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  • Title: Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)
  • Editor: William Godshalk

    • ISBN: 1-55058-301-8

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: William Godshalk
    Peer Reviewed

    Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

    of Troylus and Cresseida.
    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)
    D2 The
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