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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
    For time is like a fashionable hoast,
    That slightly shakes his parting guest by th'hand,
    2020And with his armes out-stretcht as he would flie,
    Graspes in the commer: the welcome euer smiles,
    And farewell goes out sighing. Let not vertue seeke,
    Remuneration for the thing it was. For beauty, wit,
    High birth, vigor of bone, desert in seruice,
    2025Loue, friendship, charity, are subiects all,
    To enuious and calumniatig time.
    One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
    That all with one consent praise new-borne gaudes,
    Though they are made and moulded of things past,
    2030And goe to dust, that is a little guilt,
    More laud then guilt ore-dusted.
    The present eye praises the present obiect.
    Then maruell not thou great and complet man,
    That all the Greekes begin to worship Aiax;
    2035Since things in motion sooner catch the eye,
    That what stirs not. The crie went once on thee,
    And still it might, and yet it may againe,
    If thou wouldst not entombe thy selfe aliue,
    And case thy reputation in thy tent,
    2040Whose glorious deeds but in these fields of late,
    Made emulous missions mongst the gods them selues
    And draue great Mars to faction.
    Achil. Of this my priuacie,
    I haue strong reasons.
    2045Vlis. But gainst your priuacie,
    The reasons are more potent and heroycall:
    Tis knowne Achilles that you are in loue
    With one of Priams daughters.
    Achil. Ha? knowne.
    2050Ulis. Is that a wonder:
    The prouidencc thats in a watchfull state,
    Knowes almost euery thing,
    Findes bottom in the vncomprehensiue depth,
    Keepes place with thought and almost like the gods,
    2055Do thoughts vnuaile in their dumbe cradles.
    Thero
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