Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
selfe, well the Gods are aboue, time must friend or end well
235Troylus well, I would my heart were in her body; no, Hector
is not a better man then Troylus.
Cres. Excuse me. Pand. He is elder.
Cres. Pardon me, pardon me.
240Pand. Th'others not eome too't, you shall tell me another
tale when th'others come too't, Hector shall not haue his
will this yeare.
Cres. He shall not neede it if he haue his owne.
Pand. Nor his qualities.
245Cres. No matter. Pand. Nor his beautie.
Cres. Twould not become him, his own's better.
Pan: You haue no iudgement neece; Hellen her selfe
swore th'other day that Troylus for a browne fauour (for so
250tis I must confesse) not browne neither.
Cres. No, but browne.
Pand. Faith to say truth, browne and not browne.
Cres. To say the truth, true and not true.
Pand. She praisd his complexion aboue Paris,
255Cres. Why Paris hath colour inough. Pand. So he has.
Cres. Then Troylus should haue too much, if shce praizd
him aboue, his complexion is higher then his, hee
hauing colour enough, and the other higher, is too flaming
260a praise for a good complexion, I had as lieue Helens golden
tongue had commended Troylus for a copper nose.
Pand. I sweare to you I thinke Helen loues him better then(Paris.
Cres. Then shees a merry greeke indeed.
265Pand. Nay I am sure she dooes, she came to him th'other
day into the compast window, and you know hee has not
past three or foure haires on his chinne.
Cres. Indeed a Tapsters Arithmetique may soone bring
his particulars therein to a totall.
270Pand. Why he is very yong, and yet will hc within three
pound lifte as much as his brother Hector.
Cres. Is he so yong a man, and so old a lifter.
Pand. But to prooue to you that Hellen loues him, shee
eame and puts mee her white hand to his clouen chin.
275Cres. Iuno haue mercy, how came it clouen?
Pand