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  • Title: Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)
  • 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 (Quarto 1, 1609)

    The history
    Puffing at all, winnowss the light away,
    And what hath masse or matter by it selfe,
    485Lyes rich in vertue and vnmingled.
    Nestor. With due obseruance of the godlike seate,
    Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply
    Thy latest words. In the reproofe of chance,
    490Lies the true proofe of men: the sea being smooth,
    How many shallow bauble boates dare saile,
    Vpon her ancient brest, making their way
    With those of nobler bulke?
    But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
    495The gentle Thetis, and anon, behold
    The strong ribbd barke through liquid mountaines cut,
    Bounding betweene the two moyst elements,
    Like Perseus horse. Where's then the sawcie boate,
    Whose weake vntymberd sides but euen now
    500Corriuald greatnesse? either to harbor fled,
    Or made a toste for Neptune: euen so
    Doth valours shew, and valours worth deuide
    In stormes of fortune; for in her ray and brightnesse
    505The heard hath more annoyance by the Bryze
    Then by the Tyger, but when the splitting winde,
    Makes flexible the knees of knotted Okes,
    And Flies fled vnder shade, why then the thing of courage,
    510As rouzd with rage, with rage doth simpathize,
    And with an accent tun'd in selfe same key,
    Retires to chiding fortune.
    Uliss. Agamemnon,
    Thou great Commander, nerues and bone of Greece,
    515Heart of our numbers, soule and onely spright,
    In whom the tempers and the minds of all
    Should be shut vp: heere what Vlisses speakes,
    Besides th'applause and approbation,
    The which most mighty (for thy place and sway
    520And thou most reuerend) for the stretcht out life,
    I giue to both your speeches; which were such
    As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece,
    Should hold vp high in brasse, and such againe
    As