Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
But now you haue it take it.
Dio: VVhose was it?
3080Cres: And by all Dianas wayting women yond
And by her selfe I wlll not tell you whose.
Dio: Tomorrow will I weare it on my Helme,
And grieue his spirit that dares not challenge it.
Troy: VVert thou the diuell, and wor'st it on thy horne,
3085It should be challengd.
Cres: VVell, well, tis done, tis past: and yet it is not.
I will not keepe my word.
Dio: VVhy then farewell, thou neuer shalt mocke Diomed
againe.
3090Cres: You shall not goe: one cannot speake a word but it
straight starts you.
Dio: I doc
not like this fooling.
Ther: Nor I by Pluto; but that that likes not you, pleases
me best.
3095Dio: VVhat shall I come? the houre--
Cres: I come; O Ioue: do come, I shall be plagued.
Dio: Farewell till then.
Cres: Good night, I prethee come:
Troylus farewell, one eye yet lookes on thee,
3100But with my heart the other eye doth see,
Ah poore our sex, this fault in vs I find,
The error of our eye directs our mind,
VVhat error leads must erre: O then conclude,
,, Mindes swayd by eyes are full of turpitude. Exit.
3105Ther: A proofe of strength, she could not publish more,
Vnlesse shee said my mind is now turn'd whore.
Vlis: All's done my Lord. Troy: It is.
Vlis: VVhy stay we then?
3110Troy: To make a recordation to my soule
Of euery sillable that here was spoke:
But if I tell how these two did Court,
Shall I not lye in publishing a truth,
Sith yet there is a credence in my heart.
3115An esperance so obstinatly strong,
That doth inuert th,attest of eyes and eares,
As