Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

of Troylus and Cresseida.
Pan. Know you the musicians?
Man. Wholy sir. Pan. Who play they to?
Man. To the hearers sir.
1500Pan. At whose pleasure friend?
Man. At mine sir, and theirs that loue musicke.
Pan. Command I meane:
Man. Who shall I command sir?
Pan. Friend we vnderstand not one another, I am to court-
1505ly and thou to cunning, at whose request do these men play?
Man. Thats to't indeed sir? marry sir, at the request of Pa-
ris my Lord, who is there in person, with him the mortall
Venus, the heart bloud of beauty, loues inuisible soule:
Pan. Who my cozen Cressida.
Man. No sir, Hellen, could not you finde out that by her at-
tributes.
Pan. It should seeme fellow thou hast not seene the Lady
1515Cressid I come to speake with Paris, from the Prince Troy-
lus. I will make a complementall assault vpon him for my
businesse seeth's.
Man. Sodden businesse, theirs a stew'd phrase indeed.
Enter Paris and Hellen.
1520Pan. Faire be to you my Lord, and to al this faire company,
faire desires in all faire measure fairlie guide them, especially
to you faire Queene faire thoughts be your faire pillow.
Hel Dere Lord you are full of faire words:
1525Pan. You speake your faire pleasure sweet Queene,
Faire Prince here is good broken musicke.
Par. You haue broke it cozen: and by my life you shall
make it whole againe, you shall peece it out with a peece of
your performance. Nel. he is full of harmony:
1530Pan: Truely Lady no: Hel: O sir:
Pan: Rude in sooth, in good sooth very rude.
Paris: Well said my Lord, well, you say so in fits:
Pan. I haue businesse to my Lord deere Queene? my Lord
1535will you vouchsafe me a word.
Hel. Nay this shall not hedge vs out, weele here you sing
certainely:
Pan: Well sweete Queene you are pleasant with mee, but,
mary