Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
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.
3571.1Exeunt 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.