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Troilus and Cressida (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: W. L. Godshalk
Peer Reviewed
Enter at one doore Æneas with a Torch, at another
Paris, Diephœbus, Anthenor, Diomed the
2170Grecian, with Torches.
Par. See hoa, who is that there?
Dieph. It is the Lord Æneas.
Æne. Is the Prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lye long
2175As you Prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse,
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.
Diom. That's my minde too: good morrow Lord
Æneas.
Par. A valiant Greeke Æneas, take his hand,
2180Witnesse the processe of your speech within;
You told how Diomed, in a whole weeke by dayes
Did haunt you in the Field.
Æne. Health to you valiant sir,
During all question of the gentle truce:
2185But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance,
As heart can thinke, or courage execute.
Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,
Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health:
But when contention, and occasion meetes,
2190By Ioue, Ile play the hunter for thy life,
With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.
Æne. And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye
With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse:
Welcome to Troy; now by Anchises life,
2195Welcome indeede: by Venus hand I sweare,
No man aliue can loue in such a sort,
The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.
Diom. We simpathize. Ioue let Æneas liue
(If to my sword his fate be not the glory)
2200A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne,
But in mine emulous honor let him dye:
With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.
Æne. We know each other well.
Dio. We doe, and long to know each other worse.
2205Par. This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting;
The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of.
What businesse Lord so early?
Æne. I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.
Par. His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek
2210To Calcha's house; and there to render him,
For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid:
Lers haue your company; or if you please,
Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke
(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)
2215My brother Troylus lodges there to night.
Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach,
With the whole quality whereof, I feare
We shall be much vnwelcome.
Æne. That I assure you:
2220Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece,
Then Cressid borne from Troy.
Par. There is no helpe:
The bitter disposition of the time will haue it so.
On Lord, weele follow you.
2225Æne. Good morrow all.
Exit Æneas
Par. And tell me noble Diomed; faith tell me true,
Euen in the soule of sound good fellow ship,
Who in your thoughts merits faire Helen most?
My selfe, or Menelaus?
2230Diom. Both alike.
He merits well to haue her, that doth seeke her,
Not making any scruple of her soylure,
With such a hell of paine, and world of charge.
And you as well to keepe her, that defend her,
2235Not pallating the taste of her dishonour,
With such a costly losse of wealth and friends:
He like a puling Cuckold, would drinke vp
The lees and dregs of a flat tamed peece:
You like a letcher, out of whorish loynes,
2240Are pleas'd to breede out your inheritors:
Both merits poyz'd, each weighs no lesse nor more,
But he as he, which heauier for a whore.
Par. You are too bitter to your country-woman.
Dio. Shee's bitter to her countrey: heare me Paris,
2245For euery false drop in her baudy veines,
A Grecians life hath sunke: for euery scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
A Troian hath beene slaine. Since she could speake,
She hath not giuen so many good words breath,
2250As for her, Greekes and Troians suffred death.
Par. Faire Diomed, you doe as chapmen doe,
Dis praise the thing that you desire to buy:
But we in silence hold this vertue well;
Weele not commend, what we intend to sell.
2255Here lyes our way.
Exeunt.