Troilus and Cressida (Folio 1, 1623)
Peer Reviewed
1
The Prologue.
¶IN Troy there lyes the Scene: From Iles of Greece
¶The Princes Orgillous, their high blood chaf'd
¶Of cruell Warre: Sixty and nine that wore
¶Their Crownets Regall, from th' Athenian bay
¶Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
10The rauish'd Helen, Menelaus Queene,
¶With wanton Paris sleepes, and that's the Quarrell.
¶To Tenedos they come,
¶And the deepe-drawing Barke do there disgorge
¶Their warlike frautage: now on Dardan Plaines
¶Their braue Pauillions. Priams six=gated City,
¶Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
¶And Antenonidus with massie Staples
20Stirre vp the Sonnes of Troy.
¶On one and other side, Troian and Greeke,
¶Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
¶A Prologue arm'd, but not in confidence
25Of Authors pen, or Actors voyce; but suited
¶In like conditions, as our Argument;
¶To tell you (faire Beholders) that our Play
¶Beginning in the middle: starting thence away,
30To what may be digested in a Play:
¶Like, or finde fault, do as your pleasures are,
¶Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of Warre.
