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Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: W. L. Godshalk
Peer Reviewed
THE
Historie of Troylus
and Cresseida.
As it was acted by the Kings Maiesties
seruants at the Globe.
Written by William Shakespeare,
LONDON
Imprinted by G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Walley, and
are to be sold at the spred Eagle in Paules
Church-yeard, ouer against the
great North doore.
1609.
THE
Famous Historie of
Troylus and Cresseid.
Excellently expressing the beginning
of their loues, with the conceited wooing
of Pandarus Prince of Licia.
Written by William Shakespeare.
LONDON
Imprinted by G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Walley, and
are to be sold at the spred Eagle in Paules
Church-yeard, ouer against the
great North doore.
1609.
0.1
A neuer writer, to an euer
reader. Newes.
ETernall reader, you haue heere a new
play, neuer stal'd with the Stage,
.5neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes
of the vulger, and yet passing full of
the palme comicall; for it is a birth of
your braine, that neuer vnder-tooke
any thing commicall, vainely: And
.10were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the
titles of Commodities, or of Playes for Pleas; you should
see all those grand censors, that now stile them such
vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their
grauities: especially this authors Commedies, that are
.15so fram'd to the life, that they serue for the most com-
monCommentaries, of all the actions of our liues, shew-
ingsuch a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most
displeased with Playes, are pleasd with his Commedies.
And all such dull and heauy-witted worldlings, as were
.20neuer capable of the witte of a Commedie, comming by
report of them to his representations, haue found that
witte there, that they neuer found in them-selues, and
haue parted better wittied then they came: feeling an
edge of witte set vpon them, more then euer they
.25dreamd they had braine to grinde it on. So much and
such sauored salt of witte is in his Commedies, that they
seeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that
sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is
none more witty then this: And had I time I would
.30comment vpon it, though I know it needs not, (for so
THE EPISTLE.
much as will make you thinke your testerne well be-
stowd) but for so much worth, as euen poore I know to be
stuft in it. It deserues such a labour, as well as the best
Commedy in Terence or Plautus. And beleeue this,
.35that when hee is gone, and his Commedies out of sale,
you will scramble for them, and set vp a new English
Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the perrill
of your pleasures losse, and Iudgements, refuse not, nor
like this the lesse, for not being sullied, with the smoaky
.40breath of the multitude; but thanke fortune for the
scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand
possessors wills I beleeue you should haue prayd for them
rather then beene prayd. And so I leaue all such to bee
prayd for (for the states of their wits healths)
.45
that will not praise it.
Vale.
The history of Troylus
and Cresseida.
Enter Pandarus and Troylus.
35Troy.CAll heere my varlet, Ile vnarme againe,
Why should I warre without the walls of Troy:
That finde such cruell battell here within,
Each Troyan that is maister of his heart,
40Let him to field Troylus alas hath none.
Pan. Will this geere nere be mended?
Troy. The Greeks are strong and skilfull to their strength
Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercenesse valiant,
But I am weaker then a womans teare;
45Tamer then sleepe; fonder then ignorance,
Lesse valiant then the Virgin in the night,
And skillesse as vnpractiz'd infancy:
Pan. Well, I haue told you enough of this; for my part ile
not meddle nor make no farther; hee that will haue a cake
50out of the wheate must tarry the grynding.
Tro. Haue I not tarried?
Pan. I the grinding; but you must tarry the boulting.
Troy. Haue I not tarried?
55Paude. I the boulting; but you must tarry the leauening.
Troy. Still haue I tarried.
Pan. I, to the leauening, but heares yet in the word here-
after, the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating the
ouen, and the baking, nay you must stay the cooling too, or
60yea may chance burne your lippes.
Troy. Pacience her selfe, what Godesse ere she be,
Doth lesser blench at suffrance then I do:
At Priams royall table do I sit
And when faire Cressid comes into my thoughts,
65So traitor then she comes when she is thence.
Pand. Well shee lookt yesternight fairer then euer I saw her
looke, or any woman els.
Troy. I was about to tell thee when my heart,
70As wedged with a sigh would riue in twaine,
Least Hector or my father should perceiue mee:
I haue (as when the Sunne doth light a scorne)
Buried this sigh in wrincle of a smyle,
But sorrow that is coucht in seeming gladnesse,
75Is like that mirth fate turnes to suddaine sadnesse.
Pan: And her haire were not some-what darker then Hel-
lens, well go to, there were no more comparison betweene
the women! but for my part she is my kinswoman, I would
not as they tearme it praise her, but I would som-body had
80heard her talke yester-day as I did, I will not dispraise your
sister Cassandræs wit, but-------
Troy. Oh Pandarus I tell thee Pandarus,
When I do tell thee there my hopes lie drown'd
Reply not in how many fadomes deepe,
85They lie indrench'd, I tell thee I am madde:
In Cressi}ds love? thou answerst she is faire,
Powrest in the open vlcer of my heart:
Her eyes, her haire her cheeke, her gate, her voice,
Handlest in thy discourse: O that her hand
90In whose comparison all whites are ynke
Writing their owne reproch; to whose soft seisure,
The cignets downe is harsh, and spirit of sence:
Hard as the palme of plow-man; this thou telst me,
As true thou telst me, when I say I loue her,
95But saying thus in steed of oyle and balme,
Thou layst in euery gash that loue hath giuen mee
The knife that made it.
Pan: I speake no more then truth.
Troy. Thou dost not speake so much.
100Pan: Faith Ile not meddle in it, let her bee as shee is, if she
bee faire tis the better for her, and shee bee not, she has the
mends in her owne hands.
Troy. Good Pandarus, how now Pandarus?
Pan: I haue had my labour for my trauell, ill thought on
105of her, and ill thought of you, gon betweene and betweene,
but small thanks for my labour.
Troy. What art thou angry Pandarus? what with me?
Pan. Because shee's kin to me therefore shee's not so faire
as Hellen, and she were kin to me, she would be as faire a Fri-
110day as Hellen, is on Sunday, but what I? I care not and shee
were a blackeamore, tis all one to mee.
Troy. Say I she is not faire?
Pan. I do not care whether you do or no, she's a foole to
stay behinde her father, let her to the Greekes, and so Ile tell
her the next time I see her for my part Ile meddle nor make
no more ith'matter.
Troy. Pandarus. Pan. Not I.
Troy. Sweete Pandarus.
120Pan. Pray you speake no more to mee I will leaue all as I
found it and there an end.
Exit.
Sound alarum.
Troy. Peace you vngracious clamors, peace rude sounds,
Fooles on both sides, Helleu must needes be faire,
125When with your bloud you daylie paint her thus,
I cannot fight vpon this argument:
It is too staru'd a subiect for my sword,
But Pandarus: O gods! how do you plague me
I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar,
130And he's as teachy to be wood to woe,
As she is stubborne, chast, against all suite.
Tell me Apollo for thy Daphues loue
What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we:
Her bed is India there she lies, a pearle,
135Betweene our Ilium, and where shee reides
Let it be cald the wild and wandring flood:
Our selfe the Marchant, and this sayling Pandar,
Our doubtfull hope, our conuoy and our barke.
Alarum Enter Æneas.
140Æne. How now prince Troylus, wherefore not afield.
Troy. Because not there; this womans answer sorts,
For womanish it is to be from thence.
What newes Æneas from the field to day?
145Æne. That Paris is returned home and hurt.
Troy. By whom Æneas?
Æne. Troylus by Menelaus.
Troy. Let Paris bleed tis but a scar to scorne,
Paris is gor'd with Menelaus horne.
Alarum.
150Æne. Harke what good sport is out of towne to day.
Troy. Better at home, if would I might were may:
But to the sport abrode are you bound thither?
Æne. In all swift hast.
Troy. Come goe wee then togither.
Exeunt.
155
Enter Cressid and her man.
Cres. Who were those went by?
Man. Queene Hecuba, and Hellen.
Cres. And whether goe they?
Man. Vp to the Easterne tower,
160Whose hight commands as subiect all the vaile,
To see the battell: Hector whose pacience,
Is as a vertue fixt, to day was mou'd:
Hee chid Andromache and strooke his armorer,
And like as there were husbandry in warre
165Before the Sunne rose, hee was harnest lyte,
And to the field goes he; where euery flower
Did as a Prophet weepe what it foresawe,
In Hectors wrath.
Cres. What was his cause of anger.
170Man. The noise goes this, there is amonge the Greekes,
A Lord of Troian bloud, Nephew to Hector,
They call him Aiax.
Cres.Good; and what of him.
175Man. They say hee is a very man per se and stands alone.
Cres. So do all men vnlesse the are dronke, sicke, or haue no
legges.
Man. This man Lady, hath rob'd many beasts of their par-
ticular additions, hee is as valiant as the Lyon, churlish as
180the Beare, slowe as the Elephant: a man into whome nature
hath so crowded humors, that his valour is crusht into folly,
his folly sauced with discretion: there is no man hath a ver-
tue, that he hath not a glimpse of, nor any mā an attaint, but
he carries some staine of it. Hee is melancholy without cause
185and merry against the haire, hee hath the ioynts of euery
thing, but euery thing so out of ioynt, that hee is a gowtie
Briareus, many hands, & no vse: or purblinde Argus, al eyes,
and no sight.
Cres. But how should this man that makes me smile, make
190Hector angry.
Man They say hee yesterday cop't Hector in the battell
and stroke him downe, the disdaine and shame whereof
hath euer since kept Hector fasting and waking.
195Cres. Who comes here.
Man Maddam your vncle Pandarus.
Cres. Hectors a gallant man.
Man As may be in the world Lady.
Pand. Whats that? whats that?
200Cres. Good morrow vncle Pandarus.
Pan. Good morrow cozen Cressid: what doe you talke of?
good morrow Alexander: how doe you cozen? when were
you at Illum?
Cres. This morning vncle.
205Pan. What were you talking of when I came? was Hector
arm'd and gon ere yea came to Illium, Hellen was not vp
was she?
Cres. Hector was gone but Hellen was not vp?
Pan. E'ene so, Hector was stirring early.
210Cres. That were wee talking of, and of his anger.
Pan: Was he angry? Cres: So he saies here.
Pan: True hee was so; I know the cause to, heele lay about
him to day I can tel them that, & ther's Troylus wil not come
215farre behind him, let them take heede of Troylus; I can tell
them that too.
Cres. What is he angry too?
Pan: Who Troylus? Troylus is the better man of the two:
220Cres: Oh Iupiter ther's no comparison.
Pan: What not betweene Troylus and Hector? do you know
a man if you see him?
Cres: I, if I euer saw him before and knew him:
Pan: Well I say Troylus is Troylus:
225Cres. Then you say as I say, for I am sure hee is not Hector.
Pan. No nor Hector is not Troylus in some degrees.
Cres. Tis iust, to each of them he is himselfe.
Pan. Himselfe, alas poore Troylus I would he were.
230Cres. So he is.
Pan. Condition I had gone bare-foot to India.
Cres. He is not Hector.
Pan. Himselfe? no? hee's not himselfe, would a were him-
selfe, well the Gods are aboue, time must friend or end well
235Troylus well, I would my heart were in her body; no, Hector
is not a better man then Troylus.
Cres. Excuse me. Pand. He is elder.
Cres. Pardon me, pardon me.
240Pand. Th'others not eome too't, you shall tell me another
tale when th'others come too't, Hector shall not haue his
will this yeare.
Cres. He shall not neede it if he haue his owne.
Pand. Nor his qualities.
245Cres. No matter. Pand. Nor his beautie.
Cres. Twould not become him, his own's better.
Pan: You haue no iudgement neece; Hellen her selfe
swore th'other day that Troylus for a browne fauour (for so
250tis I must confesse) not browne neither.
Cres. No, but browne.
Pand. Faith to say truth, browne and not browne.
Cres. To say the truth, true and not true.
Pand. She praisd his complexion aboue Paris,
255Cres. Why Paris hath colour inough. Pand. So he has.
Cres. Then Troylus should haue too much, if shce praizd
him aboue, his complexion is higher then his, hee
hauing colour enough, and the other higher, is too flaming
260a praise for a good complexion, I had as lieue Helens golden
tongue had commended Troylus for a copper nose.
Pand. I sweare to you I thinke Helen loues him better then
Cres. Then shees a merry greeke indeed.
265Pand. Nay I am sure she dooes, she came to him th'other
day into the compast window, and you know hee has not
past three or foure haires on his chinne.
Cres. Indeed a Tapsters Arithmetique may soone bring
his particulars therein to a totall.
270Pand. Why he is very yong, and yet will hc within three
pound lifte as much as his brother Hector.
Cres. Is he so yong a man, and so old a lifter.
Pand. But to prooue to you that Hellen loues him, shee
eame and puts mee her white hand to his clouen chin.
275Cres. Iuno haue mercy, how came it clouen?
Pan. Why, you know tis dimpled,
I thinke his smyling becomes him better then any man in
all Phrigia.
Cres. Oh he smiles valianty.
280Pan. Dooes hee not?
Cres. Oh yes, and twere a clowd in Autumne.
Pan. Why go to then, but to proue to you that Hellen
loues Troylus.
Cres. Troylus wil stand to thee proofe if youle prooue it so.
Pan. Troylus, why hee esteemes her no more then I e-
steeme an addle egge:
Cres. If you loue an addle egge as well as you loue an idle
head you would eate chickens ith shell.
290Pan. I cannot chuse but laugh to thinke how she ticled
his chin, indeed shee has a maruel's white hand I must needs
confesse.
Cres. Without the rack.
Pan. And shee takes vpon her to spie a white heare on
295his chinne.
Cres. Alas poore chin many a wart is ritcher.
Pan. But there was such laughing, Queene Hecuba laught
that her eyes ran ore.
Cres. With milstones.
300Pan. And Cassandra laught.
Cres. But there was a more temperate fire vnder the por
of her eyes: did her eyes run ore to?
Pan. And Hector laught.
Cres. At what was all this laughing.
305Pan. Marry at the white heare that Hellen spied on Troy-
lus chin.
Cres. And t'had beene a greene heare I should haue
laught too.
Pan. They laught not so much at the heare as at his pret-
310ty answere.
Cres, What was his answere?
Pan. Quoth shee heere's but two and fifty heires on your
chinne; and one of them is white.
Cres. This is her question.
315Pan. Thats true, make no question of that, two and fiftie
heires quoth hee, and one white, that white heire is my fa-
ther, and all the rest are his sonnes. Iupiter quoth shee, which
of these heires is Paris my husband? the forked one quoth
he, pluckt out and giue it him: but there was such laughing,
320and Hellen so blusht, and Paris so chaf't, and all the rest so
laught that it past.
Cres. So let it now for it has beene a great while going by.
Pan. Wel cozen I tould you a thing yesterday, think on't.
Cres. So I doe.
Pan. Ile be sworne tis true, he will weepe you an'twere a
man borne in Aprill.
Sound a retreate.
Cres. And Ile spring vp in his teares an'twere a nettle a-
330gainst May.
Pan. Harke they are comming from the field, shall we
stand vp here and see them as they passe toward Ilion, good
Neece do, sweete Neece Cresseida.
Cres. At your pleasure.
335Pan. Heere, here, here's an excellent place, here wee may
see most brauely, ile tell you them all by their names, as they
passe by, but marke Troylus aboue the rest.
Enter Æneas.
Cres. Speake not so lowde.
340Pan. Thats Æneas, is not that a braue man, hees one of
the flowers of Troy I can tell you, but marke Troylus, you shal
see anon.
Cres. Who's that?
Enter Antenor.
345Pan. Thats Antenor, he has a shrow'd wit I can tell you,
and hee's man good enough, hees one o'th soundest iudge-
ments in Troy whosoeuer, and a proper man of person, when
comes Troylus, ile shew you Troylus anon, if hee see me, you
shall see him nod at mee.
350Cres. Will he giue you the nod:
Pan. You shall see:
Crcs. If he do the ritch shall haue more.
Enter Hector.
Pan. Thats Hector, that, that, looke you that, thers a fel-
355low! goe thy way Hector, ther's a braue man Neece, O braue
Hector, looke how hee lookes, theres a countenance, ist not a
braue man?
Cres. O a braue man.
Pan: Is a not? it dooes a man heart good, looke you what
360hacks are on his helmet, looke you yonder, do you see, looke
you there, thers no iesting, thers laying on, takt off, who will
as they say, there be hacks.
Cres. Be those with swords.
Enter Paris.
365Pan: Swords, any thing he cares not, and the diuell come to
him, its all one, by Gods lid it dooes ones heart good. Yon-
der comes Paris, yonder comes Paris, looke yee yonder
Neece, ist not a gallant man to, ist not, why this is braue now,
who said he came hurt home to day. Hee's not hurt, why this
370will do Hellens heart good now ha? would I could see Troy-
lus now, you shall see Troylus anon.
Cres. Whose that?
Enter Helenus:
375Pan. Thats Helenus, I maruell where Troylus is, thats He-
lenus, I thinke he went not forth to day, thats Helenus.
Cres: Can Helenus fight vncle?
Pan: Helenus no: yes heele fight indifferent, well, I maruell
380where Troylus is; harke doe you not here the people crie
Troylus? Helenus is a priest;
Cres: What sneaking fellow comes yonder?
Enter Troylus.
Panda: Where? yonder? thats Deiphobus. Tis Troylus!
385theres a man Neece, hem? braue Troylus the Prince of
chiualrie.
Cres. Peace for shame peace.
Pan. Marke him, note him: O braue Troylus, looke well
vpon him Neece, looke you how his sword is bloudied, and
390his helme more hackt then Hectors, and how hee lookes, and
how hee goes? O admirable youth, hee neuer saw three and
twenty, go thy way Troylus, go thy way, had I a sister were a
grace, or a daughter a Goddesse, hee should take his choiee,
O admirable man! Paris? Paris is durt to him, and I warrant
395Hellen to change would giue an eye to boote.
Cres. Here comes more.
Pa. Asses, fooles, doults, chaff & bran, chaff & bran, porredge
400after meate, I could liue and die in the eyes of Troylus, nere
looke, nere looke, the Eagles are gonne, crowes and dawes,
crowes and dawes, I had rather bee such a man as Troylus,
then Agamemnon and all Greece.
Cres. There is amongst the Greekes Achilles a better
405man then Troylus.
Pan. Achilles, a dray-man, a porter, a very Cammell.
Cres. Well, well:
Pan. Well, well, why haue you any discretion, haue you
any eyes, doe you know what a man is? is not birth, beauty,
410good shape, discourse, man-hood, learning, gentlenesse, ver-
tue youth, liberallity and such like, the spice & salt that sea-
son a man.
Cres. I a minst man, and then to bee bak't with no date in
the pie, for then the mans date is out:
415Pan. You are such a woman a man knowes not at what
ward you lie:
Cres: Vpon my backe to defend my bellie, vpon my wit
to defend my wiles, vpon my secrecy to defend mine hones-
ty, my maske to defend my beauty, and you to defend all
420these: and at al these wards I lie, at a thousand watches.
Pan. Say one of your watches.
Cres. Nay Ile watch you for that; and thats one of the
chiefest of them two: If I cannot ward what I would not
425haue hit: I can watch you for telling how I tooke the blowe
vnlesse it swell past hiding, and then its past watching:
Pan: You are such another:
Enter Boy:
430Boy: Sir my Lord would instantlie speake with you.
Pan: Where?
Boy: At your owne house there he vnarmes him:
Pan. Good boy tell him I come, I doubt he be hurt, fare ye
well good Neice:
Cres: Adiew vncle:
Pan: I wilbe with you Neice by and by:
Cres: To bring vncle: Pan: I a token from Troylus:
Cres: By the same token you are a Bawde,
440Words, vowes, guifts, teares and loues full sacrifize:
He offers in anothers enterprize,
But more in Troylus thousand fould I see,
Then in the glasse of Pandars praise may bee:
Yet hold l off: women are angels woing,
445,,Things woone are done, ioyes soule lies in the dooing.
That shee belou'd, knows naught that knows not this,
,,Men price the thing vngaind more then it is,
That she was neuer yet that euer knew
Loue got so sweet, as when desire did sue,
450Therefore this maxim out of loue I teach,
"Atchiuement is command; ungaind beseech,
Then though my hearts content firme loue doth beare,
Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appeare.
Exit.
Enter Agamemnon. Nestor, Vlisses, Diomedes,
455
Menelaus with others.
Aga. Princes: what griefe hath set these Iaundies ore your
The ample proposition that hope makes,
In all designes begun on earth below,
460Failes in the promist largenesse, checks and disasters,
Grow in the vaines of actions highest reard.
As knots by the conflux of meeting sap,
Infects the sound Pine, and diuerts his graine,
Tortiue and errant from his course of growth.
465Nor Princes is it matter new to vs,
That we come short of our suppose so farre,
That after seauen yeares siege, yet Troy walls stand,
Sith euer action that hath gone before,
Whereof we haue record, triall did draw,
470Bias and thwart: not answering the ayme,
And that vnbodied figure of the thought,
That gau't surmised shape: why then you Princes,
Do you with cheekes abasht behold our workes,
And call them shames which are indeed naught else,
475But the protractiue tryals of great Ioue,
To finde persistiue constancie in men.
The finenesse of which mettall is not found,
In fortunes loue: for then the bould and coward,
The wise and foole, the Artist and vnread,
480The hard and soft seeme all affyn'd and kin,
But in the winde and tempest of her frowne,
Distinction with a broad and powerfull fan,
Puffing at all, winnowss the light away,
And what hath masse or matter by it selfe,
485Lyes rich in vertue and vnmingled.
Nestor. With due obseruance of the godlike seate,
Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply
Thy latest words. In the reproofe of chance,
490Lies the true proofe of men: the sea being smooth,
How many shallow bauble boates dare saile,
Vpon her ancient brest, making their way
With those of nobler bulke?
But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
495The gentle Thetis, and anon, behold
The strong ribbd barke through liquid mountaines cut,
Bounding betweene the two moyst elements,
Like Perseus horse. Where's then the sawcie boate,
Whose weake vntymberd sides but euen now
500Corriuald greatnesse? either to harbor fled,
Or made a toste for Neptune: euen so
Doth valours shew, and valours worth deuide
In stormes of fortune; for in her ray and brightnesse
505The heard hath more annoyance by the Bryze
Then by the Tyger, but when the splitting winde,
Makes flexible the knees of knotted Okes,
And Flies fled vnder shade, why then the thing of courage,
510As rouzd with rage, with rage doth simpathize,
And with an accent tun'd in selfe same key,
Retires to chiding fortune.
Uliss. Agamemnon,
Thou great Commander, nerues and bone of Greece,
515Heart of our numbers, soule and onely spright,
In whom the tempers and the minds of all
Should be shut vp: heere what Vlisses speakes,
Besides th'applause and approbation,
The which most mighty (for thy place and sway
520And thou most reuerend) for the stretcht out life,
I giue to both your speeches; which were such
As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece,
Should hold vp high in brasse, and such againe
As venerable Nestor (hatcht in siluer)
525Should with a bond of ayre strong as the Axel-tree,
(On which heauen rides) knit all the Greekish eares
To his experienc't tongue, yet let it please both
Thou great and wise, to heare Vlisses speake.
Troy yet vpon his bases had beene downe,
535And the great Hectors sword had lackt a master
But for these instances.
The specialtie of rule hath beene neglected,
And looke how many Grecian tents do stand,
Hollow vpon this plaine, so many hollow factions,
540When that the generall is not like the hiue,
To whom the forragers shall all repaire,
What honey is expccted? Degree being visarded
Th'vnworthiest shewes as fairly in the maske.
The heauens them-selues, the plannets and this center
545Obserue degree, prioritie and place,
In sisture, course, proportion, season, forme,
Office and custome, in all line of order.
And therefore is the glorious planet Sol,
In noble eminence enthron'd and spherd,
550Amidst the other; whose medcinable eye,
Corrects the influence of euill Planets,
And posts like the Commandment of a King,
Sans check to good and bad. But when the Planets,
In euill mixture to disorder wander,
555What plagues, and what portents, what mutinie?
What raging of the sea, shaking of earth?
Commotion in the winds, frights, changes, horrors
Diuert and crack, rend and deracinate,
The vnitie and married calme of states
560Quite from their fixure: O when degree is shakt,
Which is the ladder of all high designes,
The enterprise is sick. How could communities,
Degrees in schooles, and brother-hoods in Citties,
Peacefull commerce from deuidable shores,
565The primogenitie and due of birth,
Prerogatiue of age, crownes, scepters, lawrels,
But by degree stand in authentique place:
Take but degree away, vntune that string,
And harke what discord followes, each thing melts
570In meere oppugnancie: the bounded waters
Should lift their bosomes higher then the shores,
And make a sop of all this solid globe:
Strength should be Lord of imbecilitie,
And the rude sonne should strike his father dead.
575Force should be right or rather right and wrong,
(Betweene whose endlesse iarre Iustice recides)
Should loose their names, and so should Iustice to?
Then euery thing include it selfe in power,
Power into will, will into appetite,
580And appetite an vniuersall Woolfe,
(So doubly seconded with will and power)
Must make perforce an vniuersall prey,
And last eate vp himselfe.
Great Agamemnon,
585This chaos when degree is suffocate,
Followes the choaking,
And this neglection of degree it is,
That by a pace goes backward with a purpose
It hath to clime. The generalls disdaind,
590By him one step below, he by the next,
That next by him beneath, so euery step,
Exampl'd by the first pace that is sick
Of his superior, growes to an enuious feauer
Of pale and bloudlesse emulation,
595And 'tis this feauer that keepes Troy on foote,
Not her owne sinnews. To end a tale of length,
Troy in our weaknesse stands not in her strength.
Nestor. Most wisely hath Vlisses here discouerd,
The feuer whereof all our power is sick.
600Agamem. The nature of the sicknesse found, Vlisses
What is the remedie?
Ulisses. The great Achilles whom opinion crownes,
The sinnow and the fore-hand of our hoste,
Hauing his eare full of his ayrie fame,
605Growes dainty of his worth, and in his Tent
Lies mocking our designes: with him Patroclus
Vpon a lazie bed the liue-long day,
Breakes scurrell iests,
And with ridiculous and sillie action,
610Which (slanderer) he Imitation calls,
He pageants vs. Some-time great Agamemnon,
Thy toplesse deputation he puts on,
And like a strutting Player, whose conceit
Lyes in his ham-string, and doth thinke it rich
615To heere the woodden dialogue and sound,
Twixt his stretcht footing and the scoaffollage,
Such to be pitied and ore-rested seeming,
He acts thy greatnesse in. And when he speakes,
Tis like a chime a mending, with termes vnsquare,
620Which from the tongue of roaring Tiphon dropt,
Would seeme hiperboles, at this fustie stuffe,
The large Achilles on his prest bed lolling,
From his deepe chest laughes out a lowd applause,
Cries excellent; 'tis Agamemnon right,
625Now play me Nestor, hem and stroake thy beard,
As he being drest to some Oration,
That's done, as neere as the extremest ends
Of paralells, as like as Uulcan and his wife:
Yet god Achilles still cries excellent,
630Tis Nestor right: now play him me Patroclus,
Arming to answer in a night alarme,
And then forsooth the faint defects of age,
Must be the scæne of myrth, to coffe and spit,
And with a palsie fumbling on his gorget,
635Shake in and out the riuet, and at this sport
Sir valour dyes, cryes O enough Patroclus,
Or giue me ribbs of steele, I shall split all
In pleasure of my spleene, and in this fashion,
All our abilities, guifts, natures shapes,
640Seueralls and generalls of grace exact,
Atchiuements, plots, orders, preuentions,
Excitements to the field, or speech for truce,
Successe or losse, what is, or is not, serues
As stuffe for these two to make paradoxes.
645Nestor. And in the imitation of these twaine,
Who as Vlisses sayes opinion crownes,
With an imperiall voyce: many are infect,
Aiax is growne selfe-wild, and beares his head
In such a reyne, in full as proud a place
650As broad Achilles: keepes his Tent like him,
Makes factious feasts, railes on our state of warre,
Bould as an Oracle, and sets Thersites
A slaue, whose gall coynes slanders like a mint,
To match vs in comparisons with durt,
655To weaken our discredit, our exposure
How ranke so euer rounded in with danger.
Vlisses. They taxe our pollicie, and call it cowardice,
Count wisdome as no member of the warre,
Forstall prescience, and esteeme no act
660But that of hand, the still and mentall parts,
That do contriue how many hands shall strike,
When fitnesse calls them on, and know by measure
Of their obseruant toyle the enemies waight,
Why this hath not a fingers dignitie,
665They call this bed-worke, mappry, Closet warre,
So that the Ram that batters downe the wall,
For the great swinge and rudenesse of his poise,
They place before his hand that made the engine,
Or those that with the fincsse of their soules,
670By reason guide his execution.
Nest. Let this be granted, and Achilles horse
Makes many Thetis sonnes,
Agam. What trumpet? looke Menelaus.
Mene. From Troy.
675Agam. What would you fore our tent.
Æne. Is this great Agamemnons tent I pray you?
Agam. Euen this.
Æne. May one that is a Herrald and a Prince,
Do a faire message to his Kingly eyes?
680Agam. With surety stronger then Achilles arme,
Fore all the Greekish heads, which with one voice,
Call Agamemnon head and generall.
Æne. Faire leaue and large security, how may
A stranger to those most imperiall lookes,
685Know them from eyes of other mortals?
Agam. How?
Æne. I, I aske that I might waken reuerence,
And bid the cheeke be ready with a blush,
Modest as morning, when shee coldly eyes the youthfull
Which is that god, in office guiding men,
Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon.
Agam. This Troyan scornes vs, or the men of Troy,
Are ceremonious Courtiers.
695Æne, Courtiers as free as debonaire, vnarm'd
As bending Angels, thats their fame in peace:
But when they would seeme soldiers, they haue galls,
Good armes, strong ioints, true swords, & great Ioues accord
Nothing so full of heart: but peace Æneas,
700Peace Troyan, lay thy finger on thy lips,
The worthinesse of praise distaines his worth,
If that the praisd him-selfe bring the praise forth.
But what the repining enemy commends,
That breath fame blowes, that praise sole pure transcends.
705Agam. Sir you of Troy, call you your selfe Æneas?
Æne. I Greeke, that is my name.
Agam. Whats your affaires I pray you?
Æne. Sir pardon, 'tis for Agamemnons eares.
Aga. He heeres naught priuately that comes from Troy.
Æne. Nor I from Troy come not to whisper with him,
I bring a trumpet to awake his eare,
To set his seat on that attentiue bent,
And then to speake.
715Agam. Speake frankly as the winde,
It is not Agamemnons sleeping houre;
That thou shalt know Troyan he is awake,
Hee tels thee so himselfe.
Æne. Trumpet blowe alowd,
720Send thy brasse voyce through all these lazie tents,
And euery Greeke of mettell let him know,
What Troy meanes fairely, shall be spoke alowd. Sound
We haue great Agamemnon heere in Troy,
725A Prince calld Hector, Priam is his father,
Who in his dull and long continued truce,
Is restie growne: He bad me take a Trumpet,
And to this purpose speake. Kings, Princes, Lords,
If there be one among the fair'st of Greece,
730That holds his honour higher then his ease,
And feeds his praise, more then he feares his perill,
That knowes his valour, and knowes not his feare,
That loues his Mistresse more then in confession,
(With truant vowes to her owne lips he loues)
735And dare avowe her beautie, and her worth,
In other armes then hers: to him this challenge;
Hector in view of Troyans and of Greekes,
Shall make it good, or do his best to do it:
He hath a Lady, wiser, fairer, truer,
740Then euer Greeke did couple in his armes,
And will tomorrow with his Trumpet call,
Mid-way betweene your tents and walls of Troy,
To rouze a Grecian that is true in loue:
If any come, Hector shall honor him:
745If none, heele say in Troy when he retires,
The Grecian dames are sun-burnt, and not worth
The splinter of a Launce. Euen so much.
Agam. This shall be told our louers Lord Æneas,
If none of them haue soule in such a kinde,
750We left them all at home, but we are souldiers,
And may that souldier a meere recreant prooue,
That meanes not, hath not, or is not in loue:
If then one is, or hath a meanes to be,
That one meetes Hector: if none else I am he.
755Nest. Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man
When Hectors grand-sire suckt. He is old now,
But if there be not in our Grecian hoste,
A noble man that hath no sparke of fire
To answer for his loue, tell him from me,
760Ile hide my siluer beard in a gould beauer,
And in my vambrace put my withered braunes
And meeting him tell him that my Lady,
Was fairer then his grandam, and as chast,
As may bee in the world, (his youth in flood)
765Ile proue this troth with my three drops of bloud,
Æne. Now heauens for-fend such scarcity of men.
Vlis. Amen: faire Lord Æneas let me touch your hand,
770To our pauilion shall I leade you sir;
Achilles shall haue word of this intent,
So shall each Lord of Greece from tent to tent,
Your selfe shall feast with vs before you goe,
And finde the welcome of a noble foe.
Vlis. Nestor. Nest. What saies Vlisses?
Vlis. I haue a yong conception in my braine,
Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
780Nest. What ist?
Vlis: Blunt wedges riue hard knots, the seeded pride,
That hath to this maturity blowne vp
In ranke Achilles, must or now be cropt,
785Or shedding breede a noursery of like euill,
To ouer-bulk vs all.
Nest. Well and how?
Vlis: This challeng that the gallant Hector sends,
How euer it is spread in generall name
790Relates in purpose onely to Achilles.
Nest. True the purpose is perspicuous as substance,
Whose grosenesse little characters sum vp:
And in the publication make no straine,
But that Achilles weare his braine, as barren,
795As banks of libia (though Apollo knowes
Tis dry enough) will with great speed of iudgement,
I with celerity finde Hectors purpose, pointing on him.
Vlis. And wake him to the answere thinke you?
800Nest. Why tis most meete; who may you elce oppose,
That can from Hector bring those honours off,
If not Achilles: though't be a sportfull combat,
Yet in the triall much opinion dwells:
For here the Troyans tast our deerst repute,
805With their fin'st pallat, and trust to me Ulisses
Our imputation shalbe odly poizde
In this vilde action, for the successe,
Although perticuler shall giue a scantling
Of good or bad vnto the generall,
810And in such indexes (although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes) there is seene,
The baby figure of the gyant masse,
Of things to come at large: It is suppos'd
He that meetes Hector, yssues from our choice,
815And choice (being mutuall act of all our soules)
Makes merit her election, and doth boyle,
(As twere from forth vs all) a man distill'd
Out of our vertues, who miscarrying,
What heart receiues from hence a conquering part,
820To steele a strong opinion to themselues.
Uliss. Giue pardon to my speech? therefore tis meete,
825Achilles meete not Hector, let vs like Marchants
First shew foule wares, and thinke perchance theile sell;
If not; the luster of the better shall exceed,
By shewing the worse first: do not consent,
830That euer Hector and Achilles meet,
For both our honour and our shame in this, are dog'd with
two strange followers.
Nest. I see them not with my old eyes what are they?
Vless. What glory our Achilles shares from Hector
835Were he not proud, we al! should share with him:
But he already is too insolent.
And it were better partch in Afrique Sunne,
Then in the pride and sault scorne of his eyes
Should he scape Hector faire. If he were foild,
840Why then we do our maine opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a lottry
And by deuise let blockish Aiax draw
The sort to fight with Hector, among ourselues,
Giue him allowance for the better man,
845For that will phisick the great Myrmidon,
Who broyles in loud applause, and make him fall,
His crest that prouder then blew Iris bends,
If the dull brainlesse Aiax come safe off
Weele dresse him vp in voices, if he faile
850Yet go we vnder our opinion still,
That we haue better men, but hit or misse,
Our proiects life this shape of sence assumes
Aiax imploy'd plucks downe Achilles plumes.
Nest. Now Vlisses I begin to relish thy aduise,
855And I will giue a taste thereof forthwith,
To Agamemnon, go we to him straight
Two curres shall tame each other, pride alone
Must arre the mastiffs on, as twere a bone.
Exeunt.
Enter Aiax and Thersites.
860Aiax. Thersites.
Ther. Agamemnon, how if he had biles, full, all ouer, gene-
rally.
Aiax. Thersites.
Ther: And those byles did run (say so), did not the gene-
865rall run then, were not that a botchy core.
Aiax. Dogge.
Ther. Then would come some matter from him, I see none
now.
Aia: Thou bitchwolfs son canst thou not heare, feele then.
Ther. The plague of Greece vpon thee thou mongrell beefe
witted Lord.
Aiax. Speake then thou vnsalted leauen, speake, I will beate
thee into hansomnesse.
875Ther. I shall sooner raile thee into wit and holinesse, but I
thinke thy horse will sooner cunne an oration without
booke, then thou learne praier without booke, thou canst
strike canst thou? a red murrion ath thy Iades trickes.
Aiax. Tode-stoole? learne me the proclamation.
880Ther: Doost thou thinke I haue no sence thou strikest mee
thus?
Aiax. The proclamation.
Ther: Thou art proclaim'd foole I thinke.
Aiax. Do not Porpentin, do not, my fingers itch:
Ther. I would thou didst itch from head to foote, and I had
885the scratching of the, I would make thee the lothsomest scab
in Greece, when thou art forth in the incursions thou strikest
886.1as slow as another.
Aiax. I say the proclamation.
Ther. Thou gromblest and raylest euery houre on Achil-
les, and thou art as full of enuy at his greatnesse, as Cerberus
890is at Proserpinas beauty, I that thou barkst at him.
Aiax. Mistres Thersites.
Ther. Thou shouldst strike him. AiaxCoblofe,
Hee would punne thee into shiuers with his fist, as a sayler
895breakes a bisket, you horson curre. Do? do?
Aiax: Thou stoole for a witch:
Ther. I, Do? do? thou sodden witted Lord, thou hast
no more braine then I haue in mine elbowes, an Asinico
900may tutor thee, you scuruy valiant asse, thou art heere but to
thrash Troyans, and thou art bought and sould among those
of any wit, like a Barbarian slaue. If thou vse to beate mee I
will beginne at thy heele, and tell what thou art by ynches,
thou thing of no bowells thou.
905Aiax. You dog: Ther. You scuruy Lord.
Aiax. You curre.
Ther. Mars his Idiot, do rudenesse, do Camel, do, do.
910Achil. Why how now Aiax wherefore do yee thus,
How now Thersites whats the matter man.
Ther. You see him there? do you?
Achil. I whats the matter. Ther: Nay looke vpon him.
915Achil: So I do, whats the matter?
Ther: Nay but regard him well.
Achil: Well, why so I do.
Ther: But yet you looke not well vpon him, for who some
euer you take him to be he is Aiax.
920Achil. I know that foole.
Ther. I but that foole knowes not himselfe.
Aiax: Therefore I beate thee.
Ther: Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he vtters, his eua-
sions haue eares thus long, I haue bobd his braine more then
925he has beate my bones. It will buy nine sparrowes for a pen-
ny, and his pia mater is not worth the ninth part of a spar-
row: this Lord (Achilles) Aiax, who weares his wit in his bel-
ly, and his guts in his head, I tell you what I say of him.
930Ach. What. Ther. I say this Aiax.
Achil. Nay good Aiax. Ther.Has not so much wit.
Achil. Nay I must hold you.
935Ther. As will stop the eye of Hellens needle, for whom
he comes to fight.
Achil.Peace foole?
Ther. I would haue peace and quietnesse, but the foole
will not, he there, that he: looke you there?
940Aiax. Oh thou damned curre I shall-------------
Achil. Will you set your wit to a fooles.
Ther. No I warrant you, the fooles will shame it.
Patro. Good words Thesites. Achil.Whats the quarrell.
945Aiax. I bad the vile oule goe learne mee the tenor of the
proclamation, and he railes vpon me.
Ther. I serue thee not? Aiax.Well, go to, go to.
Ther. I serue here voluntary.
950Achil. Your last seruice was suffrance: twas not voluntary,
no man is beaten voluntary, Aiax was here the voluntary,
and you as vnder an Impresse.
Ther. E'ene so, a great deale of your witte to, lies in your
sinnewes, or els there bee liers, Hector shall haue a great
955catch and knocke at either of your beains, a were as good
crack a fusty nut with no kernell.
Achil. What with me to Thersites.
Ther. Thers Vlisses and old Nestor, whose wit was mouldy
ere their grandsiers had nailes, yoke you like draught oxen,
960and make you plough vp the wars.
Achil. What? what?
Ther. Yes good sooth, to Achilles, to Aiax, to ------------
Aiax. I shall cut out your tongue.
Ther. Tis no matter, I shall speake as much as thou after-
Patro. No more words Thersites peace.
Ther. I will hold my peace when Achilles brooch bids me,
Achil. There's for you Patroclus.
970Ther. I will see you hang'd like Clatpoles, ere I come any
more to your tents, I will keepe where there is wit stirring,
and leaue the faction of fooles.
Exit.
Patro. A good riddance.
Achil. Marry this sir is proclaim'd through all our hoste,
975That Hector by the first houre of the Sunne:
Will with a trumpet twixt our Tents and Troy,
To morrow morning call some Knight to armes,
That hath a stomack, and such a one that dare,
Maintaine I know not what, (tis trash) farewell-------
980Aiax. Farewell, who shall answer him.
Achil. I know not, tis put to lottry, otherwise,
He knew his man.
Aiax. O meaning you? I will go learne more of it.
Enter Priam, Hector, Troylus, Paris and Helenus.
985Priam. After so many houres, liues, speeches spent,
Thus once againe saies Nestor from the Greckes:
Deliuer Hellen, (and all domage els,
As honour, losse of time, trauell, expence,
Wounds, friends and what els deere that is consum'd:
990In hot digestion of this cormorant warre)
Shalbe stroke off, Hector what say you to't?
Hect: Though no man lesser feares the Greekes then I
As farre as toucheth my particular: yet dread Priam
There is no Lady of more softer bowells,
995More spungy to suck in the sence of feare:
More ready to cry out, who knowes what followes
Then Hector is: the wound of peace is surely
Surely secure, but modest doubt is calld
The beacon of the wise, the tent that serches,
1000Too'th bottome of the worst let Hellen go,
Since the first sword was drawne about this question
Euery tith soule 'mongst many thousand dismes,
Hath beene as deere as Hellen. I meane of ours:
If we haue loste so many tenthes of ours,
1005To guard a thing not ours, nor worth to vs,
(Had it our name) the valew of one ten,
What merits in that reason which denies,
The yeelding of her vp?
Troy. Fie, fie, my brother,
1010Way you the worth and honour of a King:
So great as our dread fathers in a scale
Of common ounces? will you with Compters summe,
The past proportion of his infinite
And buckle in, a waste most fathomles,
1015With spanes and inches so dyminutue:
As feares and reasons: Fie for Godly shame?
Hele. No maruell though you bite so sharpe of reasons,
You are so empty of them should not our father;
Beare the great sway of his affaires with reason,
1020Because your speech hath none that tell him so?
Troy. You are for dreames and slumbers brother Priest,
You furre your gloues with reason, here are your reasons
You know an enemy intends you harme:
You know a sword imployde is perilous
1025And reason flies the obiect of all harme.
Who maruells then when Helenus beholds,
A Gretian and his sword, if he do set
The very wings of reason to his heeles,
1030And flie like chidden Mercury from Ioue
Or like a starre disorbd? nay if we talke of reason,
Sets shut our gates and sleepe: man-hood and honour,
Should haue hare hearts, would they but fat their thoughts
With this cram'd reason, reason and respect,
Make lyuers pale, and lustihood deiect.
1035Hect. Brother, shee is not worth, what shee doth cost the
keeping.
Troy. Whats aught but as tis valued.
Hect. But valew dwells not in perticuler will,
It holds his estimate and dignity,
1040As well wherein tis precious of it selfe
As in the prizer, tis madde Idolatry
To make the seruice greater then the God,
And the will dotes that is attributiue;
To what infectiously it selfe affects,
1045Without some image of th'affected merit,
Troy. I take to day a wife, and my election:
Is led on in the conduct of my will,
My will enkindled by mine eyes and eares,
Two traded pilots twixt the dangerous shore,
1050Of will and Iudgement: how may I auoyde?
(Although my will distast what it elected)
The wife I choose, there can be no euasion,
To blench from this and to stand firme by honor,
We turne not backe the silkes vpon the marchant
1055When we haue soild them, nor the remainder viands,
We do not throw in vnrespectue siue,
Because we now are full, it was thought meete
Pa is should do some vengeance on the Greekes.
Your breth with full consent bellied his sailes,
1060The seas and winds (old wranglers) tooke a ttuce:
And did him seruice, hee toucht the ports desir'd,
And for an old aunt whom the Greekes held Captiue,
He brought a Grecian Queene, whose youth and freshnesse,
Wrincles Apolloes, and makes pale the morning.
1065Why keepe we her? the Grecians keepe our Aunt,
Is she worth keeping? why shee is a pearle,
Whose price hath lansh't aboue a thousand ships:
And turn'd crown'd Kings to Marchants,
If youle auouch twas wisdome Paris went,
1070As you must needs, for you all cri'd go, go,
If youle confesse be brought home worthy prize:
As you must needs, for you all, clapt your hands,
And cry'd inestimable: why do you now
The yssue of your proper wisdomes rate,
1075And do a deed that neuer fortune did,
Begger the estimation, which you priz'd
Ritcher then sea and land? O theft most base,
That wee haue stolne, what we do feare to keepe,
But theeues vnworthy of a thing so stolne:
1080That in their country did them that disgrace,
We feare to warrant in our natiue place.
Enter Cassandra rauing.
Cass. Cry Troyans cry:
1085Priam. What noise? what shrike is this?
Troy. Tis our madde sister I do know her voice,
Cass. Cry Troyans. Hect.It is Crssandra!
Cass. Cry Troyans cry, lend me ten thousand eyes,
1090And I will fill them with prophetick teares.
Hect. Peace sister peace.
Cass. Virgins, and boyes, mid-age, and wrinckled elders,
Soft infancie, that nothing canst but crie,
Adde to my clamours: let vs pay be-times
1095A moytie of that masse of mone to come:
Crie Troyans crye, practise your eyes with teares,
Troy must not bee, nor goodly I lion stand.
Our fire-brand brother Paris burnes vs all,
Crie Troyans crie, a Helen and a woe,
1100Crie, crie, Troy burnes, or else let Hellen goe.
Exit.
Hect. Now youthfull Troylus, do not these high straines
Of diuination in our Sister, worke
Some touches of remorse? or is your bloud
So madly hott, that no discourse of reason,
1105Nor feare of bad successe in a bad cause,
Can qualifie the same?
Troy. Why brother Hector,
We may not thinke the iustnesse of each act
Such, and no other then euent doth forme it,
1110Nor once deiect the courage of our mindes,
Because Cassandra's madde, her brain-sick raptures
Cannot distast the goodnesse of a quarrell,
Which hath our seuerall honors all engag'd,
To make it gratious. For my priuate part,
1115I am no more toucht then all Priams sonnes:
And Ioue forbid there should be done amongst vs,
Such things as might offend the weakest spleene,
To fight for and maintaine.
Par. Else might the world conuince of leuitie,
1120As well my vnder-takings as your counsells,
But I attest the gods, your full consent,
Gaue wings to my propension, and cut off
All feares attending on so dire a proiect,
For what (alas) can these my single armes?
1125What propugnation is in one mans valour
To stand the push and enmitie of those
This quarrell would excite? Yet I protest
Were I alone to passe the difficulties,
And had as ample power, as I haue will,
1130Paris should nere retract, what he hath done,
Nor faint in the pursuite,
Pria. Paris you speake
Like one be-sotted on your sweet delights,
You haue the hony still, but these the gall,
1135So to be valiant, is no praise at all.
Par. Sir, I propose not meerly to my selfe,
The pleasures such a beautie brings with it,
But I would haue the soile of her faire rape,
Wip't of in honorable keeping her,
1140What treason were it to the ransackt queene,
Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me,
Now to deliuer her possession vp
On tearmes of base compulsion? can it be,
That so degenerate a straine as this,
1145Should once set footing in your generous bosomes?
There's not the meanest spirit on our party,
Without a heart to dare, or sword to drawe,
When Helen is defended: nor none so noble,
Whose life were ill bestowd, or death vnfam'd,
1150Where Helen is the subiect. Then I say,
Well may we fight for her, whom we know well,
The worlds large spaces cannot paralell.
Hect. Paris and Troylus, you haue both said well,
And on the cause and question now in hand,
1155Haue glozd, but superficially, not much
Vnlike young men, whom Aristotle thought
Vnfit to heere Morrall Philosophie;
The reasons you alleadge, do more conduce
To the hot passion of distempred blood,
1160Then to make vp a free determination
Twixt right and wrong: for pleasure and reuenge,
Haue eares more deafe then Adders to the voyce
Of any true decision. Nature craues
All dues be rendred to their owners. Now
1165What neerer debt in all humanitie,
Then wife is to the husband? if this lawe
Of nature be corrupted through affection
And that great mindes of partiall indulgence,
To their benummed wills resist the same,
1170There is a lawe in each well-orderd nation,
To curbe those raging appetites that are
Most disobedient and refracturie;
If Helen then be wife to Sparta's King,
As it is knowne she is, these morrall lawes
1175Of nature and of nations, speake alowd
To haue her back returnd: thus to persist
In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong,
But makes it much more heauie. Hectors opinion
Is this in way of truth: yet nere the lesse,
1180My spritely brethren, I propend to you
In resolution to keepe Helen still,
For 'tis a cause that hath no meane dependance,
Vpon our ioynt and seuerall dignities.
Tro. Why there you toucht the life of our designe:
1185Were it not glory that we more affected,
Then the performance of our heauing spleenes,
I would not wish a drop of Troyan bloud,
Spent more in her defence. But worthy Hector,
She is a theame of honour and renowne,
1190A spurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds,
Whose present courage may beate downe our foes,
And fame in time to come canonize vs,
For I presume braue Hector would not loose
So rich aduantage of a promisd glory,
1195As smiles vpon the fore-head of this action,
For the wide worlds reuenew.
Hect. I am yours,
You valiant offspring of great Priamus,
I haue a roisting challenge sent amongst
1200The dull and factious nobles of the Greekes,
VVill shrike amazement to their drowsie spirits,
I was aduertizd, their great generall slept,
VVhilst emulation in the armie crept:
This I presume will wake him.
Exeunt.
1205
Enter Thersites solus.
How now Thersites? what lost in the Labyrinth of thy
furie? shall the Elephant Aiax carry it thus? he beates me,
and I raile at him: O worthy satisfaction, would it were
otherwise: that I could beate him, whilst hee raild at mee:
1210Sfoote, Ile learne to coniure and raise Diuels, but Ile see
some issue of my spitefull execrations. Then ther's Achilles, a
rare inginer. If Troy bee not taken till these two vnder-
mine it, the walls will stand till they fall of them-selues.
O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget that thou
1215art Ioue the king of gods: and Mercury, loose all the Ser-
pentine craft of thy Caduceus, if yee take not that little
little lesse then little witte from them that they haue:
which short-armd Ignorance it selfe knowes is so aboun-
dant scarce, it will not in circumuention deliuer a flie from
1220a spider, without drawing their massie Irons, and cutting
the web. After this the vengeance on the whole campe,
or rather the Neopolitan bone-ache: for that me thinkes is
the curse depending on those that warre for a placket. I
haue said my prayers, and diuell Enuie say Amen. What ho
1225my Lord Achilles?
Patrocl. Whose there? Thersites? good Thersites come
in and raile.
Thersi. If I could a remembred a guilt counterfeit, thou
1230couldst not haue slipt out of my contemplation: but it is no
matter, thy selfe vpon thy selfe. The common curse of man-
kinde, Folly and Ignorance, be thine in great reuenew: Hea-
uen blesse thee from a tutor, and discipline come not neere
thee. Let thy bloud be thy direction till thy death: then if
1235she that layes thee out sayes thou art not a faire course, Ile
be sworne and sworne vpon't, shee neuer shrowded any but
lazars. Amen. Where's Achilles?
Patro. What art thou deuout? wast thou in prayer?
Thers. I the heauens heare me.
1240Patro. Amen. Enter Achilles.
Achil. Who's there?
Patro. Thersites, my Lord.
Achil. Where? where? O where? art thou come why my
cheese, my digestion, why hast thou not serued thy selfe into
1245my table, so many meales, come what's Agamemnon?
Ther. Thy commander Achilles, then tell me Patroclus,
whats Achilles?
Patro. Thy Lord Thersites. Then tell mee I pray thee,
what's Thersites?
1250Ther. Thy knower, Patroclus: then tell mee Patroclus,
what art thou?
Patro. Thou must tell that knowest.
Achil. O tell, tell.
Ther. Ile decline the whole question. Agamemnon com-
1255mands Achilles, Achilles is my Lord, I am Patroclus know-
er, and Patroclus is a foole.
Achil. Deriue this? come?
Ther. Agamemnon is a foole to offer to command Achil-
les, Achilles is a foole to be commanded. Thersites is a foole
1265to serue such a foole, and this Patroclus is a foole positiue.
Patr. Why am I a foole?
1270Ther. Make that demand of the Prouer, it suffices mee
thou art: looke you, who comes heere?
Enter Agam: Vliss: Nestor, Diomed, Aiax & Calcas.
Achil. Come Patroclus, Ile speake with nobody: come
in with me Thersites.
Ther. Here is such patcherie, such iugling, and such kna-
1275uery: all the argument is a whore, and a Cuckold, a good
quarrell to draw emulous factions, & bleed to death vpon.
Agam. Where is Achilles?
1280Patro. Within his tent, but ill disposd my Lord.
Aga. Let it be knowne to him, that we are heere,
He sate our messengers and we lay by,
Our appertainings, visiting of him
Let him be told so, least perchance he thinke,
1285We dare not moue the question of our place,
Or know not what we are.
Patro. I shall say so to him.
Vliss. We saw him at the opening of his tent,
Hee is not sick.
1290Aiax. Yes Lion sick, sick of proud heart, you may call it
melancholy if you will fauour the man. But by my head 'tis
pride: but why, why, let him shew vs a cause?
Nest. What mooues Aiax thus to bay at him?
1295Vliss. Achillis hath inuegled his foole from him,
Nest. Who Thersites? Vlis. He.
Nest. Thē wil Aiax lack matter, if he haue lost his argumẽt.
1300Vli. No, you see he is his argument, that has his argument
Achilles.
Nes. All the better, their fractiō is more our wish then theit
faction, but it was a strōg composure a foole could disunite.
1305Vli. The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may easily vnty,
Heere comes Patroclus.
Nest. No Achilles with him.
Vlis. The Elephant hath ioynts, but none for courtesie,
1310His legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure.
Patro. Achilles bids me say he is much sorry,
If any thing more then your sport and pleasure
Did mooue your greatnesse, and this noble state,
To call vpon him. He hopes it is no other
1315But for your health, and your disgestion sake,
An after dinners breath.
Agam. Heere you Patroclus:
We are too well acquainted with these answers,
But his euasion winged thus swift with scorne,
1320Cannot out-flie our apprehensions,
Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
Why we ascribe it to him. Yet all his vertues,
Not vertuously on his owne part beheld,
Doe in our eyes begin to lose their glosse,
1325Yea like faire fruite in an vnholsome dish,
Are like to rott vntasted. Go and tell him,
We come to speake with him, and you shall not sinne,
If you do say, we thinke him ouer-proud
And vnder-honest: in selfe assumption greater
1330Then in the note of iudgement. And worthier then himselfe
Heere tend the sauage strangenesse he puts on
Disguise, the holy strength of their commaund,
And vnder-write in an obseruing kinde,
His humorous predominance: yea watch
1335His course, and time, his ebbs and flowes, and if
The passage, and whole streame of his commencement,
Rode on his tide. Goe tell him this, and adde,
That if he ouer-hold his price so much,
Weele none of him. But let him like an engine,
1340Not portable, lye vnder this report.
Bring action hither, this cannot go to warre,
A stirring dwarfe we doe allowance giue,
Before a sleeping gyant. Tell him so.
Patr. I shall, and bring his answer presently.
1345Agam. In second voyce weele not be satisfied,
We come to speake with him: Vlisses entertaine.
Aiax. What is he more then another.
Agam, No more then what he thinkes he is.
1350Aiax. Is he so much: doe you not thinke he thinkes him-
selfe a better man then I am?
Agam. No question.
Aiax. Will you subscribe his thought, and say he is.
Agam. No noble Aiax, you are as strong, as valiant, as
1355wise, no lesse noble, much more gentle, and altogether
more tractable.
Aia. Why should a man be proud? how doth pride grow?
I know not what pride is.
Agam. Your minde is the cleerer, and your vertues the
1360fairer, hee that is proud eates vp him-selfe: Pride is his
owne glasse, his owne trumpet, his owne chronicle, and
what euer praises it selfe but in the deed, deuoures the
deed in the praise.
Enter Vlisses.
1365Aiax. I do hate a proud man, as I do hate the ingendring
of Toades.
Nest. And yet he loues himselfe, ist not strange?
Vlis. Achilles will not to the field to morrow.
Agam. Whats his excuse?
1370Vlis. He doth relye on none.
But carries on the streame of his dispose,
Without obseruance, or respect of any,
In will peculiar, and in selfe admission.
Agam. Why will he not vpon our faire request,
1375Vntent his person, and share th'ayre with vs.
Vlis. Things small as nothing, for requests sake onely,
He makes important, possest he is with greatnesse,
And speakes not to himselfe but with a pride,
That quarrels at selfe breath. Imagind worth,
1380Holds in his bloud such swolne and hott discourse,
That twixt his mentall and his actiue parts,
Kingdomd Achilles in commotion rages,
And batters downe himselfe. What should I say,
He is so plaguie proud, that the death tokens of it,
1385Crie no recouerie.
Agam. Let Aiax go to him,
Deare Lord, go you, and greete him in his tent,
'Tis said he holds you well, and will be lead,
At your request a little from himselfe.
1390Ulis. O Agamemnon let it not be so,
Weele consecrate the steps that Aiax makes,
When they go from Achilles: shall the proud Lord
That basts his arrogance with his owne seame,
And neuer suffers matter of the world
1395Enter his thoughts, saue such as doth reuolue,
And ruminate him-selfe: shall he be worshipt,
Of that we hold an idoll more then hee,
No: this thrice worthy and right valiant Lord,
Shall not so staule his palme nobly acquird,
1400Nor by my will assubiugate his merit,
As amply liked as Achilles is, by going to Achilles,
That were to enlard his fat already pride,
And adde more coles to Cancer when he burnes,
With entertaining great Hiperion,
1405This Lord go to him. Iupiter forbid,
And say in thunder Achilles go to him.
Nest. O this is well, he rubs the vaine of him.
Diom. And how his silence drinkes vp his applause,
Aia. If I go to him: with my armed fist ile push him ore the
Agam O no, you shall not goe,
Aia. And he be proud with me, Ile phese his pride,
Let me goe to him.
Vliss. Not for the worth that hangs vpon our quarrell.
1415Aiax. A paltry insolent fellow.
Nest. How he describes him selfe.
Aiax. Can he not be sociable.
Uliss. The Rauen chides blacknesse.
Aiax. Ile tell his humorous bloud.
1420Agam. Hee wil be the phisition, that should bee the paci-
ent.
Aiax. And all men were of my minde.
Vliss. Wit would bee out of fashion.
Aiax: A should not beare it so, a should eate swords first?
1425shall pride carry it?
Nest. And two'od yow'd carry halfe.
Aiax. A would haue ten shares. I will kneade him, Ile
make him supple, he's not yet through warme?
1430Nest. Force him with praiers poure in, poure, his ambition
is drie.
Vliss. My Lord you feed to much on this dislike.
Nest. Our noble generall do not do so?
Diom. You must prepare to fight without Achilles.
1435Vliss: Why tis this naming of him do's him harme,
Here is a man but tis before his face, I wil be silent.
Nest. Wherefore should you so?
He is not emulous as Achilles is.
1440Vliss. Know the whole world hee is as valiant-------------
Aiax. A hoarson dog that shall palter with vs thus, would
he were a Troyan?
Nest. What a vice were it in Aiax now:
Vliss: If hee were proude.
1445Diom. Or couetous of praise.
Vliss. I or surly borne.
Diom. Or strange or selfe affected.
Vliss: Thank the heauens Lord, thou art of sweet composure
Praise him that gat thee, shee that gaue thee suck:
1450Fam'd be thy tutor, and thy parts of nature,
Thrice fam'd beyond all thy erudition:
But hee that disciplind thine armes to fight,
Let Mars diuide eternity in twaine,
And giue him halfe, and for thy vigour:
1455Bull-bearing Milo his addition yeeld,
To sinowy Aiax, I will not praise thy wisdome,
Which like a boord: a pale, a shore confines
This spacious and dilated parts, here's Nestor,
Instructed by the antiquary times:
1460He must, he is, he cannot but be wise,
But pardon father Nestor were your daies
As greene as Aiax, and your braine so temper'd,
You should not haue the emynence of him,
But be as Aiax.
Aiax. Shall I call you father?
Nest. I my good Sonne.
Diom. Be ruld by him Lord Aiax.
Vliss. There is no tarrying here the Hart Achilles,
Keepes thicket, please it our great generall,
1470To call together all his state of warre,
Fresh Kings are come to Troy. To morrow
We must with all our maine of power stand fast,
And here's a Lord come Knights from East to West
And call their flower, Aiax shall cope the best.
1475Aga. Go we to counsell, let Achilles sleepe,
Light boates saile swift, though greater hulkes draw deepe.
(Exeunt.
Enter Pandarus.
Pan. Friend you, pray you a word, doe you not follow the
1480yong Lord Paris.
Man. I sir when he goes before mee.
Pan. You depend vpon him I meane.
Man. Sir I do depend vpon the Lord.
Pan. You depend vpon a notable gentleman I must needs
1485praise him.
Man. The Lord be praized?
Pan. You know me? doe you not?
Man. Faith sir superficially.
Pan. Friend know mee better, I am the Lord Pandarus.
1490Man. I hope I shall know your honour better?
Pan. I do desire it.
Man. You are in the state of grace?
Pan. Grace? not so friend, honour and Lordship are my ti-
tles, what musicke is this?
1495Man. I do but partly know sir, it is musick in partes.
Pan. Know you the musicians?
Man. Wholy sir. Pan. Who play they to?
Man. To the hearers sir.
1500Pan. At whose pleasure friend?
Man. At mine sir, and theirs that loue musicke.
Pan. Command I meane:
Man. Who shall I command sir?
Pan. Friend we vnderstand not one another, I am to court-
1505ly and thou to cunning, at whose request do these men play?
Man. Thats to't indeed sir? marry sir, at the request of Pa-
ris my Lord, who is there in person, with him the mortall
Venus, the heart bloud of beauty, loues inuisible soule:
Pan. Who my cozen Cressida.
Man. No sir, Hellen, could not you finde out that by her at-
tributes.
Pan. It should seeme fellow thou hast not seene the Lady
1515Cressid I come to speake with Paris, from the Prince Troy-
lus. I will make a complementall assault vpon him for my
businesse seeth's.
Man. Sodden businesse, theirs a stew'd phrase indeed.
Enter Paris and Hellen.
1520Pan. Faire be to you my Lord, and to al this faire company,
faire desires in all faire measure fairlie guide them, especially
to you faire Queene faire thoughts be your faire pillow.
Hel Dere Lord you are full of faire words:
1525Pan. You speake your faire pleasure sweet Queene,
Faire Prince here is good broken musicke.
Par. You haue broke it cozen: and by my life you shall
make it whole againe, you shall peece it out with a peece of
your performance.
Nel. he is full of harmony:
1530Pan: Truely Lady no: Hel: O sir:
Pan: Rude in sooth, in good sooth very rude.
Paris: Well said my Lord, well, you say so in fits:
Pan. I haue businesse to my Lord deere Queene? my Lord
1535will you vouchsafe me a word.
Hel. Nay this shall not hedge vs out, weele here you sing
certainely:
Pan: Well sweete Queene you are pleasant with mee, but,
marry thus my Lord my deere Lord, and most esteemed
1540friend your brother Troylus.
Hel. My Lord Pandarus hony sweet Lord,
Pan. Go too sweet Queene, go to?
Comends himselfe most affectionatly to you.
Hel. You shall not bob vs out of our melody,
1545If you do our melancholy vpon your head.
Pan. Sweet Queene, sweet Queene, thats a sweet Queene
I faith----------
Hel. And to make a sweet Lady sad is a sower offence.
Pan. Nay that shall not serue your turne, that shall it not
1550in truth la? Nay I care not for such words, no, no. And my
Lord hee desires you that if the King call for him at super.
You will make his excuse.
Hel. My Lord Pandarus.
Pan. What saies my sweete Queenem,y very very sweet
1555Queene?
Par. What exploit's in hand, where suppes he tonight?
Hel. Nay but my Lord?
Pan What saies my sweet Queene? my cozen will fall out
with you.
1560Hel. You must not know where he sups.
Par. Ile lay my life with my disposer Cresseida.
Pan. No, no? no such matter you are wide, come your
disposer is sicke.
Par. Well ile makes excuse?
1565Pan. I good my Lord, why should you say Cresseida, no,
your disposers sick.
Par. I spie?
Pan. You spy? what doe you spie? come, giue mee an in-
strument, now sweete Queene:
1570Hel. Why this is kindely done?
Pan. My Neece is horribly in loue with a thing you haue
sweete Queene.
Hel. Shee shall haue it my Lord, if it bee not my Lord
Paris.
1575Pand. Hee? no? sheele none of him, they two are
tawine.
Hel. Falling in after falling out may make them three.
Pand. Come, come, Ile heare no more of this, Ile sing you a
song now.
1580Hell: I, I, prethee, now by my troth sweet lad thou haste a
fine fore-head.
Pand: I you may, you may.
Hell: Let thy song be loue: this loue will vndoe vs all. Oh
Cupid, Cupid, Cupid.
1585Pand: Loue? I that it shall yfaith.
Par: I good now loue, loue, nothing but loue.
Pand: Loue, loue, nothing but loue,still loue still more:
For o loues bow. Shoots Bucke and Doe.
The shafts confound not that it wounds
But ticles still the sore:
These louers cry, oh ho they dye,
Yet that which seemes the wound to kill,
1595Doth turne oh ho, to ha ha he,
So dying loue liues still,
O ho a while, but ha ha ha,
O ho grones out for ha ha ha ---- hey ho,
Hell: In loue I faith to the very tip of the nose.
1600Par. He eates nothing but doues loue, and that breeds hot
blood, and hot bloud begets hot thoughts, and hot thoughts
beget hot deedes, and hot deeds is loue.
Pand. Is this the generation of loue: hot bloud hot
thoughts and hot deedes, why they are vipers, is loue a ge-
1605neration of vipers:
Sweete Lord whose a field to day?
Par: Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Anthenor, and all the gal-
lantry of Troy.. I would faine haue arm'd to day, but my Nell
would not haue it so.
1610How chance my brother Troylus went not?
Hell: He hangs the lippe at something, you know al Lord
Pandarus.
Pand: Not I hony sweete Queene, I long to heare how
they sped to day:
1615Youle remember your brothers excuse?
Par: To a hayre.
Pand: Farewell sweete Queene.
Hell. Commend me to your neece.
Pand. I will sweet Queene.
Sound a retreat?
1620Par: Their come from the field: let vs to Priames Hall
To greete the warriers. Sweet Hellen I must woe you,
To helpe vn-arme our Hector: his stubborne bucles
With this your white enchaunting fingers toucht;
Shall more obey then to the edge of steele,
1625Or force of Greekish sinewes: you shall do more
Then all the Iland Kinges, disarme great Hector.
Hell: Twil make vs proud to be his seruant Paris}?
Yea what he shall receiue of vs in duty,
Giues vs more palme in beauty then we haue.
1630Yea ouershines our selfe.
Par: Sweet aboue thought I loue her?
Exeunt.
Enter. Pandarus Troylus, man.
Pand: How now wher's thy maister, at my Cousin Cressidas?
1635Man: No sir stayes for you to conduct him thether.
Pand: O heere he comes? how now, how now?
Troy: Sirra walke off.
Pand: Haue you seene my Cousine?
1640Troy: No Pandarus, I stalke about her dore
Like to a strange soule vpon the Stigian bankes
Staying for waftage. O be thou my Charon.
And giue me swift transportance to these fieldes,
VVhere I may wallow in the lilly beds
1645Propos'd for the deseruer. O gentle Pandar,
From Cupids shoulder plucke his painted wings,
And flye with me to Cressid.
Pand: VValke heere ith'Orchard, Ile bring her straight.
1650Troy: I am giddy; expectation whirles me round,
Th'ymaginary relish is so sweete,
That it inchaunts my sence: what will it be
When that the watry pallats taste indeed
Loues thrice repured Nectar? Death I feare me
1655Sounding distruction, or some ioy to fyne,
To subtill, potent, tun'd to sharp in sweetnesse
For the capacity of my ruder powers;
I feare it much, and I doe feare besides
That I shall loose distinction in my ioyes
1660As doth a battaile, when they charge on heapes
The enemy flying.
Pand. Shees making her ready, sheele come straight, you
must be witty now, she does so blush, and fetches her wind so
short as if shee were fraid with a spirite: Ile fetch her; it is the
1665prettiest villaine, she fetches her breath as short as a new tane
sparrow.
Troy: Euen such a passion doth imbrace my bosome,
My heart beats thicker then a feauorous pulse,
And all my powers do their bestowing loose
1670Like vassalage at vnwares encountring
the eye of maiesty.
Enter pandar and Cressid.
Pand. Come, come, what need you blush?
Shames a babie; heere shee is now, sweare the othes now to
1675her that you haue sworne to me: what are you gone againe,
you must be watcht ere you be made tame, must you? come
your waies come your waies, and you draw backward weele
put you ith filles: why doe you not speake to her. Come
draw this curtaine, and lets see your picture; alasse the day?
1680how loath you are to offend daylight; and twere darke youd
close sooner: so so, rub on and kisse the mistresse; how now
a kisse in fee-farme: build there Carpenter, the ayre is sweet.
Nay, you shall fight your hearts out ere I part you. The faul-
con, as the tercell: for all the ducks ith riuer: go too, go too.
Troy: You haue bereft me of all wordes Lady.
Pand: Words pay no debts; giue her deeds: but sheele be-
reaue you ath' deeds too if she call your actiuity in question:
what billing again: heeres in witnesse whereof the parties in-
1690terchangeably. Come in come in Ile go get a fire?
Cres. Will you walke in my Lord?
Troy. O Cressed how often haue I wisht me thus.
Cres. Wisht my Lord? the gods graunt? O my Lord?
1695Troy. What should they graunt? what makes this pretty ab-
ruption: what to curious dreg espies my sweete lady in the
fountaine of our loue?
Cres. More dregs then water if my teares haue eyes.
Troy. Feares make diuels of Cherubins, they neuer see truly.
Cres. Blind feare that seeing reason leads, finds safer foo-
ting, then blind reason, stumbling without feare: to feare
the worst oft cures the worse.
Troy. O let my Lady apprehend no feare,
1705In all Cupids pageant there is presented no monster.
Cres. Nor nothing monstrous neither.
Troy. Nothing but our vndertakings, when wee vow to
weepe seas, liue in fire, eate rockes, tame Tygers, thin-
king it harder for our mistresse to deuise imposition ynough
1710then for vs to vndergoe any difficulty imposed. --
This the monstruosity in loue Lady, that the will is infinite
and the execution confind, that the desire is boundlesse, and
the act a slaue to lymite.
Cres. They say all louers sweare more performance then
1715they are able, and yet reserue an ability that they neuer
performe: vowing more then the perfection of ten: and dis-
charging lesse then the tenth part of one. They that haue
the voyce of Lyons, and the act of Hares are they not mon-
sters?
1720Troy. Are there such: such are not we; Praise vs as wee
are tasted, allow vs as we proue: our head shall goe bare till
merit louer part no affection in reuersion shall haue a praise
in present: we will not name desert before his birth, and be-
ing borne, his addition shall bee humble: few wordes
1725to faire faith. Troylus shall be such to Cressid, as what en-
uy can say worst shall bee a mocke for his truth, and what
truth can speake truest not truer then Troylus.
Cres. Will you walke in my Lord?
Pand. What blushing still, haue you not done talking yet?
Cres. VVell Vncle what folly I commit I dedicate to
you.
1735Pand. I thanke you for that, if my Lord gette a boy of you,
youle giue him me: be true to my Lord, if he flinch chide me
for it.
Troy: You know now your hostages, your Vncles word and
my firme faith.
1740Pand. Nay Ile giue my word for her too: our kindred
though they be long ere they bee woed, they are constant
being wonne, they are burres I can tell you, theyle sticke
where they are throwne.
Cres. Bouldnesse comes to me now and brings me heart:
1745Prince Troylus I haue loued you night and day, for many
weary moneths.
Troy: Why was my Cressid then so hard to wyn?
Cres: Hard to seeme wonne: but I was wonne my Lord
With the first glance; that euer pardon me
1750If I confesse much you will play the tyrant,
I loue you now, but till now not so much
But I might maister it; in faith I lye,
My thoughts were like vnbrideled children grone
Too headstrong for their mother: see wee fooles,
1755VVhy haue I blab'd: who shall be true to vs
VVhen we are so vnsecret to ourselues.
But though I loue'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. Sweete bid me hold my tongue,
For in this rapture I shall surely speake
The thing I shall repent: see see your sylence
Comming in dumbnesse, from my weaknesse drawes
My very soule of councell. Stop my mouth.
1765Troy: And shall, albeit sweet musique issues thence.
Pand. Pretty yfaith.
Cres. My Lord I doe beseech you pardon me,
Twas not my purpose thus to begge 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 morning.
Cres: Pray you content you. Troy:What offends you Lady?
Cres. sir mine own company.
Troy: You cannot shun your selfe.
Cres: Let me goe and try:
I haue a kind of selfe recids with you:
1780But an vnkinde selfe, that it selfe will leaue,
To be anothers foole. I would be gone:
Where is my wit? I know not what I speake,
Tro. Well know they what they speake, that speake so
1785Cres. Perchance my Lord I show 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,
Exceeds mans might that dwells with gods aboue,
1790Tro. O that I thought it could be in a woman.
As if it can I will presume in you,
To feed for age her lampe and flames of loue.
To keepe her constancy in plight and youth.
Out-liuing beauties outward, with a mind,
1795That doth renew swifter then blood decays,
Or that persuasion could but thus conuince me,
That my integrity and truth to you,
Might be affronted with the match and waight,
Of such a winnowed purity in loue,
1800How were I then vp-lifted! but alasse,
I am as true as truths simplicity,
And simpler then the infancy of truth.
Cres. In that ile war with you, Tro. O vertuous fight,
1805When right with right warres who shalbe most right,
True swains in loue shall in the world to come
Approue their trueth by Troylus, when their rimes,
Full of protest, of oath and big compare,
Wants simele's truth tyrd 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,
After all comparisons of truth.
(As truths anthentique author to be cited)
1815As true as Troylus, shall croune vp the verse,
And sanctifie the nombers,
Cres. Prophet may you bee,
If I bee falce or swarue a hayre from truth,
When time is ould or hath forgot it selfe,
1820When water drops haue worne the stones of Troy,
And blind obliuion swallowd Citties vp.
And mighty states character-les are grated,
To dusty nothing, yet let memory,
From falce to falce among falce mayds in loue,
1825Vpbraid my falcehood, when th'haue said as falce,
As ayre, as water, wind or sandy earth,
As Fox to Lambe; or Wolfe to Heifers Calfe,
Pard to the Hind, or stepdame to her Sonne,
Yea let them say to sticke the heart of falsehood,
1830As false as Cressid.
Pand. Go to a bargaine made, seale it, seale it ile bee the
witnes here I hold your hand, here my Cozens, if euer you
proue false one, to another since I haue taken such paine to
bring you together let all pittifull goers betweene be cald
1835to the worlds end after my name, call them all Panders, let
all constant men be Troylusses all false woemen Cressids, and
all brokers betweene panders; say Amen.
Tro. Amen. Cre. Amen.
Pan. Amen.
Wherevpon I will shew you a Chamber, which bed be-
cause it shall not speake of your prety encounters presse it to
death; away.
Exeunt.
1845And Cupid grant all tong-tide maydens here,
Bed, chamber, Pander to prouide this geere.
Exit.
Enter Vlisses, Diomed, Nestor, Agamem, Chalcas.
Cal Now Princes for the seruice I haue done,
1850Th'aduantage of the time prompts me aloud,
To call for recompence: appere it to mind,
That through the sight I beare in things to loue,
I haue abandond Troy, left my possession,
Incurd a traytors name, exposd my selfe,
1855From certaine and possest conueniences,
To doubtfull fortunes, sequestring from me all,
That time acquaintance, custome and condition,
Made tame, and most familiar to my nature:
And here to doe you seruice am become,
1860As new into the world, strange, vnacquainted,
I do beseech you as in way of tast,
To giue me now a little benefit.
Out of those many registred in promise,
Which you say liue to come in my behalfe:
1865Aga. What wouldst thou of vs Troian? make demand?
Calc. You haue a Troian prisoner cald Antenor,
Yesterday tooke, Troy holds him very deere.
Oft haue you (often haue you thankes therefore)
1870Desird my Cressed in right great exchange.
Whom Troy hath still deni'd, but this Anthenor,
I know is such a wrest in their affaires:
That their negotiations all must slacke,
Wanting his mannage and they will almost,
1875Giue vs a Prince of blood a Sonne of Pryam,
In change of him. Let him be sent great Princes,
And he shall buy my daughter: and her presence,
Shall quite strike of all seruice I haue done,
In most accepted paine.
1880Aga. Let Diomedes beare him,
And bring vs Cressid hither, Calcas shall haue
What he requests of vs: good Diomed
Furnish you farely for this enterchange,
Withall bring word If Hector will to morrow,
1885Bee answered in his challenge. Aiax is ready.
Dio. This shall I vndertake, and tis a burthen
Which I am proud to bcare.
Exit,
Achilles and Patro stand in their tent.
Uli. Achilles stands ith entrance of his tent,
1890Please it our generall passe strangely by him:
As if he were forgot, and princes all,
Lay negligent and loose regard vpon him,
I will come last, tis like heele question mee.
Why such vnpaulsiue eyes are bent? why turnd on him,
1895If so I haue derision medecinable,
To vse betweene your strangnes and his pride,
Which his owne will shall haue desire to drinke,
It may doe good, pride hath no other glasse,
To show it selfe but pride: for supple knees,
1900Feed arrogance and are the proud mans fees.
Aga. Weele execute your purpose and put on,
A forme of strangnesse as we pas along,
So do each Lord, and either greet him not
Or els disdaynfully, which shall shake him more:
1905Then if not lookt on. I will lead the way.
Achil. What comes the generall to speake with mee?
You know my minde Ile fight no more 'gainst Troy.
Aga. What saies Achilles would he ought with vs?
Nest. Would you my Lord ought with the generall.
1910Achil. No.
Nest. Nothing my Lord:
Aga. The better.
Achil. Good day, good day:
Men. How do you? how do you?
1915Achil. What do's the Cnckould scorne me?
Aiax. How now Patroclus?
Achil. Good morrow Aiax?
Aiax. Ha:
Achil. Good morrow.
1920Aiax. I and good next day too.
Exeunt.
Ach. What meane these fellowes know they not Achilles?
Patro. They passe by strangely: they were vs'd to bend,
To send their smiles before them to Achilles:
1925To come as humbly as they vsd to creep, to holy aultars:
Achil. What am I poore of late?
Tis certaine, greatnesse once falne out with fortune,
Must fall out with men to, what the declin'd is,
He shall as soone reade in the eyes of others
1930As feele in his owne fall: for men like butter-flies
Shew not their mealy wings but to the Summer,
And not a man for being simply man,
Hath any honour, but honour for those honours
That are without him, as place, ritches, and fauour,
1935Prizes of accident as oft as merit
Which when they fall as being slipery standers,
The loue that lean'd on them as slipery too,
Doth one pluck downe another, and together, die in the fall,
But tis not so with mee,
1940Fortune and I are friends, I do enioy:
At ample point all that I did possesse,
Saue these mens lookes, who do me thinkes finde out:
Some thing not worth in me such ritch beholding,
As they haue often giuen. Here is Vlisses
1945Ile interrupt his reading, how now Vlisses?
Vliss. Now great Thetis Sonne.
Achil. What are you reading?
Vliss. A strange fellow here,
Writes me that man, how derely euer parted:
1950How much in hauing or without or in
Cannot, make bost to haue that which he hath,
Nor feeles not what he owes but by reflection:
As when his vertues ayming vpon others,
Heate them and they retort that heate againe
1955To the first giuers.
Achil. This is not strange Vlisses,
The beauty that is borne here in the face:
The bearer knowes not, but commends it selfe.
1958.1To others eyes, nor doth the eye it selfe
That most pure spirit of sence, behold it selfe
Not going from it selfe: but eye to eye opposed,
1960Sallutes each other, with each others forme.
For speculation turnes not to it selfe,
Till it hath trauel'd and is married there?
Where it may see it selfe: this is not strange at all.
Uliss. I do not straine at the position,
1965It is familiar, but at the authors drift,
Who in his circumstance expressly prooues,
That no man is the Lord of any thing:
Though in and of him there be much consisting,
Till he communicate his parts to others,
1970Nor doth hee of himselfe know them for aught:
Till he behold them formed in the applause.
Where th'are extended: who like an arch reuerb'rate
The voice againe or like a gate of steele:
Fronting the Sunne, receiues and renders back
1975His figure and his heate. I was much rap't in this,
And apprehended here immediately,
Th'vnknowne Aiax, heauens what a man is there?
A very horse, that has he knowes not what
Nature what things there are.
1980Most obiect in regard, and deere in vse,
What things againe most deere in the esteeme:
And poore in worth, now shall we see to morrow,
An act that very chance doth throw vpon him
Aiax renown'd? O heauens what some men doe,
1985While some men leaue to doe.
How some men creepe in skittish fortunes hall,
Whiles others play the Ideots in her eyes,
How one man eates into anothers pride,
While pride is fasting in his wantonesse.
1990To see these Grecian Lords, why euen already:
They clap the lubber Aiax on the shoulder
As if his foote were one braue Hectors brest,
And great Troy shriking.
Achill. I doe beleeue it,
1995For they past by me as misers do by beggars,
Neither gaue to me good word nor looke:
What are my deeds forgot?
Vliss. Time hath (my Lord) a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts almes for obliuion:
2000A great siz'd monster of ingratitudes,
Those scraps are good deeds past,
Which are deuour'd as fast as they are made,
Forgot as soone as done, perseuerance deere my Lord:
Keepes honour bright, to haue done, is to hang,
2005Quite out of fashion like a rusty male,
In monumentall mockry? take the instant way,
For honour trauells in a straight so narrow:
Where on but goes a brest, keepe then the path
For emulation hath a thousand Sonnes,
2010That one by one pursue, if you giue way,
Or turne a side from the direct forth right:
Like to an entred tide they all rush by,
And leaue you him, most, then what they do in present:
Though lesse then yours in passe, must ore top yours.
For time is like a fashionable hoast,
That slightly shakes his parting guest by th'hand,
2020And with his armes out-stretcht as he would flie,
Graspes in the commer: the welcome euer smiles,
And farewell goes out sighing. Let not vertue seeke,
Remuneration for the thing it was. For beauty, wit,
High birth, vigor of bone, desert in seruice,
2025Loue, friendship, charity, are subiects all,
To enuious and calumniatig time.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
That all with one consent praise new-borne gaudes,
Though they are made and moulded of things past,
2030And goe to dust, that is a little guilt,
More laud then guilt ore-dusted.
The present eye praises the present obiect.
Then maruell not thou great and complet man,
That all the Greekes begin to worship Aiax;
2035Since things in motion sooner catch the eye,
That what stirs not. The crie went once on thee,
And still it might, and yet it may againe,
If thou wouldst not entombe thy selfe aliue,
And case thy reputation in thy tent,
2040Whose glorious deeds but in these fields of late,
Made emulous missions mongst the gods them selues
And draue great Mars to faction.
Achil. Of this my priuacie,
I haue strong reasons.
2045Vlis. But gainst your priuacie,
The reasons are more potent and heroycall:
Tis knowne Achilles that you are in loue
With one of Priams daughters.
Achil. Ha? knowne.
2050Ulis. Is that a wonder:
The prouidencc thats in a watchfull state,
Knowes almost euery thing,
Findes bottom in the vncomprehensiue depth,
Keepes place with thought and almost like the gods,
2055Do thoughts vnuaile in their dumbe cradles.
There is a mysterie (with whom relation
Durst neuer meddle) in the soule of state,
Which hath an operation more diuine,
Then breath or pen can giue expressure to:
2060All the commerse that you haue had with Troy,
As perfectly is ours, as yours my Lord,
And better would it fitt Achilles much,
To throw downe Hector then Polixena.
But it must grieue young Pirhus now at home,
2065When fame shall in our Ilands sound her trumpe,
And all the Greekish girles shall tripping sing,
Great Hectors sister did Achilles winne,
But our great Aiax brauely beate downe him:
Farewell my Lord: I as your louer speake,
2070The foole slides ore the Ice that you should breake.
Patr. To this effect Achilles haue I moou'd you,
A woman impudent and mannish growne,
Is not more loth'd then an effeminate man
In time of action: I stand condemnd for this
2075They thinke my little stomack to the warre,
And your great loue to me, restraines you thus,
Sweete rouse your selfe, and the weake wanton Cupid,
Shall from your neck vnloose his amorous fould,
And like dewdrop from the Lions mane,
2080Be shooke to ayre.
Ach. Shall Aiax fight with Hector.
Patro. I and perhaps receiue much honor by him.
Achil. I see my reputation is at stake,
My fame is shrowdly gor'd.
2085Patro. O then beware.
Those wounds heale ill, that men do giue themselues,
Omission to doe what is necessary.
Seales a commission to a blanke of danger,
And danger like an ague subtly taints
2090Euen then when they sit idely in the sunne.
Achil. Go call Thersites hether sweet Patroclus,
Ile send the foole to Aiax, and desire him
T''inuite the Troyan lords after the combate,
To see vs heere vnarmd. I haue a womans longing,
2095An appetite that I am sick with-all,
To see great Hector in his weeds of peace,
To talke with him, and to behold his visage,
Euen to my full of view. A labour sau'd.
2098.1
Enter Thersites.
Thersi. A wonder. Achil. What?
Thersi. Aiax goes vp and downe the field asking for
himselfe.
Achil. How so?
Thersi. He must fight singly to morrow with Hector, and
2105is so prophetically proud of an heroycall cudgeling, that
he raues in saying nothing.
Achil. How can that be?
Thersi. Why a stalkes vp and downe like a peacock, a
stride and a stand: ruminates like an hostisse, that hath no
2110Arithmatique but her braine to set downe her reckoning:
bites his lip with a politique regarde, as who should say
there were witte in this head and twoo'd out: and so there
is. But it lyes as coldly in him, as fire in a flint, which will
not show without knocking, the mans vndone for euer, for
2115if Hector breake not his neck ith' combate, hee'le breakt
himselfe in vaine glory. Hee knowes not mee. I sayd
good morrow Aiax: And hee replyes thankes Agamem-
non. What thinke you of this man that takes mee for the
Generall? Hees growne a very land-fish languagelesse, a
2120monster, a plague of opinion, a man may weare it on both
sides like a lether Ierkin.
Achil. Thou must be my Ambassador Thersites.
Thersi. Who I: why heele answer no body: hee profef-
2125ses not answering, speaking is for beggers: he weares his
tongue in's armes. I will put on his presence, let Patroclus
make demands to me. You shall see the pageant of Aiax.
Achil. To him Patroclus, tell him I humbly desire the va-
2130liant Aiax, to inuite the valorous Hector to come vnarm'd
to my tent, and to procure safe-conduct for his person, of
the magnanimous and most illustrious, sixe or seauen times
honour'd Captaine Generall of the armie. Agamemnon,
do this.
2135Patro. Ioue blesse great Aiax. Thers. Hum.
Patr. I comc from the worthy Achilles.
Thers. Ha?
Patr. Who most humbly desires you to inuite Hector to
2140Thers. Hum?
Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Agamemnon.
Thers. Agamemnon?
Patr. I my Lord. Thers. Ha?
Patr. What say you too't.
Thers. God buy you with all my heart.
Patr. Your answer sir.
Thers. If to morrow be a faire day, by a leuen of the clock
2150it will goe one way or other, howsoeuer he shall pay for me
ere hee ha's me.
Patr. Your answer sir.
Thers. Fare yee well with all my heart.
Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?
2155Thers. No: but out of tune thus. What musick will be in
him, when Hector ha's knockt out his braines, I know not.
But I am sure none, vnlesse the fidler Apollo get his sinnews
to make Catlings on.
Achil. Come, thou shalt beare a letter to him straight.
Thers. Let mee beare another to his horse, for thats the
more capable creature.
Achil. My minde is troubled like a fountaine stird,
And I myselse see not the bottome of it.
2165Thers. Would the fountaine of your minde were cleere
againe, that I might water an Asse at it, I had rather be a tick
in a sheepe, then such a valiant ignorance.
Enter at one doore Æneas, at another Paris, Deiphobus,
Autemor, Diomed the Grecian with torches.
Paris. See ho? who is that there?
Deiph. It is the Lord Æneas.
Æne. Is the Prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lye long
2175As your prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse,
Should rob my bed mate of my company.
Dio. That's my minde too? good morrow Lord Æneas.
Paris. A valiant Greeke Æneas take his hand.
2180Witnesse the processe of your speech: wherein
You told how Dyomed a whole weeke by daies,
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 black defiance,
As heart can thinke or courage execute.
Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,
Our blouds are now in calme, and so long helth:
Lul'd when contention, and occasion meete,
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 flie,
With his face back-ward, in humane gentlenesse:
Welcome to Troy, now by Anchises life,
2195Welcome indeed: by Uenus hand I swere:
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 die:
With euery ioynt a wound and that to morrow------
Æne. We know each other well?
Diom. We do and long to know each other worse.
2205Par. This is the most despightfull gentle greeting,
The noblest hatefull loue that ere I heard of, what businesse
Lord so earely?
Æne. I was sent for to the King? but why I know not.
Par. His purpose meetes you? twas to bring this Greeke,
2210To Calcho's house, and there to render him:
For the enfreed Anthenor the faire Cressid,
Lets haue your company, or if you please,
Hast there before vs. I constantly beleeue,
(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)
2215My brother Troylus lodges there to night,
Rouse him and giue him note of our approch,
With the whole quality wherefore:
I feare we shall be much vnwelcome.
Æneas. That I assure you: Troylus had rather Troy were
2220borne to Greece, then Cresseid borne from Troy.
Paris. There is no helpe.
The bitter disposition of the time will haue it so:
On Lord, weele follow you.
2225Æneas. Good morrow all.
Paris. And tell me noble Diomed, faith tell me true,
Euen in soule of sound good fellowship,
Who in your thoughts, deserues faire Helen best,
My selfe, or Menelaus.
2230Diom. Both alike.
Hee merits well to haue her that doth seeke her,
Not making any scruple of her soyle,
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 pleasd to breed out your inheritors,
Both merits poyzd, each weighs nor lesse nor more,
But he as he, the heauier for a whore.
Paris. You are too bitter to your country-woman
Diom. Shees bitter to her country, heare me Paris,
2245For euery falfe drop in her bawdy veines,
A Grecians life hath sunke: for euery scruple
Of her contaminated carrion waight,
A Troyan hath beene slaine. Since she could speake,
Shee hath not giuen so many good words breath,
2250As for her Greekes and Troyans suffred death.
Paris. Faire Diomed you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that they desire to buy,
But we in silence hold this vertue well,
Weele not commend, what wee intend to sell. Heere lyes
2255our way.
Exeunt.
Enter Troylus and Cresseida.
Troy. Deere, trouble not your selfe, the morne is colde.
Cres. Then sweet my Lord ile call mine vnckle downe,
Hee shall vnbolt the gates.
2260Troyl. Trouble him not.
To bed to bed: sleepe kill those pritty eyes,
And giue as soft attachment to thy sences,
As infants empty of all thought.
Cres. Good morrow then.
2265Troyl. I prithee now to bed.
Cres. Are you a weary of me?
Troyl. O Cresseida! but that the busie day,
Wak't by the Larke hath rouzd the ribald Crowes,
And dreaming night will hide our ioyes no longer,
2270I would not from thee.
Cres. Night hath beene too briefe.
Tro. Beshrew the witch! with venemous wights she staies
As tediously as hell, But flies the graspes of loue,
With wings more momentary swift then thought,
2275You will catch colde and curse me.
Cres. Prithee tarry, you men will neuer tarry,
O foolish Cresseid, I might haue still held of,
And then you would haue tarried. Harke ther's one vp.
Pand. Whats all the doorcs open heere?
2280Troyl. It is your Vncle.
Cres. A pestilence on him: now will he be mocking:
I shall haue such a life.
Pand. How now, how now, how go maiden-heads,
Heere you maide, where's my cozin Cresseid?
2285Cres. Go hang your selfe, you naughty mocking vncle,
You bring me to doo---and then you floute me to.
Pand. To do what, to do what? let her say what,
What haue I brought you to doe?
Cres. Come, come, beshrew your heart, youle nere be good,
2290nor suffer others.
Pand. Ha, ha: alas poore wretch: a poore chipochia, hast
not slept tonight? would hee not (a naughty man) let it
sleepe, a bug-beare take him.
Cres. Did not I tell you? would he were knockt ith' head,
2295Who's that at doore, good vnckle go and see.
One knocks.
My Lord, come you againe into my chamber,
You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.
Troyl. Ha, ha.
Cres. Come you are deceiued, I thinke of no such thing,
2300How earnestly they knock, pray you come in.
Knock.
I would not for halfe Troy haue you seene here,
Exeunt.
Pand. Who's there? what's the matter? will you beate
downe the doore? How now, what's the matter?
Æne. Good morrow Lord, good morrow.
2305Pand. Who's there my Lord Æneas: by my troth I knew
you not: what newes with you so early?
Æne. Is not Prince Troylus heere?
Pand. Here, what should he do here?
Æne. Come he is here, my Lord, do not deny him,
2310It doth import him much to speake with me.
Pan. Is he here say you? its more then I know ile be sworne
For my owne part I came in late: what should hee doe
here?
Æne. Who, nay then! Come. come, youle do him wrong,
2315ere you are ware, youle be so true to him, to be false to him:
Do not you know of him, but yet go fetch him hither, go.
Troyl. How now, whats the matter?
2320Æne. My Lord, I scarce haue leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash: there is at hand,
Paris your brother, and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomed, and our Anthenor
Deliuer'd to him, and forth-with,
2325Ere the first sacrifice, within this houre,
We must giue vp to Diomedes hand
The Lady Cresseida.
Troyl. Is it so concluded?
Æne. By Priam and the generall state of Troy,
2330They are at hand, and ready to effect it.
Troyl. How my atchiuements mock me,
I will go meete them: and my Lord Æneas,
We met by chance, you did not finde me here.
Æn. Good, good, my lord, the secrets of neighbor Pandar
2335Haue not more guift in taciturnitie.
Exeunt.
Pand. Ist possible: no sooner got but lost, the diuell take
Anthenor, the young Prince will go madde, a plague vpon
Anthenor. I would they had brok's neck.
2340 Enter Cress. How now? what's the matter? who was heere?
Pand. Ah, ah!
Cres. Why sigh you so profoundly, wher's my Lord? gone?
tell me sweete Vncle, whats the matter.
Pan. Would I were as deepe vnder the earth as I am aboue.
Cres. O the Gods, whats the matter?
Pand. Pray thee get thee in: would thou hadst nere been
borne, I knew thou wouldest be his death. O poore Gentle-
man, a plague vpon Anthenor.
2350Cres. Good vnckle, I beseech you on my knees, whats the
matter?
Pand. Thou must be gone wench, thou must be gone: thou
art chang'd for Anthenor. Thou must to thy father and bee
gone from Troylus, twill be his death, twill bee his bane, hee
2355cannot beare it.
Cres. O you immortall Gods, I will not go.
Pand. Thou must.
Cres. I will not Vncle. I haue forgot my father,
I know no touch of consanguinitie,
2360No kinne, no loue, no bloud, no soule so neere me
As the sweete Troylus. O you gods diuine,
Make Cresseids name the very crowne of falsehood,
If euer she leaue Troylus. Time, force and death,
Do to this body what extreames you can:
2365But the strong base, and building of my loue,
Is as the very center of the earth,
Drawing all things to it. Ile go in and weepe.
Pand. Do, do.
Cres. Teare my bright haire, & scratch my praised cheekes,
Crack my cleare voyce with sobs, and breake my heart,
With sounding Troylus: I will not go from Troy.
Enter Paris, Troyl. Æneas, Deiphob, Anth. Diomedes.
2375Par. It is great morning, and the houre prefixt,
For her deliuery to this valiant Greeke,
Comes fast vpon: good my brother Troylus
Tell you the Lady what she is to doe,
And hast her to the purpose.
2380Troy. Walke into her house,
Ile bring her to the Grecian presently:
And to his hand when I deliuer her,
Thinke it an altar, and thy brother Troylus
A priest there offring to it his owne heart.
2385Paris. I know what tis to loue,
And would, as I shall pitty I could helpe:
Please you walke in my Lords?
Exeunt.
Enter Pandarus and Cresseida.
Pan: Be moderate, be moderate.
2390Cress. Why tell you me of moderation?
The greife is fine, full, perfect that I taste,
And violenteth in a sence as strong
As that which causeth it, how can I moderate it?
If I could temporize with my affections,
2395Or brew it to a weake and coulder pallat,
The like alayment could I giue my griefe:
My loue admittes no qualifiing drosse,
No more my griefe in such a precious losse.
2398.1
Enter Troylus.
Pan. Here, here, here he comes, a sweete ducks.
2400Cres. Oh Troylus, Troylus.
Pan. What a paire of spectacles is here, let me embrace too,
Oh heart, as the goodly saying is, Oh heart, heauy heart,
why sighst thou without breaking: where hee answers a-
gaine, because thou canst not ease thy smart by friendshippe
2405nor by speaking: there was neuer a truer rime. Let vs cast a-
way nothing, for wee may liue to haue need of such a verse,
We see it, we see it, how now lambs?
Troy. Cressid I loue thee in so strain'd a purity,
That the blest Gods as angry with my fancy:
2410More bright in zeale then the deuotion, which
Cold lippes blow to their dieties, take thee from me.
Cres. Haue the Gods enuy?
Pan I, I, I, I, tis to plaine a case.
Cres. And is it true that I must go from Troy?
2415Troy. A hatefull truth.
Cres. What and from Troylus to?
Troy. From Troy, and Troylus.
Cress. Is't possible?
Troy. And suddenly, where iniury of chance
2420Puts back, leaue taking, iussles roughly by:
All time of pause: rudely beguiles our lippes
Of all reioyndure: forcibly preuents
Our lock't embrasures, strangles our dere vowes,
Euen in the birth of our owne laboring breath:
2425We two that with so many thousand sighes,
Did buy each other, must poorely sell ourselues:
With the rude breuity, and discharge of one,
Iniurious time now with a robbers hast,
Cram's his ritch theeu'ry vp hee knowes not how.
2430As many farewells as be starres in heauen.
With distinct breath, and consignde kisses to them,
He fumbles vp into a loose adewe:
And skants vs with a single famisht kisse,
Distasted with the salt of broken teares.
2435Æneas within. My Lord is the Lady ready?
Troy. Harke, you are call'd, some say the Genius
Cries so to him that instantly must die,
Bid them haue pacience she shall come anon.
Pan. Where are my teares raine to lay this winde, or my
2440heart wilbe blowne vp by my throate.
Cress. I must then to the Grecians.
Troy. No remedy?
Cress. A wofull Cressid 'mongst the merry Greekes,
When shall we see againe.
2445Troy. Here mee loue? be thou but true of heart.
Cres. I true? how now? what wicked deme is this?
Troy. Nay we must vse expostulation kindely,
For it is parting from vs.
I speake not be thou true as fearing thee.
2450For I will throw my gloue to death himselfe,
That there is no maculation in thy heart:
But bee thou true say I to fashion in,
My sequent protestation, bee thou true, and I will see thee.
2455Cres. Oh you shalbe exposd my Lord to dangers,
As infinite as imminent: but ile be true.
Troy. And ile grow friend with danger, were this sleeue.
Cres. And you this gloue, when shall I see you?
Troy. I will corrupt the Grecian centinells,
To giue thee nightly visitation, but yet be true.
Cres. Oh heauens be true againe?
2465Troy. Here why I speake it loue,
The Grecian youths are full of quality,
And swelling ore with arts and excercise:
How nouelty may moue, and parts with portion,
2470Alas a kinde of Godly iealousie,
(Which I beseech you cal a vertuous sinne,)
Makes me a feard.
Cres. Oh heauens you loue mee not!
Troy. Die I a villaine then,
2475In this I do not call your faith in question:
So mainely as my merit. I cannot sing
Nor heele the high lauolt, nor sweeten talke,
Nor play at subtill games, faire vertues all:
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant,
2480But I can tell that in each grace of these:
There lurkes a still, and dumb-discoursiue diuell
That tempts most cunningly, but be not tempted.
Cres. Do you thinke I will?
Troy. No, but somthing may be done that we will not,
2485And sometimes we are diuells to ourselues:
When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,
Presuming on their changefull potency.
Eneaswithin. Nay good my Lord?
Troy. Come kisse, and let vs part.
2490Pariswithin. Brother Troylus?
Troy. Good brother come you hither?
And bring Eneas and the Grecian with you.
Cres. My Lord will you be true?
Troy. Who I, alas it is my vice, my fault,
2495Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,
I with great truth catch mere simplicity,
Whilst some with cunning guild their copper crownes,
With truth and plainesse I do were mine bare:
2500Feare not my truth, the morrall of my wit,
Is plaine and true? ther's all the reach of it,
Welcome sir Diomed, here is the Lady,
Which for Antenor we deliuer you.
At the port (Lord) Ile giue her to thy hand,
2505And by the way possesse thee what she is
Entreate her faire, and by my soule faire Greeke,
If ere thou stand at mercy of my sword:
Name Cressid, and thy life shalbe as safe,
As Priam is in Illion?
2510Diom. Faire Ladie Cressid,
So please you saue the thankes this Prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heauen in your cheeke,
Pleades your faire vsage, and to Diomed,
You shalbe mistres, and command him wholy.
2515Troy. Grecian thou do'st not vse me curteously,
To shame the seale of my petition to thee:
In praising her. I tell thee Lord of Greece,
She is as farre high soaring ore thy praises:
As thou vnworthy to be call'd her seruant,
2520I charge thee vse her well, euen for my charge:
For by the dreadfull Pluto, if thou dost not,
Though the great bulke Achilles be thy guard,
Ile cut thy throate.
Diom. Oh be not mou'd Prince Troylus,
2525Let me be priueledg'd by my place and message:
To be a speaker free? when I am hence,
Ile answer to my lust, and know you Lord
Ile nothing do on charge, to her owne worth,
Shee shalbe priz'd: but that you say be't so,
2530I speake it in my spirit and honour no.
Troy. Come to the port Ile tel thee Diomed,
This braue shall oft make thee to hide thy head,
Lady giue me your hand, and as we walke,
To our owne selues bend we our needfull talke.
Paris. Harke Hectors trumpet?
Æne. How haue we spent this morning?
The Prince must thinke me tardy and remisse,
That swore to ride before him to the field,
2540Par. Tis Troylus falte, come, come, to field with him. Exeu.
Enter Aiax armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agam.
Menelaus, Vlisses, Nester, Calcas.. &c.
Aga. Here art thou in appointment fresh and faire,
2550Anticipating time. With starting courage,
Giue with thy trumpet a loude note to Troy
Thou dreadfull Aiax that the appauled aire,
May pearce the head of the great Combatant, and hale him
hither.
2555Aiax. Thou, trumpet, ther's my purse,
Now cracke thy lungs, and split thy brasen pipe:
Blow villaine, till thy sphered Bias cheeke,
Out-swell the collick of puft Aquilon,
Come stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout bloud:
2560Thou blowest for Hector.
Vliss No trumpet answers.
Achil. Tis but early daies.
Aga. Is not yond Diomed with Calcas daughter.
Vliss. Tis he, I ken the manner of his gate,
2565He rises on the too: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Aga. Is this the Lady Cressid?
Diom. Euen she.
Aga. Most deerely welcome to the Greekes sweete Lady.
Nest. Our generall doth salute you with a kisse.
Vliss. Yet is the kindnesse but perticular, twere better shee
were kist in general.
Nest. And very courtly counsell. Ile beginne: so much for
Achil. Ile take that winter from your lips faire Lady,
Achilles bids you welcome.
Men. I had good argument for kissing once.
Patro. But thats no argument for kissing now,
2580For thus pop't Paris in his hardiment,
2580.1And parted thus, you and your argument.
Vliss. Oh deadly gall and theame of all our scornes,
For which we loose our heads to guild his hornes.
Patro. The first was Menelaus kisse this mine,
Patroclus kisses you.
2585Mene. Oh this is trim.
Patr. Paris and I kisse euermore for him.
Mene. Ile haue my kisse sir? Lady by your leaue.
Cres. In kissing do you render or recciue.
Patr. Both take and giue.
2590Cres. Ile make my match to liue,
The kisse you take is better then you giue: therefore no kisse.
Mene. Ile giue you boote, ile giue you three for one.
Cres. You are an od man giue euen or giue none.
2595Mene. An odde man Lady, euery man is odde.
Cres. No Paris is nor, for you know tis true,
That you are odde and he is euen with you.
Mene. You fillip me a'th head.
Cres. No ile be sworne.
2600Vliss. It were no match, your naile against his horne,
May I sweete Lady begge a kisse of you.
Cres. You may. Uliss I do desire it.
Cres. Why begge then.
2605Vlis. Why then for Venus sake giue me a kisse,
When Hellen is a maide againe and his -------------
Cres. I am your debtor, claime it when tis due.
Vlis. Neuers my day, and then a kisse of you.
Diom. Lady a word, ile bring you to your father.
2610Nest. A woman of quick sence.
Vliss. Fie, fie vpon her,
Ther's language in her eye, her cheeke her lip,
Nay her foote speakes, her wanton spirits looke out
At euery ioynt and motiue of her body,
2615Oh these encounterers so glib of tongue,
That giue a coasting welcome ere it comes.
And wide vnclapse the tables of their thoughts,
To euery ticklish reader, set them downe,
For sluttish spoiles of opportunity:
2620And daughters of the game.
Flowrish
enter all of Troy.
All. The Troyans trumpet.
Agam. Yonder comes the troup.
2625Æne. Haile all the state of Greece: what shalbe done,
To him that victory commands, or doe you purpose,
A victor shalbe knowne, will you the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
Pursue each other, or shall they be diuided,
2630By any voice or order of the field, Hector bad aske?
Aga. Which way would Hector haue it?
Æne. He cares not, heele obay condicions.
Aga: Tis done like Hector, but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deale misprising:
2635The knight oppos'd.
Æne. If not Achilles sir, what is your name?
Achil. If not Achilles nothing:
Ene: Therefore Achilles, but what ere know this,
In the extremity of great and little:
2640Valour and pride excell themselues in Hector
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blanke as nothing, way him well:
And that which lookes like pride is curtesie,
This Aiax is halfe made of Hectors bloud,
2645In loue whereof, halfe Hector staies at home,
Halfe heart, halfe hand, halfe Hector comes to seeke:
This blended knight halfe Troyan, and halfe Greeke.
Achil. A maiden battell then, Oh I perceiue you.
Aga. Here is sir Diomed? go gentle knight,
2650Stand by our Aiax. As you and Lord Eneas
Consent vpon the order of their fight,
So be it, either to the vttermost,
Or els a breath, the combatants being kin,
Halfe stints their strife, before their strokes begin.
Vlisses: what Troyan is that same that lookes so heauy?
Vlis. The yongest sonne of Priam, a true knight,
Not yet mature, yet matchlesse firme of word,
2660Speaking deeds, and deedlesse in his tongue,
Not soone prouok't nor beeing prouok't soone calm'd,
His heart and hand both open and both free.
For what he has he giues, what thinkes he shewes,
Yet giues hee not till iudgement guide his bounty,
2665Nor dignifies an impare thought with breath;
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous,
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender obiects, but he in heate of action,
Is more vindicatiue then iealous loue.
2670They call him Troylus, and on him erect,
A second hope as fairely built as Hector:
Thus saies Æneas one that knowes the youth,
Euen to his ynches: and with priuate soule
Did in great Illion thus translate him to me.
Alarum.
2675Aga. They are in action.
Nest. Now Aiax hould thine owne.
Troy. Hector thou sleep'st awake thee.
Aga. His blowes are well dispo'd, there Aiax.
trumpets
Diom. You must no more.
2680Æne. Princes enough so please you.
Aiax. I am not warme yet, let vs fight againe.
Diom. As Hector pleases.
Hect. Why then will I no more,
Thou art great Lord my fathers sisters Sonne,
2685A couzen german to great Priams seede,
The obligation of our bloud forbids,
A gory emulation twixt vs twaine:
Were thy commixtion Greeke and Troyan so,
That thou couldst say this hand is Grecian all:
2690And this is Troyan, the sinnewes of this legge
All Greeke, and this all Troy: my mothers bloud,
Runnes on the dexter cheeke, and this sinister
Bounds in my fathers. By Ioue multipotent
Thou shouldst not beare from mee a Greekish member,
2695Wherein my sword had not impressure made.
But the iust Gods gainsay,
That any day thou borrowd'st from thy mother,
My sacred Aunt, should by my mortal sword,
Be drained. Let me embrace thee Aiax:
2700By him that thunders thou hast lusty armes,
Hector would haue them fall vpon him thus.
Cozen all honor to thee.
Aiax. I thanke thee Hector,
Thou art to gentle, and too free a man,
2705I came to kill thee cozen, and beare hence,
A great addition earned in thy death.
Hect. Not Neoptolymus so mirable,
On whose bright crest, fame with her lowdst (O yes)
Cries, this is he, could promise to himselfe,
2710A thought of added honor, torne from Hector.
Æne. There is expectance heere from both the sides,
What further you will do.
Hect. Weele answer it,
The issue is embracement, Aiax farewell.
2715Aiax. If I might in entreaties finde successe,
As seld I haue the chance, I would desire,
My famous cosin to our Grecian tents.
Diom. Tis Agamemnons wish, and great Achilles
Doth long to see vnarm'd the valiant Hector.
2720Hect. Æneas call my brother Troylus to me.
And signifie this louing enterview
To the expectors of our Troyan part,
Desire them home. Giue me thy hand my Cozen.
I will go eate with thee, and see your Knights.
Aiax. Great Agamemnon comes to mecte vs heere.
Hect. The worthiest of them, tell me name by name:
But for Achilles my owne searching eyes,
Shall finde him by his large and portly size.
2730Agam. Worthy all armes, as welcome as to one,
That would be rid of such an enemy.
From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.
Hect. I thanke thee most imperious Agamemnon.
2740Agam. My well-fam'd Lord of Troy, no lesse to you.
Mene. Let me confirme my princely brothers greeting:
You brace of warlike brothers: welcome hether.
Hect. Who must we answer?
Æne. The noble Menelaus.
2745Hect. O you my Lord, by Mars his gauntlet thankes,
(Mock not thy affect, the vntraded earth)
Your quandom wife sweares still byVenus gloue,
Shees well, but bad me not commend her to you.
Men. Name her not now sir, shee's a deadly theame.
2750Hect. O pardon, I offend.
Nest. I haue thou gallant Troyan seene thee oft,
Laboring for destiny, make cruell way,
Through rankes of Greekish youth, and I haue seene thee
As hot as Perseus, spurre thy Phrigian steed,
2755Despising many forfaits and subduments,
When thou hast hung th'aduanced sword ith'ayre,
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I haue said to some my standers by,
Loe Iupiter is yonder dealing life.
2760And I haue seene thee pause, and take thy breath,
When that a ring of Greekes haue shrupd thee in,
Like an Olympian wrastling. This haue I seene,
But this thy countenance still lockt in steele,
I neuer saw till now: I knew thy grand-sire,
2765And once fought with him, he was a soldier good,
But by great Mars the Captaine of vs all,
Neuer like thee: O let an old man embrace thee,
And worthy warriour welcome to our tents.
Æne. Tis the old Nestor.
2770Hect. Let me embrace thee good old Chronicle,
That hast so long walkt hand in hand with time,
Most reuerend Nestor, I am glad to claspe thee.
Nest. I would my armes could match thee in contention.
2775Hect. I would they could.
Nest. Ha? by this white beard Ide fight with thee to mor-
Well, welcome, welcome, I haue seene the time.
Vlis. I wonder now how yonder Citty stands,
When we haue here her base and piller by vs?
2780Hect. I know your fauour lord Vlisses well,
Ah sir, there's many a Greeke and Troyan dead,
Since first I saw your selfe and Diomed,
In Illion on your Greekish embassie.
Vlis. Sir I foretold you then what would ensue,
2785My prophecie is but halfe his iourney yet,
For yonder walls that pertly front your towne,
Yon towers, whose wanton tops do busse the clouds,
Must kisse their owne feete.
Hect. I must not beleeue you.
2790There they stand yet, and modestly I thinke,
The fall of euery Phrigian stone will cost,
A drop of Grecian bloud: the end crownes all,
And that old common arbitrator Time, will one day end it.
2795Vlis. So to him we leaue it.
Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome:
After the Generall, I beseech you next
To feast with me, and see me at my tent.
Achil. I shall forestall thee lord Vlisses thou:
2800Now Hector I haue fed mine eyes on thee,
I haue with exact view perusde thee Hector, & quoted ioynt
Hect. Is this Achilles? Achil. I am Achilles.
2805Hect. Stand faire I pray thee, let me looke on thee,
Achil. Behold thy fill.
Hect. Nay I haue done already.
Achil. Thou art too briefe, I will the second time,
As I would buie thee, view thee lim by lim,
2810Hect. O like a booke of sport thou'lt read me ore:
But ther's more in me then thou vnderstandst,
Why doost thou so oppresse me with thine eye.
Achil. Tell me you heauens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him: whether there, or there, or there,
2815That I may giue the locall wound a name,
And make distinct the very breach, whereout
Hectors great spirit flew: answer me heauens.
Hect. It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: stand againe,
2820Thinkst thou to catch my life so pleasantly,
As to prenominate in nice coniecture,
Where thou wilt hit me dead.
Achil. I tell rhee yea.
Hect. Wert thou an Oracle to tell me so,
2825Ide not beleeue thee. Hence-forth gard thee well,
For Ile not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,
But by the forge that stichied Mars his helme.
Ile kill thee euerywhere, yea ore and ore.
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag,
2830His insolence drawes folly from my lips,
But ile endeuour deeds to match these words,
Or may I neuer--------- ----
Aiax. Do not chafe thee cozen.
And you Achilles, let these threats alone,
2835Till accident or purpose bring you too't,
You may haue euery day enough of Hector,
If you haue stomack. The generall state I feare,
Can scarce entreate you to be odde with him.
Hect.I pray you let vs see you in the field,
2840We haue had pelting warres since you refusd, the Grecians
Achil. Doost thou entreate me Hector?
Tomorow do I meet thee fell as death:tonight all friends.
2845Hect. Thy hand vpon that match.
Agam. First all you Peeres of Greece, go to my tent,
There in the full conuiue we: afterwards
As Hectors leisure, and your bounties shall
Concurre together, seuerally entreate him
2850To taste your bounties, let the trumpets blowe,
That this great souldier may his welcome know.
Exeunt.
Troy. My Lord Ulisses, tell me I beseech you,
In what place of the field doth Calcas keepe.
Ulis. At Menelaus tent, most princely Troylus:
2855There Diomed doth feast with him to night,
Who neither lookes vpon the heauen nor earth,
But giues all gaze, and bent of amorous view,
On the faire Cresseid.
Troyl. Shall I sweete Lord be bound to you so much,
2860After we part from Agamemnons tent,
To bring me thether.
Ulis. You shall command me sir.
But gentle tell me of what honor was
This Cressida in Troy? had she no louer there
2865That wailes her absence?
Tro. O sir to such as bosting shew their skarres,
A mocke is due; will you walke on my Lord,
Shee was beloued my Lord, she is, and doth,
But still sweet loue is food for fortunes tooth.
Exeunt.
2870
Enter Achilles and Patroclus.
Ach. Ile heate his blood with greekish wine to night,
Which with my Cemitar ile cool to morrow,
Patroclus let vs feast him to the hight
Pat. Here comes Thersites.
Enter Thersites.
2875Ach. How now thou curre of enuy.
Thou crusty batch of nature whats the news?
The. Why thou picture of what thou seemest, and Idoll,
Of idiot worshippers. heers a letter for thee.
Ach. From whence fragment.
2880The. Why thou full dish of foole from Troy,
Pat. Who keeps the tent now.
The. The Surgeons box or the pacients wound.
Pat. Well said aduersity, and what needs this tricks,
The. Prithee be silent box I profit not by thy talke,
2885Thou art said to be Achilles male varlot,
Pat. Male varlot you rogue whats that.
The. Why his masculine whore, now the rotten diseases
of the south, the guts griping ruptures: loades a grauell in
the back, lethergies, could palsies, rawe eies, durtrottē liuers,
2889.1whissing lungs, bladders full of impostume. Sciaticaes lime-
kills ith' palme, incurable bone-ach, and the riueled fee sim-
2890ple of the tetter, take and take againe such preposterous
discoueries.
Pat. Why thou damnable box of enuy thou what meanes
thou to curse thus.
The. do I curse thee.
2895Pat. Why no you ruinous but, you horson indistinguish-
able cur, no.
The. No why art thou then exasperate, thou idle imma-
terial skeine of sleiue silke, thou greene sacenet flap for a sore
eye, thou toslell of a prodigalls purse-thou ah how the poore
2900world is pestred with such water flies, diminitiues of nature.
Pat. Out gall. Ther. Finch egge.
Achil. My sweet Patroclus I am thwarted quite,
2905From my great purpose into morrowes battell,
Here is a letter from Queene Hecuba;
A token from her daughter my faire loue
Both taxing me, and gaging me to keepe:
An oth that I haue sworne: I wil not breake it,
2910Fall Greekes, fayle fame, honour or go or stay,
My maior vow lies here; this ile obay,
Come, come, Thersites help to trim my tent?
This night in banquctting must al be spent, away Patroclus.
2915Ther. With to much bloud, and to little braine, these two
may run mad, but if with to much braine and to little bloud
they do ile be a curer of mad-men, her's Agamemnon, an ho-
nest fellow inough, and one that loues quailes, but hee has
not so much braine as eare-wax, and the goodly transfor-
2920mation of Iupiter there, his be the Bull, the primitiue statue,
and oblique memorial of cuck-olds, a thrifty shooing-horne
in a chaine at his bare legge, to what forme but that hee is,
should wit larded with malice, and malice faced with witte,
turne him to: to an Asse, were nothing hee is both Asse and
Oxe, to an Oxe were nothing, her's both Oxe and Asse, to be
a day, a Moyle, a Cat, a Fichooke, a Tode, a Lezard, an Oule,
a Puttock, or a Herring without a rowe. I would not care,
but to bee Menelaus I would conspire against desteny, aske
2930me what I would be, if I were not Thersites, for I care not to
be the Louse of a Lazar, so I were not Menelaus---hey-day
sprites and fires.
Enter Agam: Vlisses, Nest: and Diomed with lights.
2935Aga. We go wrong we goe wrong.
Aiax. No, yonder tis there where we see the lights.
Hect. I trouble you. Aiax. No not a whit:
2940Vlis. Here comes himselfe to guide you.
Achil. Welcome braue Hector, welcome Princes all.
Aga. So now faire Prince of Troy, I bid God night,
Aiax commands the guard to tend on you.
Hect. Thanks and good night to the Greekes generall.
2945Mene. Good night my Lord.
Hect. Good night sweet Lord Menelaus.
Ther. Sweet draught, sweet quoth a, sweet sinke, sweet sure.
Achil. Good night and welcome both to those that go or
tarry.
Aga. Good night.
Exeunt Agam: Menelaus.
Achil. Old Nector tarries, and you to Diomed.
Keepe Hector company an houre or two.
Dio. I cannot Lord, I haue important businesse,
2955The tide whereof is now, good night great Hector.
Hect. Giue me your hand.
Vlis. Follow his torch, he goes to Calcas tent, ile keepe you
company.
Troy. Sweet sir you honor me?
2960Hect. And so good night.
Achil. Come, come, enter my tent.
Exeunt.
Ther. That same Diomeds a false hearted roague, a most vn-
iust knaue, I will no more trust him when hee leeres, then I
will a serpent when hee hisses, hee will spend his mouth and
2965promise like brabler the hound, but when he performes, As-
tronomers foretell it, it is prodigious, there will come some
change, the Sonne borrowes of the Moone when Diomed
keepes his word, I will rather leaue to see Hector then not
to dog him, they say hee keepes a Troyan drab, and vses the
2970traytor Calcas tent. Ile after----nothing but letchery all in-
continent varlots.
Enter Diomed.
Dio. What are you vp here ho? speake? Chal. Who calls?
Dio. Diomed, Chalcas I thinke wher's your daughter?
Cal. She comes to you.
Vlis. Stand, where the torch may not discouer vs.
Troy. Cressid comes forth to him.
Enter Cressid.
Dio. How now my charge.
Cres. Now my sweet gardian, harke a word with you.
Troy. Yea so familiar?
2985Vlis. Shee will sing any man at first sight.
Ther. And any man may sing her, if hee can take her Cliff,
she's noted.
Dio. Will you remember?
Cal. Remember yes:
2990Dio: Nay but do then and let your minde be coupled with
Troy. What shall she remember. Ulis. List?
Cres. Sweet hony Greeke tempt me no more to folly.
2995Ther: Roguery. Dio. Nay then:
Crese: Ile tell you what.
Dio: Fo, fo, come tell a pin you are forsworne.
Cres: In faith I cannot, what would you haue me do?
3000Ther: A iugling tricke to be secretly open,
Dio: What did you sweare you would bestow on me?
Cres: I prethee do not hold me to mine oath,
Bid me do any thing but that sweete Greeke.
Dio: Good night.
3005Troy: Hold patience.
Vlis How now Troyan. Cres. Diomed.
Dio. No, no, good night Ile be your foole no more.
Troy: Thy better must.
3010Cres: Harke a word in your eare.
Troy: O plague and madnesse!
Ulis: You are moued Prince, let vs depart I pray
Least your displeasure should inlarge it selfe
To wrathfull tearmes, this place is dangerous:
3015The time right deadly, I beseech you goe.
Troy: Behold I pray you.
Vlis: Now good my Lord go off.
You flow to great distruction, come my Lord.
Troy: I prethee stay.
3020Vlis: You haue not patience, come.
Troy: I pray you stay; by hell, and all hells torments,
I will not speake a word.
Dio: And so good night.
Cres: Nay but you part in anger.
3025Troy: Doth that grieue thee, O withered truth.
Vlis: How now my Lord?
Troy: By Ioue I will be patient.
Cres: Gardian? why Greeke? Dio: Fo fo you palter.
3030Cres. In faith I doe not, come hether once againe.
Vlis: You shake my Lord at something, will you goe: you
wil break out.
Troy. She stroakes his cheeke. Vlis. Come, come.
3035Troy. Nay stay, by Ioue I will not speake a word.
There is betweene my will and all offences
A guard of patience, stay a little while.
Ther: How the diuell Luxury with his fat rumpe and po-
tato finger, tickles together; frye lechery frye.
3040Dio: Will you then?
Cres: In faith I will lo, neuer trust me else.
Dio: Giue me some token for the surety of it.
Cres: Ile fetch you one.
Exit.
Vlis: You haue sworne patience:
3045Troy: Feare me not my Lord.
I will not be my selfe, nor haue cognition
Of what I feele, I am all patience:
Enter Cress.
Ther: Now the pledge, now, now, now.
Cres: Heere Diomed keepe this sleeue.
3050Troy: O beauty where is thy faith!
Vlis: My Lord.
Troy: You looke vpon that sleeue behold it well,
Hee loue,d me (oh false wench) giu't me againe:
3055Dio: Whose wast?
Cres: It is no matter now I ha't againe.
I will not meete with you to morrow night:
I prethee Diomed visite me no more.
Ther: Now shee sharpens, well said Whetstone.
3060Dio: I shall haue it.
Cres: What this? Dio: I that.
Cres: O all you gods; O pretty pretty pledge!
Thy maister now lyes thinking on his bed
3065Of thee and mee, and sighes, and takes my gloue,
And giues memoriall dainty kisses to it, as I kisse thee.
Dio: Nay do not snatch it from me.
Cres: He that takes that doth take my heart withall.
3070Dio: I had your heart before, this followes it.
Troy: I did sweare patience.
You shall not haue it Diomed, faith you shall not,
Ile giue you something else.
Dio: I will haue this, whose was it?
3075Cres: It is no matter.
Dio. Come tell me whose it was?
Cres. Twas on's that lou'd me better then you will,
But now you haue it take it.
Dio: VVhose was it?
3080Cres: And by all Dianas wayting women yond
And by her selfe I wlll not tell you whose.
Dio: Tomorrow will I weare it on my Helme,
And grieue his spirit that dares not challenge it.
Troy: VVert thou the diuell, and wor'st it on thy horne,
3085It should be challengd.
Cres: VVell, well, tis done, tis past: and yet it is not.
I will not keepe my word.
Dio: VVhy then farewell, thou neuer shalt mocke Diomed
againe.
3090Cres: You shall not goe: one cannot speake a word but it
straight starts you.
Dio: I doc
not like this fooling.
Ther: Nor I by Pluto; but that that likes not you, pleases
me best.
3095Dio: VVhat shall I come? the houre--
Cres: I come; O Ioue: do come, I shall be plagued.
Dio: Farewell till then.
Cres: Good night, I prethee come:
Troylus farewell, one eye yet lookes on thee,
3100But with my heart the other eye doth see,
Ah poore our sex, this fault in vs I find,
The error of our eye directs our mind,
VVhat error leads must erre: O then conclude,
,,Mindes swayd by eyes are full of turpitude.
Exit.
3105Ther: A proofe of strength, she could not publish more,
Vnlesse shee said my mind is now turn'd whore.
Vlis: All's done my Lord. Troy: It is.
Vlis: VVhy stay we then?
3110Troy: To make a recordation to my soule
Of euery sillable that here was spoke:
But if I tell how these two did Court,
Shall I not lye in publishing a truth,
Sith yet there is a credence in my heart.
3115An esperance so obstinatly strong,
That doth inuert th,attest of eyes and eares,
As if those organs were deceptions functions,
Created onely to calumniate. Was Cresseid heere?
3120Vlis. I cannot coniure Troyan.
Troyl. Shee was not sure.
Ulis Most sure she was.
Troy, Why my negation hath no taste of madnesse.
Vlis. Nor mine my Lord: Cresseid was heere but now.
3125Troyl. Let it not be beleeu'd for woman-hood.
Thinke we had mothers, do not giue aduantage
To stubborne Critiques apt without a theme
For deprauation, to square the generall sex
By Cresseids rule. Rather thinke this not Cresseid.
3130Vli. What hath she done Prince that cā spoile our mothers.
Troyl. Nothing at all, vnlesse that this were she.
Ther. Will a swagger himselfe out on's owne eyes.
Troyl. This she, no this is Diomeds Cresseida,
3135If beauty haue a soule this is not shee:
If soules guide vowes, if vowes be sanctimonies,
If sanctimony be the gods delight:
If there be rule in vnitie it selfe,
This was not shee: O madnesse of discourse,
3140That cause sets vp with and against it selfe,
By-fould authority: where reason can reuolt
Without perdition, and losse assume all reason,
Without reuolt. This is and is not Cresseid,
Within my soule there doth conduce a fight
3145Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparat,
Diuides more wider then the skie and earth:
And yet the spacious bredth of this diuision,
Admits no orifex for a point as subtle,
As Ariachna's broken woofe to enter,
3150Instance, O instance strong as Plutoes gates,
Cresseid is mine, tied with the bonds of heauen,
Instance, O instance, strong as heauen it selfe,
The bonds of heauen are slipt, dissolu'd and loosd,
And with another knot finde finger tied,
3155The fractions of her faith, orts of her loue.
The fragments, scraps, the bitts and greazie reliques,
Of her ore-eaten faith, are giuen to Diomed.
Vlis. May worthy Troylus be halfe attached
With that which heere his passion doth expresse?
3160Troy. I Greeke, and that shall be divulged well
In Characters as red as Mars his heart
Inflam'd with Venus: neuer did young man fancy
With so eternall and so fixt a soule.
Harke Greeke, as much I do Cressid loue,
3165So much by waight, hate I her Diomed:
That sleeue is mine, that heele beare on his Helme:
VVere it a Caske compos'd by Vulcans skill
My sword should bite it: Not the dreadfull spout
VVhich Shipmen do the hurricano call,
3170Constringd in Masse by the almighty sunne
Shal dizzy with more clamour Neptunes eare, in his discent,
Then shall my prompted sword, falling on Diomed.
Thier: Heele ticle it for his concupie.
3175Troy: O Cressid, O false Cressid, false, false, false:
Let all vntruthes stand by thy stained name,
And theyle seeme glorious.
Vlis: O containe your selfe;
Your passion drawes eares hether.
Enter Eneas.
Aene: I haue beene seeking you this houre my Lord:
Hector by this is arming him in Troy:
Aiax your guard stayes to conduct you home.
Troy: Haue with you Prince: my curteous Lord adiew,
3185Farewell reuoulted faire: and Diomed
Stand fast, and weare a Castle on thy head.
Vlis. Ile bring you to the gates.
Troy. Accept distracted thankes.
Exeunt Troyl. Eeneas and Vlisses.
3190Ther. VVould I could meete that roague Diomed I would
croke like a Rauen, I would bode, I would bode: Patroclus
will giue me any thing for the inteligence of this whore: the
Parrot will not do more for an almond then he for a commo-
dious drab: Lechery, lechery, still warres and lechery, nothing
3195else holds fashion. A burning diuell take them.
Exit.
Enter Hector and Andromache.
And. When was my Lord so much vngently temperd,
To stop his eares against admonishment:
3200Vnarme, vnarme, and do not fight to day.
Hect. You traine me to offend you, get you in,
By all the euerlasting gods Ile go.
And. My dreames will sure prooue ominous to the day.
Hect. No more I say.
3204.1
Enter Cassandra.
3205Cas. Where is my brothet Hector?
And, Here sister, arm'd and bloody in intenr,
Consort with me in lowd and deere petition,
Pursue we him on knees: for I haue dreamt
Of bloudy turbulence, and this whole night
3210Hath nothing beene but shapes and formes of slaughter.
Cass, O tis true.
Hect. Ho? bid my trumpet sound.
Cres. No notes of sallie for the heauens sweete brother.
Hect. Begon I say, the gods haue heard me sweare.
3215Cas. The gods are deafe to hotte and peeuish vowes,
They are polluted offrings more abhord,
Then spotted liuers in the sacrifice.
And. O be perswaded, do not count it holy,
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
But vowes to euery purpose must not hold:
Vnarme sweet Hector.
3225Hect, Hold you still I say,
Mine honor keepes the weather of my fate:
Life euery man holds deere but the deere man,
Holds honor farre more precious deere then life,
Enter Troylus.
3230How now yong man, meanest thou to fight to day.
And. Cassandra call my father to perswade.Exit Cassan.
Hect. No faith yong Troylus, doffe thy harnesse youth,
I am to day ith' vaine of chiualrie,
3235Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
And tempt not yet the brushes of the warre.
Vnarme thee go, and doubt thou not braue boy,
Ile stand to day for thee and me and Troy.
Troyl. Brother, you haue a vice of mercy in you,
3240Which better fits a Lion then a man.
Hector. What vice is that? good Troylus chide mee
3241.1for it.
Troyl. When many times the captiue Grecian falls,
Euen in the fanne and winde of your faire sword,
You bid them rise and liue.
3245Hect. O tis faire play.
Troyl. Fooles play by heauen Hector.
Hect. How now? how now?
Troyl. For th'loue of all the gods
Lets leaue the Hermit Pitty with our Mother,
3250And when we haue our armors buckled on,
The venomd vengeance ride vpon our swords,
Spur them to ruthfull worke, raine them from ruth.
Hect. Fie sauage, fie.
Troy. Hector then 'tis warres.
3255Hect. Troylus I wouldnot haue you fight to day.
Troyl. Who should with-hold me?
Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars,
Beckning with fierie trunchion my retire,
Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
3260Their eyes ore-galled with recourse of teares,
Nor you my brother, with your true sword drawne,
Opposd to hinder me, should stop my way,
Enter Priam and Cassandra.
3265Cass. Lay hold vpon him, Priam hold him fast,
He is thy crutch: now if thou loose thy stay,
Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
Fall all together.
Priam. Come Hector, come, go back,
3270Thy wife hath dreamt, thy mother hath had visions,
Cassandra doth foresee, and I my selfe,
Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt,
To tell thee that this day is ominous:
Therefore come back.
3275Hec. Æneas is afield,
And I do stand, engagd to many Greekes,
Euen in the faith of valour to appeare,
This morning to them.
Priam I but thou shalt not goe.
3280Hec. I must not breake my faith,
You know me dutifull, therefore deere sir,
Let me not shame respect, but giue me leaue
To take that course by your consent and voice,
Which you do here forbid me royall Priam.
3285Cass. O Priam yeeld not to him.
And. Do not deere father.
Hec. Andromache I am offended with you,
Vpon the loue you beare me get you in.
Exit Androm.
3290Troy. This foolish dreaming superstitious girle,
Makes all these bodements.
Cas. O farewell deere Hector.
Looke how thou dy'est looke how thy eye turnes pale.
Looke how thy wounds do bleed at many vents,
3295Harke how Troy roares, how Hecuba cries out,
How poore Andromache shrils her dolours foorth,
Behold, destruction, frenzie, and amazement,
Like witlesse antiques one another meete,
And all crie Hector, Hectors dead, O Hector.
3300Troyl. Away, away.
Cas. Farewell, yet soft:Hector I take my leaue,
Thou do'st thy selfe and all our Troy deceaue?
Hec. You are amaz'd my liege, at her exclaime,
Goe in and cheere the towne,
3304.1Weele forth and fight,
3305Do deeds worth praise, and tell you them at night.
Priam. Farewell, the gods with safetie stand about thee.
Alarum.
Troyl. They are at it harke, proud Diomed beleeue.
I come to loose my arme, or winne my sleeue.
3310
Enter Pandar.
Pand. Do you heere my Lord, do you heere.
Troyl. What now?
Pand. Heer's a letter come from yond poore girle.
Troy. Let me read,
3315Pand. A whorson tisick, a whorson rascally tisick, so
troubles me, and the foolish fortune of this girle, and what
one thing, what another, that I shall leaue you one ath's
dayes: and I haue a rheume in mine eyes too, and such an
ache in my bones, that vnlesse a man were curst I cannot
3320tell what to thinke on't. What sayes she there?
Troy. Words, words, meere words, no matter frō the heart,
Th'effect doth operate another way.
3325Go winde to winde, there turne and change together:
My loue with words and errors still she feedes,
But edifies another with her deedes.
Exeunt.
Enter Thersites: excursions.
Thersi. Now they are clapper-clawing one another: Ile
go looke on, that dissembling abhominable varlet Diomede.
3335has got that same scuruie dooting foolish knaues sleeue of
Troy there in his helme. I would faine see them meete, that
that same young Troyan asse that loues the whore there,
might send that Greekish whore-masterly villaine with the
sleeue, back to the dissembling luxurious drabbe of a sleeue-
3340lesse arrant. Ath' tother side, the pollicie of those craftie
swearing raskalls; that stale old Mouse-eaten drye cheese
Nestor: and that same dogge-foxe Ulisses, is not proou'd
worth a Black-berry. They set mee vp in pollicie, that
mongrill curre Aiax, against that dogge of as bad a
3345kinde Achilles. And now is the curre Aiax, prouder then
the curre Achilles, and will not arme to day. Where-vpon
the Grecians began to proclaime barbarisme, and pollicie
growes into an ill opinion. Soft here comes sleeue & tother.
Troy. Flye not, for shouldst thou take the riuer Stix, I
would swim after,
Diomed. Thou doost miscall retire,
I doe not flie, but aduantagious care,
3355With-drew me from the ods of multitude, haue at thee?
Ther. Hold thy whore Grecian: now for thy whore Troian,
Now the sleeue, now the sleeue.
Enter Hector.
3360Hect. What art Greeke, art thou for Hectors match.
Art thou of bloud and honour.
Ther. No, no, I am a rascall, a scuruy rayling knaue, a very
filthy roague.
Hect. I do beleeue thee, liue.
3365Ther. God a mercy, that thou wilt beleeue me, but a plague
breake thy neck --- for frighting me: whats become of the
wenching roagues? I thinke they haue swallowed one ano-
ther. I would laugh at that miracle----yet in a sort lechery
eates it selfe, ile seeke them.
Exit.
Enter Diomed and Seruant.
Dio. Goe go, my seruant take thou Troylus horse,
Present the faire steed to my Lady Cressid,
Fellow commend my seruice to her beauty:
3375Tell her I haue chastis'd the amorous Troyan,
And am her knight by proofe.
Enter Agamem.
Man. I goe my Lord:
Aga. Renew, renew, the fierce Polidamas,
Hath beate downe Menon: bastard Margarelon,
3380Hath Doreus prisoner.
And stands Colossus wise wauing his beame,
Vpon the pashed corses of the Kings:
Epistropus and Cedus, Polixines is slaine,
Amphimacus and Thous deadly hurt,
3385Patroclus tane or slaine, and Palamedes
Sore hurt and bruised, the dreadfull Sagittary,
Appalls our numbers, hast we Diomed,
To re-enforcement or we perish all.
Enter Nestor.
3390Nest: Go beare Patroclus body to Achilles,
And bid the snail-pac't Aiax arme for shame,
There is a thousand Hectors in the field:
Now here he fights on Galathe his horse,
And there lacks worke, anon he's there a foote
3395And there they flie or die, like scaling sculls,
Before the belching Whale, then is he yonder:
And there the strawy Greekes ripe for his edge
Fall downe before him like a mowers swath,
Here, there and euery where, he leaues and takes,
3400Dexterity so obaying appetite,
That what he will he do's, and do's so much:
That proofe is call'd impossibility.
Enter Vlisses.
Vliss. Oh courage, courage Princes, great Achilles,
3405Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance,
Patroclus wounds haue rouz'd his drowzy bloud,
Together with his mangled Myrmidons
That noselesse, handlesse, hackt and chipt come to him.
Crying on Hector, Aiax hath lost a friend,
3410And foames at mouth, and hee is armde and at it:
Roaring for Troylus, who hath done to day,
Madde and fantastique execution:
Engaging and redeeming of himselfe
With such a carelesse force, and forcelesse care,
3415As if that lust in very spight of cunning, bad him win all.
Enter Aiax.Troylus, thou coward Troylus.
Exit.
Dio. I there, there?
Nest: So, so, we draw together.
Exit.
3420
Enter Achilles.
Achil. Where is this Hector?
Come, come, thou boy-queller shew thy face,
Know what it is to meete Achilles angry
Hector wher's Hector? I will none but Hector.
Exit.
3425Enter Aiax. Troylus thou coward Troylus shew thy head.
Enter Diom. Troylus I say wher's Troylus?
Aiax. What wouldst thou.
3430Diom. I would correct him.
Aiax. Were I the generall thou shouldst haue my office,
Ere that correction?Troylus I say what Troylus.
Enter Troylus.
3435Troy. Oh traytor Diomed, turne thy false face thou traytor,
And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse.
Dio. Ha art thou there?
Aiax Ile fight with him alone stand Diomed.
3440Diom. He is my prize, I will not looke vpon.
Troy. Come both you cogging Greekes haue at you both.
Hect. Yea Troylus, O well fought my yongest brother.
3445Enter Achil: Now do I see thee ha, haue at thee Hector.
Hect. Pause if thou wilt.
Achil. I do disdaine thy curtesie proud Troyan,
Be happy that my armes are out of vse:
3450My rest and negligence befriends thee now,
But thou anon shalt here of me againe:
Till when goe seeke thy fortune.
Exit.
Hect. Fare thee well.
I would haue beene much more a fresher man,
3455Had I expected thee, how now my brother.
Enter Troyl:
Troy. Aiax hath tane Æneas, shall it be,
No by the flame of yonder glorious heauen
He shall not carry him ile be tane to,
3460Or bring him off, fate here me what I say:
I wreake not though I end my life to day.
Exit.
Enter one in armour.
Hect: Stand, stand thou Greeke, thou art a goodly marke,
3465No? wilt thou not. I like thy armor well,
Ile frush it and vnlock the riuets all:
But ile be maister of it, wilt thou not beast abide,
Why then flie on, ile hunt thee for thy hide.
Exit.
Enter Achilles with Myrmidons.
3470Come here about me you my Myrmidons,
Marke what I say, attend me where I wheele:
Strike not a stroke, but keepe yourselues in breth,
And when I haue the bloudy Hector found:
Empale him with your weapons round about,
3475In fellest manner execut your armes
Follow me sirs and my proceedings eye,
It is decreed Hector the great must die.
Exit.
Enter Thersi: Mene: Paris.
Ther. The cuck-old and the cuck-old-maker are at it,
3480now bull, now dogge lowe, Paris lowe, now my double
hen'd spartan, lowe Paris, lowe the bull has the game, ware
hornes ho?
Exit Paris and Menelus.
Enter Bastard
3485Bast. Turne slaue and fight.
Ther. What art thou?
Bast. A Bastard sonne of Priams.
Thers: I am a bastard too, I loue bastards. I am bastard be-
got, bastard instructed, bastard inminde, bastard in valour, in
3490euery thing illigitimate, one beare wil not bite another, and
wherefore should one bastard? take heed, the quarrells
most ominous to vs, if the sonne of a whore fight for a
whore, he tempts iudgement, farewell bastard.
3495Bast. The diuell take thee coward.
Exit.
Enter Hector.
Hect. Most putrified core so faire without,
Thy goodly armor thus hath cost thy life;
Now is my daies worke done ile take my breth:
3500Rest sword thou hast thy fill of bloud and death.
Enter Achilles and Myrmidons.
Achil: Loke Hector how the Sunne begins to set.
How ougly night comes breathing at his heeles
Euen with the vaile and darkning of the Sunne,
3505To close the day vp, Hectors life is done.
Hect. I am vnarm'd forgoe this vantage Greeke.
Achil. Strike fellowes strike, this is the man I seeke,
So Illion fall thou next, come Troy sinke downe,
Here lies thy heart, thy sinnewes and thy bone.
3510On Myrmydons, and cry you all amaine,
Achilles hath the mighty Hector slaine,
Retreat:
Harke a retire vpon our Grecian prat.
One: The Troyans trumpet sound the like my Lord.
Achil: The dragon wing of night orespreds the earth,
3515And stickler-like the armies separates.
My halfe supt sword that frankly would haue fedde,
Pleas'd with this dainty baite: thus goes to bed:
Come tie his body to my horses taile,
Along the field I will the Troyan traile.
Exeunt:
Enter Agam: Aiax, Mene: Nestor, Diom:
and the rest marching.
Aga. Hark, harke, what is this?
Nest. Peace drums.
3525Sould: within. Achilles, Achilles, Hectors slaine Achilles.
Dio. The bruite is Hectors slaine and by Achilles.
Aiax. If it be so yet braglesse let it bee,
Great Hector was as good a man as he.
Aga. March patiently along: let one bee sent,
3530To pray Achilles see vs at our tent:
If in his death the Gods haue vs befriended.
Great Troy is ours, and our sharpe wars are ended.
Exeunt.
Enter Æneas, Paris, Antenor, Diephobus.
3535Æne. Stand ho? yet are we masters of the field,
Enter Troylus.
Troy. Neuer goe home, here starue we out the night,
Hector is slaine.
All. Hector! the gods forbid.
3540Troy. Hee's dead and at the murtherers horses taile,
In bestly sort dragd through the shamefull field:
Frowne on you heauens, effect your rage with speed,
Sit gods vpon your thrones, and smile at Troy.
I say at once, let your breefe plagues be mercy,
3545And linger not our sure destructions on.
Æne. My Lord you doe discomfort all the host.
Troy. You vnderstand me not that tell me so,
I do not speake of flight, of feare of death
But dare all immynence that gods and men
3550Addresse their daungers in. Hector is gone:
Who shall tell Priam so or Hecuba?
Let him that will a scrich-ould aye be call'd,
Goe into Troy and say their Hectors dead,
There is a word will Priam turne to stone,
3555Make wells and Niobe's of the maides and wiues:
Could statues of the youth and in a word,
Scarre Troy out of it selfe, there is no more to say,
Stay yet you proud abhominable tents:
3560Thus proudly pitcht vpon our Phrigian plaines,
Let Tytan rise as earely as he dare,
Ile through, and through you, and thou great siz'd coward,
No space of earth shall sunder our two hates:
Ile haunt thee like a wicked conscience still.
3565That mouldeth goblins swift as frienzes thoughts,
Strike a free march, to Troy with comfort goe
Hope of reueng shall hide our inward woe.
Enter Pandarus.
Pan. But here you, here you.
3570Troy. Hence broker, lacky, ignomyny, shame,
Pursue thy life, and liue aye with thy name.
3571.1
Exeunt all but Pandarus.
Pan. A goodly medicine for my aking bones, Oh world,
world --- thus is the poore agent despis'd, Oh traitors and
bawds, how earnestly are you set a worke, and how ill re-
3575quited, why should our endeuour bee so lou'd and the per-
formance so loathed, what verse for it? What instance for it?
Let me see,
Full merrily the humble Bee doth sing,
Till he hath lost his hony and his sting.
3580And being once subdude in armed taile,
Sweet hony, and sweet notes together faile.
Good traiders in the flesh, set this in your painted cloathes,
As many as be here of Pandars hall,
Your eyes halfe out weepe out at Pandars fall.
3585Or if you cannot weepe yet giue some grones,
Though not for me yet for my aking bones:
Brethren and sisters of the hold-ore trade,
Some two monthes hence my will shall here be made.
It should be now, but that my feare is this,
3590Some gauled goose of Winchester would hisse.
Till then ile sweat and seeke about for eases,
And at that time bequeath you my diseases.
FINIS.