2549Aga. Here art thou in appointment fresh and faire,

2550Anticipating time. With starting courage,

2551Giue with thy Trumpet a loud note to Troy

2552Thou dreadfull Aiax, that the appauled aire

2553May pierce the head of the great Combatant,

2554And hale him hither.

2555Aia. Thou, Trumpet, ther's my purse;

2556Now cracke thy lungs, and split thy brasen pipe:

2557Blow villaine, till thy sphered Bias cheeke

2558Out-swell the collicke of puft Aquilon:

2559Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout bloud:

2560Thou blowest for Hector.

2561Vlis. No Trumpet answers.

2562Achil. 'Tis but early dayes.

2563Aga. Is not yong Diomed with Calcas daughter?

2564Vlis. 'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gate,

2565He rises on the toe: that spirit of his

2566In aspiration lifts him from the earth.

2567Aga. Is this the Lady Cressid?

2568Dio. Euen she.

2569Aga. Most deerely welcome to the Greekes, sweete

2570Lady.

2571Nest. Our Generall doth salute you with a kisse.

2572Ulis. Yet is the kindenesse but particular; 'twere bet-

2573ter she were kist in generall.

2574Nest. And very courtly counsell: Ile begin. So much

2575for Nestor.

2576Achil. Ile take that winter from your lips faire Lady

2577Achilles bids you welcome.

2578Mene. I had good argument for kissing once.

2579Patro. But that's no argument for kissing now;

2580For thus pop't Paris in his hardiment.

2581Vlis. Oh deadly gall, and theame of all our scornes,

2582For which we loose our heads, to gild his hornes.

2583Patro. The first was Menelaus kisse, this mine:

2584Patroclus kisses you.

2585Mene. Oh this is trim.

2586Patr. Paris and I kisse euermore for him.

2587Mene. Ile haue my kisse sir: Lady by your leaue.

2588Cres. In kissing doe you render, or receiue.

2589Patr. Both take and giue.

2590Cres. Ile make my match to liue,

2591The kisse you take is better then you giue: therefore no

2592kisse.

2593Mene. Ile giue you boote, Ile giue you three for one.

2594Cres. You are an odde man, giue euen, or giue none.

2595Mene. An odde man Lady, euery man is odde.

2596Cres. No, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true,

2597That you are odde, and he is euen with you.

2598Mene. You fillip me a'th'head.

2599Cres. No, Ile be sworne.

2600Vlis. It were no match, your naile against his horne:

2601May I sweete Lady beg a kisse of you?

2602Cres. You may.

2603Ulis. I doe desire it.

2604Cres. Why begge then?

2605Vlis. Why then for Venus sake, giue me a kisse:

2606When Hellen is a maide againe, and his---

2607Cres. I am your debtor, claime it when 'tis due.

¶¶3 Vlis. Neuer's

2608Ulis. Neuer's my day, and then a kisse of you.

2609Diom. Lady a word, Ile bring you to your Father.

2610Nest. A woman of quicke sence.

2611Vlis. Fie, fie, vpon her:

2612Ther's a language in her eye, her cheeke, her lip;

2613Nay, her foote speakes, her wanton spirites looke out

2614At euery ioynt, and motiue of her body:

2615Oh these encounterers so glib of tongue,

2616That giue a coasting welcome ete it comes;

2617And wide vnclaspe the tables of their thoughts,

2618To euery tickling reader: set them downe,

2619For sluttish spoyles of opportunitie;

2620And daughters of the game. Exennt.

2623All. The Troians Trumpet.

2624Aga. Yonder comes the troope.

2625AEne. Haile all you state of Greece: what shalbe done

2626To him that victory commands? or doe you purpose,

2627A victor shall be knowne: will you the Knights

2628Shall to the edge of all extremitie

2629Pursue each other; or shall be diuided

2630By any voyce, or order of the field: Hector bad aske?

2631Aga. Which way would Hector haue it?

2632AEne. He cares not, heele obey conditions.

2633Aga. 'Tis done like Hector, but securely done,

2634A little proudly, and great deale disprising

2635The Knight oppos'd.

2636AEne. If not Achilles sir, what is your name?

2637Achil. If not Achilles, nothing.

2638AEne. Therefore Achilles: but what ere, know this,

2639In the extremity of great and little:

2640Valour and pride excell themselues in Hector;

2641The one almost as infinite as all;

2642The other blanke as nothing: weigh him well:

2643And that which lookes like pride, is curtesie:

2644This Aiax is halfe made of Hectors bloud;

2645In loue whereof, halfe Hector staies at home:

2646Halfe heart, halfe hand, halfe Hector, comes to seeke

2647This blended Knight, halfe Troian, and halfe Greeke.

2648Achil. A maiden battaile then? O I perceiue you.

2649Aga. Here is sir, Diomed: goe gentle Knight,

2650Stand by our Aiax: as you and Lord AEneas

2651Consent vpon the order of their fight,

2652So be it: either to the vttermost,

2653Or else a breach: the Combatants being kin,

2654Halfe stints their strife, before their strokes begin.

2655Vlis. They are oppos'd already.

2656Aga. What Troian is that same that lookes so heauy?

2657Vlis. The yongest Sonne of Priam;

2658A true Knight; they call him Troylus;

2659Not yet mature, yet matchlesse, firme of word,

2660Speaking in deedes, and deedelesse in his tongue;

2661Not soone prouok't, nor being prouok't, soone calm'd;

2662His heart and hand both open, and both free:

2663For what he has, he giues; what thinkes, he shewes;

2664Yet giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty,

2665Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:

2666Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;

2667For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes

2668To tender obiects; but he, in heate of action,

2669Is more vindecatiue then iealous loue.

2670They call him Troylus; and on him erect,

2671A second hope, as fairely built as Hector.

2672Thus saies AEneas, one that knowes the youth,

2673Euen to his inches: and with priuate soule,

2674Did in great Illion thus translate him to me. Alarum.

2675Aga. They are in action.

2676Nest. Now Aiax hold thine owne.

2677Troy. Hector, thou sleep'st, awake thee.

2678Aga. His blowes are wel dispos'd there Aiax. trũpets cease.

2679Diom. You must no more.

2680AEne. Princes enough, so please you.

2681Aia. I am not warme yet, let vs fight againe.

2682Diom. As Hector pleases.

2683Hect. Why then will I no more:

2684Thou art great Lord, my Fathers sisters Sonne;

2685A cousen german to great Priams seede:

2686The obligation of our bloud forbids

2687A gorie emulation 'twixt vs twaine:

2688Were thy commixion, Greeke and Troian so,

2689That thou could'st say, this hand is Grecian all,

2690And this is Troian: the sinewes of this Legge,

2691All Greeke, and this all Troy: my Mothers bloud

2692Runs on the dexter cheeke, and this sinister

2693Bounds in my fathers: by Ioue multipotent,

2694Thou should'st not beare from me a Greekish member

2695Wherein my sword had not impressure made

2696Of our ranke feud: but the iust gods gainsay,

2697That any drop thou borrwd'st from thy mother,

2698My sacred Aunt, should by my mortall Sword

2699Be drained. Let me embrace thee Aiax:

2700By him that thunders, thou hast lustie Armes;

2701Hector would haue them fall vpon him thus.

2702Cozen, all honor to thee.

2703Aia. I thanke thee Hector:

2704Thou art too gentle, and too free a man:

2705I came to kill thee Cozen, and beare hence

2706A great addition, earned in thy death.

2707Hect. Not Neoptolymus so mirable,

2708On whose bright crest, fame with her lowd'st (O yes)

2709Cries, This is he; could'st promise to himselfe,

2710A thought of added honor, torne from Hector.

2711AEne. There is expectance here from both the sides,

2712What further you will doe?

2713Hect. Weele answere it:

2714The issue is embracement: Aiax, farewell.

2715Aia. If I might in entreaties finde successe,

2716As seld I haue the chance; I would desire

2717My famous Cousin to our Grecian Tents.

2718Diom. 'Tis Agamemnons wish, and great Achilles

2719Doth long to see vnarm'd the valiant Hector.

2720Hect. AEneas, call my brother Troylus to me:

2721And signifie this louing enterview

2722To the expecters of our Troian part:

2723Desire them home. Giue me thy hand, my Cousin:

2724I will goe eate with thee, and see your Knights.

2726Aia. Great Agamemnon comes to meete vs here.

2727Hect. The worthiest of them, tell me name by name:

2728But for Achilles, mine owne serching eyes

2729Shall finde him by his large and portly size.

2730Aga. Worthy of Armes: as welcome as to one

2731That would be rid of such an enemie.

2732But that's no welcome: vnderstand more cleere

2733What's past, and what's to come, is strew'd with huskes,

2734And formelesse ruine of obliuion:

2735But in this extant moment, faith and troth,

2736Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing:

2737Bids thee with most diuine integritie,

2738From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.

2739Hect. I thanke thee most imperious Agamemnon.

2740Aga. My well-fam'd Lord of Troy, no lesse to you.

2741Men. Let me confirme my Princely brothers greeting,

2742You brace of warlike Brothers, welcome hither.

2743Hect. Who must we answer?

2744AEne. The Noble Menelaus.

2745Hect. O, you my Lord, by Mars his gauntlet thanks,

2746Mocke not, that I affect th'vntraded Oath,

2747Your quondam wife sweares still by Venus Gloue

2748Shee's well, but bad me not commend her to you.

2749Men. Name her not now sir, she's a deadly Theame.

2750Hect. O pardon, I offend.

2751Nest. I haue (thou gallant Troyan) seene thee oft

2752Labouring for destiny, make cruell way

2753Through rankes of Greekish youth: and I haue seen thee

2754As hot as Perseus, spurre thy Phrygian Steed,

2755And seene thee scorning forfeits and subduments,

2756When thou hast hung thy aduanced sword i'th'ayre,

2757Not letting it decline, on the declined:

2758That I haue said vnto my standers by,

2759Loe Iupiter is yonder, dealing life.

2760And I haue seene thee pause, and take thy breath,

2761When that a ring of Greekes haue hem'd thee in,

2762Like an Olympian wrestling. This haue I seene,

2763But this thy countenance (still lockt in steele)

2764I neuer saw till now. I knew thy Grandsire,

2765And once fought with him; he was a Souldier good,

2766But by great Mars, the Captaine of vs all,

2767Neuer like thee. Let an oldman embrace thee,

2768And (worthy Warriour) welcome to our Tents.

2769AEne. 'Tis the old Nestor.

2770Hect. Let me embrace thee good old Chronicle,

2771That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:

2772Most reuerend Nestor, I am glad to claspe thee.

2773Ne. I would my armes could match thee in contention

2774As they contend with thee in courtesie.

2775Hect. I would they could.

2776Nest. Ha? by this white beard I'ld fight with thee to

2777morrow. Well, welcom, welcome: I haue seen the time.

2778Vlys. I wonder now, how yonder City stands,

2779When we haue heere her Base and pillar by vs.

2780Hect. I know your fauour Lord Vlysses well.

2781Ah sir, there's many a Greeke and Troyan dead,

2782Since first I saw your selfe, and Diomed

2783In Illion, on your Greekish Embassie.

2784Vlys. Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue,

2785My prophesie is but halfe his iourney yet;

2786For yonder wals that pertly front your Towne,

2787Yond Towers, whose wanton tops do busse the clouds,

2788Must kisse their owne feet.

2789Hect. I must not beleeue you:

2790There they stand yet: and modestly I thinke,

2791The fall of euery Phrygian stone will cost

2792A drop of Grecian blood: the end crownes all,

2793And that old common Arbitrator, Time,

2794Will one day end it.

2795Vlys. So to him we leaue it.

2796Most gentle, and most valiant Hector, welcome;

2797After the Generall, I beseech you next

2798To Feast with me, and see me at my Tent.

2799Achil. I shall forestall thee Lord Vlysses, thou:

2800Now Hector I haue fed mine eyes on thee,

2801I haue with exact view perus'd thee Hector,

2802And quoted ioynt by ioynt.

2803Hect. Is this Achilles?

2804Achil. I am Achilles.

2805Hect. Stand faire I prythee, let me looke on thee.

2806Achil. Behold thy fill.

2807Hect. Nay, I haue done already.

2808Achil. Thou art to breefe, I will the second time,

2809As I would buy thee, view thee, limbe by limbe.

2810Hect. O like a Booke of sport thou'lt reade me ore:

2811But there's more in me then thou vnderstand'st.

2812Why doest thou so oppresse me with thine eye?

2813Achil. Tell me you Heauens, in which part of his body

2814Shall I destroy him? Whether there, or there, or there,

2815That I may giue the locall wound a name,

2816And make distinct the very breach, where-out

2817Hectors great spirit flew. Answer me heauens.

2818Hect. It would discredit the blest Gods, proud man,

2819To answer such a question: Stand againe;

2820Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly,

2821As to prenominate in nice coniecture

2822Where thou wilt hit me dead?

2823Achil. I tell thee yea.

2824Hect. Wert thou the Oracle to tell me so,

2825I'ld not beleeue thee: henceforth guard thee well,

2826For Ile not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,

2827But by the forge that stythied Mars his helme,

2828Ile kill thee euery where, yea, ore and ore.

2829You wisest Grecians, pardon me this bragge,

2830His insolence drawes folly from my lips,

2831But Ile endeuour deeds to match these words,

2832Or may I neuer---

2833Aiax. Do not chafe thee Cosin:

2834And you Achilles, let these threats alone

2835Till accident, or purpose bring you too't.

2836You may euery day enough of Hector

2837If you haue stomacke. The generall state I feare,

2838Can scarse intreat you to be odde with him.

2839Hect. I pray you let vs see you in the field,

2840We haue had pelting Warres since you refus'd

2841The Grecians cause.

2842Achil. Dost thou intreat me Hector?

2843To morrow do I meete thee fell as death,

2844To night, all Friends.

2845Hect. Thy hand vpon that match.

2846Aga. First, all you Peeres of Greece go to my Tent,

2847There in the full conuiue you: Afterwards,

2848As Hectors leysure, and your bounties shall

2849Concurre together, seuerally intreat him.

2850Beate lowd the Taborins, let the Trumpets blow,

2851That this great Souldier may his welcome know. Exeunt

2852Troy. My Lord Ulysses, tell me I beseech you,

2853In what place of the Field doth Calchas keepe?

2854Ulys. At Menelaus Tent, most Princely Troylus,

2855There Diomed doth feast with him to night,

2856Who neither lookes on heauen, nor on earth,

2857But giues all gaze and bent of amorous view

2858On the faire Cressid.

2859Troy. Shall I (sweet Lord) be bound to thee so much,

2860After we part from Agamemnons Tent,

2861To bring me thither?

2862Vlys. You shall command me sir:

2863As gentle tell me, of what Honour was

2864This Cressida in Troy, had she no Louer there

2865That wailes her absence?

2866Troy. O sir, to such as boasting shew their scarres,

2867A mocke is due: will you walke on my Lord?

2868She was belou'd, she lou'd; she is, and dooth;

2869But still sweet Loue is food for Fortunes tooth. Exeunt.