Internet Shakespeare Editions

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  • 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)

    3196.1[5.3]
    Enter Hector [in armor] and Andromache.
    Andromache
    When was my lord so much ungently tempered
    To stop his ears against admonishment?
    3200Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.
    Hector
    You train me to offend you. Get you gone.
    By the everlasting gods, I'll go.
    Andromache
    My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.
    Hector
    No more, I say.
    Enter Cassandra.
    3205Cassandra
    Where is my brother Hector?
    Andromache
    Here, sister, armed, and bloody in intent.
    Consort with me in loud and dear petition.
    Pursue we him on knees, for I have dreamt
    Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night
    3210Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.
    Cassandra
    Oh, 'tis true.
    Hector
    Ho. Bid my trumpet sound.
    Cassandra
    No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother.
    Hector
    Begone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.
    3215Cassandra
    The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows;
    They are polluted off'rings, more abhorred
    Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.
    Andromache
    [To Hector] Oh, be persuaded. Do not count it holy
    To hurt by being just; it is as lawful,
    3220For we would give much, to use violent thefts,
    And rob in the behalf of charity.
    Cassandra
    It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
    But vows to every purpose must not hold.
    Unarm, sweet Hector.
    3225Hector
    Hold you still, I say;
    Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate.
    Life every man holds dear, but the dear man
    Holds honor far more precious, dear, than life. --
    Enter Troilus [in armor].
    3230How now, young man? Mean'st thou to fight today?
    Andromache
    Cassandra, call my father to persuade.
    Exit Cassandra.
    Hector
    No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy harness, youth.
    I am today i'th'vein of chivalry.
    3235Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
    And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
    Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
    I'll stand today, for thee, and me, and Troy.
    Troilus
    Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you
    3240Which better fits a lion than a man.
    Hector
    What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.
    Troilus
    When many times the captive Grecian falls,
    Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
    You bid them rise and live.
    3245Hector
    Oh, 'tis fair play.
    Troilus
    Fool's play, by heaven, Hector.
    Hector
    How now? How now?
    Troilus
    For th'love of all the gods,
    Let's leave the hermit pity with our mothers;
    3250And when we have our armors buckled on,
    The venomed vengeance ride upon our swords,
    Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth.
    Hector
    Fie, savage, fie.
    Troilus
    Hector, then 'tis wars.
    3255Hector
    Troilus, I would not have you fight today.
    Troilus
    Who should withhold me?
    Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars
    Beck'ning with fiery truncheon my retire;
    Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
    3260Their eyes o'er-gallèd with recourse of tears,
    Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn
    Opposed to hinder me, should stop my way,
    But by my ruin.
    Enter Priam and Cassandra.
    3265Cassandra
    Lay hold upon him, Priam; hold him fast;
    He is thy crutch; now if thou loose thy stay,
    Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
    Fall all together.
    Priam
    Come, Hector, come; go back.
    3270Thy wife hath dreamt; thy mother hath had visions;
    Cassandra doth foresee; and I myself
    Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt
    To tell thee that this day is ominous.
    Therefore, come back.
    3275Hector
    Aeneas is afield,
    And I do stand engaged to many Greeks,
    Even in the faith of valor, to appear
    This morning to them.
    Priam
    Ay, but thou shalt not go.
    3280Hector
    I must not break my faith.
    You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir,
    Let me not shame respect, but give me leave
    To take that course by your consent and voice
    Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.
    3285Cassandra
    O Priam, yield not to him.
    Andromache
    Do not, dear father.
    Hector
    Andromache, I am offended with you.
    Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
    Exit Andromache.
    3290Troilus
    This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl
    Makes all these bodements.
    Cassandra
    O farewell, dear Hector.
    Look how thou diest. Look how thy eye turns pale.
    Look how thy wounds doth bleed at many vents.
    3295Hark, how Troy roars, how Hecuba cries out,
    How poor Andromache shrills her dolor forth.
    Behold, distraction, frenzy, and amazement
    Like witless antics one another meet,
    And all cry, "Hector, Hector's dead, O Hector."
    3300Troilus
    Away, away.
    Cassandra
    Farewell. Yes, soft, Hector, I take my leave;
    Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive.
    Exit [Cassandra].
    Hector
    [To Priam] You are amazed, my liege, at her exclaim.
    Go in and cheer the town; we'll forth and fight,
    3305Do deeds of praise, and tell you them at night.
    Farewell. The gods with safety stand about thee.
    [Exeunt Priam and Hector separately.]
    Alarum.
    Troilus
    They are at it. Hark. -- Proud Diomed, believe
    I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.
    3310Enter Pandarus [with a letter].
    Pandarus
    Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?
    Troilus
    What now?
    Pandarus
    Here's a item="letter" letter come from yon poor girl.
    Troilus
    Let me read.
    [Troilus reads.]
    3315Pandarus
    A whoreson phthisic, a whoreson rascally phthisic so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of this girl, and what one thing, what another, that I shall leave you one o'these days, and I have a rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ache in my bones that, unless a man were cursed, 3320I cannot tell what to think on't. -- What says she there?
    Troilus
    Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.
    Th'effect doth operate another way.
    [He tears the letter, and throws it into the wind.]
    3325Go wind to wind. There turn and change together.
    My love with words and errors still she feeds,
    But edifies another with her deeds.
    Pandarus
    Why, but hear you?
    Troilus
    Hence, brother lackey, ignomy and shame
    3330Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name.
    Alarum.
    Exeunt.