Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

of Troylus and Cresseida.
A forme of strangnesse as we pas along,
So do each Lord, and either greet him not
Or els disdaynfully, which shall shake him more:
1905Then if not lookt on. I will lead the way.
Achil. What comes the generall to speake with mee?
You know my minde Ile fight no more 'gainst Troy.
Aga. What saies Achilles would he ought with vs?
Nest. Would you my Lord ought with the generall.
1910Achil. No.
Nest. Nothing my Lord:
Aga. The better.
Achil. Good day, good day:
Men. How do you? how do you?
1915Achil. What do's the Cnckould scorne me?
Aiax. How now Patroclus?
Achil. Good morrow Aiax?
Aiax. Ha:
Achil. Good morrow.
1920Aiax. I and good next day too. Exeunt.
Ach. What meane these fellowes know they not Achilles?
Patro. They passe by strangely: they were vs'd to bend,
To send their smiles before them to Achilles:
1925To come as humbly as they vsd to creep, to holy aultars:
Achil. What am I poore of late?
Tis certaine, greatnesse once falne out with fortune,
Must fall out with men to, what the declin'd is,
He shall as soone reade in the eyes of others
1930As feele in his owne fall: for men like butter-flies
Shew not their mealy wings but to the Summer,
And not a man for being simply man,
Hath any honour, but honour for those honours
That are without him, as place, ritches, and fauour,
1935Prizes of accident as oft as merit
Which when they fall as being slipery standers,
The loue that lean'd on them as slipery too,
Doth one pluck downe another, and together, die in the fall,
But tis not so with mee,
1940Fortune and I are friends, I do enioy:
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