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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)

    1The Prologue.
    IN Troy there lyes the Scene: From Iles of Greece
    The Princes Orgillous, their high blood chaf'd
    Haue to the Port of Athens sent their shippes
    5Fraught with the ministers and instruments
    Of cruell Warre: Sixty and nine that wore
    Their Crownets Regall, from th' Athenian bay
    Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
    To ransacke Troy, within whose strong emures
    10The rauish'd Helen, Menelaus Queene,
    With wanton Paris sleepes, and that's the Quarrell.
    To Tenedos they come,
    And the deepe-drawing Barke do there disgorge
    Their warlike frautage: now on Dardan Plaines
    15The fresh and yet vnbruised Greekes do pitch
    Their braue Pauillions. Priams six=gated City,
    Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
    And Antenonidus with massie Staples
    And corresponsiue and fulfilling Bolts
    20Stirre vp the Sonnes of Troy.
    Now Expectation tickling skittish spirits,
    On one and other side, Troian and Greeke,
    Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
    A Prologue arm'd, but not in confidence
    25Of Authors pen, or Actors voyce; but suited
    In like conditions, as our Argument;
    To tell you (faire Beholders) that our Play
    Leapes ore the vaunt and firstlings of those broyles,
    Beginning in the middle: starting thence away,
    30To what may be digested in a Play:
    Like, or finde fault, do as your pleasures are,
    Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of Warre.
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