Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

of Troylus and Cresseida.
Pan. Because shee's kin to me therefore shee's not so faire
as Hellen, and she were kin to me, she would be as faire a Fri-
110day as Hellen, is on Sunday, but what I? I care not and shee
were a blackeamore, tis all one to mee.
Troy. Say I she is not faire?
Pan. I do not care whether you do or no, she's a foole to
stay behinde her father, let her to the Greekes, and so Ile tell
her the next time I see her for my part Ile meddle nor make
no more ith'matter.
Troy. Pandarus. Pan. Not I.
Troy. Sweete Pandarus.
120Pan. Pray you speake no more to mee I will leaue all as I
found it and there an end. Exit.
Sound alarum.
Troy. Peace you vngracious clamors, peace rude sounds,
Fooles on both sides, Helleu must needes be faire,
125When with your bloud you daylie paint her thus,
I cannot fight vpon this argument:
It is too staru'd a subiect for my sword,
But Pandarus: O gods! how do you plague me
I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar,
130And he's as teachy to be wood to woe,
As she is stubborne, chast, against all suite.
Tell me Apollo for thy Daphues loue
What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we:
Her bed is India there she lies, a pearle,
135Betweene our Ilium, and where shee reides
Let it be cald the wild and wandring flood:
Our selfe the Marchant, and this sayling Pandar,
Our doubtfull hope, our conuoy and our barke.
Alarum Enter AEneas.
140AEne. How now prince Troylus, wherefore not afield.
Troy. Because not there; this womans answer sorts,
For womanish it is to be from thence.
What newes AEneas from the field to day?
145AEne. That Paris is returned home and hurt.
Troy. By whom AEneas?
AEne. Troylus by Menelaus.
A3 Troy.