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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
    Hell. Commend me to your neece.
    Pand. I will sweet Queene. Sound a retreat?
    1620Par: Their come from the field: let vs to Priames Hall
    To greete the warriers. Sweet Hellen I must woe you,
    To helpe vn-arme our Hector: his stubborne bucles
    With this your white enchaunting fingers toucht;
    Shall more obey then to the edge of steele,
    1625Or force of Greekish sinewes: you shall do more
    Then all the Iland Kinges, disarme great Hector.
    Hell: Twil make vs proud to be his seruant Paris}?
    Yea what he shall receiue of vs in duty,
    Giues vs more palme in beauty then we haue.
    1630Yea ouershines our selfe.
    Par: Sweet aboue thought I loue her? Exeunt.
    Enter. Pandarus Troylus, man.
    Pand: How now wher's thy maister, at my Cousin Cressidas?
    1635Man: No sir stayes for you to conduct him thether.
    Pand: O heere he comes? how now, how now?
    Troy: Sirra walke off.
    Pand: Haue you seene my Cousine?
    1640Troy: No Pandarus, I stalke about her dore
    Like to a strange soule vpon the Stigian bankes
    Staying for waftage. O be thou my Charon.
    And giue me swift transportance to these fieldes,
    VVhere I may wallow in the lilly beds
    1645Propos'd for the deseruer. O gentle Pandar,
    From Cupids shoulder plucke his painted wings,
    And flye with me to Cressid.
    Pand: VValke heere ith'Orchard, Ile bring her straight.
    1650Troy: I am giddy; expectation whirles me round,
    Th'ymaginary relish is so sweete,
    That it inchaunts my sence: what will it be
    When that the watry pallats taste indeed
    Loues thrice repured Nectar? Death I feare me
    1655Sounding distruction, or some ioy to fyne,
    To subtill, potent, tun'd to sharp in sweetnesse
    For the capacity of my ruder powers;
    I feare it much, and I doe feare besides
    That