Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Troilus and Cressida (Modern)
  • 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 (Modern)

    2255.1[4.2]
    Enter Troilus and Cressida.
    Troilus
    Dear, trouble not yourself. The morn is cold.
    Cressida
    Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine uncle down;
    He shall unbolt the gates.
    2260Troilus
    Trouble him not.
    To bed, to bed. Sleep, kill those pretty eyes,
    And give as soft attachment to thy senses
    As infants empty of all thought.
    Cressida
    Good morrow, then.
    2265Troilus
    I prithee, now to bed.
    Cressida
    Are you aweary of me?
    Troilus
    O Cressida, but that the busy day,
    Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows,
    And dreaming night will hide our eyes no longer,
    2270I would not from thee.
    Cressida
    Night hath been too brief.
    Troilus
    Beshrew the witch. With venomous wights she stays
    As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love
    With wings more momentary swift than thought.
    2275You will catch cold, and curse me.
    Cressida
    Prithee tarry. You men will never tarry.
    O foolish Cressid, I might have still held off
    And then you would have tarried. -- Hark, there's one up.
    Pandarus
    Within What's all the doors open here?
    2280Troilus
    It is your uncle.
    Enter Pandarus.
    Cressida
    A pestilence on him. Now will he be mocking; I shall have such a life.
    Pandarus
    How now? How now? How go maidenheads? Hear you, maid?
    [Pretending not to recognize Cressida]
    Where's my cousin Cressid?
    2285Cressida
    Go hang yourself, you naughty, mocking uncle.
    You bring me to do -- and then you flout me too.
    Pandarus
    To do what? To do what? Let her say what.
    What have I brought you to do?
    Cressida
    Come, come, beshrew your heart. You'll ne'er be 2290good, nor suffer others.
    Pandarus
    Ha, ha. Alas, poor wretch, a poor chipochia, hast not slept tonight? Would he not (a naughty man) let it sleep? A bugbear take him.
    One knocks.
    Cressida
    Did not I tell you? Would he were 2295knocked i'th'head. --
    Who's that at door? Good uncle, go and see. --
    My lord, come you again into my chamber.
    You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.
    Troilus
    Ha, ha.
    Cressida
    Come, you are deceived; I think of no such thing.
    2300How earnestly they knock. Pray you, come in.
    Knock.
    I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
    Exeunt [Troilus and Cressida].
    Pandarus
    Who's there? What's the matter? Will you beat down the door? How now, what's the matter?
    [Enter Aeneas.]
    Aeneas
    Good morrow, lord, good morrow.
    2305Pandarus
    Who's there? My lord Aeneas? By my troth, I knew you not. What news with you so early?
    Aeneas
    Is not prince Troilus here?
    Pandarus
    Here? What should he do here?
    Aeneas
    Come, he is here. My lord, do not deny him.
    2310It doth import him much to speak with me.
    Pandarus
    Is he here, say you? 'Tis more than I know, I'll be sworn. For my own part, I came in late. What should he do here?
    Aeneas
    Whoa. Nay then, come, come, you'll do him 2315wrong, ere you're ware. You'll be so true to him, to be false to him. Do not you know of him, but yet go fetch him hither, go.
    Enter Troilus.
    Troilus
    How now, what's the matter?
    2320Aeneas
    My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
    My matter is so rash. There is at hand
    Paris your brother, and Deiphobus,
    The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
    Delivered to us, and for him forthwith,
    2325Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
    We must give up to Diomed's hand
    The lady Cressida.
    Troilus
    Is it concluded so?
    Aeneas
    By Priam and the general state of Troy.
    2330They are at hand and ready to effect it.
    Troilus
    How my achievements mock me. --
    I will go meet them. And, my lord Aeneas,
    We met by chance; you did not find me here.
    Aeneas
    Good, good my lord, the secrets of nature
    2335Have not more gift in taciturnity.
    Exeunt [Troilus and Aeneas]. Pandarus remains.
    Enter Cressida.
    Pandarus
    Is't possible? No sooner got but lost. The devil take Antenor. The young prince will go mad. A plague upon Antenor. I would they had broke's neck.
    2340Cressida
    How now? What's the matter? Who was here?
    Pandarus
    [Sighing] Ah, ha.
    Cressida
    Why sigh you so profoundly? Where's my lord?
    Gone? Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter?
    Pandarus
    Would I were as deep under the earth as I am 2345above.
    Cressida
    O the gods. What's the matter?
    Pandarus
    Prithee, get thee in. Would thou hadst ne'er been born; I knew thou wouldst be his death. O poor gentleman. A plague upon Antenor.
    2350Cressida
    [Kneeling] Good uncle, I beseech you -- on my knees, I beseech you -- what's the matter?
    Pandarus
    Thou must be gone, wench; thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor; thou must to thy father, and be gone from Troilus. 'Twill be his death; 'twill be 2355his bane; he cannot bear it.
    Cressida
    O you immortal gods, I will not go.
    Pandarus
    Thou must.
    Cressida
    I will not, uncle. I have forgot my father.
    I know no touch of consanguinity,
    2360No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me
    As the sweet Troilus. O you gods divine,
    Make Cressid's name the very crown of falsehood
    If ever she leave Troilus. Time, force, and death
    Do to this body what extremity you can;
    2365But the strong base and building of my love
    Is as the very center of the earth,
    Drawing all things to it. I will go in and weep --
    Pandarus
    Do, do.
    Cressida
    -- tear my bright hair, and scratch my praisèd 2370cheeks,
    Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
    With sounding "Troilus." I will not go from Troy.
    Exeunt.