Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Troilus and Cressida (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: W. L. Godshalk
Peer Reviewed
Troylus and Cressida.
Cres. More dregs then water, if my teares haue eyes.
Troy. Feares make diuels of Cherubins, they neuer see
1700truely.
Cres. Blinde feare, that seeing reason leads, findes safe
footing, then blinde reason, stumbling without feare: to
feare the worst, oft cures the worse.
Troy. Oh let my Lady apprehend no feare,
1705In all Cupids Pageant there is presented no monster.
Cres. Not nothing monstrons neither?
Troy. Nothing but our vndertakings, when we vowe
to weepe seas, liue in fire, eate rockes, tame Tygers; think-
ing it harder for our Mistresse to deuise imposition
1710inough, then for vs to vndergoe any difficultie imposed.
This is the monstruositie in loue Lady, that the will is in-
finite, and the execution confin'd; that the desire is bound-
lesse, and the act a slaue to limit.
Cres. They say all Louers sweare more performance
1715then they are able, and yet reserue an ability that they
neuer performe: vowing more then the perfection of ten;
and discharging lesse then the tenth part of one. They
that haue the voyce of Lyons, and the act of Hares: are
they not Monsters?
1720Troy. Are there such? such are not we: Praise vs as we
are tasted, allow vs as we proue: our head shall goe bare
till merit crowne it: no perfection in reuersion shall haue
a praise in present: wee will not name desert before his
birth, and being borne his addition shall be humble: few
1725words to faire faith. Troylus shall be such to Cressid, as
what enuie can say worst, shall be a mocke for his truth;
and what truth can speake truest, not truer then Troy-
lus.
Cres. Will you walke in my Lord?
1730
Enter Pandarus.
Pan. What blushing still? haue you not done talking
yet?
Cres. Well Vnckle, what folly I commit, I dedicate
to you.
1735Pan. I thanke you for that: if my Lord get a Boy of
you, youle giue him me: be true to my Lord, if he flinch,
chide me for it.
Tro. You know now your hostages: your Vnckles word
and my firme faith.
1740Pan. Nay, Ile giue my word for her too: our kindred
though they be long ere they are wooed, they are con-
stant being wonne: they are Burres I can tell you, they'le
sticke where they are throwne.
Cres. Boldnesse comes to mee now, and brings mee
1745heart: Prince Troylus, I haue lou'd you night and day, for
many weary moneths.
Troy. Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?
Cres. Hard to seeme won: but I was won my Lord
With the first glance; that euer pardon me,
1750If I confesse much you will play the tyrant:
I loue you now, but not till now so much
But I might maister it; infaith I lye:
My thoughts were like vnbrideled children grow
Too head-strong for their mother: see we fooles,
1755Why haue I blab'd: who shall be true to vs
When we are so vnsecret to our selues?
But though I lou'd you well, I woed you not,
And yet good faith I wisht my selfe a man;
Or that we women had mens priuiledge
1760Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue,
For in this rapture I shall surely speake
The thing I shall repent: see, see, your silence
Comming in dumbnesse, from my weakenesse drawes
My soule of counsell from me. Stop my mouth.
1765Troy. And shall, albeit sweete Musicke issues thence.
Pan. Pretty yfaith.
Cres. My Lord, I doe beseech you pardon me,
'Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kisse:
I am asham'd; O Heauens, what haue I done!
1770For this time will I take my leaue my Lord.
Troy. Your leaue sweete Cressid?
Pan. Leaue: and you take leaue till to morrow mor-
ning.
Cres. Pray you content you.
1775Troy. What offends you Lady?
Cres. Sir, mine owne company.
Troy. You cannot shun your selfe.
Cres. Let me goe and try:
I haue a kinde of selfe recides with you:
1780But an vnkinde selfe, that itselfe will leaue,
To be anothers foole. Where is my wit?
I would be gone: I speake I know not what.
Troy. Well know they what they speake, that speakes
so wisely.
1785Cre. Perchance my Lord, I shew more craft then loue,
And fell so roundly to a large confession,
To Angle for your thoughts: but you are wise,
Or else you loue not: for to be wise and loue,
Exceedes mans might, that dwels with gods aboue.
1790Troy. O that I thought it could be in a woman:
As if it can, I will presume in you,
To feede for aye her lampe and flames of loue.
To keepe her constancie in plight and youth,
Out-liuing beauties outward, with a minde
1795That doth renew swifter then blood decaies:
Or that perswasion could but thus conuince me,
That my integritie and truth to you,
Might be affronted with the match and waight
Of such a winnowed puriritie in loue:
1800How were I then vp-lifted! but alas,
I am as true, as truths simplicitie,
And simpler then the infancie of truth.
Crs. In that Ile warre with you.
Troy. O vertuous fight,
1805When right with right wars who shall be most right:
True swaines in loue, shall in the world to come
Approue their truths by Troylus, when their rimes,
Full of protest, of oath and big compare;
Wants similes, truth tir'd with iteration,
1810As true as steele, as plantage to the Moone:
As Sunne to day: as Turtle to her mate:
As Iron to Adamant: as Earth to th'Center:
Yet after all comparisons of truth,
(As truths authenticke author to be cited)
1815As true as Troylus, shall crowne vp the Verse,
And sanctifie the numbers.
Cres. Prophet may you be:
If I be false, or swerue a haire from truth,
When time is old and hath forgot it selfe:
1820When water drops haue worne the Stones of Troy;
And blinde obliuion swallow'd Cities vp;
And mightie States characterlesse are grated
To dustie nothing; yet let memory,
From false to false, among false Maids in loue,
1825Vpbraid my falsehood, when they'aue said as false,
As Aire, as Water, as Winde, as sandie earth;
As Foxe to Lambe; as Wolfe to Heifers Calfe;
Pard to the Hinde, or Stepdame to her Sonne;
Yea, let them say, to sticke the heart of falsehood,
As