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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
    70As wedged with a sigh would riue in twaine,
    Least Hector or my father should perceiue mee:
    I haue (as when the Sunne doth light a scorne)
    Buried this sigh in wrincle of a smyle,
    But sorrow that is coucht in seeming gladnesse,
    75Is like that mirth fate turnes to suddaine sadnesse.
    Pan: And her haire were not some-what darker then Hel-
    lens, well go to, there were no more comparison betweene
    the women! but for my part she is my kinswoman, I would
    not as they tearme it praise her, but I would som-body had
    80heard her talke yester-day as I did, I will not dispraise your
    sister Cassandraes wit, but-------
    Troy. Oh Pandarus I tell thee Pandarus,
    When I do tell thee there my hopes lie drown'd
    Reply not in how many fadomes deepe,
    85They lie indrench'd, I tell thee I am madde:
    In Cressi}ds love? thou answerst she is faire,
    Powrest in the open vlcer of my heart:
    Her eyes, her haire her cheeke, her gate, her voice,
    Handlest in thy discourse: O that her hand
    90In whose comparison all whites are ynke
    Writing their owne reproch; to whose soft seisure,
    The cignets downe is harsh, and spirit of sence:
    Hard as the palme of plow-man; this thou telst me,
    As true thou telst me, when I say I loue her,
    95But saying thus in steed of oyle and balme,
    Thou layst in euery gash that loue hath giuen mee
    The knife that made it.
    Pan: I speake no more then truth.
    Troy. Thou dost not speake so much.
    100Pan: Faith Ile not meddle in it, let her bee as shee is, if she
    bee faire tis the better for her, and shee bee not, she has the
    mends in her owne hands.
    Troy. Good Pandarus, how now Pandarus?
    Pan: I haue had my labour for my trauell, ill thought on
    105of her, and ill thought of you, gon betweene and betweene,
    but small thanks for my labour.
    Troy. What art thou angry Pandarus? what with me?
    Pan.