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Troilus and Cressida (Modern)
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3196.1[5.3]
3197Enter Hector [in armor] and Andromache.
3198Andromache
When was my lord so much ungently tempered
3199To stop his ears against admonishment?
3200Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.
3201Hector
You train me to offend you. Get you gone.
3202By the everlasting gods, I'll go.
3203Andromache
My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.
3204Hector
No more, I say.
Enter Cassandra.
3205Cassandra
Where is my brother Hector?
3206Andromache
Here, sister, armed, and bloody in intent.
3207Consort with me in loud and dear petition.
3208Pursue we him on knees, for I have dreamt
3209Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night
3210Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.
3211Cassandra
Oh, 'tis true.
3212Hector
Ho. Bid my trumpet sound.
3213Cassandra
No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother.
3214Hector
Begone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.
3215Cassandra
The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows;
3216They are polluted off'rings, more abhorred
3217Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.
3218Andromache
[To Hector] Oh, be persuaded. Do not count it holy
3219To hurt by being just; it is as lawful,
3220For we would give much, to use violent thefts,
3221And rob in the behalf of charity.
3222Cassandra
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
3223But vows to every purpose must not hold.
3224Unarm, sweet Hector.
3225Hector
Hold you still, I say;
3226Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate.
3227Life every man holds dear, but the dear man
3228Holds honor far more precious, dear, than life. --
3229Enter Troilus [in armor].
3230How now, young man? Mean'st thou to fight today?
3231Andromache
Cassandra, call my father to persuade.
3232Exit Cassandra.
3233Hector
No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy harness, youth.
3234I am today i'th'vein of chivalry.
3235Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
3236And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
3237Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
3238I'll stand today, for thee, and me, and Troy.
3239Troilus
Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you
3240Which better fits a lion than a man.
3241Hector
What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.
3242Troilus
When many times the captive Grecian falls,
3243Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
3244You bid them rise and live.
3245Hector
Oh, 'tis fair play.
3246Troilus
Fool's play, by heaven, Hector.
3247Hector
How now? How now?
3248Troilus
For th'love of all the gods,
3249Let's leave the hermit pity with our mothers;
3250And when we have our armors buckled on,
3251The venomed vengeance ride upon our swords,
3252Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth.
3253Hector
Fie, savage, fie.
3254Troilus
Hector, then 'tis wars.
3255Hector
Troilus, I would not have you fight today.
3256Troilus
Who should withhold me?
3257Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars
3258Beck'ning with fiery truncheon my retire;
3259Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
3260Their eyes o'er-gallèd with recourse of tears,
3261Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn
3262Opposed to hinder me, should stop my way,
3263But by my ruin.
3265Cassandra
Lay hold upon him, Priam; hold him fast;
3266He is thy crutch; now if thou loose thy stay,
3267Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
3268Fall all together.
3269Priam
Come, Hector, come; go back.
3270Thy wife hath dreamt; thy mother hath had visions;
3271Cassandra doth foresee; and I myself
3272Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt
3273To tell thee that this day is ominous.
3274Therefore, come back.
3275Hector
Aeneas is afield,
3276And I do stand engaged to many Greeks,
3277Even in the faith of valor, to appear
3278This morning to them.
3279Priam
Ay, but thou shalt not go.
3280Hector
I must not break my faith.
3281You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir,
3282Let me not shame respect, but give me leave
3283To take that course by your consent and voice
3284Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.
3285Cassandra
O Priam, yield not to him.
3286Andromache
Do not, dear father.
3287Hector
Andromache, I am offended with you.
3288Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
3289Exit Andromache.
3290Troilus
This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl
3291Makes all these bodements.
3292Cassandra
O farewell, dear Hector.
3293Look how thou diest. Look how thy eye turns pale.
3294Look how thy wounds doth bleed at many vents.
3295Hark, how Troy roars, how Hecuba cries out,
3296How poor Andromache shrills her dolor forth.
3297Behold, distraction, frenzy, and amazement
3298Like witless antics one another meet,
3299And all cry, "Hector, Hector's dead, O Hector."
3300Troilus
Away, away.
3301Cassandra
Farewell. Yes, soft, Hector, I take my leave;
3302Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive.
Exit [Cassandra].
3303Hector
[To Priam] You are amazed, my liege, at her exclaim.
3304Go in and cheer the town; we'll forth and fight,
3305Do deeds of praise, and tell you them at night.
3306Priam
Farewell. The gods with safety stand about 3307thee.
[Exeunt Priam and Hector separately.]
94.2Alarum.
3308Troilus
They are at it. Hark. -- Proud Diomed, believe
3309I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.
3311Pandarus
Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?
3312Troilus
What now?
3313Pandarus
Here's a item="letter" letter come from yon poor girl.
3314Troilus
Let me read.
100.1[Troilus reads.]
3315Pandarus
A whoreson phthisic, a whoreson rascally phthisic 3316so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of this girl, and 3317what one thing, what another, that I shall leave you 3318one o'these days, and I have a rheum in mine eyes too, and 3319such an ache in my bones that, unless a man were cursed, 3320I cannot tell what to think on't. -- What says she 3321there?
3322Troilus
Words, words, mere words, no matter from 3323the heart.
3324Th'effect doth operate another way.
[He tears the letter, and throws it into the wind.]
3325Go wind to wind. There turn and change together.
3326My love with words and errors still she feeds,
3327But edifies another with her deeds.
3328Pandarus
Why, but hear you?
3329Troilus
Hence, brother lackey, ignomy and shame
3330Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name.
109.2Exeunt.