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  • Title: Troilus and Cressida (Folio 1, 1623)
  • 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 (Folio 1, 1623)

    Troylus and Cressida.
    1830As false as Cressid.
    Pand. Go too, a bargaine made: seale it, seale it, Ile
    be the witnesse here I hold your hand: here my Cousins,
    if euer you proue false one to another, since I haue taken
    such paines to bring you together, let all pittifull goers
    1835betweene be cal'd to the worlds end after my name: call
    them all Panders; let all constant men be Troylusses, all
    false women Cressids, and all brokers betweene, Panders:
    say, Amen.
    Troy. Amen.
    1840Cres. Amen.
    Pan. Amen.
    Whereupon I will shew you a Chamber, which bed, be-
    cause it shall not speake of your prettie encounters, presse
    it to death: away.
    1845And Cupid grant all tong-tide Maidens heere,
    Bed, Chamber, and Pander, to prouide this geere. Exeunt.

    Enter Vlysses, Diomedes, Nestor, Agamemnon,
    Menelaus and Chalcas. Florish.

    Cal. Now Princes for the seruice I haue done you,
    1850Th'aduantage of the time promps me aloud,
    To call for recompence: appeare it to your minde,
    That through the sight I beare in things to loue,
    I haue abandon'd Troy, left my possession,
    Incur'd a Traitors name, expos'd 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 doe beseech you, as in way of taste,
    To giue me now a little benefit:
    Out of those many registred in promise,
    Which you say, liue to come in my behalfe.
    1865Agam. What would'st thou of vs Troian? make
    demand?
    Cal. You haue a Troian prisoner, cal'd Anthenor,
    Yesterday tooke: Troy holds him very deere.
    Oft haue you (often haue you, thankes therefore)
    1870Desir'd my Cressia 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 Priam,
    In change of him. Let him be sent great Princes,
    And he shall buy my Daughter: and her presence,
    Shall quite strike off 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 fairely for this enterchange;
    Withall bring word, if Hector will to morrow
    1885Be answer'd in his challenge. Aiax is ready.
    Dio. This shall I vndertake, and 'tis a burthen
    Which I am proud to beare. Exit.
    Enter Achilles and Patroclus in their Tent.
    Vlis. Achilles stands i'th entrance of his Tent;
    1890Please it our Generall to 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 me,
    Why such vnplausiue eyes are bent? why turn'd on him?
    1895If so, I haue derision medicinable,
    To vse betweene your strangenesse 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,
    1900Feede arrogance, and are the proud mans fees.
    Agam. Weele execute your purpose, and put on
    A forme of strangenesse as we passe along,
    So doe each Lord, and either greete him not,
    Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more,
    1905Then if not lookt on. I will lead the way.
    Achil. What comes the Generall to speake with me?
    You know my minde, Ile fight no more 'gainst Troy.
    Aga. What saies Achilles, would he ought with vs?
    Nes. Would you my Lord ought with the Generall?
    1910Achil. No.
    Nes. Nothing my Lord.
    Aga. The better.
    Achil. Good day, good day.
    Men. How doe you? how doe you?
    1915Achi. What, do's the Cuckold scorne me?
    Aiax. How now Patroclus?
    Achil. Good morrow Aiax?
    Aiax. Ha.
    Achil. Good morrow.
    1920Aiax. I, and good next day too. Exeunt.
    Achil. What meane these fellowes? know they not
    Achilles?
    Patr. They passe by strangely: they were vs'd to bend
    To send their smiles before them to Achilles:
    1925To come as humbly as they vs'd to creepe to holy Altars.
    Achil. What am I poore of late?
    'Tis certaine, greatnesse once falne out with fortune,
    Must fall out with men too: 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 mealie wings, but to the Summer:
    And not a man for being simply man,
    Hath any honour; but honour'd for those honours
    That are without him; as place, riches, and fauour,
    1935Prizes of accident, as oft as merit:
    Which when they fall, as being slippery standers;
    The loue that leand on them as slippery too,
    Doth one plucke downe another, and together
    Dye in the fall. But 'tis not so with me;
    1940Fortune and I are friends, I doe enioy
    At ample point, all that I did possesse,
    Saue these mens lookes: who do me thinkes finde out
    Something not worth in me such rich beholding,
    As they haue often giuen. Here is Ulisses,
    1945Ile interrupt his reading: how now Vlisses?
    Vlis. Now great Thetis Sonne.
    Achil. What are you reading?
    Vlis. A strange fellow here
    Writes me, that man, how dearely euer parted,
    1950How much in hauing, or without, or in,
    Cannot make boast to haue that which he hath;
    Nor feeles not what he owes, but by reflection:
    As when his vertues shining vpon others,
    Heate them, and they retort that heate againe
    1955To the first giuer.
    Achil. This is not strange Vlisses:
    The beautie that is borne here in the face,
    The bearer knowes not, but commends it selfe,
    Not going from it selfe: but eye to eye oppos'd,
    Salutes
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