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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.
    As if those organs were deceptions functions,
    Created onely to calumniate. Was Cresseid heere?
    3120Vlis. I cannot coniure Troyan.
    Troyl. Shee was not sure.
    Ulis Most sure she was.
    Troy, Why my negation hath no taste of madnesse.
    Vlis. Nor mine my Lord: Cresseid was heere but now.
    3125Troyl. Let it not be beleeu'd for woman-hood.
    Thinke we had mothers, do not giue aduantage
    To stubborne Critiques apt without a theme
    For deprauation, to square the generall sex
    By Cresseids rule. Rather thinke this not Cresseid.
    3130Vli. What hath she done Prince that spoile our mothers.
    Troyl. Nothing at all, vnlesse that this were she.
    Ther. Will a swagger himselfe out on's owne eyes.
    Troyl. This she, no this is Diomeds Cresseida,
    3135If beauty haue a soule this is not shee:
    If soules guide vowes, if vowes be sanctimonies,
    If sanctimony be the gods delight:
    If there be rule in vnitie it selfe,
    This was not shee: O madnesse of discourse,
    3140That cause sets vp with and against it selfe,
    By-fould authority: where reason can reuolt
    Without perdition, and losse assume all reason,
    Without reuolt. This is and is not Cresseid,
    Within my soule there doth conduce a fight
    3145Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparat,
    Diuides more wider then the skie and earth:
    And yet the spacious bredth of this diuision,
    Admits no orifex for a point as subtle,
    As Ariachna's broken woofe to enter,
    3150Instance, O instance strong as Plutoes gates,
    Cresseid is mine, tied with the bonds of heauen,
    Instance, O instance, strong as heauen it selfe,
    The bonds of heauen are slipt, dissolu'd and loosd,
    And with another knot finde finger tied,
    3155The fractions of her faith, orts of her loue.
    The fragments, scraps, the bitts and greazie reliques,
    Of