Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
At ample point all that I did possesse,
Saue these mens lookes, who do me thinkes finde out:
Some thing not worth in me such ritch beholding,
As they haue often giuen. Here is Vlisses
1945Ile interrupt his reading, how now Vlisses?
Vliss. Now great Thetis Sonne.
Achil. What are you reading?
Vliss. A strange fellow here,
Writes me that man, how derely euer parted:
1950How much in hauing or without or in
Cannot, make bost to haue that which he hath,
Nor feeles not what he owes but by reflection:
As when his vertues ayming vpon others,
Heate them and they retort that heate againe
1955To the first giuers.
Achil. This is not strange Vlisses,
The beauty that is borne here in the face:
The bearer knowes not, but commends it selfe.
1958.1To others eyes, nor doth the eye it selfe
That most pure spirit of sence, behold it selfe
Not going from it selfe: but eye to eye opposed,
1960Sallutes each other, with each others forme.
For speculation turnes not to it selfe,
Till it hath trauel'd and is married there?
Where it may see it selfe: this is not strange at all.
Uliss. I do not straine at the position,
1965It is familiar, but at the authors drift,
Who in his circumstance expressly prooues,
That no man is the Lord of any thing:
Though in and of him there be much consisting,
Till he communicate his parts to others,
1970Nor doth hee of himselfe know them for aught:
Till he behold them formed in the applause.
Where th'are extended: who like an arch reuerb'rate
The voice againe or like a gate of steele:
Fronting the Sunne, receiues and renders back
1975His figure and his heate. I was much rap't in this,
And apprehended here immediately,
Th'