2IN Troy there lyes the Scene: From Iles of Greece

3The Princes Orgillous, their high blood chaf'd

4Haue to the Port of Athens sent their shippes

5Fraught with the ministers and instruments

6Of cruell Warre: Sixty and nine that wore

7Their Crownets Regall, from th' Athenian bay

8Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made

9To ransacke Troy, within whose strong emures

10The rauish'd Helen, Menelaus Queene,

11With wanton Paris sleepes, and that's the Quarrell.

12To Tenedos they come,

13And the deepe-drawing Barke do there disgorge

14Their warlike frautage: now on Dardan Plaines

15The fresh and yet vnbruised Greekes do pitch

16Their braue Pauillions. Priams six=gated City,

17Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,

18And Antenonidus with massie Staples

19And corresponsiue and fulfilling Bolts

20Stirre vp the Sonnes of Troy.

21Now Expectation tickling skittish spirits,

22On one and other side, Troian and Greeke,

23Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,

24A Prologue arm'd, but not in confidence

25Of Authors pen, or Actors voyce; but suited

26In like conditions, as our Argument;

27To tell you (faire Beholders) that our Play

28Leapes ore the vaunt and firstlings of those broyles,

29Beginning in the middle: starting thence away,

30To what may be digested in a Play:

31Like, or finde fault, do as your pleasures are,

32Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of Warre.

36CAll here my Varlet, Ile vnarme againe.

37Why should I warre without the wals of Troy

38That finde such cruell battell here within?

39Each Troian that is master of his heart,

40Let him to field, Troylus alas hath none.

41Pan. Will this geere nere be mended?

42Troy. The Greeks are strong, & skilful to their strength,

43Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercenesse Valiant:

44But I am weaker then a womans teare;

45Tamer then sleepe, fonder then ignorance;

46Lesse valiant then the Virgin in the night,

47And skillesse as vnpractis'd Infancie.

48Pan. Well, I haue told you enough of this: For my

49part, Ile not meddle nor make no farther. Hee that will

50haue a Cake out of the Wheate, must needes tarry the

51grinding.

52Troy. Haue I not tarried?

53Pan. I the grinding; but you must tarry the bolting.

54Troy. Haue I not tarried?

55Pan. I the boulting; but you must tarry the leau'ing.

56Troy. Still haue I tarried.

57Pan. I, to the leauening: but heeres yet in the word

58hereafter, the Kneading, the making of the Cake, the

59heating of the Ouen, and the Baking; nay, you must stay

60the cooling too, or you may chance to burne your lips.

61Troy. Patience her selfe, what Goddesse ere she be,

62Doth lesser blench at sufferance, then I doe:

63At Priams Royall Table doe I sit;

64And when faire Cressid comes into my thoughts,

65So (Traitor) then she comes, when she is thence.

66Pan. Well:

67She look'd yesternight fairer, then euer I saw her looke,

68Or any woman else.

69Troy. I was about to tell thee, when my heart,

70As wedged with a sigh, would riue in twaine,

71Least Hector, or my Father should perceiue me:

72I haue (as when the Sunne doth light a-scorne)

73Buried this sigh, in wrinkle of a smile:

74But sorrow, that is couch'd in seeming gladnesse,

75Is like that mirth, Fate turnes to sudden sadnesse.

76Pan. And her haire were not somewhat darker then

77Helens, well go too, there were no more comparison be-

78tweene the Women. But for my part she is my Kinswo-

79man, I would not (as they tearme it) praise it, but I wold

80some-body had heard her talke yesterday as I did: I will

81not dispraise your sister Cassandra's wit, but---

82Troy. Oh Pandarus! I tell thee Pandarus;

83When I doe tell thee, there my hopes lye drown'd:

84Reply not in how many Fadomes deepe

85They lye indrench'd. I tell thee, I am mad

86In Cressids loue. Thou answer'st she is Faire,

87Powr'st in the open Vlcer of my heart,

88Her Eyes, her Haire, her Cheeke, her Gate, her Voice,

89Handlest in thy discourse. O that her Hand

90(In whose comparison, all whites are Inke)

91Writing their owne reproach; to whose soft seizure,

92The Cignets Downe is harsh, and spirit of Sense

93Hard as the palme of Plough-man. This thou tel'st me;

94As true thou tel'st me, when I say I loue her:

95But saying thus, instead of Oyle and Balme,

96Thou lai'st in euery gash that loue hath giuen me,

97The Knife that made it.

98Pan. I speake no more then truth.

99Troy. Thou do'st not speake so much.

100Pan. Faith, Ile not meddle in't: Let her be as shee is,

101if she be faire, 'tis the better for her: and she be not, she

102ha's the mends in her owne hands.

103Troy. Good Pandarus: How now Pandarus?

104Pan. I haue had my Labour for my trauell, ill thought

105on of her, and ill thought on of you: Gone betweene and

106betweene, but small thankes for my labour.

107Troy. What art thou angry Pandarus? what with me?

108Pan. Because she's Kinne to me, therefore shee's not

109so faire as Helen, and she were not kin to me, she would

110be as faire on Friday, as Helen is on Sunday. But what

111care I? I care not and she were a Black-a-Moore, 'tis all

112one to me.

113Troy. Say I she is not faire?

114Troy. I doe not care whether you doe or no. Shee's a

115Foole to stay behinde her Father: Let her to the Greeks,

116and so Ile tell her the next time I see her: for my part, Ile

117meddle nor make no more i'th' matter.

118Troy. Pandarus? Pan. Not I.

119Troy. Sweete Pandarus.

120Pan. Pray you speake no more to me, I will leaue all

121as I found it, and there an end. Exit Pand.

123Tro. Peace you vngracious Clamors, peace rude sounds,

124Fooles on both sides, Helen must needs be faire,

125When with your bloud you daily paint her thus.

126I cannot fight vpon this Argument:

127It is too staru'd a subiect for my Sword,

128But Pandarus: O Gods! How do you plague me?

129I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar,

130And he's as teachy to be woo'd to woe,

131As she is stubborne, chast, against all suite.

132Tell me Apollo for thy Daphnes Loue

133What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we:

134Her bed is India, there she lies, a Pearle,

135Between our Ilium, and where shee recides

136Let it be cald the wild and wandring flood,

137Our selfe the Merchant, and this sayling Pandar,

138Our doubtfull hope, our conuoy and our Barke.

140AEne. How now Prince Troylus?

141Wherefore not a field?

142Troy. Because not there; this womans answer sorts.

143For womanish it is to be from thence:

144What newes AEneas from the field to day?

145AEne. That Paris is returned home, and hurt.

146Troy. By whom AEneas?

147AEne. Troylus by Menelaus.

148Troy. Let Paris bleed, 'tis but a scar to scorne.

149Paris is gor'd with Menelaus horne. Alarum.

150AEne. Harke what good sport is out of Towne to day.

151Troy. Better at home, if would I might were may:

152But to the sport abroad, are you bound thither?

153AEne. In all swift hast.

154Troy. Come goe wee then togither. Exeunt.

156Cre. Who were those went by?

157Man. Queene Hecuba, and Hellen.

158Cre. And whether go they?

159Man. Vp to the Easterne Tower,

160Whose height commands as subiect all the vaile,

161To see the battell: Hector whose pacience,

162Is as a Vertue fixt, to day was mou'd:

163He chides Andromache and strooke his Armorer,

164And like as there were husbandry in Warre

165Before the Sunne rose, hee was harnest lyte,

166And to the field goe's he; where euery flower

167Did as a Prophet weepe what it forsaw,

168In Hectors wrath.

169Cre. What was his cause of anger?

170Man. The noise goe's this;

171There is among the Greekes,

172A Lord of Troian blood, Nephew to Hector,

173They call him Aiax.

174Cre. Good; and what of him?

175Man. They say he is a very man per se and stands alone.

176Cre. So do all men, vnlesse they are drunke, sicke, or

177haue no legges.

178Man. This man Lady, hath rob'd many beasts of their

179particular additions, he is as valiant as the Lyon, churlish

180as the Beare, slow as the Elephant: a man into whom

181nature hath so crowded humors, that his valour is crusht

182into folly, his folly sauced with discretion: there is no

183man hath a vertue, that he hath not a glimpse of, nor a-

184ny man an attaint, but he carries some staine of it. He is

185melancholy without cause, and merry against the haire,

186hee hath the ioynts of euery thing, but euery thing so

187out ot ioynt, that hee is a gowtie Briareus, many hands

188and no vse; or purblinded Argus, all eyes and no sight.

189Cre. But how should this man that makes me smile,

190make Hector angry?

191 Man. They say he yesterday cop'd Hector in the bat-

192tell and stroke him downe, the disdaind & shame where-

193of, hath euer since kept Hector fasting and waking.

195Cre. Who comes here?

196Man. Madam your Vncle Pandarus.

197Cre. Hectors a gallant man.

198Man. As may be in the world Lady.

199Pan. What's that? what's that?

200Cre. Good morrow Vncle Pandarus.

201Pan. Good morrow Cozen Cressid: what do you talke

202of? good morrow Alexander: how do you Cozen? when

203were you at Illium?

204Cre. This morning Vncle.

205Pan. What were you talking of when I came? Was

206Hector arm'd and gon ere yea came to Illium? Hellen was

207not vp? was she?

208Cre. Hector was gone but Hellen was not vp?

209Pan. E'ene so; Hector was stirring early.

210Cre. That were we talking of, and of his anger.

211Pan. Was he angry?

212Cre. So he saies here.

213Pan. True he was so; I know the cause too, heele lay

214about him to day I can tell them that, and there's Troylus

215will not come farre behind him, let them take heede of

216Troylus; I can tell them that too.

217Cre. What is he angry too?

218Pan. Who Troylus?

219Troylus is the better man of the two.

220Cre. Oh Iupiter; there's no comparison.

221Pan. What not betweene Troylus and Hector? do you

222know a man if you see him?

223Cre. I, if I euer saw him before and knew him.

224Pan. Well I say Troylus is Troylus.

225Cre. Then you say as I say,

226For I am sure he is not Hector.

227Pan. No not Hector is not Troylus in some degrees.

228Cre. 'Tis iust, to each of them he is himselfe.

229Pan. Himselfe? alas poore Troylus I would he were.

230Cre. So he is.

231Pan. Condition I had gone bare-foote to India.

232Cre. He is not Hector.

233Pan. Himselfe? no? hee's not himselfe, would a were

234himselfe: well, the Gods are aboue, time must friend or

235end: well Troylus well, I would my heart were in her bo-

236dy; no, Hector is not a better man then Troylus.

237Cre. Excuse me.

238Pan. He is elder.

239Cre. Pardon me, pardon me.

240Pan. Th'others not come too't, you shall tell me ano-

241ther tale when th'others come too't: Hector shall not

242haue his will this yeare.

243Cre. He shall not neede it if he haue his owne.

244Pan. Nor his qualities.

245Cre. No matter.

246Pan. Nor his beautie.

247Cre. 'Twould not become him, his own's better.

248Pan. You haue no iudgement Neece; Hellen her selfe

249swore th'other day, that Troylus for a browne fauour (for

250so 'tis I must confesse) not browne neither.

251Cre. No, but browne.

252Pan. Faith to say truth, browne and not browne.

253Cre. To say the truth, true and not true.

254Pan. She prais'd his complexion aboue Paris.

255Cre. Why Paris hath colour inough.

256Pan. So he has.

257Cre. Then Troylus should haue too much, if she prasi'd

258him aboue, his complexion is higher then his, he hauing

259colour enough, and the other higher, is too flaming a

260praise for a good complexion, I had as lieue Hellens gol-

261den tongue had commended Troylus for a copper nose.

262Pan. I sweare to you,

263I thinke Hellen loues him better then Paris.

264Cre. Then shee's a merry Greeke indeed.

265Pan. Nay I am sure she does, she came to him th'other

266day into the compast window, and you know he has not

267past three or foure haires on his chinne.

268Cres. Indeed a Tapsters Arithmetique may soone

269bring his particulars therein, to a totall.

270Pand. Why he is very yong, and yet will he within

271three pound lift as much as his brother Hector.

272Cres. Is he is so young a man, and so old a lifter?

273Pan. But to prooue to you that Hellen loues him, she

274came and puts me her white hand to his clouen chin.

275Cres. Iuno haue mercy, how came it clouen?

276Pan. Why, you know 'tis dimpled,

277I thinke his smyling becomes him better then any man

278in all Phrigia.

279Cre. Oh he smiles valiantly.

280Pan. Dooes hee not?

281Cre. Oh yes, and 'twere a clow'd in Autumne.

282Pan. Why go to then, but to proue to you that Hellen

283loues Troylus.

284Cre. Troylus wil stand to thee

285Proofe, if youle prooue it so.

286Pan. Troylus? why he esteemes her no more then I e-

287steeme an addle egge.

288Cre. If you loue an addle egge as well as you loue an

289idle head, you would eate chickens i'th' shell.

290Pan. I cannot chuse but laugh to thinke how she tick-

291led his chin, indeed shee has a maruel's white hand I must

292needs confesse.

293Cre. Without the racke.

294Pan. And shee takes vpon her to spie a white haire on

295his chinne.

296Cre. Alas poore chin? many a wart is richer.

297Pand. But there was such laughing, Queene Hecuba

298laught that her eyes ran ore.

299Cre. With Milstones.

300Pan. And Cassandra laught.

301Cre. But there was more temperate fire vnder the pot

302of her eyes: did her eyes run ore too?

303Pan. And Hector laught.

304Cre. At what was all this laughing?

305Pand. Marry at the white haire that Hellen spied on

306Troylus chin.

307Cres. And t'had beene a greene haire, I should haue

308laught too.

309Pand. They laught not so much at the haire, as at his

310pretty answere.

311Cre. What was his answere?

312Pan. Quoth shee, heere's but two and fifty haires on

313your chinne; and one of them is white.

314Cre. This is her question.

315Pan d That's true, make no question of that, two and

316fiftie haires quoth hee, and one white, that white haire is

317my Father, and all the rest are his Sonnes. Iupiter quoth

318she, which of these haires is Paris my husband? The for-

319ked one quoth he, pluckt out and giue it him: but there

320was such laughing, and Hellen so blusht, and Paris so

321chaft, and all the rest so laught, that it past.

322Cre. So let it now,

323For is has beene a grcat while going by.

324Pan. Well Cozen,

325I told you a thing yesterday, think on't.

326Cre. So I does.

327Pand. Ile be sworne 'tis true, he will weepe you

328an'twere a man borne in Aprill. Sound a retreate.

329Cres. And Ile spring vp in his teares , an'twere a nettle

330against May.

331Pan. Harke they are comming from the field, shal we

332stand vp here and see them, as they passe toward Illium,

333good Neece do, sweet Neece Cressida.

334Cre. At your pleasure.

335Pan. Heere, heere, here's an excellent place, heere we

336may see most brauely, Ile tel you them all by their names,

337as they passe by, but marke Troylus aboue the rest.

339Cre. Speake not so low'd.

340Pan. That's AEneas, is not that a braue man, hee's one

341of the flowers of Troy I can you, but marke Troylus, you

342shal see anon.

343Cre. Who's that?

345Pan. That's Antenor, he has a shrow'd wit I can tell

346you, and hee's a man good inough, hee's one o'th soun-

347dest iudgement in Troy whosoeuer, and a proper man of

348person: when comes Troylus? Ile shew you Troylus anon,

349if hee see me, you shall see him him nod at me.

350Cre. Will he giue you the nod?

351Pan. You shall see.

352Cre. If he do, the rich shall haue, more.

354Pan. That's Hector, that, that, looke you, that there's a

355fellow. Goe thy way Hector, there's a braue man Neece,

356O braue Hector! Looke how hee lookes? there's a coun-

357tenance; ist not a braue man?

358Cre. O braue man!

359Pan. Is a not? It dooes a mans heart good, looke you

360what hacks are on his Helmet, looke you yonder, do you

361see? Looke you there? There's no iesting, laying on, tak't

362off, who ill as they say, there be hacks.

363Cre. Be those with Swords?

365Pan. Swords, any thing he cares not, and the diuell

366come to him, it's all one, by Gods lid it dooes ones heart

367good. Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris: looke

368yee yonder Neece, ist not a gallant man to, ist not? Why

369this is braue now: who said he came hurt home to day?

370Hee's not hurt, why this will do Hellens heart good

371now, ha? Would I could see Troylus now, you shall Troy-

372lus anon.

373Cre. Whose that?

375Pan. That's Hellenus, I maruell where Troylus is, that's

376Helenus, I thinke he went not forth to day: that's Hel-

377lenus.

378Cre. Can Hellenus fight Vncle?

379Pan. Hellenus no: yes heele fight indifferent, well, I

380maruell where Troylus is; harke, do you not haere the

381people crie Troylus? Hellenus is a Priest.

382Cre. What sneaking fellow comes yonder?

384Pan. Where? Yonder? That's Doephobus.'Tis Troy-

385lus! Ther's a man Neece, hem? Braue Troylus the Prince

386of Chiualrie.

387Cre. Peace, for shame peace.

388Pand. Marke him, not him: O braue Troylus: looke

389well vpon him Neece, looke you how his Sword is blou-

390died, and his Helme more hackt then Hectors, and how he

391lookes, and how he goes. O admirable youth! he ne're

392saw three and twenty. Go thy way Troylus, go thy way,

393had I a sister were a Grace, or a daughter a Goddesse, hee

394should take his choice. O admirable man! Paris? Paris

395is durt to him, and I warrant, Helen to change, would

396giue money to boot.

398Cres. Heere come more.

399Pan. Asses, fooles, dolts, chaffe and bran, chaffe and

400bran; porredge after meat. I could liue and dye i'th'eyes

401of Troylus. Ne're looke, ne're looke; the Eagles are gon,

402Crowes and Dawes, Crowes and Dawes: I had rather be

403such a man as Troylus, then Agamemnon, and all Greece.

404Cres. There is among the Greekes Achilles, a better

405man then Troylus.

406Pan. Achilles? a Dray-man, a Porter, a very Camell.

407Cres. Well, well.

408Pan. Well, well? Why haue you any discretion? haue

409you any eyes? Do you know what a man is? Is not birth,

410b auty, good shape, discourse, manhood, learning, gen-

411tlenesse, vertue, youth, liberality, and so forth: the Spice,

412and salt that seasons a man?

413Cres. I, a minc'd man, and then to be bak'd with no Date

414in the pye, for then the mans dates out.

415Pan. You are such another woman, one knowes not

416at what ward you lye.

417Cres. Vpon my backe, to defend my belly; vpon my

418wit, to defend my wiles; vppon my secrecy, to defend

419mine honesty; my Maske, to defend my beauty, and you

420to defend all these: and at all these wardes I lye at, at a

421thousand watches.

422Pan. Say one of your watches.

423Cres. Nay Ile watch you for that, and that's one of

424the cheefest of them too: If I cannot ward what I would

425not haue hit, I can watch you for telling how I took the

426blow, vnlesse it swell past hiding, and then it's past wat-

427ching.

429Pan. You are such another.

430Boy. Sir, my Lord would instantly speake with you.

431Pan. Where?

432Boy. At your owne house.

433Pan. Good Boy tell him I come, I doubt he bee hurt.

434Fare ye well good Neece.

435Cres. Adieu Vnkle.

436Pan. Ile be with you Neece by and by.

437Cres. To bring Vnkle.

438Pan. I, a token from Troylus.

439Cres. By the same token, you are a Bawd. Exit Pand.

440Words, vowes, gifts, teares, & loues full sacrifice,

441He offers in anothers enterprise:

442But more in Troylus thousand fold I see,

443Then in the glasse of Pandar's praise may be;

444Yet hold I off. Women are Angels wooing,

445Things won are done, ioyes soule lyes in the dooing:

446That she belou'd, knowes nought, that knowes not this;

447Men prize the thing vngain'd, more then it is.

448That she was neuer yet, that euer knew

449Loue got so sweet, as when desire did sue:

450Therefore this maxime out of loue I teach;

451"Atchieuement, is command; vngain'd, beseech.

452That though my hearts Contents firme loue doth beare,

453Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appeare. Exit.

456Agam. Princes:

457What greefe hath set the Iaundies on your cheekes?

458The ample proposition that hope makes

459In all designes, begun on earth below

460Fayles in the promist largenesse: checkes and disasters

461Grow in the veines of actions highest rear'd.

462As knots by the conflux of meeting sap,

463Infect the sound Pine, and diuerts his Graine

464Tortiue and erant from his course of growth.

465Nor Princes, is it matter new to vs,

466That we come short of our suppose so farre,

467That after seuen yeares siege, yet Troy walles stand,

468Sith euery action that hath gone before,

469Whereof we haue Record, Triall did draw

470Bias and thwart, not answering the ayme:

471And that vnbodied figure of the thought

472That gaue't surmised shape. Why then (you Princes)

473Do you with cheekes abash'd, behold our workes,

474And thinke them shame, which are (indeed) nought else

475But the protractiue trials of great Ioue,

476To finde persistiue constancie in men?

477The finenesse of which Mettall is not found

478In Fortunes loue: for then, the Bold and Coward,

479The Wise and Foole, the Artist and vn-read,

480The hard and soft, seeme all affin'd, and kin.

481But in the Winde and Tempest of her frowne,

482Distinction with a lowd and powrefull fan,

483Puffing at all, winnowes the light away;

484And what hath masse, or matter by it selfe,

485Lies rich in Vertue, and vnmingled.

486Nestor. With due Obseruance of thy godly seat,

487Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply

488Thy latest words.

489In the reproofe of Chance,

490Lies the true proofe of men: The Sea being smooth,

491How many shallow bauble Boates dare saile

492Vpon her patient brest, making their way

493With those of Nobler bulke?

494But let the Ruffian Boreas once enrage

495The gentle Thetis, and anon behold

496The strong ribb'd Barke through liquid Mountaines cut,

497Bounding betweene the two moyst Elements

498Like Perseus Horse. Where's then the sawcy Boate,

499Whose weake vntimber'd sides but euen now

500Co-riual'd Greatnesse? Either to harbour fled,

501Or made a Toste for Neptune. Euen so,

502Doth valours shew, and valours worth diuide

503In stormes of Fortune.

504For, in her ray and brightnesse,

505The Heard hath more annoyance by the Brieze

506Then by the Tyger: But, when the splitting winde

507Makes flexible the knees of knotted Oakes,

508And Flies fled vnder shade, why then

509The thing of Courage,

510As rowz'd with rage, with rage doth sympathize,

511And with an accent tun'd in selfe-same key,

512Retyres to chiding Fortune.

513Vlys. Agamemnon:

514Thou great Commander, Nerue, and Bone of Greece,

515Heart of our Numbers, soule, and onely spirit,

516In whom the tempers, and the mindes of all

517Should be shut vp: Heare what Vlysses speakes,

518Besides the applause and approbation

519The which most mighty for thy place and sway,

¶ And

520And thou most reuerend for thy stretcht-out life,

521I giue to both your speeches: which were such,

522As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece

523Should hold vp high in Brasse: and such againe

524As venerable Nestor (hatch'd in Siluer)

525Should with a bond of ayre, strong as the Axletree

526In which the Heauens ride, knit all Greekes eares

527To his experienc'd tongue: yet let it please both

528(Thou Great, and Wise) to heare Vlysses speake.

529Aga. Speak Prince of Ithaca, and be't of lesse expect:

530That matter needlesse of importlesse burthen

531Diuide thy lips; then we are confident

532When ranke Thersites opes his Masticke iawes,

533We shall heare Musicke, Wit, and Oracle.

534Ulys. Troy yet vpon his basis had bene downe,

535And the great Hectors sword had lack'd a Master

536But for these instances.

537The specialty of Rule hath beene neglected;

538And looke how many Grecian Tents do stand

539Hollow vpon this Plaine, so many hollow Factions.

540When that the Generall is not like the Hiue,

541To whom the Forragers shall all repaire,

542What Hony is expected? Degree being vizarded,

543Th'vnworthiest shewes as fairely in the Maske.

544The Heauens themselues, the Planets, and this Center,

545Obserue degree, priority, and place,

546Insisture, course, proportion, season, forme,

547Office, and custome, in all line of Order:

548And therefore is the glorious Planet Sol

549In noble eminence, enthron'd and sphear'd

550Amid'st the other, whose med'cinable eye

551Corrects the ill Aspects of Planets euill,

552And postes like the Command'ment of a King,

553Sans checke, to good and bad. But when the Planets

554In euill mixture to disorder wander,

555What Plagues, and what portents, what mutiny?

556What raging of the Sea? shaking of Earth?

557Commotion in the Windes? Frights, changes, horrors,

558Diuert, and cracke, rend and deracinate

559The vnity, and married calme of States

560Quite from their fixure? O, when Degree is shak'd,

561(Which is the Ladder to all high designes)

562The enterprize is sicke. How could Communities,

563Degrees in Schooles, and Brother-hoods in Cities,

564Peacefull Commerce from diuidable shores,

565The primogenitiue, and due of Byrth,

566Prerogatiue of Age, Crownes, Scepters, Lawrels,

567(But by Degree) stand in Authentique place?

568Take but Degree away, vn-tune that string,

569And hearke what Discord followes: each thing meetes

570In meere oppugnancie. The bounded Waters,

571Should lift their bosomes higher then the Shores,

572And make a soppe of all this solid Globe:

573Strength should be Lord of imbecility,

574And the rude Sonne should strike his Father dead:

575Force should be right, or rather, right and wrong,

576(Betweene whose endlesse iarre, Iustice recides)

577Should loose her names, and so should Iustice too.

578Then euery thing includes it selfe in Power,

579Power into Will, Will into Appetite,

580And Appetite (an vniuersall Wolfe,

581So doubly seconded with Will, and Power)

582Must make perforce an vniuersall prey,

583And last, eate vp himselfe.

584Great Agamemnon:

585This Chaos, when Degree is suffocate,

586Followes the choaking:

587And this neglection of Degree, is it

588That by a pace goes backward in a purpose

589It hath to climbe. The Generall's disdain'd

590By him one step below; he, by the next,

591That next, by him beneath: so euery step

592Exampled by the first pace that is sicke

593Of his Superiour, growes to an enuious Feauer

594Of pale, and bloodlesse Emulation.

595And 'tis this Feauer that keepes Troy on foote,

596Not her owne sinewes. To end a tale of length,

597Troy in our weaknesse liues, not in her strength.

598Nest. Most wisely hath Vlysses heere discouer'd

599The Feauer, whereof all our power is sicke.

600Aga. The Nature of the sicknesse found (Ulysses)

601What is the remedie?

602Vlys. The great Achilles, whom Opinion crownes,

603The sinew, and the fore-hand of our Hoste,

604Hauing his eare full of his ayery Fame,

605Growes dainty of his worth, and in his Tent

606Lyes mocking our designes. With him, Patroclus,

607Vpon a lazie Bed, the liue-long day

608Breakes scurrill Iests,

609And with ridiculous and aukward action,

610(Which Slanderer, he imitation call's)

611He Pageants vs. Sometime great Agamemnon,

612Thy toplesse deputation he puts on;

613And like a strutting Player, whose conceit

614Lies in his Ham-string, and doth thinke it rich

615To heare the woodden Dialogue and sound

616'Twixt his stretcht footing, and the Scaffolage,

617Such to be pittied, and ore-rested seeming

618He acts thy Greatnesse in: and when he speakes,

619'Tis like a Chime a mending. With tearmes vnsquar'd,

620Which from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropt,

621Would seemes Hyperboles. At this fusty stuffe,

622The large Achilles (on his prest-bed lolling)

623From his deepe Chest, laughes out a lowd applause,

624Cries excellent, 'tis Agamemnon iust.

625Now play me Nestor; hum, and stroke thy Beard

626As he, being drest to some Oration:

627That's done, as neere as the extreamest ends

628Of paralels; as like, as Vulcan and his wife,

629Yet god Achilles still cries excellent,

630'Tis Nestor right. Now play him (me) Patroclus,

631Arming to answer in a night-Alarme,

632And then (forsooth) the faint defects of Age

633Must be the Scene of myrth, to cough, and spit,

634And with a palsie fumbling on his Gorget,

635Shake in and out the Riuet: and at this sport

636Sir Valour dies; cries, O enough Patroclus,

637Or, giue me ribs of Steele, I shall split all

638In pleasure of my Spleene. And in this fashion,

639All our abilities, gifts, natures, shapes,

640Seuerals and generals of grace exact,

641Atchieuments, plots, orders, preuentions,

642Excitements to the field, or speech for truce,

643Successe or losse, what is, or is not, serues

644As stuffe for these two, to make paradoxes.

645Nest. And in the imitation of these twaine,

646Who (as Vlysses sayes) Opinion crownes

647With an Imperiall voyce, many are infect:

648Aiax is growne selfe-will'd, and beares his head

649In such a reyne, in full as proud a place

650As broad Achilles, and keepes his Tent like him;

651Makes factious Feasts, railes on our state of Warre

652Bold as an Oracle, and sets Thersites

653A slaue, whose Gall coines slanders like a Mint,

654To match vs in comparisons with durt,

655To weaken and discredit our exposure,

656How ranke soeuer rounded in with danger.

657Vlys. They taxe our policy, and call it Cowardice,

658Count Wisedome as no member of the Warre,

659Fore-stall prescience, and esteeme no acte

660But that of hand: The still and mentall parts,

661That do contriue how many hands shall strike

662When fitnesse call them on, and know by measure

663Of their obseruant toyle, the Enemies waight,

664Why this hath not a fingers dignity:

665They call this Bed-worke, Mapp'ry, Closset-Warre:

666So that the Ramme that batters downe the wall,

667For the great swing and rudenesse of his poize,

668They place before his hand that made the Engine,

669Or those that with the finenesse of their soules,

670By Reason guide his execution.

671Nest. Let this be granted, and Achilles horse

672Makes many Thetis sonnes. Tucket

673Aga. What Trumpet? Looke Menelaus.

674Men. From Troy. Enter AEneas.

675Aga. What would you 'fore our Tent?

676AEne. Is this great Agamemnons Tent, I pray you?

677Aga. Euen this.

678AEne. May one that is a Herald, and a Prince,

679Do a faire message to his Kingly eares?

680Aga. With surety stronger then Achilles arme,

681'Fore all the Greekish heads, which with one voyce

682Call Agamemnon Head and Generall.

683AEne. Faire leaue, and large security. How may

684A stranger to those most Imperial lookes,

685Know them from eyes of other Mortals?

686Aga. How?

687AEne. I: I aske, that I might waken reuerence,

688And on the cheeke be ready with a blush

689Modest as morning, when she coldly eyes

690The youthfull Phoebus:

691Which is that God in office guiding men?

692Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?

693Aga. This Troyan scornes vs, or the men of Troy

694Are ceremonious Courtiers.

695AEne. Courtiers as free, as debonnaire; vnarm'd,

696As bending Angels: that's their Fame, in peace:

697But when they would seeme Souldiers, they haue galles,

698Good armes, strong ioynts, true swords, & Ioues accord,

699Nothing so full of heart. But peace AEneas,

700Peace Troyan, lay thy finger on thy lips,

701The worthinesse of praise distaines his worth:

702If that he prais'd himselfe, bring the praise forth.

703But what the repining enemy commends,

704That breath Fame blowes, that praise sole pure transcẽds.

705Aga. Sir, you of Troy, call you your selfe AEneas?

706AEne. I Greeke, that is my name.

707Aga. What's your affayre I pray you?

708AEne. Sir pardon, 'tis for Agamemnons eares.

709Aga. He heares nought priuatly

710That comes from Troy.

711AEne. Nor I from Troy come not to whisper him,

712I bring a Trumpet to awake his eare,

713To set his sence on the attentiue bent,

714And then to speake.

715Aga. Speake frankely as the winde,

716It is not Agamemnons sleeping houre;

717That thou shalt know Troyan he is awake,

718He tels thee so himselfe.

719AEne. Trumpet blow loud,

720Send thy Brasse voyce through all these lazie Tents,

721And euery Greeke of mettle, let him know,

722What Troy meanes fairely, shall be spoke alowd.

724We haue great Agamemnon heere in Troy,

725A Prince calld Hector, Priam is his Father:

726Who in this dull and long-continew'd Truce

727Is rusty growne. He bad me take a Trumpet,

728And to this purpose speake: Kings, Princes, Lords,

729If there be one among'st the fayr'st of Greece,

730That holds his Honor higher then his ease,

731That seekes his praise, more then he feares his perill,

732That knowes his Valour, and knowes not his feare,

733That loues his Mistris more then in consession,

734(With truant vowes to her owne lips he loues)

735And dare avow her Beauty, and her Worth,

736In other armes then hers: to him this Challenge.

737Hector, in view of Troyans, and of Greekes,

738Shall make it good, or do his best to do it.

739He hath a Lady, wiser, fairer, truer,

740Then euer Greeke did compasse in his armes,

741And will to morrow with his Trumpet call,

742Midway betweene your Tents, and walles of Troy,

743To rowze a Grecian that is true in loue.

744If any come, Hector shal honour him:

745If none, hee'l say in Troy when he retyres,

746The Grecian Dames are sun-burnt, and not worth

747The splinter of a Lance: Euen so much.

748Aga. This shall be told our Louers Lord AEneas,

749If none of them haue soule in such a kinde,

750We left them all at home: But we are Souldiers,

751And may that Souldier a meere recreant proue,

752That meanes not, hath not, or is not in loue:

753If then one is, or hath, or meanes to be,

754That one meets Hector; if none else, Ile be he.

755Nest. Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man

756When Hectors Grandsire suckt: he is old now,

757But if there be not in our Grecian mould,

758One Noble man, that hath one spark of fire

759To answer for his Loue; tell him from me,

760Ile hide my Siluer beard in a Gold Beauer,

761And in my Vantbrace put this wither'd brawne,

762And meeting him, wil tell him, that my Lady

763Was fayrer then his Grandame, and as chaste

764As may be in the world: his youth in flood,

765Ile pawne this truth with my three drops of blood.

766AEne. Now heauens forbid such scarsitie of youth.

767Vlys. Amen.

768Aga. Faire Lord AEneas,

769Let me touch your hand:

770To our Pauillion shal I leade you first:

771Achilles shall haue word of this intent,

772So shall each Lord of Greece from Tent to Tent:

773Your selfe shall Feast with vs before you goe,

774And finde the welcome of a Noble Foe. Exeunt.

776Vlys. Nestor.

777Nest. What sayes Vlysses?

778Vlys. I haue a young conception in my braine,

779Be you my time to bring it to some shape.

780Nest. What is't?

781Ulysses. This 'tis:

782Blunt wedges riue hard knots: the seeded Pride

783That hath to this maturity blowne vp

¶2 In

784In ranke Achilles, must or now be cropt,

785Or shedding breed a Nursery of like euil

786To ouer-bulke vs all.

787Nest. Wel, and how?

788Ulys. This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,

789How euer it is spred in general name,

790Relates in purpose onely to Achilles.

791Nest. The purpose is perspicuous euen as substance,

792Whose grossenesse little charracters summe vp,

793And in the publication make no straine,

794But that Achilles, were his braine as barren

795As bankes of Lybia, though (Apollo knowes)

796'Tis dry enough, wil with great speede of iudgement,

797I, with celerity, finde Hectors purpose

798Pointing on him.

799Ulys. And wake him to the answer, thinke you?

800Nest. Yes, 'tis most meet; who may you else oppose

801That can from Hector bring his Honor off,

802If not Achilles; though't be a sportfull Combate,

803Yet in this triall, much opinion dwels.

804For heere the Troyans taste our deer'st repute

805With their fin'st Pallate: and trust to me Vlysses,

806Our imputation shall be oddely poiz'd

807In this wilde action. For the successe

808(Although particular) shall giue a scantling

809Of good or bad, vnto the Generall:

810And in such Indexes, although small prickes

811To their subsequent Volumes, there is seene

812The baby figure of the Gyant-masse

813Of things to come at large. It is suppos'd,

814He that meets Hector, issues from our choyse;

815And choise being mutuall acte of all our soules,

816Makes Merit her election, and doth boyle

817As 'twere, from forth vs all: a man distill'd

818Out of our Vertues; who miscarrying,

819What heart from hence receyues the conqu'ring part

820To steele a strong opinion to themselues,

821Which entertain'd, Limbes are in his instruments,

822In no lesse working, then are Swords and Bowes

823Directiue by the Limbes.

824Vlys. Giue pardon to my speech:

825Therefore 'tis meet, Achilles meet not Hector:

826Let vs (like Merchants) shew our fowlest Wares,

827And thinke perchance they'l sell: If not,

828The luster of the better yet to shew,

829Shall shew the better. Do not consent,

830That euer Hector and Achilles meete:

831For both our Honour, and our Shame in this,

832Are dogg'd with two strange Followers.

833Nest. I see them not with my old eies: what are they?

834Vlys. What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,

835(Were he not proud) we all should weare with him:

836But he already is too insolent,

837And we were better parch in Affricke Sunne,

838Then in the pride and salt scorne of his eyes

839Should he scape Hector faire. If he were foyld,

840Why then we did our maine opinion crush

841In taint of our best man. No, make a Lott'ry,

842And by deuice let blockish Aiax draw

843The sort to fight with Hector: Among our selues,

844Giue him allowance as the worthier man,

845For that will physicke the great Myrmidon

846Who broyles in lowd applause, and make him fall

847His Crest, that prouder then blew Iris bends.

848If the dull brainlesse Aiax come safe off,

849Wee'l dresse him vp in voyces: if he faile,

850Yet go we vnder our opinion still,

851That we haue better men. But hit or misse,

852Our proiects life this shape of sence assumes,

853Aiax imploy'd, pluckes downe Achilles Plumes.

854Nest. Now Vlysses, I begin to rellish thy aduice,

855And I wil giue a taste of it forthwith

856To Agamemnon, go we to him straight:

857Two Curres shal tame each other, Pride alone

858Must tarre the Mastiffes on, as 'twere their bone. Exeunt

860Aia. Thersites?

861Ther. Agamemnon, how if he had Biles (ful) all ouer

862generally.

863Aia. Thersites?

864Ther. And those Byles did runne, say so; did not the

865General run, were not that a botchy core?

866Aia. Dogge.

867Ther. Then there would come some matter from him:

868I see none now.

869Aia. Thou Bitch-Wolfes-Sonne, canst y^u not heare?

870Feele then. Strikes him.

871Ther. The plague of Greece vpon thee thou Mungrel

872beefe-witted Lord.

873Aia. Speake then you whinid'st leauen speake, I will

874beate thee into handsomnesse.

875Ther. I shal sooner rayle thee into wit and holinesse:

876but I thinke thy Horse wil sooner con an Oration, then y^u

877learn a prayer without booke: Thou canst strike, canst

878thou? A red Murren o'th thy Iades trickes.

879Aia. Toads stoole, learne me the Proclamation.

880Ther. Doest thou thinke I haue no sence thou strik'st (me thus?

881Aia. The Proclamation.

882Ther. Thou art proclaim'd a foole, I thinke.

883Aia. Do not Porpentine, do not; my fingers itch.

884Ther. I would thou didst itch from head to foot, and

885I had the scratching of thee, I would make thee the loth-

886som'st scab in Greece.

887Aia. I say the Proclamation.

888Ther. Thou grumblest & railest euery houre on A-

889chilles, and thou art as ful of enuy at his greatnes, as Cer-

890berus is at Proserpina's beauty. I, that thou barkst at him.

891Aia. Mistresse Thersites.

892Ther. Thou should'st strike him.

893Aia. Coblofe.

894Ther. He would pun thee into shiuers with his fist, as

895a Sailor breakes a bisket.

896Aia. You horson Curre. Ther. Do, do.

897Aia. Thou stoole for a Witch.

898Ther. I, do, do, thou sodden-witted Lord: thou hast

899no more braine then I haue in mine elbows: An Asinico

900may tutor thee. Thou scuruy valiant Asse, thou art heere

901but to thresh Troyans, and thou art bought and solde a-

902mong those of any wit, like a Barbarian slaue. If thou vse

903to beat me, I wil begin at thy heele, and tel what thou art

904by inches, thou thing of no bowels thou.

905Aia. You dogge.

906Ther. You scuruy Lord.

907Aia. You Curre.

908Ther. Mars his Ideot: do rudenes, do Camell, do, do.

910Achil. Why how now Aiax? wherefore do you this?

911How now Thersites? what's the matter man?

912Ther. You see him there, do you?

913Achil. I, what's the matter.

914Ther. Nay looke vpon him.

915Achil. So I do: what's the matter?

916Ther. Nay but regard him well.

917Achil. Well, why I do so.

918Ther. But yet you looke not well vpon him: for who

919some euer you take him to be, he is Aiax.

920Achil. I know that foole.

921Ther. I, but that foole knowes not himselfe.

922Aiax. Therefore I beate thee.

923Ther. Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he vtters: his

924euasions haue eares thus long. I haue bobb'd his Braine

925more then he has beate my bones: I will buy nine Spar-

926rowes for a peny, and his Piamater is not worth the ninth

927part of a Sparrow. This Lord (Achilles) Aiax who wears

928his wit in his belly, and his guttes in his head, Ile tell you

929what I say of him.

930Achil. What?

931Ther. I say this Aiax---

932Achil. Nay good Aiax.

933Ther. Has not so much wit.

934Achil: Nay, I must hold you.

935Ther. As will stop the eye of Helens Needle, for whom

936he comes to fight.

937Achil. Peace foole.

938Ther. I would haue peace and quietnes, but the foole

939will not: he there, that he, looke you there.

940Aiax. O thou damn'd Curre, I shall---

941Achil. Will you set your wit to a Fooles.

942Ther. No I warrant you, for a fooles will shame it.

943Pat. Good words Thersites.

944Achil. What's the quarrell?

945Aiax. I bad thee vile Owle, goe learne me the tenure

946of the Proclamation, and he rayles vpon me.

947Ther. I serue thee not.

948Aiax. Well, go too, go too.

949Ther. I serue heere voluntary.

950Achil. Your last seruice was sufferance, 'twas not vo-

951luntary, no man is beaten voluntary: Aiax was heere the

952voluntary, and you as vnder an Impresse.

953Ther. E'neso, a great deale of your wit too lies in your

954sinnewes, or else there be Liars. Hector shall haue a great

955catch, if he knocke out either of your braines, he were as

956good cracke a fustie nut with no kernell.

957Achil. What with me to Thersites?

958Ther. There's Vlysses, and old Nestor, whose Wit was

959mouldy ere their Grandsires had nails on their toes, yoke

960you like draft-Oxen, and make you plough vp the warre.

961Achil. What? what?

962Ther. Yes good sooth, to Achilles, to Aiax, to---

963Aiax. I shall cut out your tongue.

964Ther. 'Tis no matter, I shall speake as much as thou

965afterwards.

966Pat. No more words Thersites.

967Ther. I will hold my peace when Achilles Brooch bids

968me, shall I?

969Achil. There's for you Patroclus.

970Ther. I will see you hang'd like Clotpoles ere I come

971any more to your Tents; I will keepe where there is wit

972stirring, and leaue the faction of fooles. Exit.

973Pat. A good riddance.

974Achil. Marry this Sir is proclaim'd through al our host,

975That Hector by the fift houre of the Sunne,

976Will with a Trumpet, 'twixt our Tents and Troy

977To morrow morning call some Knight to Armes,

978That hath a stomacke, and such a one that dare

979Maintaine I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell.

980Aiax. Farewell? who shall answer him?

981Achil. I know not, 'tis put to Lottry: otherwise

982He knew his man.

983Aiax. O meaning you, I wil go learne more of it. Exit.

985Pri. After so many houres, liues, speeches spent,

986Thus once againe sayes Nestor from the Greekes,

987Deliuer Helen, and all damage else

988(As honour, losse of time, trauaile, expence,

989Wounds, friends, and what els deere that is consum'd

990In hot digestion of this comorant Warre)

991Shall be stroke off. Hector, what say you too't.

992Hect. Though no man lesser feares the Greeks then I,

993As farre as touches my particular: yet dread Priam,

994There is no Lady of more softer bowels,

995More spungie, to sucke in the sense of Feare,

996More ready to cry out, who knowes what followes

997Then Hector is: the wound of peace is surety,

998Surety secure: but modest Doubt is cal'd

999The Beacon of the wise: the tent that searches

1000To'th'bottome of the worst. Let Helen go,

1001Since the first sword was drawne about this question,

1002Euery tythe soule 'mongst many thousand dismes,

1003Hath bin as deere as Helen: I meane of ours:

1004If we haue lost so many tenths of ours

1005To guard a thing not ours, nor worth to vs

1006(Had it our name) the valew of one ten;

1007What merit's in that reason which denies

1008The yeelding of her vp.

1009Troy. Fie, fie, my Brother;

1010Weigh you the worth and honour of a King

1011(So great as our dread Father) in a Scale

1012Of common Ounces? Wil you with Counters summe

1013The past proportion of his infinite,

1014And buckle in a waste most fathomlesse,

1015With spannes and inches so diminutiue,

1016As feares and reasons? Fie for godly shame?

1017Hel. No maruel though you bite so sharp at reasons,

1018You are so empty of them, should not our Father

1019Beare the great sway of his affayres with reasons,

1020Because your speech hath none that tels him so.

1021Troy. You are for dreames & slumbers brother Priest

1022You furre your gloues with reason: here are your reasons

1023You know an enemy intends you harme,

1024You know, a sword imploy'd is perillous,

1025And reason flyes the obiect of all harme.

1026Who maruels then when Helenus beholds

1027A Grecian and his sword, if he do set

1028The very wings of reason to his heeles:

1029Or like a Starre disorb'd. Nay, if we talke of Reason,

1030And flye like chidden Mercurie from Ioue,

1031Let's shut our gates and sleepe: Manhood and Honor

1032Should haue hard hearts, wold they but fat their thoghts

1033With this cramm'd reason: reason and respect,

1034Makes Liuers pale, and lustyhood deiect.

1035Hect. Brother, she is not worth

1036What she doth cost the holding.

1037Troy. What's aught, but as 'tis valew'd?

1038Hect. But value dwels not in particular will,

1039It holds his estimate and dignitie

1040As well, wherein 'tis precious of it selfe,

1041As in the prizer: 'Tis made Idolatrie,

1042To make the seruice greater then the God,

1043And the will dotes that is inclineable

1044To what infectiously it selfe affects,

1045Without some image of th'affected merit.

1046Troy. I take to day a Wife, and my election

1047Is led on in the conduct of my Will;

¶3 My

1048My Will enkindled by mine eyes and eares,

1049Two traded Pylots 'twixt the dangerous shores

1050Of Will, and Iudgement. How may I auoyde

1051(Although my will distaste what it elected)

1052The Wife I chose, there can be no euasion

1053To blench from this, and to stand firme by honour.

1054We turne not backe the Silkes vpon the Merchant

1055When we haue spoyl'd them; nor the remainder Viands

1056We do not throw in vnrespectiue same,

1057Because we now are full. It was thought meete

1058Paris should do some vengeance on the Greekes;

1059Your breath of full consent bellied his Sailes,

1060The Seas and Windes (old Wranglers) tooke a Truce,

1061And did him seruice; he touch'd the Ports desir'd,

1062And for an old Aunt whom the Greekes held Captiue,

1063He brought a Grecian Queen, whose youth & freshnesse

1064Wrinkles Apolloes, and makes stale the morning.

1065Why keepe we her? the Grecians keepe our Aunt:

1066Is she worth keeping? Why she is a Pearle,

1067Whose price hath launch'd aboue a thousand Ships,

1068And turn'd Crown'd Kings to Merchants.

1069If you'l auouch, 'twas wisedome Paris went,

1070(As you must needs, for you all cride, Go, go:)

1071If you'l confesse, he brought home Noble prize,

1072(As you must needs) for you all clapt your hands,

1073And cride inestimable; why do you now

1074The issue of your proper Wisedomes rate,

1075And do a deed that Fortune neuer did?

1076Begger the estimation which you priz'd,

1077Richer then Sea and Land? O Theft most base!

1078That we haue stolne what we do feare to keepe.

1079But Theeues vnworthy of a thing so stolne,

1080That in their Country did them that disgrace,

1081We feare to warrant in our Natiue place.

1084Cas. Cry Troyans, cry.

1085Priam. What noyse? what shreeke is this?

1086Troy. 'Tis our mad sister, I do know her voyce.

1087Cas. Cry Troyans.

1088Hect. It is Cassandra.

1089Cas. Cry Troyans cry; lend me ten thousand eyes,

1090And I will fill them with Propheticke teares.

1091Hect. Peace sister, peace.

1092Cas. Virgins, and Boyes; mid-age & wrinkled old,

1093Soft infancie, that nothing can but cry,

1094Adde to my clamour: let vs pay betimes

1095A moity of that masse of moane to come.

1096Cry Troyans cry, practise your eyes with teares,

1097Troy must not be, nor goodly Illion stand,

1098Our fire-brand Brother Paris burnes vs all.

1099Cry Troyans cry, a Helen and a woe;

1100Cry, cry, Troy burnes, or else let Helen goe. Exit.

1101Hect. Now youthfull Troylus, do not these hie strains

1102Of diuination in our Sister, worke

1103Some touches of remorse? Or is your bloud

1104So madly hot, that no discourse of reason,

1105Nor feare of bad successe in a bad cause,

1106Can qualifie the same?

1107Troy. Why Brother Hector,

1108We may not thinke the iustnesse of each acte

1109Such, and no other then euent doth forme it,

1110Nor once deiect the courage of our mindes;

1111Because Cassandra's mad, her brainsicke raptures

1112Cannot distaste the goodnesse of a quarrell,

1113Which hath our seuerall Honours all engag'd

1114To make it gracious. For my priuate part,

1115I am no more touch'd, then all Priams sonnes,

1116And Ioue forbid there should be done among'st vs

1117Such things as might offend the weakest spleene,

1118To fight for, and maintaine.

1119Par. Else might the world conuince of leuitie,

1120As well my vnder-takings as your counsels:

1121But I attest the gods, your full consent

1122Gaue wings to my propension, and cut off

1123All feares attending on so dire a proiect.

1124For what (alas) can these my single armes?

1125What propugnation is in one mans valour

1126To stand the push and enmity of those

1127This quarrell would excite? Yet I protest,

1128Were I alone to passe the difficulties,

1129And had as ample power, as I haue will,

1130Paris should ne're retract what he hath done,

1131Nor faint in the pursuite.

1132Pri. Paris, you speake

1133Like one be-sotted on your sweet delights;

1134You haue the Hony still, but these the Gall,

1135So to be valiant, is no praise at all.

1136Par. Sir, I propose not meerely to my selfe,

1137The pleasures such a beauty brings with it:

1138But I would haue the soyle of her faire Rape

1139Wip'd off in honourable keeping her.

1140What Treason were it to the ransack'd Queene,

1141Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me,

1142Now to deliuer her possession vp

1143On termes of base compulsion? Can it be,

1144That so degenerate a straine as this,

1145Should once set footing in your generous bosomes?

1146There's not the meanest spirit on our partie,

1147Without a heart to dare, or sword to draw,

1148When Helen is defended: nor none so Noble,

1149Whose life were ill bestow'd, or death vnfam'd,

1150Where Helen is the subiect. Then (I say)

1151Well may we fight for her, whom we know well,

1152The worlds large spaces cannot paralell.

1153Hect. Paris and Troylus, you haue both said well:

1154And on the cause and question now in hand,

1155Haue gloz'd, but superficially; not much

1156Vnlike young men, whom Aristotle thought

1157Vnfit to heare Morall Philosophie.

1158The Reasons you alledge, do more conduce

1159To the hot passion of distemp'red blood,

1160Then to make vp a free determination

1161'Twixt right and wrong: For pleasure, and reuenge,

1162Haue eares more deafe then Adders, to the voyce

1163Of any true decision. Nature craues

1164All dues be rendred to their Owners: now

1165What neerer debt in all humanity,

1166Then Wife is to the Husband? If this law

1167Of Nature be corrupted through affection,

1168And that great mindes of partiall indulgence,

1169To their benummed wills resist the same,

1170There is a Law in each well-ordred Nation,

1171To curbe those raging appetites that are

1172Most disobedient and refracturie.

1173If Helen then be wife to Sparta's King

1174(As it is knowne she is) these Morall Lawes

1175Of Nature, and of Nation, speake alowd

1176To haue her backe return'd. Thus to persist

1177In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong,

1178But makes it much more heauie. Hectors opinion

1179Is this in way of truth: yet nere the lesse,

1180My spritely brethren, I propend to you

1181In resolution to keepe Helen still;

1182For 'tis a cause that hath no meane dependance,

1183Vpon our ioynt and seuerall dignities.

1184Tro. Why? there you toucht the life of our designe:

1185Were it not glory that we more affected,

1186Then the performance of our heauing spleenes,

1187I would not wish a drop of Troian blood,

1188Spent more in her defence. But worthy Hector,

1189She is a theame of honour and renowne,

1190A spurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds,

1191Whose present courage may beate downe our foes,

1192And fame in time to come canonize vs.

1193For I presume braue Hector would not loose

1194So rich aduantage of a promis'd glory,

1195As smiles vpon the fore-head of this action,

1196For the wide worlds reuenew.

1197Hect. I am yours,

1198You valiant off-spring of great Priamus,

1199I haue a roisting challenge sent among'st

1200The dull and factious nobles of the Greekes,

1201Will strike amazement to their drowsie spirits,

1202I was aduertiz'd, their Great generall slept,

1203Whil'st emulation in the armie crept:

1204This I presume will wake him. Exeunt.

1206How now Thersites? what lost in the Labyrinth of thy

1207furie? shall the Elephant Aiax carry it thus? he beates

1208me, and I raile at him: O worthy satisfaction, would it

1209were otherwise: that I could beate him, whil'st he rail'd

1210at me: Sfoote, Ile learne to coniure and raise Diuels, but

1211Ile see some issue of my spitefull execrations. Then ther's

1212Achilles, a rare Enginer. If Troy be not taken till these two

1213vndermine it, the wals will stand till they fall of them-

1214selues. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget

1215that thou art Ioue the King of gods: and Mercury, loose

1216all the Serpentine craft of thy Caduceus, if thou take not

1217that little little lesse then little wit from them that they

1218haue, which short-arm'd ignorance it selfe knowes, is so

1219abundant scarse, it will not in circumuention deliuer a

1220Flye from a Spider, without drawing the massie Irons and

1221cutting the web: after this, the vengeance on the whole

1222Camp, or rather the bone-ach, for that me thinkes is the

1223curse dependant on those that warre for a placket. I haue

1224said my prayers and diuell, enuie, say Amen: What ho?

1225my Lord Achilles?

1227Patr. Who's there? Thersites. Good Thersites come

1228in and raile.

1229Ther. If I could haue remembred a guilt counterfeit,

1230thou would'st not haue slipt out of my contemplation,

1231but it is no matter, thy selfe vpon thy selfe. The common

1232curse of mankinde, follie and ignorance be thine in great

1233reuenew; heauen blesse thee from a Tutor, and Discipline

1234come not neere thee. Let thy bloud be thy direction till

1235thy death, then if she that laies thee out sayes thou art a

1236faire coarse, Ile be sworne and sworne vpon't she neuer

1237shrowded any but Lazars, Amen. Wher's Achilles?

1238Patr. What art thou deuout? wast thou in a prayer?

1239Ther. I, the heauens heare me.

1241Achil. Who's there?

1242Patr. Thersites, my Lord.

1243Achil. Where, where, art thou come? why my cheese,

1244my digestion, why hast thou not seru'd thy selfe into my

1245Table, so many meales? Come, what's Agamemnon?

1246Ther. Thy Commander Achilles, then tell me Patro-

1247clus, what's Achilles?

1248Patr. Thy Lord Thersites: then tell me I pray thee,

1249what's thy selfe?

1250Ther. Thy knower Patroclus: then tell me Patroclus,

1251what art thou?

1252Patr. Thou maist tell that know'st.

1253Achil. O tell, tell.

1254Ther. Ile declin the whole question: Agamemnon com-

1255mands Achilles, Achilles is my Lord, I am Patroclus know-

1256er, and Patroclus is a foole.

1257Patro. You rascall.

1258Ther. Peace foole, I haue not done.

1259Achil. He is a priuiledg'd man, proceede Thersites.

1260Ther. Agamemnon is a foole, Achilles is a foole, Ther-

1261sites is a foole, and as aforesaid, Patroclus is a foole.

1262Achil. Deriue this? come?

1263Ther. Agamemnon is a foole to offer to command A-

1264chilles, Achilles is a foole to be commanded of Agamemon,

1265Thersites is a foole to serue such a foole: and Patroclus is a

1266foole positiue.

1267Patr. Why am I a foole?

1270Ther. Make that demand to the Creator, it suffises me

1271thou art. Looke you, who comes here?

1272Achil. Patroclus, Ile speake with no body: come in

1273with me Thersites. Exit.

1274Ther. Here is such patcherie, such iugling, and such

1275knauerie: all the argument is a Cuckold and a Whore, a

1276good quarrel to draw emulations, factions, and bleede to

1277death vpon: Now the dry Suppeago on the Subiect, and

1278Warre and Lecherie confound all.

1279Agam. Where is Achilles?

1280Patr. Within his Tent, but ill dispos'd my Lord.

1281Agam. Let it be knowne to him that we are here:

1282He sent our Messengers, and we lay by

1283Our appertainments, visiting of him:

1284Let him be told of, so perchance he thinke

1285We dare not moue the question of our place,

1286Or know not what we are.

1287Pat. I shall so say to him.

1288Ulis. We saw him at the opening of his Tent,

1289He is not sicke.

1290Aia. Yes, Lyon sicke, sicke of proud heart; you may

1291call it Melancholly if will fauour the man, but by my

1292head, it is pride; but why, why, let him show vs the cause?

1293A word my Lord.

1294Nes. What moues Aiax thus to bay at him?

1295Vlis. Achillis hath inueigled his Foole from him.

1296Nes. Who, Thersites?

1297Vlis. He.

1298Nes. Then will Aiax lacke matter, if he haue lost his

1299Argument.

1300Vlis. No, you see he is his argument that has his argu-

1301ment Achilles.

1302Nes. All the better, their fraction is more our wish

1303then their faction; but it was a strong counsell that a

1304Foole could disunite.

1305Vlis. The amitie that wisedome knits, not folly may

1306easily vntie. Enter Patroclus.

1307Here comes Patroclus.

1308Nes. No Achilles with him?

1309Vlis. The Elephant hath ioynts, but none for curtesie:

1310His legge are legs for necessitie, not for flight.

1311Patro. Achilles bids me say he is much sorry:

1312If any thing more then your sport and pleasure,

1313Did moue your greatnesse, and this noble State,

1314To call vpon him; he hopes it is no other,

1315But for your health, and your digestion sake;

1316An after Dinners breath.

1317Aga. Heare you Patroclus:

1318We are too well acquainted with these answers:

1319But his euasion winged thus swift with scorne,

1320Cannot outflye our apprehensions.

1321Much attribute he hath, and much the reason,

1322Why we ascribe it to him, yet all his vertues,

1323Not vertuously of his owne part beheld,

1324Doe in our eyes, begin to loose their glosse;

1325Yea, and like faire Fruit in an vnholdsome dish,

1326Are like to rot vntasted: goe and tell him,

1327We came to speake with him; and you shall not sinne,

1328If you doe say, we thinke him ouer proud,

1329And vnder honest; in selfe-assumption greater

1330Then in the note of iudgement: & worthier then himselfe

1331Here tends the sauage strangenesse he puts on,

1332Disguise the holy strength of their command:

1333And vnder write in an obseruing kinde

1334His humorous predominance, yea watch

1335His pettish lines, his ebs, his flowes, as if

1336The passage and whole carriage of this action

1337Rode on his tyde. Goe tell him this, and adde,

1338That if he ouerhold his price so much,

1339Weele none of him; but let him, like an Engin

1340Not portable, lye vnder this report.

1341Bring action hither, this cannot goe to warre:

1342A stirring Dwarfe, we doe allowance giue,

1343Before a sleeping Gyant: tell him so.

1344Pat. I shall, and bring his answere presently.

1345Aga. In second voyce weele not be satisfied,

1346We come to speake with him, Ulisses enter you.

1348Aiax. What is he more then another?

1349Aga. No more then what he thinkes he is.

1350Aia. Is he so much, doe you not thinke, he thinkes

1351himselfe a better man then I am?

1352Ag. No question.

1353Aiax. Will you subscribe his thought, and say he is?

1354Ag. No, Noble Aiax, you are as strong, as valiant, as

1355wise, no lesse noble, much more gentle, and altogether

1356more tractable.

1357Aiax. Why should a man be proud? How doth pride

1358grow? I know not what it is.

1359Aga. Your minde is the cleerer Aiax, and your vertues

1360the fairer; he that is proud, eates vp himselfe; Pride is his

1361owne Glasse, his owne trumpet, his owne Chronicle, and

1362what euer praises it selfe but in the deede, deuoures the

1363deede in the praise.

1365Aiax. I do hate a proud man, as I hate the ingendring

1366of Toades.

1367Nest. Yet he loues himselfe: is't not strange?

1368Vlis. Achilles will not to the field to morrow.

1369Ag. What's his excuse?

1370Vlis. He doth relye on none,

1371But carries on the streame of his dispose,

1372Without obseruance or respect of any,

1373In will peculiar, and in selfe admission.

1374Aga. Why, will he not vpon our faire request,

1375Vntent his person, and share the ayre with vs?

1376Vlis. Things small as nothing, for requests sake onely

1377He makes important; possest he is with greatnesse,

1378And speakes not to himselfe, but with a pride

1379That quarrels at selfe-breath. Imagin'd wroth

1380Holds in his bloud such swolne and hot discourse,

1381That twixt his mentall and his actiue parts,

1382Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages,

1383And batters gainst it selfe; what should I say?

1384He is so plaguy proud, that the death tokens of it,

1385Cry no recouery.

1386Ag. Let Aiax goe to him.

1387Deare Lord, goe you and greete him in his Tent;

1388'Tis said he holds you well, and will be led

1389At your request a little from himselfe.

1390Vlis. O Agamemnon, let it not be so.

1391Weele consecrate the steps that Aiax makes,

1392When they goe from Achilles; shall the proud Lord,

1393That bastes his arrogance with his owne seame,

1394And neuer suffers matter of the world,

1395Enter his thoughts: saue such as doe reuolue

1396And ruminate himselfe. Shall he be worshipt,

1397Of that we hold an Idoll, more then hee?

1398No, this thrice worthy and right valiant Lord,

1399Must not so staule his Palme, nobly acquir'd,

1400Nor by my will assubiugate his merit,

1401As amply titled as Achilles is: by going to Achilles,

1402That were to enlard his fat already, pride,

1403And adde more Coles to Cancer, when he burnes

1404With entertaining great Hiperion.

1405This L. goe to him? Iupiter forbid,

1406And say in thunder, Achilles goe to him.

1407Nest. O this is well, he rubs the veine of him.

1408Dio. And how his silence drinkes vp this applause.

1409Aia. If I goe to him, with my armed fist, Ile pash him

1410ore the face.

1411Ag. O no, you shall not goe.

1412Aia. And a be proud with me, ile phese his pride: let

1413me goe to him.

1414Ulis. Not for the worth that hangs vpon our quarrel.

1415Aia. A paultry insolent fellow.

1416Nest. How he describes himselfe.

1417Aia. Can he not be sociable?

1418Vlis. The Rauen chides blacknesse.

1419Aia. Ile let his humours bloud.

1420Ag. He will be the Physitian that should be the pa-

1421tient.

1422Aia. And all men were a my minde.

1423Vlis. Wit would be out of fashion.

1424Aia. A should not beare it so, a should eate Swords

1425first: shall pride carry it?

1426Nest. And 'twould, you'ld carry halfe.

1427Ulis. A would haue ten shares.

1428Aia. I will knede him, Ile make him supple, hee's not

1429yet through warme.

1430Nest. Force him with praises, poure in, poure in: his am-

1431bition is dry.

1432Vlis. My L. you feede too much on this dislike.

1433Nest. Our noble Generall, doe not doe so.

1434Diom. You must prepare to fight without Achilles.

1435Vlis. Why, 'tis this naming of him doth him harme.

1436Here is a man, but 'tis before his face,

1437I will be silent.

1438Nest. Wherefore should you so?

1439He is not emulous, as Achilles is.

1440Vlis. 'Know the whole world, he is as valiant.

1441Aia. A horson dog, that shal palter thus with vs, would

1442he were a Troian.

1443Nest. What a vice were it in Aiax now---

1444Ulis. If he were proud.

1445Dio. Or couetous of praise.

1446Vlis. I, or surley borne.

1447Dio. Or strange, or selfe affected.

1448Vl. Thank the heauens L. thou art of sweet composure;

1449Praise him that got thee, she that gaue thee sucke:

1450Fame be thy Tutor, and thy parts of nature

1451Thrice fam'd beyond, beyond all erudition;

1452But he that disciplin'd thy armes to fight,

1453Let Mars deuide Eternity in twaine,

1454And giue him halfe, and for thy vigour,

1455Bull-bearing Milo: his addition yeelde

1456To sinnowie Aiax: I will not praise thy wisdome,

1457Which like a bourne, a pale, a shore confines

1458Thy spacious and dilated parts; here's Nestor

1459Instructed by the Antiquary times:

1460He must, he is, he cannot but be wise.

1461But pardon Father Nestor, were your dayes

1462As greene as Aiax, and your braine so temper'd,

1463You should not haue the eminence of him,

1464But be as Aiax.

1465Aia. Shall I call you Father?

1466Ulis. I my good Sonne.

1467Dio. Be rul'd by him Lord Aiax.

1468Vlis. There is no tarrying here, the Hart Achilles

1469Keepes thicket: please it our Generall,

1470To call together all his state of warre,

1471Fresh Kings are come to Troy; to morrow

1472We must with all our maine of power stand fast:

1473And here's a Lord, come Knights from East to West,

1474And cull their flowre, Aiax shall cope the best.

1475Ag. Goe we to Counsaile, let Achilles sleepe;

1476Light Botes may saile swift, though greater bulkes draw

1479Pan. Friend, you, pray you a word: Doe not you fol-

1480low the yong Lord Paris?

1481Ser. I sir, when he goes before me.

1482Pan. You depend vpon him I meane?

1483Ser. Sir, I doe depend vpon the Lord.

1484Pan. You depend vpon a noble Gentleman: I must

1485needes praise him.

1486Ser. The Lord be praised.

1487Pa. You know me, doe you not?

1488Ser. Faith sir, superficially.

1489Pa. Friend know me better, I am the Lord Pandarus.

1490Ser. I hope I shall know your honour better.

1491Pa. I doe desire it.

1492Ser. You are in the state of Grace?

1493Pa. Grace, not so friend, honor and Lordship are my

1494title: What Musique is this?

1495Ser. I doe but partly know sir: it is Musicke in parts.

1496Pa. Know you the Musitians.

1497Ser. Wholly sir.

1498Pa. Who play they to?

1499Ser. To the hearers sir.

1500Pa. At whose pleasur friend?

1501Ser. At mine sir, and theirs that loue Musicke.

1502Pa. Command, I meane friend.

1503Ser. Who shall I command sir?

1504Pa. Friend, we vnderstand not one another: I am too

1505courtly, and thou art too cunning. At whose request doe

1506these men play?

1507Ser. That's too't indeede sir: marry sir, at the request

1508of Paris my L. who's there in person; with him the mor-

1509tall Venus, the heart bloud of beauty, loues inuisible

1510soule.

1511Pa. Who? my Cosin Cressida.

1512Ser. No sir, Helen, could you not finde out that by

1513her attributes?

1514Pa. It should seeme fellow, that thou hast not seen the

1515Lady Cressida. I come to speake with Paris from the

1516Prince Troylus: I will make a complementall assault vpon

1517him, for my businesse seethes.

1518Ser. Sodden businesse, there's a stewed phrase indeede.

1520Pan. Faire be to you my Lord, and to all this faire com-

1521pany: faire desires in all faire measure fairely guide them,

1522especially to you faire Queene, faire thoughts be your

1523faire pillow.

1524Hel. Deere L. you are full of faire words.

1525Pan. You speake your faire pleasure sweete Queene:

1526faire Prince, here is good broken Musicke.

1527Par. You haue broke it cozen: and by my life you

1528shall make it whole againe, you shall peece it out with a

1529peece of your performance. Nel, he is full of harmony.

1530Pan. Truely Lady no.

1531Hel. O sir.

1532Pan. Rude in sooth, in good sooth very rude.

1533Paris. Well said my Lord: well, you say so in fits.

1534Pan. I haue businesse to my Lord, deere Queene: my

1535Lord will you vouchsafe me a word.

1536Hel. Nay, this shall not hedge vs out, weele heare you

1537sing certainely.

1538Pan. Well sweete Queene you are pleasant with me,

1539but, marry thus my Lord, my deere Lord, and most estee-

1540med friend your brother Troylus.

1541Hel. My Lord Pandarus, hony sweete Lord.

1542Pan. Go too sweete Queene, goe to.

1543Commends himselfe most affectionately to you.

1544Hel. You shall not bob vs out of our melody:

1545If you doe, our melancholly vpon your head.

1546Pan. Sweete Queene, sweete Queene, that's a sweete

1547Queene I faith---

1548Hel. And to make a sweet Lady sad, is a sower offence.

1549Pan. Nay, that shall not serue your turne, that shall it

1550not in truth la. Nay, I care not for such words, no, no.

1551And my Lord he desires you, that if the King call for him

1552at Supper, you will make his excuse.

1553Hel. My Lord Pandarus?

1554Pan. What saies my sweete Queene, my very, very

1555sweete Queene?

1556Par. What exploit's in hand, where sups he to night?

1557Hel. Nay but my Lord?

1558Pan. What saies my sweete Queene? my cozen will

1559fall out with you.

1560Hel. You must not know where he sups.

1561Par. With my disposer Cressida.

1562Pan. No, no; no such matter, you are wide, come your

1563disposer is sicke.

1564Par. Well, Ile make excuse.

1565Pan. I good my Lord: why should you say Cressida?

1566no, your poore disposer's sicke.

1567Par. I spie.

1568Pan. You spie, what doe you spie: come, giue me an

1569Instrument now sweete Queene.

1570Hel. Why this is kindely done?

1571Pan. My Neece is horrible in loue with a thing you

1572haue sweete Queene.

1573Hel. She shall haue it my Lord, if it be not my Lord

1574Paris.

1575Pand. Hee? no, sheele none of him, they two are

1576twaine.

1577Hel. Falling in after falling out, may make them three.

1578Pan. Come, come, Ile heare no more of this, Ile sing

1579you a song now.

1580Hel. I, I, prethee now: by my troth sweet Lord thou

1581hast a fine fore-head.

1582Pan. I you may, you may.

1583Hel. Let thy song be loue: this loue will vndoe vs al.

1584Oh Cupid, Cupid, Cupid.

1585Pan. Loue? I that it shall yfaith.

1586Par. I, good now loue, loue, no thing but loue.

1587Pan. In good troth it begins so.

1588 Loue, loue, no thing but loue, still more:

1589For O loues Bow,

1590Shootes Bucke and Doe:

1591The Shaft confounds not that it wounds,

1592But tickles still the sore:

1593These Louers cry, oh ho they dye;

1594Yet that which seemes the wound to kill,

1595Doth turne oh ho, to ha ha he:

1596So dying loue liues still,

1597O ho a while, but ha ha ha,

1598O ho grones out for ha ha ha----hey ho.

1599Hel. In loue yfaith to the very tip of the nose.

1600Par. He eates nothing but doues loue, and that breeds

1601hot bloud, and hot bloud begets hot thoughts, and hot

1602thoughts beget hot deedes, and hot deedes is loue.

1603Pan. Is this the generation of loue? Hot bloud, hot

1604thoughts, and hot deedes, why they are Vipers, is Loue a

1605generation of Vipers?

1606Sweete Lord whose a field to day?

1607Par. Hector, Deiphoebus, Helenus, Anthenor, and all the

1608gallantry of Troy. I would faine haue arm'd to day, but

1609my Nell would not haue it so.

1610How chance my brother Troylus went not?

1611Hel. He hangs the lippe at something; you know all

1612Lord Pandarus?

1613Pan. Not I hony sweete Queene: I long to heare how

1614they sped to day:

1615Youle remember your brothers excuse?

1616Par. To a hayre.

1617Pan. Farewell sweete Queene.

1618Hel. Commend me to your Neece.

1619Pan. I will sweete Queene. Sound a retreat.

1620Par. They're come from fielde: let vs to Priams Hall

1621To greete the Warriers. Sweet Hellen, I must woe you,

1622To helpe vnarme our Hector: his stubborne Buckles,

1623With these your white enchanting fingers toucht,

1624Shall more obey then to the edge of Steele,

1625Or force of Greekish sinewes: you shall doe more

1626Then all the Iland Kings, disarme great Hector.

1627Hel. 'Twill make vs proud to be his seruant Paris:

1628Yea what he shall receiue of vs in duetie,

1629Giues vs more palme in beautie then we haue:

1630Yea ouershines our selfe.