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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)

    of Troylus and Cresseida.
    All. The Troyans trumpet.
    Agam. Yonder comes the troup.
    2625AEne. Haile all the state of Greece: what shalbe done,
    To him that victory commands, or doe you purpose,
    A victor shalbe knowne, will you the knights
    Shall to the edge of all extremity
    Pursue each other, or shall they be diuided,
    2630By any voice or order of the field, Hector bad aske?
    Aga. Which way would Hector haue it?
    AEne. He cares not, heele obay condicions.
    Aga: Tis done like Hector, but securely done,
    A little proudly, and great deale misprising:
    2635The knight oppos'd.
    AEne. If not Achilles sir, what is your name?
    Achil. If not Achilles nothing:
    Ene: Therefore Achilles, but what ere know this,
    In the extremity of great and little:
    2640Valour and pride excell themselues in Hector
    The one almost as infinite as all,
    The other blanke as nothing, way him well:
    And that which lookes like pride is curtesie,
    This Aiax is halfe made of Hectors bloud,
    2645In loue whereof, halfe Hector staies at home,
    Halfe heart, halfe hand, halfe Hector comes to seeke:
    This blended knight halfe Troyan, and halfe Greeke.
    Achil. A maiden battell then, Oh I perceiue you.
    Aga. Here is sir Diomed? go gentle knight,
    2650Stand by our Aiax. As you and Lord Eneas
    Consent vpon the order of their fight,
    So be it, either to the vttermost,
    Or els a breath, the combatants being kin,
    Halfe stints their strife, before their strokes begin.
    Vlisses: what Troyan is that same that lookes so heauy?
    Vlis. The yongest sonne of Priam, a true knight,
    Not yet mature, yet matchlesse firme of word,
    2660Speaking deeds, and deedlesse in his tongue,
    Not soone prouok't nor beeing prouok't soone calm'd,
    His heart and hand both open and both free.
    I2 For