Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William Godshalk
Peer Reviewed

Troilus and Cressida (Quarto 1, 1609)

The history
Of her ore-eaten faith, are giuen to Diomed.
Vlis. May worthy Troylus be halfe attached
With that which heere his passion doth expresse?
3160Troy. I Greeke, and that shall be divulged well
In Characters as red as Mars his heart
Inflam'd with Venus: neuer did young man fancy
With so eternall and so fixt a soule.
Harke Greeke, as much I do Cressid loue,
3165So much by waight, hate I her Diomed:
That sleeue is mine, that heele beare on his Helme:
VVere it a Caske compos'd by Vulcans skill
My sword should bite it: Not the dreadfull spout
VVhich Shipmen do the hurricano call,
3170Constringd in Masse by the almighty sunne
Shal dizzy with more clamour Neptunes eare, in his discent,
Then shall my prompted sword, falling on Diomed.
Thier: Heele ticle it for his concupie.
3175Troy: O Cressid, O false Cressid, false, false, false:
Let all vntruthes stand by thy stained name,
And theyle seeme glorious.
Vlis: O containe your selfe;
Your passion drawes eares hether. Enter Eneas.
Aene: I haue beene seeking you this houre my Lord:
Hector by this is arming him in Troy:
Aiax your guard stayes to conduct you home.
Troy: Haue with you Prince: my curteous Lord adiew,
3185Farewell reuoulted faire: and Diomed
Stand fast, and weare a Castle on thy head.
Vlis. Ile bring you to the gates.
Troy. Accept distracted thankes.
Exeunt Troyl. Eeneas and Vlisses.
3190Ther. VVould I could meete that roague Diomed I would
croke like a Rauen, I would bode, I would bode: Patroclus
will giue me any thing for the inteligence of this whore: the
Parrot will not do more for an almond then he for a commo-
dious drab: Lechery, lechery, still warres and lechery, nothing
3195else holds fashion. A burning diuell take them. Exit.
Enter