Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Troilus and Cressida (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Act V
2870: [ Enter Achilles, and Patroclus.]
2871:
Achil.
Ile heat his blood with Greekish wine to night,
2872: Which with my Cemitar Ile coole to morrow:
2873: Patroclus, let vs Feast him to the hight.
2874:
Pat
Heere comes Thersites. [ Enter Thersites.]
2875:
Achil.
How now, thou core of Enuy?
2876: Thou crusty batch of Nature, what's the newes?
2877:
Ther.
Why thou picture of what thou seem'st, & Idoll
2878: of Ideot-worshippers, here's a Letter for thee.
2879:
Achil.
From whence, Fragment?
2880:
Ther.
Why thou full dish of Foole, from Troy.
2881:
Pat.
Who keepes the Tent now?
2882:
Ther.
The Surgeons box, or the Patients wound.
2883:
Patr.
Well said aduersity, and what need these tricks?
2884:
Ther.
Prythee be silent boy, I profit not by thy talke,
2885: thou art thought to be Achilles male Varlot.
2886:
Patro.
Male Varlot you Rogue? What's that?
2887:
Ther.
Why his masculine Whore. Now the rotten
2888: diseases of the South, guts-griping Ruptures, Catarres,
2889: Loades a grauell i'th' backe, Lethargies, cold Palsies, and
2890: the like, take and take againe, such prepostrous discoue-ries.
2891: _
2892:
Pat.
Why thou damnable box of enuy thou, what
2893: mean'st thou to curse thus?
2894:
Ther.
Do I curse thee?
2895:
Patr.
Why no, you ruinous But, you whorson indi-stinguishable
2896: Curre.
2897:
Ther.
No? why art thou then exasperate, thou idle,
2898: immateriall skiene of Sleyd silke; thou greene Sarcenet
2899: flap for a sore eye, thou tassell of a Prodigals purse thou:
2900: Ah how the poore world is pestred with such water-flies,
2901: diminutiues of Nature.
2902:
Pat.
Out gall.
2903:
Ther.
Finch Egge.
2904:
Ach.
My sweet Patroclus, I am thwarted quite
2905: From my great purpose in to morrowes battell:
2906: Heere is a Letter from Queene Hecuba,
2907: A token from her daughter, my faire Loue,
2908: Both taxing me, and gaging me to keepe
2909: An Oath that I haue sworne. I will not breake it,
2910: Fall Greekes, faile Fame, Honor or go, or stay,
2911: My maior vow lyes heere; this Ile obay:
2912: Come, come Thersites, helpe to trim my Tent,
2913: This night in banquetting must all be spent.
2914: Away Patroclus. [ Exit.]
2915:
Ther.
With too much bloud, and too little Brain, these
2916: two may run mad: but if with too much braine, and too
2917: little blood, they do, Ile be a curer of madmen. Heere's
2918: Agamemnon, an honest fellow enough, and one that loues
2919: Quailes, but he has not so much Braine as eare-wax; and
2920: the goodly transformation of Iupiter there his Brother,
2921: the Bull, the primatiue Statue, and oblique memoriall of
2922: Cuckolds, a thrifty shooing-horne in a chaine, hanging
2923: at his Brothers legge, to what forme but that he is, shold
2924: wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit, turne
2925: him too: to an Asse were nothing; hee is both Asse and
2926: Oxe; to an Oxe were nothing, hee is both Oxe and Asse:
2927: to be a Dogge, a Mule, a Cat, a Fitchew, a Toade, a Li-zard,
2928: an Owle, a Puttocke, or a Herring without a Roe,
2929: I would not care: but to be Menelaus, I would conspire
2930: against Destiny. Aske me not what I would be, if I were
2931: not Thersites: for I care not to bee the lowse of a Lazar,
2932: so I were not Menelaus. Hoy-day, spirits and fires.
2933: [ Enter Hector, Aiax, Agamemnon, Vlysses, Ne-stor,
Diomed, with Lights]
2935:
Aga.
We go wrong, we go wrong.
2936:
Aiax.
No yonder 'tis, there where we see the light.
2937:
Hect.
I trouble you.
2938:
Aiax.
No, not a whit.
2939: [ Enter Achilles.]
2940:
Vlys.
Heere comes himselfe to guide you?
2941:
Achil.
Welcome braue Hector, welcome Princes all.
2942:
Agam.
So now faire Prince of Troy, I bid goodnight,
2943: Aiax commands the guard to tend on you.
2944:
Hect.
Thanks, and goodnight to the Greeks general.
2945:
Men.
Goodnight my Lord.
2946:
Hect.
Goodnight sweet Lord Menelaus.
2947:
Ther.
Sweet draught: sweet quoth-a? sweet sinke,
2948: sweet sure.
2949:
Achil.
Goodnight and welcom, both at once, to those
2950: that go, or tarry.
2951:
Aga.
Goodnight.
2952:
Achil.
Old Nestor tarries, and you too Diomed,
2953: Keepe Hector company an houre, or two.
2954:
Dio.
I cannot Lord, I haue important businesse,
2955: The tide whereof is now, goodnight great Hector.
2956:
Hect.
Giue me your hand.
2957:
Vlys.
Follow his Torch, he goes to Chalcas Tent,
2958: Ile keepe you company.
2959:
Troy.
Sweet sir, you honour me.
2960:
Hect.
And so good night.
2961:
Achil
Come, come, enter my Tent. [ Exeunt.]
2962:
Ther.
That same Diomed's a false-hearted Rogue, a
2963: most vniust Knaue; I will no more trust him when hee
2964: leeres, then I will a Serpent when he hisses: he will spend
2965: his mouth & promise, like Brabler the Hound; but when
2966: he performes, Astronomers foretell it, that it is prodigi-ous,
2967: there will come some change: the Sunne borrowes
2968: of the Moone when Diomed keepes his word. I will ra-ther
2969: leaue to see Hector, then not to dogge him: they say,
2970: he keepes a Troyan Drab, and vses the Traitour Chalcas
2971: his Tent. Ile after === Nothing but Letcherie? All
2972: incontinent Varlets. [ Exeunt]
2973: [ Enter Diomed.]
2974:
Dio.
What are you vp here ho? speake?
2975:
Chal.
Who cals?
2976:
Dio.
Diomed, Chalcas (I thinke) wher's your Daughter?
2977:
Chal.
She comes to you.
2978: [ Enter Troylus and Vlisses.]
2979:
Vlis.
Stand where the Torch may not discouer vs.
2980: [ Enter Cressid.]
2981:
Troy.
Cressid comes forth to him.
2982:
Dio.
How now my charge?
2983:
Cres.
Now my sweet gardian: harke a word with you.
2984:
Troy.
Yea, so familiar?
2985:
Vlis.
She will sing any man at first sight.
2986:
Ther.
And any man may finde her, if he can take her
2987: life: she's noted.
2988:
Dio.
Will you remember?
2989:
Cal.
Remember? yes.
2990:
Dio.
Nay, but doe then; and let your minde be cou-pled
2991: with your words.
2992:
Troy.
What should she remember?
2993:
Vlis.
List?
2994:
Cres.
Sweete hony Greek, tempt me no more to folly.
2995:
Ther.
Roguery.
2996:
Dio.
Nay then.
2997:
Cres.
Ile tell you what.
2998:
Dio.
Fo, fo, come tell a pin, you are a forsworne.===
2999:
Cres.
In faith I cannot: what would you haue me do?
3000:
Ther.
A iugling tricke, to be secretly open.
3001:
Dio.
What did you sweare you would bestow on me?
3002:
Cres.
I prethee do not hold me to mine oath,
3003: Bid me doe not any thing but that sweete Greeke.
3004:
Dio.
Good night.
3005:
Troy.
Hold, patience.
3006:
Vlis.
How now Troian?
3007:
Cres.
Diomed.
3008:
Dio.
No, no, good night: Ile be your foole no more.
3009:
Troy.
Thy better must.
3010:
Cres.
Harke one word in your eare.
3011:
Troy.
O plague and madnesse!
3012:
Vlis.
You are moued Prince, let vs depart I pray you,
3013: Lest your displeasure should enlarge it selfe
3014: To wrathfull tearmes: this place is dangerous;
3015: The time right deadly: I beseech you goe.
3016:
Troy.
Behold, I pray you.
3017:
Vlis.
Nay, good my Lord goe off:
3018: You flow to great distraction: come my Lord?
3019:
Troy.
I pray thee stay?
3020:
Vlis.
You haue not patience, come.
3021:
Troy.
I pray you stay? by hell and hell torments,
3022: I will not speake a word.
3023:
Dio.
And so good night.
3024:
Cres.
Nay, but you part in anger.
3025:
Troy.
Doth that grieue thee? O withered truth!
3026:
Vlis.
Why, how now Lord?
3027:
Troy.
By Ioue I will be patient.
3028:
Cres.
Gardian? why Greeke?
3029:
Dio.
Fo, fo, adew, you palter.
3030:
Cres.
In faith I doe not: come hither once againe.
3031:
Vlis.
You shake my Lord at something; will you goe?
3032: you will breake out.
3033:
Troy.
She stroakes his cheeke.
3034:
Vlis.
Come, come.
3035:
Troy.
Nay stay, by Ioue I will not speake a word.
3036: There is betweene my will, and all offences,
3037: A guard of patience; stay a little while.
3038:
Ther.
How the diuell Luxury with his fat rumpe and
3039: potato finger, tickles these together: frye lechery, frye.
3040:
Dio.
But will you then?
3041:
Cres.
In faith I will lo; neuer trust me else.
3042:
Dio.
Giue me some token for the surety of it.
3043:
Cres
Ile fetch you one. [ Exit.]
3044:
Vlis.
You haue sworne patience.
3045:
Troy.
Feare me not sweete Lord.
3046: I will not be my selfe, nor haue cognition
3047: Of what I feele: I am all patience. [ Enter Cressid.]
3048:
Ther.
Now the pledge, now, now, now.
3049:
Cres.
Here Diomed, keepe this Sleeue.
3050:
Troy.
O beautie! where is thy Faith?
3051:
Vlis.
My Lord.
3052:
Troy.
I will be patient, outwardly I will.
3053:
Cres.
You looke vpon that Sleeue? behold it well:
3054: He lou'd me: O false wench: giue't me againe.
3055:
Dio.
Whose was't?
3056:
Cres.
It is no matter now I haue't againe.
3057: I will not meete with you to morrow night:
3058: I prythee Diomed visite me no more.
3059:
Ther.
Now she sharpens: well said Whetstone.
3060:
Dio.
I shall haue it.
3061:
Cres.
What, this?
3062:
Dio.
I that.
3063:
Cres.
O all you gods! O prettie, prettie pledge;
3064: Thy Maister now lies thinking in his bed
3065: Of thee and me, and sighes, and takes my Gloue,
3066: And giues memoriall daintie kisses to it;
3067: As I kisse thee.
3068:
Dio.
Nay, doe not snatch it from me.
3069:
Cres.
He that takes that, takes my heart withall.
3070:
Dio.
I had your heart before, this followes it.
3071:
Troy.
I did sweare patience.
3072:
Cres.
You shall not haue it Diomed; faith you shall not:
3073: Ile giue you something else.
3074:
Dio.
I will haue this: whose was it?
3075:
Cres.
It is no matter.
3076:
Dio.
Come tell me whose it was?
3077:
Cres.
'Twas one that lou'd me better then you will.
3078: But now you haue it, take it.
3079:
Dio.
Whose was it?
3080:
Cres.
By all Dianas waiting women yond:
3081: And by her selfe, I will not tell you whose.
3082:
Dio.
To morrow will I weare it on my Helme,
3083: And grieue his spirit that dares not challenge it.
3084:
Troy.
Wert thou the diuell, and wor'st it on thy horne,
3085: It should be challeng'd.
3086:
Cres.
Well, well, 'tis done, 'tis past; and yet it is not:
3087: I will not keepe my word.
3088:
Dio.
Why then farewell,
3089: Thou neuer shalt mocke Diomed againe.
3090:
Cres.
You shall not goe: one cannot speake a word,
3091: But it strait starts you.
3092:
Dio.
I doe not like this fooling.
3093:
Ther.
Nor I by Pluto: but that that likes not me, plea-ses
3094: me best.
3095:
Dio.
What shall I come? the houre.
3096:
Cres.
I, come: O Ioue! doe, come: I shall be plagu'd.
3097:
Dio
Farewell till then. [ Exit.]
3098:
Cres.
Good night: I prythee come:
3099: Troylus farewell; one eye yet lookes on thee;
3100: But with my heart, the other eye, doth see.
3101: Ah poore our sexe; this fault in vs I finde:
3102: The errour of our eye, directs our minde.
3103: What errour leads, must erre: O then conclude,
3104: Mindes swai'd by eyes, are full of turpitude. [ Exit.]
3105:
Ther.
A proofe of strength she could not publish more;
3106: Vnlesse she say, my minde is now turn'd whore.
3107:
Vlis.
Al's done my Lord.
3108:
Troy.
It is.
3109:
Vlis.
Why stay we then?
3110:
Troy.
To make a recordation to my soule
3111: Of euery syllable that here was spoke:
3112: But if I tell how these two did coact;
3113: Shall I not lye, in publishing a truth?
3114: Sith yet there is a credence in my heart:
3115: An esperance so obstinately strong,
3116: That doth inuert that test of eyes and eares;
3117: As if those organs had deceptious functions,
3118: Created onely to calumniate.
3119: Was Cressed here?
3120:
Vlis.
I cannot coniure Troian.
3121:
Troy.
She was not sure.
3122:
Vlis.
Most sure she was.
3123:
Troy.
Why my negation hath no taste of madnesse?
3124:
Vlis.
Nor mine my Lord: Cressid was here but now.
3125:
Troy.
Let it not be beleeu'd for womanhood:
3126: Thinke we had mothers; doe not giue aduantage
3127: To stubborne Criticks, apt without a theame
3128: For deprauation, to square the generall sex
3129: By Cressids rule. Rather thinke this not Cressid.
3130:
Vlis.
What hath she done Prince, that can soyle our
3131: mothers?
3132:
Troy.
Nothing at all, vnlesse that this were she.
3133:
Ther.
Will he swagger himselfe out on's owne eyes?
3134:
Troy.
This she? no, this is Diomeds Cressida:
3135: If beautie haue a soule, this is not she:
3136: If soules guide vowes; if vowes are sanctimonie;
3137: If sanctimonie be the gods delight:
3138: If there be rule in vnitie it selfe,
3139: This is not she: O madnesse of discourse!
3140: That cause sets vp, with, and against thy selfe
3141: By foule authoritie: where reason can reuolt
3142: Without perdition, and losse assume all reason,
3143: Without reuolt. This is, and is not Cressid:
3144: Within my soule, there doth conduce a sight
3145: Of this strange nature, that a thing inseperate,
3146: Diuides more wider then the skie and earth:
3147: And yet the spacious bredth of this diuision,
3148: Admits no Orifex for a point as subtle,
3149: As Ariachnes broken woofe to enter:
3150: Instance, O instance! strong as Plutoes gates:
3151: Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heauen;
3152: Instance, O instance, strong as heauen it selfe:
3153: The bonds of heauen are slipt, dissolu'd, and loos'd,
3154: And with another knot fiue finger tied,
3155: The fractions of her faith, orts of her loue:
3156: The fragments, scraps, the bits, and greazie reliques,
3157: Of her ore-eaten faith, are bound to Diomed
3158:
Vlis.
May worthy Troylus be halfe attached
3159: With that which here his passion doth expresse?
3160:
Troy.
I Greeke: and that shall be divulged well
3161: In Characters, as red as Mars his heart
3162: Inflam'd with Venus: neuer did yong man fancy
3163: With so eternall, and so fixt a soule.
3164: Harke Greek: as much I doe Cressida loue;
3165: So much by weight, hate I her Diomed,
3166: That Sleeue is mine, that heele beare in his Helme:
3167: Were it a Caske compos'd by Vulcans skill,
3168: My Sword should bite it: Not the dreadfull spout,
3169: Which Shipmen doe the Hurricano call,
3170: Constring'd in masse by the almighty Fenne,
3171: Shall dizzie with more clamour Neptunes eare
3172: In his discent; then shall my prompted sword,
3173: Falling on Diomed.
3174:
Ther.
Heele tickle it for his concupie.
3175:
Troy.
O Cressid! O false Cressid! false, false, false:
3176: Let all vntruths stand by thy stained name,
3177: And theyle seeme glorious.
3178:
Vlis.
O containe your selfe:
3179: Your passion drawes eares hither.
3180: [ Enter Aeneas.]
3181:
Aene.
I haue beene seeking you this houre my Lord:
3182: Hector by this is arming him in Troy.
3183:
Aiax
your Guard, staies to conduct you home.
3184:
Troy.
Haue with you Prince: my curteous Lord adew:
3185: Farewell reuolted faire: and Diomed,
3186: Stand fast, and weare a Castle on thy head.
3187:
Vli.
Ile bring you to the Gates.
3188:
Troy.
Accept distracted thankes.
3189: [ Exeunt Troylus, Aeneas, and Vlisses.]
3190:
Ther.
Would I could meete that roague Diomed, I
3191: would croke like a Rauen: I would bode, I would bode:
3192: Patroclus will giue me any thing for the intelligence of
3193: his whore: the Parrot will not doe more for an Almond,
3194: then he for a commodious drab: Lechery, lechery, still
3195: warres and lechery, nothing else holds fashion. A burning
3196: diuell take them.
3197: [ Enter Hecter and Andromache.]
3198:
And.
When was my Lord so much vngently temper'd,
3199: To stop his eares against admonishment?
3200: Vnarme, vnarme, and doe not fight to day.
3201:
Hect.
You traine me to offend you: get you gone.
3202: By the euerlasting gods, Ile goe.
3203:
And.
My dreames will sure proue ominous to the day.
3204:
Hect
No more I say. [ Enter Cassandra.]
3205:
Cassa.
Where is my brother Hector?
3206:
And.
Here sister, arm'd, and bloudy in intent:
3207: Consort with me in loud and deere petition:
3208: Pursue we him on knees: for I haue dreampt
3209: Of bloudy turbulence; and this whole night
3210: Hath nothing beene but shapes, and formes of slaughter.
3211:
Cass.
O, 'tis true.
3212:
Hect.
Ho? bid my Trumpet sound.
3213:
Cass.
No notes of sallie, for the heauens, sweet brother.
3214:
Hect.
Begon I say: the gods haue heard me sweare.
3215:
Cass.
The gods are deafe to hot and peeuish vowes;
3216: They are polluted offrings, more abhord
3217: Then spotted Liuers in the sacrifice.
3218:
And.
O be perswaded, doe not count it holy,
3219: To hurt by being iust; it is as lawfull:
3220: For we would count giue much to as violent thefts,
3221: And rob in the behalfe of charitie.
3222:
Cass.
It is the purpose that makes strong the vowe;
3223: But vowes to euery purpose must not hold:
3224: Vnarme sweete Hector.
3225:
Hect.
Hold you still I say;
3226: Mine honour keepes the weather of my fate:
3227: Life euery man holds deere, but the deere man
3228: Holds honor farre more precious, deere, then life.
3229: [ Enter Troylus.]
3230: How now yong man? mean'st thou to fight to day?
3231:
And.
Cassandra, call my father to perswade.
3232: [ Exit Cassandra.]
3233:
Hect.
No faith yong Troylus; doffe thy harnesse youth:
3234: I am to day ith' vaine of Chiualrie:
3235: Let grow thy Sinews till their knots be strong;
3236: And tempt not yet the brushes of the warre.
3237: Vnarme thee, goe; and doubt thou not braue boy,
3238: Ile stand to day, for thee, and me, and Troy.
3239:
Troy.
Brother, you haue a vice of mercy in you;
3240: Which better fits a Lyon, then a man.
3241:
Hect.
What vice is that? good Troylus chide me for it.
3242:
Troy.
When many times the captiue Grecian fals,
3243: Euen in the fanne and winde of your faire Sword:
3244: You bid them rise, and liue.
3245:
Hect.
O 'tis faire play.
3246:
Troy.
Fooles play, by heauen Hector.
3247:
Hect.
How now? how now?
3248:
Troy.
For th' loue of all the gods
3249: Let's leaue the Hermit Pitty with our Mothers,
3250: And when we haue our Armors buckled on,
3251: The venom'd vengeance ride vpon our swords,
3252: Spur them to ruthfull worke, reine them from ruth.
3253:
Hect.
Fie, sauage, fie.
3254:
Troy.
Hector, then 'tis warres.
3255:
Hect.
Troylus, I would not haue you fight to day.
3256:
Troy.
Who should with-hold me?
3257: Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars,
3258: Beckning with fierie trunchion my retire;
3259: Not Priamus, and Hecuba on knees;
3260: Their eyes ore-galled with recourse of teares;
3261: Nor you my brother, with your true sword drawne
3262: Oppos'd to hinder me, should stop my way:
3263: But by my ruine.
3264: [ Enter Priam and Cassandra.]
3265:
Cass.
Lay hold vpon him Priam, hold him fast:
3266: He is thy crutch; now if thou loose thy stay,
3267: Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
3268: Fall all together.
3269:
Priam.
Come Hector, come, goe backe:
3270: Thy wife hath dreampt: thy mother hath had visions;
3271: Cassandra doth foresee; and I my selfe,
3272: Am like a Prophet suddenly enrapt,
3273: To tell thee that this day is ominous:
3274: Therefore come backe.
3275:
Hect.
Aeneas is a field,
3276: And I do stand engag'd to many Greekes,
3277: Euen in the faith of valour, to appeare
3278: This morning to them.
3279:
Priam.
I, but thou shalt not goe,
3280:
Hect.
I must not breake my faith:
3281: You know me dutifull, therefore deare sir,
3282: Let me not shame respect; but giue me leaue
3283: To take that course by your consent and voice,
3284: Which you doe here forbid me, Royall Priam.
3285:
Cass.
O Priam, yeelde not to him.
3286:
And.
Doe not deere father.
3287:
Hect.
Andromache I am offended with you:
3288: Vpon the loue you beare me, get you in.
3289: [ Exit Andromache.]
3290:
Troy.
This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girle,
3291: Makes all these bodements.
3292:
Cass.
O farewell, deere Hector:
3293: Looke how thou diest; looke how thy eye turnes pale:
3294: Looke how thy wounds doth bleede at many vents:
3295: Harke how Troy roares; how Hecuba cries out;
3296: How poore Andromache shrils her dolour forth;
3297: Behold distraction, frenzie, and amazement,
3298: Like witlesse Antickes one another meete,
3299: And all cry Hector, Hectors dead: O Hector!
3300:
Troy.
Away, away.
3301:
Cas.
Farewell: yes, soft: Hector I take my leaue;
3302: Thou do'st thy selfe, and all our Troy deceiue. [ Exit.]
3303:
Hect.
You are amaz'd, my Liege, at her exclaime:
3304: Goe in and cheere the Towne, weele forth and fight:
3305: Doe deedes of praise, and tell you them at night.
3306:
Priam.
Farewell: the gods with safetie stand about
3307: thee. [ Alarum.]
3308:
Troy.
They are at it, harke: proud Diomed, beleeue
3309: I come to loose my arme, or winne my sleeue.
3310: [ Enter Pandar.]
3311:
Pand.
Doe you heare my Lord? do you heare?
3312:
Troy.
What now?
3313:
Pand.
Here's a Letter come from yond poore girle.
3314:
Troy.
Let me reade.
3315:
Pand.
A whorson tisicke, a whorson rascally tisicke,
3316: so troubles me; and the foolish fortune of this girle, and
3317: what one thing, what another, that I shall leaue you one
3318: o'th's dayes: and I haue a rheume in mine eyes too; and
3319: such an ache in my bones; that vnlesse a man were curst,
3320: I cannot tell what to thinke on't. What sayes shee
3321: there?
3322:
Troy.
Words, words, meere words, no matter from
3323: the heart;
3324: Th' effect doth operate another way.
3325: Goe winde to winde, there turne and change together:
3326: My loue with words and errors still she feedes;
3327: But edifies another with her deedes.
3328:
Pand.
Why, but heare you?
3329:
Troy.
Hence brother lackie; ignomie and shame
3330: Pursue thy life, and liue aye with thy name.
3331: [ A Larum]
[ Exeunt.]
3332: [ Enter Thersites in excursion.]
3333:
Ther.
Now they are clapper-clawing one another, Ile
3334: goe looke on: that dissembling abhominable varlet Dio-mede,
3335: has got that same scuruie, doting, foolish yong
3336: knaues Sleeue of Troy, there in his Helme: I would faine
3337: see them meet; that, that same yong Troian asse, that loues
3338: the whore there, might send that Greekish whore-mai-sterly
3339: villaine, with the Sleeue, backe to the dissembling
3340: luxurious drabbe, of a sleeuelesse errant. O'th' tother side,
3341: the pollicie of those craftie swearing rascals; that stole
3342: old Mouse-eaten dry cheese, Nestor: and that same dog-foxe
3343:
Vlisses
, is not prou'd worth a Black-berry. They set
3344: me vp in pollicy, that mungrill curre Aiax against that
3345: dogge of as bad a kinde, Achilles. And now is the curre
3346: Aiax prouder then the curre Achilles, and will not arme
3347: to day. Whereupon, the Grecians began to proclaime
3348: barbarisme; and pollicie growes into an ill opinion.
3349: [ Enter Diomed and Troylus.]
3350: Soft, here comes Sleeue, and th' other.
3351:
Troy.
Flye not: for should'st thou take the Riuer Stix,
3352: I would swim after.
3353:
Diom.
Thou do'st miscall retire:
3354: I doe not flye, but aduantagious care
3355: Withdrew me from the oddes of multitude:
3356: Haue at thee?
3357:
Ther.
Hold thy whore Grecian: now for thy whore
3358: Troian: Now the Sleeue, now the Sleeue.
3359: [ Enter Hector.]
3360:
Hect.
What art thou Greek? art thou for Hectors match?
3361: Art thou of bloud, and honour?
3362:
Ther.
No, no: I am a rascall: a scuruie railing knaue:
3363: a very filthy roague.
3364:
Hect.
I doe beleeue thee, liue.
3365:
Ther.
God a mercy, that thou wilt beleeue me; but a
3366: plague breake thy necke === for frighting me: what's be-come
3367: of the wenching rogues? I thinke they haue
3368: swallowed one another. I would laugh at that mira-cle
3369: === yet in a sort, lecherie eates it selfe: Ile seeke them.
3370: [ Exit.]
3371: [ Enter Diomed and Seruants.]
3372:
Dio.
Goe, goe, my seruant, take thou Troylus Horse;
3373: Present the faire Steede to my Lady Cressid:
3374: Fellow, commend my seruice to her beauty;
3375: Tell her, I haue chastis'd the amorous Troyan,
3376: And am her Knight by proofe.
3377:
Ser
I goe my Lord. [ Enter Agamemnon.]
3378:
Aga.
Renew, renew, the fierce Polidamus
3379: Hath beate downe Menon: bastard Margarelon
3380: Hath Doreus prisoner.
3381: And stands Calossus-wise wauing his beame,
3382: Vpon the pashed courses of the Kings:
3383: Epistropus and Cedus, Polixines is slaine;
3384: Amphimacus, and Thous deadly hurt;
3385: Patroclus tane or slaine, and Palamedes
3386: Sore hurt and bruised; the dreadfull Sagittary
3387: Appauls our numbers, haste we Diomed
3388: To re-enforcement, or we perish all.
3389: [ Enter Nestor.]
3390:
Nest.
Goe beare Patroclus body to Achilles,
3391: And bid the snaile-pac'd Aiax arme for shame;
3392: There is a thousand Hectors in the field:
3393: Now here he fights on Galathe his Horse,
3394: And there lacks worke: anon he's there a foote,
3395: And there they flye or dye, like scaled sculs,
3396: Before the belching Whale; then is he yonder,
3397: And there the straying Greekes, ripe for his edge,
3398: Fall downe before him, like the mowers swath;
3399: Here, there, and euery where, he leaues and takes;
3400: Dexteritie so obaying appetite,
3401: That what he will, he does, and does so much,
3402: That proofe is call'd impossibility.
3403: [ Enter Vlisses.]
3404:
Vlis.
Oh, courage, courage Princes: great Achilles
3405: Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance;
3406: Patroclus wounds haue rouz'd his drowzie bloud,
3407: Together with his mangled Myrmidons,
3408: That noselesse, handlesse, hackt and chipt, come to him;
3409: Crying on Hector. Aiax hath lost a friend,
3410: And foames at mouth, and he is arm'd, and at it:
3411: Roaring for Troylus; who hath done to day,
3412: Mad and fanasticke execution;
3413: Engaging and redeeming of himselfe.
3414: With such a carelesse force, and forcelesse care,
3415: As if that luck in very spight of cunning, bad him win all.
3416: [ Enter Aiax.]
3417:
Aia
Troylus, thou coward Troylus. [ Exit.]
3418:
Dio.
I, there, there.
3419:
Nest
So, so, we draw together. [ Exit.]
3420: [ Enter Achilles.]
3421:
Achil.
Where is this Hector?
3422: Come, come, thou boy-queller, shew thy face:
3423: Know what it is to meete Achilles angry.
3424: Hector, wher's Hector? I will none but Hector. [ Exit.]
3425: [ Enter Aiax.]
3426:
Aia.
Troylus, thou coward Troylus, shew thy head.
3427: [ Enter Diomed.]
3428:
Diom.
Troylus, I say, wher's Troylus?
3429:
Aia.
What would'st thou?
3430:
Diom.
I would correct him.
3431:
Aia.
Were I the Generall,
3432: Thou should'st haue my office,
3433: Ere that correction: Troylus I say, what Troylus?
3434: [ Enter Troylus.]
3435:
Troy.
Oh traitour Diomed!
3436: Turne thy false face thou traytor,
3437: And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse.
3438:
Dio.
Ha, art thou there?
3439:
Aia.
Ile fight with him alone, stand Diomed.
3440:
Dio.
He is my prize, I will not looke vpon.
3441:
Troy.
Come both you coging Greekes, haue at you
3442: both. [ Exit Troylus.]
3443: [ Enter Hector.]
3444:
Hect.
Yea Troylus? O well fought my yongest Brother.
3445: [ Enter Achilles.]
3446:
Achil.
Now doe I see thee; haue at thee Hector.
3447:
Hect.
Pause if thou wilt.
3448:
Achil.
I doe disdaine thy curtesie, proud Troian;
3449: Be happy that my armes are out of vse:
3450: My rest and negligence befriends thee now,
3451: But thou anon shalt heare of me againe:
3452: Till when, goe seeke thy fortune. [ Exit.]
3453:
Hect.
Fare thee well:
3454: I would haue beene much more a fresher man,
3455: Had I expected thee: how now my Brother?
3456: [ Enter Troylus.]
3457:
Troy.
Aiax hath tane Aeneas; shall it be?
3458: No, by the flame of yonder glorious heauen,
3459: He shall not carry him: Ile be tane too,
3460: Or bring him off: Fate heare me what I say;
3461: I wreake not, though thou end my life to day. [ Exit.]
3462: [ Enter one in Armour.]
3463:
Hect.
Stand, stand, thou Greeke,
3464: Thou art a goodly marke:
3465: No? wilt thou not? I like thy armour well,
3466: Ile frush it, and vnlocke the riuets all,
3467: But Ile be maister of it: wilt thou not beast abide?
3468: Why then flye on, Ile hunt thee for thy hide. [ Exit.]
3469: [ Enter Achilles with Myrmidons.]
3470:
Achil.
Come here about me you my Myrmidons:
3471: Marke what I say; attend me where I wheele:
3472: Strike not a stroake, but keepe your selues in breath;
3473: And when I haue the bloudy Hector found,
3474: Empale him with your weapons round about:
3475: In fellest manner execute your arme.
3476: Follow me sirs, and my proceedings eye;
3477: It is decreed, Hector the great must dye. [ Exit.]
3478: [ Enter Thersites, Menelaus, and Paris.]
3479:
Ther.
The Cuckold and the Cuckold maker are at it:
3480: now bull, now dogge, lowe; Paris lowe; now my dou-ble
3481: hen'd sparrow; lowe Paris, lowe; the bull has the
3482: game: ware hornes ho?
3483: [ Exit Paris and Menelaus.]
3484: [ Enter Bastard.]
3485:
Bast.
Turne slaue and fight.
3486:
Ther.
What art thou?
3487:
Bast.
A Bastard Sonne of Priams.
3488:
Ther.
I am a Bastard too, I loue Bastards, I am a Ba-stard
3489: begot, Bastard instructed, Bastard in minde, Bastard
3490: in valour, in euery thing illegitimate: one Beare will not
3491: bite another, and wherefore should one Bastard? take
3492: heede, the quarrel's most ominous to vs: if the Sonne of a
3493: whore fight for a whore, he tempts iudgement: farewell
3494: Bastard.
3495:
Bast
The diuell take thee coward. [ Exeunt.]
3496: [ Enter Hector.]
3497:
Hect.
Most putrified core so faire without:
3498: Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life.
3499: Now is my daies worke done; Ile take good breath:
3500: Rest Sword, thou hast thy fill of bloud and death.
3501: [ Enter Achilles and his Myrmidons.]
3502:
Achil.
Looke Hector how the Sunne begins to set;
3503: How vgly night comes breathing at his heeles,
3504: Euen with the vaile and darking of the Sunne.
3505: To close the day vp, Hectors life is done.
3506:
Hect.
I am vnarm'd, forgoe this vantage Greeke.
3507:
Achil.
Strike fellowes, strike, this is the man I seeke.
3508: So Illion fall thou: now Troy sinke downe;
3509: Here lyes thy heart, thy sinewes, and thy bone.
3510: On Myrmidons, cry you all a maine.
3511: Achilles hath the mighty Hector slaine. [ Retreat.]
3512: Harke, a retreat vpon our Grecian part.
3513:
Gree.
The Troian Trumpets sounds the like my Lord.
3514:
Achi.
The dragon wing of night ore-spreds the earth
3515: And stickler-like the Armies seperates
3516: My halfe supt Sword, that frankly would haue fed,
3517: Pleas'd with this dainty bed; thus goes to bed.
3518: Come, tye his body to my horses tayle;
3519: Along the field, I will the Troian traile. [ Exeunt.]
3520: [ Sound Retreat. Shout.]
3521: [ Enter Agamemnon, Aiax, Menelaus, Nestor,
Diomed, and the rest marching]
3523:
Aga.
Harke, harke, what shout is that?
3524:
Nest.
Peace Drums.
3525:
Sold.
Achilles, Achilles, Hector's slaine, Achilles.
3526:
Dio.
The bruite is, Hector's slaine, and by Achilles.
3527:
Aia.
If it be so, yet braglesse let it be:
3528: Great Hector was a man as good as he.
3529:
Agam.
March patiently along: let one be sent
3530: To pray Achilles see vs at our Tent.
3531: If in his death the gods haue vs befrended,
3532: Great Troy is ours, and our sharpe wars are ended.
3533: [ Exeunt.]
3534: [ Enter Aeneas, Paris, Anthenor and Deiphoebus.]
3535:
Aene.
Stand hoe, yet are we maisters of the field,
3536: Neuer goe home; here starue we out the night.
3537: [ Enter Troylus.]
3538:
Troy.
Hector is slaine.
3539:
All.
Hector? the gods forbid.
3540:
Troy.
Hee's dead: and at the murtherers Horses taile,
3541: In beastly sort, drag'd through the shamefull Field.
3542: Frowne on you heauens, effect your rage with speede:
3543: Sit gods vpon your throanes, and smile at Troy.
3544: I say at once, let your briefe plagues be mercy,
3545: And linger not our sure destructions on.
3546:
Aene.
My Lord, you doe discomfort all the Hoste.
3547:
Troy.
You vnderstand me not, that tell me so:
3548: I doe not speake of flight, of feare, of death,
3549: But dare all imminence that gods and men,
3550: Addresse their dangers in. Hector is gone:
3551: Who shall tell Priam so? or Hecuba?
3552: Let him that will a screechoule aye be call'd,
3553: Goe in to Troy, and say there, Hector's dead:
3554: There is a word will Priam turne to stone;
3555: Make wels, and Niobes of the maides and wiues;
3556: Coole statues of the youth: and in a word,
3557: Scarre Troy out of it selfe. But march away,
3558: Hector is dead: there is no more to say.
3559: Stay yet: you vile abhominable Tents,
3560: Thus proudly pight vpon our Phrygian plaines:
3561: Let Titan rise as early as he dare,
3562: Ile through, and through you; & thou great siz'd coward:
3563: No space of Earth shall sunder our two hates,
3564: Ile haunt thee, like a wicked conscience still,
3565: That mouldeth goblins swift as frensies thoughts.
3566: Strike a free march to Troy, with comfort goe:
3567: Hope of reuenge, shall hide our inward woe.
3568: [ Enter Pandarus.]
3569:
Pand.
But heare you? heare you?
3570:
Troy.
Hence broker, lackie, ignomy, and shame
3571: Pursue thy life, and liue aye with thy name. [ Exeunt.]
3572:
Pan.
A goodly medcine for mine aking bones: oh world,
3573: world, world! thus is the poore agent dispisde: Oh trai-tours
3574: and bawdes; how earnestly are you set aworke, and
3575: how ill requited? why should our indeuour be so desir'd,
3576: and the performance so loath'd? What Verse for it? what
3577: instance for it? let me see.
3578: Full merrily the humble Bee doth sing,
3579: Till he hath lost his hony, and his sting.
3580: And being once subdu'd in armed taile,
3581: Sweete hony, and sweete notes together faile.
3582: Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted cloathes;
3583: As many as be here of Panders hall,
3584: Your eyes halfe out, weepe out at Pandar's fall:
3585: Or if you cannot weepe, yet giue some grones;
3586: Though not for me, yet for your aking bones:
3587: Brethren and sisters of the hold-dore trade,
3588: Some two months hence, my will shall here be made:
3589: It should be now, but that my feare is this:
3590: Some galled Goose of Winchester would hisse:
3591: Till then, Ile sweate, and seeke about for eases;
3592: And at that time bequeath you my diseases. [ Exeunt.]
3593: FINIS.
3594: THE TRAGEDIE OF
3595: Troylus and Cressida