Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
2180Witnesse the processe of your speech: wherein
You told how Dyomed a whole weeke by daies,
Did haunt you in the field.
AEne. Health to you valiant sir,
During all question of the gentle truce:
2185But when I meete you arm'd, as black defiance,
As heart can thinke or courage execute.
Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,
Our blouds are now in calme, and so long helth:
Lul'd when contention, and occasion meete,
2190By Ioue ile play the hunter for thy life,
With all my force, pursuite, and pollicy.
AEne. And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flie,
With his face back-ward, in humane gentlenesse:
Welcome to Troy, now by Anchises life,
2195Welcome indeed: by Uenus hand I swere:
No man aliue can loue in such a sort,
The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.
Diom. We simpathize. Ioue let AEneas liue
(If to my sword his fate be not the glory)
2200A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne,
But in mine emulous honor let him die:
With euery ioynt a wound and that to morrow------
AEne. We know each other well?
Diom. We do and long to know each other worse.
2205Par. This is the most despightfull gentle greeting,
The noblest hatefull loue that ere I heard of, what businesse
Lord so earely?
AEne. I was sent for to the King? but why I know not.
Par. His purpose meetes you? twas to bring this Greeke,
2210To Calcho's house, and there to render him:
For the enfreed Anthenor the faire Cressid,
Lets haue your company, or if you please,
Hast there before vs. I constantly beleeue,
(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)
2215My brother Troylus lodges there to night,
Rouse him and giue him note of our approch,
With the whole quality wherefore:
I feare