Internet Shakespeare Editions

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