dei. ^note
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. ^note [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene V. [Footnote: The Grecian camp. Lists set out. ^note Enter Ajax, armed; Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, and others. ^note

Agam.
Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting ^note courage. ^note
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 ^note him hither ^note.

Ajax.
Thou ^note, trumpet, there's my purse.
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias ^note cheek
Outswell the colic ^note of puff'd Aquilon:
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blow'st ^note for Hector. [Trumpet sounds. ^note

Ulyss.
No ^note trumpet answers. ^note

Achil.
'Tis but early days ^note.

Agam.
Is not yond ^note Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?

Ulyss.
'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait;
He rises on the toe ^note: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth. Enter ^note Diomedes, with Cressida.

Agam.
Is this the Lady Cressid ^note?

Dio.
Even she. ^note

Agam.
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady ^note.

Nest.
Our general doth salute you with a kiss.

Ulyss.
Yet is the ^note kindness but particular;
'Twere better she were kiss'd in general.

Nest.
And very courtly counsel: I'll begin.
So much for Nestor. ^note

Achil.
I'll take that winter from your ^note lips, fair lady:
Achilles bids you welcome.

Men.
I had good argument for kissing once.

Patr.
But that's no argument for kissing now; ^note
For thus popp'd Paris in his hardiment,
And parted thus you and your argument ^note.

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 ^note kisses you. ^note

Men.
O, this is trim!

Patr.
Paris and I kiss evermore for him.

Men.
I'll have my kiss, sir. Lady, by your leave.

Cres.
In kissing, do you render or receive? ^note

Patr. ^note
Both take and give ^note.

Cres.
I'll make my match to live ^note,
The kiss you take is better than you give;
Therefore no kiss ^note.

Men.
I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.

Cres.
You're ^note an odd man; give even, or give none.

Men.
An odd man, lady! every man is odd.

Cres.
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 ^note head.

Cres.
No, I'll be sworn.

Ulyss.
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

Cres.
You may.

Ulyss.
I do desire it ^note.

Cres.
Why, beg then. ^note

Ulyss.
Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss, ^note
When Helen is a maid again, and his. ^note

Cres.
I am your debtor; claim it when 'tis due.

Ulyss.
Never's my day, and then a kiss of you ^note. ^note

Dio.
Lady, a word: I'll bring you to your father. [Exit ^note with Cressida.

Nest.
A woman of quick sense. ^note

Ulyss.
Fie, fie upon her!
There's language ^note in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
O, these encounterers ^note, so ^note glib of tongue,
That ^note give a coasting ^note welcome ere it comes,
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
To every ticklish ^note reader! set them down
For sluttish ^note spoils of opportunity
And daughters of the game. [Trumpet within. ^note

All.
The Trojans' ^note trumpet.

Agam.
Yonder comes the troop. Flourish. Enter ^note Hector, armed; Æneas, Troilus, and other Trojans, with Attendants.

Æne.
Hail, all the state ^note of Greece! what shall be done
To him that victory commands ^note? 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 ^notebe divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask. ^note

Agam.
Which way would Hector have it?

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

Achil. ^note
'Tis done like Hector; but securely done,
A little proudly, ^note and great deal misprizing ^note
The knight opposed.

Æne.
If not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?

Achil.
If not Achilles, nothing ^note.

Æne.
Therefore Achilles: but, whate'er, know this:
In ^note the extremity of great and little,
Valour and pride excel ^note themselves in Hector;
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing. Weigh ^note 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 ^note to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.

Achil.
A maiden battle then? O, I perceive you. Re-enter ^note Diomedes.

Agam.
Here is Sir Diomed ^note. 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 ^note,
Or else a breath ^note: the combatants being kin
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin. [Ajax and Hector enter the lists. ^note

Ulyss.
They are opposed already.

Agam. ^note
What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy? ^note

Ulyss.
The youngest son of Priam, a true knight ^note,
Not yet mature, yet matchless, firm ^note of word,
Speaking in ^note deeds and deedless in his tongue,
Not soon provoked nor being provoked soon calm'd;
His heart and hand both open and both free;
For ^note what he has he gives, what thinks he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impair ^note thought with breath;
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender objects ^note, but he in heat of action
Is more vindicative ^note 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 ^note thus translate him to me. [Alarum. ^note Hector and Ajax fight. ^note

^note

Agam.
They are in action.

Nest.
Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

Tro.
Hector, thou sleep'st;
Awake thee ^note!

Agam.
His blows are well disposed: there ^note, Ajax! ^note

Dio.
You must no more. [Trumpets cease.

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 ^note Greek and Trojan so,
That thou couldst say ‘This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek ^note, 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 ^note: but the just gods gainsay
That any drop ^note thou borrow'dst ^note from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained ^note! Let me embrace thee, Ajax: ^note
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.
Not Neoptolemus so mirable ^note,
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st Oyes
Cries ‘This is he,’ could ^note promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.

Æne.
There is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will do.

Hect.
We'll answer it;
The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewell ^note.

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:
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin; ^note
I will go eat with thee, and see your knights.

Ajax.
Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

Hect.
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, my ^note own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.

Agam.
Worthy of ^note 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 ^note,
Bids thee, with most divine integrity ^note,
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.

Hect.
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

Agam. [To Troilus]
My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.

Men.
Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting;
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.

Hect.
Who ^note must we answer?

Æne. ^note
The noble Menelaus.

Hect.
O, you, my lord! ^note by Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath ^note; ^note
Your quondam ^note 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,
Despising many ^note forfeits and subduements,
When thou hast hung thy advanced ^note sword i' the air,
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I have said to some ^note 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 ^note thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling ^note: this have I seen ^note;
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 ^note 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,
As they contend with thee in courtesy. ^note

Hect.
I would they could.

Nest.
Ha! ^note
By this white beard, I'ld fight with thee to-morrow:
Well, welcome, welcome!—I have seen the time. ^note

Ulyss.
I wonder now how yonder city stands
When we have here her base ^note 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 ^note, 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 ^note front your town,
Yond ^note 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. ^note

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.
I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou! ^note
Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view ^note perused thee, Hector,
And quoted ^note joint by joint. ^note

Hect.
Is this Achilles?

Achil.
I am ^note Achilles.

Hect.
Stand fair, I pray thee ^note: let me look on thee.

Achil.
Behold thy fill.

Hect.
Nay, I have done already.

Achil.
Thou art ^note too brief: I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee ^note 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, or there, or there? ^note
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 ^note oracle to tell me so,
I'ld not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well;
For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
But, by the forge that stithied ^note 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 chafe thee, cousin:
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone
Till accident or purpose bring you to't:
You may have ^note every day enough of Hector,
If you have stomach: the general state, I fear,
Can scarce entreat you to be odd ^note with him.

Hect.
I pray you, let us see you in the field:
We have had pelting wars since you refused
The Grecians' cause. ^note

Achil.
Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
To-night all friends ^note.

Hect.
Thy hand ^note upon that match.

Agam.
First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive we ^note: afterwards,
As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally entreat him.
Beat loud the tabourines, ^note let the trumpets blow,
That this great soldier may his welcome know. [Exeunt all but ^note Troilus and Ulysses.

^note

Tro.
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 upon the heaven nor earth ^note,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
On the fair Cressid.

Tro.
Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you ^note so much,
After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
To bring me thither?

Ulyss.
You shall command me, sir.
As gentle ^note tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
That wails ^{note note} her absence?

Tro.
O, sir, to such as boasting show their scars,
A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
She was beloved, she loved ^note; she is, and doth:
But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth. [Exeunt.

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