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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)

    The history
    Ile stand to day for thee and me and Troy.
    Troyl. Brother, you haue a vice of mercy in you,
    3240Which better fits a Lion then a man.
    Hector. What vice is that? good Troylus chide mee
    3241.1for it.
    Troyl. When many times the captiue Grecian falls,
    Euen in the fanne and winde of your faire sword,
    You bid them rise and liue.
    3245Hect. O tis faire play.
    Troyl. Fooles play by heauen Hector.
    Hect. How now? how now?
    Troyl. For th'loue of all the gods
    Lets leaue the Hermit Pitty with our Mother,
    3250And when we haue our armors buckled on,
    The venomd vengeance ride vpon our swords,
    Spur them to ruthfull worke, raine them from ruth.
    Hect. Fie sauage, fie.
    Troy. Hector then 'tis warres.
    3255Hect. Troylus I wouldnot haue you fight to day.
    Troyl. Who should with-hold me?
    Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars,
    Beckning with fierie trunchion my retire,
    Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
    3260Their eyes ore-galled with recourse of teares,
    Nor you my brother, with your true sword drawne,
    Opposd to hinder me, should stop my way,

    Enter Priam and Cassandra.

    3265Cass. Lay hold vpon him, Priam hold him fast,
    He is thy crutch: now if thou loose thy stay,
    Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
    Fall all together.
    Priam. Come Hector, come, go back,
    3270Thy wife hath dreamt, thy mother hath had visions,
    Cassandra doth foresee, and I my selfe,
    Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt,
    To tell thee that this day is ominous:
    There-