Troilus and Cressida (Modern)

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2. The Testament of Cresseid
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1[1.3]
3.0.1454Sennet.  Enter Agamemnon, Nestor, Ulysses, 455Diomed, Menelaus, with others.
3.1456Agamemnon
 Princes,
3.2457What grief hath set the jaundice on your cheeks?
3.3458The ample proposition that hope makes
3.4459In all designs begun on earth below
3.5460Fails in the promised largeness; checks and disasters
3.6461Grow in the veins of actions highest reared,
3.7462As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap,
3.8463Infect the sound pine, and diverts his grain,
3.9464Tortive and errant, from his course of growth.
3.10465Nor, princes, is it matter new to us
3.11466That we come short of our suppose so far
3.12467That after seven years' siege yet Troy walls stand,
3.13468Sith every action that hath gone before,
3.14469Whereof we have record, trial did draw
3.15470Bias and thwart, not answering the aim
3.16471And that unbodied figure of the thought
3.17472That gave't surmisèd shape. Why then, you princes,
3.18473Do you with cheeks abashed behold our works
3.19474And think them shame, which are indeed naught else
3.20475But the protractive trials of great Jove
3.21476To find persistive constancy in men?
3.22477The fineness of which mettle is not found
3.23478In fortune's love, for, then, the bold and coward,
3.24479The wise and fool, the artist and unread,
3.25480The hard and soft, seem all affined and kin.
3.26481But in the wind and tempest of her frown,
3.27482Distinction, with a loud and powerful fan,
3.28483Puffing at all, winnows the light away;
3.29484And what hath mass or matter by itself
3.30485Lies rich in virtue and unminglèd.
3.31486Nestor
 With due observance of thy godly seat,
3.32487Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply
3.33488Thy latest words. 489In the reproof of chance
3.34490Lies the true proof of men. The sea being smooth,
3.35491How many shallow bauble boats dare sail
3.36492Upon her patient breast, making their way
3.37493With those of nobler bulk?
3.38494But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
3.39495The gentle Thetis, and anon behold
3.40496The strong-ribbed bark through liquid mountains cut,
3.41497Bounding between the two moist elements
3.42498Like Perseus' horse. Where's then the saucy boat
3.43499Whose weak, untimbered sides but even now
3.44500Corrivalled greatness? Either to harbor fled,
3.45501Or made a toast for Neptune. Even so
3.46502Doth valor's show and valor's worth divide
3.47503In storms of fortune. 504For, in her ray and brightness,
3.48505The herd hath more annoyance by the breeze
3.49506Than by the tiger. But, when the splitting wind
3.50507Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks,
3.51508And flies fled under shade, why then 509the thing of courage,
3.52510As roused with rage, with rage doth sympathize,
3.53511And with an accent tuned in selfsame key,
3.54512Retires to chiding fortune.
 513Ulysses
 Retires to chiding fortune.  		Agamemnon,
3.55514Thou great commander, nerve and bone of Greece,
3.56515Heart of our numbers, soul, and only spirit,
3.57516In whom the tempers and the minds of all
3.58517Should be shut up, hear what Ulysses speaks.
3.59518Besides th'applause and approbation
3.60519The which,[To Agamemnon] most mighty for thy place and sway,
3.61520[To Nestor] And thou most reverend for thy stretched-out life,
3.62521I give to both your speeches, which were such
3.63522As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece
3.64523Should hold up high in brass, and such again
3.65524As venerable Nestor (hatched in silver)
3.66525Should with a bond of air, strong as the axletree
3.67526In which the heavens ride, knit all Greeks' ears
3.68527To his experienced tongue; yet let it please both --
3.69528[To Agamemnon] Thou great -- [To Nestor] and wise -- to hear Ulysses speak.
3.70529Agamemnon
 Speak, prince of Ithaca, and be't of less expect
3.71530That matter needless, of importless burden,
3.72531Divide thy lips than we are confident,
3.73532When rank Thersites opes his mastic jaws,
3.74533We shall hear music, wit, and oracle.
3.75534Ulysses
 Troy, yet upon his basis, had been down,
3.76535And the great Hector's sword had lacked a master,
3.77536But for these instances:
3.78537The specialty of rule hath been neglected,
3.79538And look how many Grecian tents do stand
3.80539Hollow upon this plain, so many hollow factions.
3.81540When that the general is not like the hive
3.82541To whom the foragers shall all repair,
3.83542What honey is expected? Degree being vizarded,
3.84543Th'unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask.
3.85544The heavens themselves, the planets, and this center
3.86545Observe degree, priority, and place,
3.87546Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
3.88547Office, and custom, in all line of order,
3.89548And therefore is the glorious planet Sol
3.90549In noble eminence enthroned and sphered
3.91550Amidst the other, whose med'cinable eye
3.92551Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil,
3.93552And posts like the commandment of a king,
3.94553Sans check, to good and bad. But when the planets
3.95554In evil mixture to disorder wander,
3.96555What plagues, and what portents, what mutiny,
3.97556What raging of the sea, shaking of earth,
3.98557Commotion in the winds, frights, changes, horrors,
3.99558Divert and crack, rend and deracinate
3.100559The unity and married calm of states
3.101560Quite from their fixure? Oh, when degree is shaked,
3.102561(Which is the ladder to all high designs)
3.103562The enterprise is sick. How could communities,
3.104563Degrees in schools, and brotherhoods in cities,
3.105564Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
3.106565The primogenitive and due of birth,
3.107566Prerogative of age, crowns, scepters, laurels,
3.108567But by degree, stand in authentic place?
3.109568Take but degree away, untune that string,
3.110569And, hark, what discord follows: each thing meets
3.111570In mere oppugnancy; the bounded waters
3.112571Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores,
3.113572And make a sop of all this solid globe;
3.114573Strength should be lord of imbecility,
3.115574And the rude son should strike his father dead;
3.116575Force should be right, or rather, right and wrong
3.117576(Between whose endless jar, justice resides)
3.118577Should lose their names, and so should justice too.
3.119578Then every thing includes itself in power,
3.120579Power into will, will into appetite,
3.121580And appetite, an universal wolf,
3.122581(So doubly seconded with will and power),
3.123582Must make perforce an universal prey,
3.124583And last, eat up himself.
3.125584Great Agamemnon, 
3.126585This chaos, when degree is suffocate,
3.127586Follows the choking,
3.128587And this neglection of degree is it
3.129588That by a pace goes backward, in a purpose
3.130589It hath to climb. The general's disdained
3.131590By him one step below; he, by the next;
3.132591That next, by him beneath; so every step
3.133592Exampled by the first pace that is sick
3.134593Of his superior, grows to an envious fever
3.135594Of pale and bloodless emulation.
3.136595And 'tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot,
3.137596Not her own sinews. To end a tale of length,
3.138597Troy in our weakness lives, not in her strength.
3.139598Nestor
 Most wisely hath Ulysses here discovered
3.140599The fever whereof all our power is sick.
3.141600Agamemnon
 The nature of the sickness found, Ulysses,
3.142601What is the remedy?
3.143602Ulysses
 The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns
3.144603The sinew and the forehand of our host,
3.145604Having his ear full of his airy fame
3.146605Grows dainty of his worth, and in his tent
3.147606Lies mocking our designs. With him Patroclus
3.148607Upon a lazy bed the livelong day
3.149608Breaks scurril jests,
3.150609And with ridiculous and awkward action
3.151610(Which, slanderer, he imitation calls),
3.152611He pageants us. Sometime, great Agamemnon,
3.153612Thy topless deputation he puts on,
3.154613And, like a strutting player, whose conceit
3.155614Lies in his hamstring, and doth think it rich
3.156615To hear the wooden dialogue and sound
3.157616'Twixt his stretched footing and the scaffoldage,
3.158617Such to-be-pitied and o'er-wrested seeming,
3.159618He acts thy greatness in; and when he speaks,
3.160619'Tis like a chime a-mending, with terms unsquared,
3.161620Which from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropped
3.162621Would seem hyperboles. At this fusty stuff,
3.163622The large Achilles, on his pressed bed lolling,
3.164623From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause,
3.165624Cries, "Excellent. 'tis Agamemnon just.
3.166625Now play me Nestor; hum and stroke thy beard
3.167626As he, being dressed to some oration."
3.168627That's done as near as the extremest ends
3.169628Of parallels, as like as Vulcan and his wife.
3.170629Yet god Achilles still cries, "Excellent.
3.171630'Tis Nestor right. Now play him me, Patroclus,
3.172631Arming to answer in a night alarm."
3.173632And then, forsooth, the faint defects of age
3.174633Must be the scene of mirth, to cough and spit,
3.175634And with a palsy, fumbling on his gorget,
3.176635Shake in and out the rivet. And at this sport
3.177636Sir Valor dies, cries, "O, enough, Patroclus,
3.178637Or give me ribs of steel. I shall split all
3.179638In pleasure of my spleen." And in this fashion,
3.180639All our abilities, gifts, natures, shapes,
3.181640Severals and generals of grace exact,
3.182641Achievements, plots, orders, preventions,
3.183642Excitements to the field, or speech for truce,
3.184643Success or loss, what is or is not, serves
3.185644As stuff for these two to make paradoxes.
3.186645Nestor
 And in the imitation of these twain -- 
3.187646Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
3.188647With an imperial voice -- many are infect.
3.189648Ajax is grown self-willed and bears his head
3.190649In such a rein, in full as proud a place
3.191650As broad Achilles, and keeps his tent like him,
3.192651Makes factious feasts, rails on our state of war
3.193652Bold as an oracle, and sets Thersites
3.194653(A slave whose gall coins slanders like a mint)
3.195654To match us in comparisons with dirt,
3.196655To weaken and discredit our exposure,
3.197656How rank soever rounded in with danger.
3.198657Ulysses
 They tax our policy and call it cowardice,
3.199658Count wisdom as no member of the war,
3.200659Forestall prescience, and esteem no act
3.201660But that of hand. The still and mental parts
3.202661That do contrive how many hands shall strike
3.203662When fitness calls them on and know by measure
3.204663Of their observant toil the enemy's weight,
3.205664Why, this hath not a finger's dignity.
3.206665They call this bed-work, mapp'ry, closet-war.
3.207666So that the ram that batters down the wall,
3.208667For the great swing and rudeness of his poise,
3.209668They place before his hand that made the engine,
3.210669Or those that with the fineness of their souls
3.211670By reason guide his execution.
3.212671Nestor
 Let this be granted, and Achilles' horse
3.213672Makes many Thetis' sons. 
3.213.1Tucket
3.214673Agamemnon
 What trumpet? Look, Menelaus.
3.215674Menelaus
 From Troy. 
3.215.1Enter Aeneas [and trumpeter].
3.216675Agamemnon
 What would you 'fore our tent?
3.217676Aeneas
 Is this great Agamemnon's tent, I pray you?
3.218677Agamemnon
 Even this.
3.219678Aeneas
 May one that is a herald and a prince
3.220679Do a fair message to his kingly ears?
3.221680Agamemnon
 With surety stronger than Achilles' arm,
3.222681'Fore all the Greekish heads, which with one voice
3.223682Call Agamemnon head and general.
3.224683Aeneas
 Fair leave and large security. How may
3.225684A stranger to those most imperial looks
3.226685Know them from eyes of other mortals?
 686Agamemnon
 Know them from eyes of other mortals?  		How?
3.227687Aeneas
 Ay, I ask that I might waken reverence
3.228688And, on the cheek, be ready with a blush
3.229689Modest as morning when she coldly eyes
3.230690The youthful Phoebus.
3.231691Which is that god in office guiding men?
3.232692Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?
3.233693Agamemnon
 This Trojan scorns us, or the men of Troy
3.234694Are ceremonious courtiers.
3.235695Aeneas
 Courtiers as free, as debonair, unarmed,
3.236696As bending angels; that's their fame in peace;
3.237697But when they would seem soldiers, they have galls,
3.238698Good arms, strong joints, true swords, and (Jove's accord)
3.239699Nothing so full of heart. But peace, Aeneas;
3.240700Peace, Trojan; lay thy finger on thy lips.
3.241701The worthiness of praise distains his worth
3.242702If that he, praised, himself bring the praise forth. 
3.243703But what the repining enemy commends,
3.244704That breath fame blows, that praise -- sole pure -- transcends.
 `
3.245705Agamemnon
 Sir, you of Troy, call you yourself Aeneas?
3.246706Aeneas
 Ay, Greek, that is my name.
3.247707Agamemnon
 What's your affair, I pray you?
3.248708Aeneas
 Sir, pardon; 'tis for Agamemnon's ears.
3.249709Agamemnon
 He hears nought privately 710that comes from Troy.
3.250711Aeneas
 Nor I from Troy come not to whisper him;
3.251712I bring a trumpet to awake his ear,
3.252713To set his sense on the attentive bent,
3.253714And then to speak.
 715Agamemnon
 And then to speak.  		Speak frankly as the wind.
3.254716It is not Agamemnon's sleeping hour;
3.255717That thou shalt know. Trojan, he is awake,
3.256718He tells thee so himself.
 719Aeneas
 He tells thee so himself.  		Trumpet, blow loud.
3.257720Send thy brass voice through all these lazy tents,
3.258721And every Greek of mettle, let him know
3.259722What Troy means fairly shall be spoke aloud.
3.259.1723Sound trumpet.
3.260724We have, great Agamemnon, here in Troy,
3.261725A prince called Hector (Priam is his father)
3.262726Who in this dull and long-continued truce
3.263727Is rusty grown. He bade me take a trumpet
3.264728And to this purpose speak: Kings, princes, lords,
3.265729If there be one amongst the fair'st of Greece
3.266730That holds his honor higher than his ease,
3.267731That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril,
3.268732That knows his valor, and knows not his fear,
3.269733That loves his mistress more than in confession
3.270734With truant vows to her own lips he loves,
3.271735And dare avow her beauty and her worth
3.272736In other arms than hers -- to him, this challenge:
3.273737Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks,
3.274738Shall make it good, or do his best to do it.
3.275739He hath a lady, wiser, fairer, truer,
3.276740Than ever Greek did compass in his arms,
3.277741And will tomorrow with his trumpet call,
3.278742Midway between your tents and walls of Troy,
3.279743To rouse a Grecian that is true in love.
3.280744If any come, Hector shall honor him;
3.281745If none, he'll say in Troy when he retires,
3.282746The Grecian dames are sun-burnt and not worth
3.283747The splinter of a lance -- even so much.
3.284748Agamemnon
 This shall be told our lovers, lord Aeneas.
3.285749If none of them have soul in such a kind,
3.286750We left them all at home. But we are soldiers,
3.287751And may that soldier a mere recreant prove
3.288752That means not, hath not, or is not in love;
3.289753If then, one is, or hath, or means to be,
3.290754That one meets Hector; if none else, I'll be he.
3.291755Nestor 
 [To Aeneas]Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man
3.292756When Hector's grandsire sucked. He is old now,
3.293757But, if there be not in our Grecian mold
3.294758One noble man that hath one spark of fire
3.295759To answer for his love, tell him from me,
3.296760I'll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver,
3.297761And in my vantbrace put this withered brawn,
3.298762And, meeting him, will tell him that my lady
3.299763Was fairer than his grandam, and as chaste
3.300764As may be in the world. His youth in flood,
3.301765I'll pawn this truth with my three drops of blood.
3.302766Aeneas
 Now heavens forbid such scarcity of youth.
3.303767Ulysses
 Amen.
3.304768Agamemnon
 Fair lord Aeneas, 769let me touch your hand.
3.305770To our pavilion shall I lead you first.
3.306771Achilles shall have word of this intent;
3.307772So shall each lord of Greece, from tent to tent.
3.308773Yourself shall feast with us before you go,
3.309774And find the welcome of a noble foe.
3.309.1775Exeunt [all but] Ulysses and Nestor.
3.310776Ulysses
 Nestor.
3.311777Nestor
 What says Ulysses?
3.312778Ulysses
 I have a young conception in my brain;
3.313779Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
3.314780Nestor
 What is't?
3.315781Ulysses.
 This 'tis:
3.316782Blunt wedges rive hard knots; the seeded pride
3.317783That hath to this maturity blown up
3.318784In rank Achilles must or now be cropped,
3.319785Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil
3.320786To overbulk us all.
3.321787Nestor
 Well, and how?
3.322788Ulysses
 This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,
3.323789However it is spread in general name,
3.324790Relates in purpose only to Achilles.
3.325791Nestor
 The purpose is perspicuous, even as substance
3.326792Whose grossness little characters sum up,
3.327793And, in the publication, make no strain,
3.328794But that Achilles, were his brain as barren
3.329795As banks of Libya (though, Apollo knows,
3.330796'Tis dry enough) will with great speed of judgment,
3.331797Ay, with celerity, find Hector's purpose
3.332798Pointing on him.
3.333799Ulysses
 And wake him to the answer, think you?
3.334800Nestor
 Yes, 'tis most meet. Who may you else oppose
3.335801That can from Hector bring his honor off,
3.336802If not Achilles? Though't be a sportful combat,
3.337803Yet in this trial much opinion dwells,
3.338804For here the Trojans taste our dear'st repute
3.339805With their fin'st palate, and, trust to me, Ulysses,
3.340806Our imputation shall be oddly poised
3.341807In this wild action; for the success,
3.342808Although particular, shall give a scantling
3.343809Of good or bad unto the general,
3.344810And, in such indexes, although small pricks
3.345811To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
3.346812The baby figure of the giant mass
3.347813Of things to come at large. It is supposed
3.348814He that meets Hector issues from our choice;
3.349815And choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
3.350816Makes merit her election, and doth boil,
3.351817As 'twere, from forth us all a man distilled
3.352818Out of our virtues, who miscarrying,
3.353819What heart from hence receives the conqu'ring part
3.354820To steel a strong opinion to themselves?
3.355821Which entertained, limbs are, in his instruments,
3.356822In no less working than are swords and bows
3.357823Directive by the limbs.
 824Ulysses
 Directive by the limbs.  		Give pardon to my speech:
3.358825Therefore 'tis meet Achilles meet not Hector.
3.359826Let us (like merchants) show our foulest wares,
3.360827And think perchance they'll sell; if not,
3.361828The luster of the better yet to show
3.362829Shall show the better. Do not consent
3.363830That ever Hector and Achilles meet;
3.364831For both our honor and our shame in this
3.365832Are dogged with two strange followers.
3.366833Nestor
 I see them not with my old eyes. What are they?
3.367834Ulysses
 What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
3.368835Were he not proud, we all should wear with him.
3.369836But he already is too insolent,
3.370837And we were better parch in Afric sun
3.371838Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes
3.372839Should he scape Hector fair. If he were foiled,
3.373840Why then we did our main opinion crush
3.374841In taint of our best man. No, make a lott'ry,
3.375842And by device let blockish Ajax draw
3.376843The sort to fight with Hector; among ourselves
3.377844Give him allowance as the worthier man,
3.378845For that will physic the great Myrmidon,
3.379846Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
3.380847His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends.
3.381848If the dull, brainless Ajax come safe off,
3.382849We'll dress him up in voices; if he fail,
3.383850Yet go we under our opinion still
3.384851That we have better men. But hit or miss,
3.385852Our project's life this shape of sense assumes:
3.386853Ajax employed plucks down Achilles' plumes.
3.387854Nestor
 Now, Ulysses, I begin to relish thy advice,
3.388855And I will give a taste of it forthwith
3.389856To Agamemnon. Go we to him straight.
3.390857Two curs shall tame each other; pride alone
3.391858Must tarre the mastiffs on, as 'twere their bone.
3.391.1Exeunt.
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Troilus and Cressida (Modern)
