By friendship nor by speaking.’

  There was never a truer rhyme. Let us cast away nothing, for

  we may live to have need of such a verse: we see it21, we see it.

  How now, lambs?

  TROILUS Cressid, I love thee in so strange23 a purity,

  That the blest gods, as24 angry with my fancy,

  More bright25 in zeal than the devotion which

  Cold26 lips blow to their deities, take thee from me.

  CRESSIDA Have the gods envy27?

  PANDARUS Ay, ay, ay, ay: ’tis too plain a case.

  CRESSIDA And is it true that I must go from Troy?

  TROILUS A hateful truth.

  CRESSIDA What, and from Troilus too?

  TROILUS From Troy and Troilus.

  CRESSIDA Is’t possible?

  TROILUS And suddenly, where injury of chance34

  Puts back35 leave-taking, jostles roughly by

  All time of pause, rudely36 beguiles our lips

  Of all rejoindure37, forcibly prevents

  Our locked embrasures38, strangles our dear vows

  Even in the birth of our own labouring breath39.

  We two, that with so many thousand sighs

  Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves

  With the rude brevity and discharge42 of one.

  Injurious43 time now with a robber’s haste

  Crams his rich thiev’ry44 up, he knows not how:

  As many farewells as be stars in heaven,

  With distinct breath and consigned kisses46 to them,

  He fumbles up47 into a loose adieu,

  And scants48 us with a single famished kiss,

  Distasting49 with the salt of broken tears.

  AENEAS My lord, is the lady ready?

  Within

  TROILUS Hark! You are called. Some say the genius51 so

  Cries ‘Come’ to him that instantly52 must die.

  Bid them have patience.— She shall come anon.

  PANDARUS Where are my tears? Rain, to lay this wind54, or my

  heart will be blown up by the root55.

  [Exit]

  CRESSIDA I must then to the Grecians?

  TROILUS No remedy.

  CRESSIDA A woeful Cressid ’mongst the merry Greeks58!

  When shall we see59 again?

  TROILUS Hear me, my love: be thou but true of heart—

  CRESSIDA I true? How now? What wicked deem61 is this?

  TROILUS Nay, we must use expostulation kindly62,

  For it63 is parting from us.

  I speak not ‘Be thou true’ as fearing thee64,

  For I will throw my glove65 to Death himself,

  That there’s no maculation66 in thy heart:

  But ‘Be thou true’, say I, to fashion in67

  My sequent protestation68: be thou true,

  And I will see thee.

  CRESSIDA O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers

  As infinite as imminent! But I’ll be true.

  TROILUS And I’ll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve72.

  CRESSIDA And you this glove. When shall I see you?

  They

  TROILUS I will corrupt74 the Grecian sentinels,

  exchange tokens

  To give thee nightly visitation.

  But yet be true.

  CRESSIDA O heavens! ‘Be true’ again!

  TROILUS Hear why I speak it, love:

  The Grecian youths are full of quality79,

  Their loving80, well composed with gifts of nature,

  Flowing and swelling o’er with arts and exercise81.

  How novelties may move82, and parts with person,

  Alas, a kind of godly83 jealousy —

  Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin —

  Makes me afraid.

  CRESSIDA O heavens, you love me not!

  TROILUS Die I a villain, then!

  In this I do not call your faith in question

  So mainly89 as my merit: I cannot sing,

  Nor heel90 the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk,

  Nor play at subtle91 games — fair virtues all,

  To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant92.

  But I can tell that in each grace of these

  There lurks a still94 and dumb-discoursive devil

  That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted.

  CRESSIDA Do you think I will?

  TROILUS No.

  But something may be done that we will98 not:

  And sometimes we are devils to ourselves,

  When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,

  Presuming on their changeful potency101.

  AENEAS Nay, good my lord—

  Within

  TROILUS Come, kiss, and let us part.

  PARIS Brother Troilus!

  Within

  TROILUS Good brother, come you hither,

  And bring Aeneas and the Grecian with you.

  CRESSIDA My lord, will you be true?

  TROILUS Who, I? Alas, it is my vice, my fault:

  Whiles others fish with craft109 for great opinion,

  I with great truth catch mere simplicity110:

  Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns111,

  With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare112.

  Enter the Greeks [Aeneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus and Diomedes],

  Fear not my truth: the moral of my wit113

  Is ‘plain and true’; there’s all the reach114 of it.—

  Welcome, Sir Diomed! Here is the lady

  Which for Antenor we deliver you.

  At the port117, lord, I’ll give her to thy hand,

  And by118 the way possess thee what she is.

  Entreat her fair119; and, by my soul, fair Greek,

  If e’er thou stand at mercy of my sword,

  Name Cressid and thy life shall be as safe

  As Priam is in Ilium.

  DIOMEDES Fair Lady Cressid,

  So please you, save124 the thanks this prince expects:

  The lustre in your eye, heaven in your cheek,

  Pleads126 your fair usage, and to Diomed

  You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.

  TROILUS Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,

  To shame the seal of my petition towards129

  I’praising her: I tell thee, lord of Greece,

  She is as far high-soaring o’er thy praises

  As thou132 unworthy to be called her servant.

  I charge133 thee use her well, even for my charge,

  For, by the dreadful134 Pluto, if thou dost not,

  Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard,

  I’ll cut thy throat.

  DIOMEDES O, be not moved137, Prince Troilus.

  Let me be privileged by my place138 and message,

  To be a speaker free: when I am hence139

  I’ll answer to my lust140. And know, my lord,

  I’ll nothing do on charge141. To her own worth

  She shall be prized, but that142 you say ‘Be’t so’,

  I’ll speak it143 in my spirit and honour, ‘No.’

  TROILUS Come, to the port. I’ll tell thee, Diomed,

  This brave145 shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—

  Lady, give me your hand, and, as we walk,

  To our own selves bend we147 our needful talk.

  [Exeunt Troilus, Cressida and Diomedes]

  Sound trumpet

  PARIS Hark! Hector’s trumpet.

  AENEAS How have we spent this morning!

  The prince must think me tardy150 and remiss,

  That swore to ride before him in the field.

  PARIS ’Tis Troilus’ fault: come, come, to field with him.

  DEIPHOBUS Let us make ready straight.

  AENEAS Yea, with a bridegroom’s fresh154 alacrity,

  Let us address155 to tend on Hector’s heels:

  The glory of our Troy doth this day lie156

  On his fair worth and single chivalry157.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 5]

  running scene 13

  Location: near the Greek camp

  Enter Ajax, armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, Calchas and others

  AGAMEMNON Here art thou in appointment1 fresh and fair,

  Anticipating2 time. With starting courage,

  Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,

  Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appallèd4 air

  May pierce the head of the great combatant

  And hale6 him hither.

  AJAX Thou, trumpet7, there’s my purse.

  Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen8 pipe:

  Blow, villain9, till thy spherèd bias cheek

  Outswell the colic10 of puffed Aquilon.

  Come, stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood11.

  Thou blowest for12 Hector.

  Trumpet sounds

  ULYSSES No trumpet answers.

  ACHILLES ’Tis but early days14.

  AGAMEMNON Is not yond15 Diomed, with Calchas’ daughter?

  ULYSSES ’Tis he, I ken16 the manner of his gait,

  He rises on the toe: that spirit of his

  In aspiration18 lifts him from the earth.

  [Enter Diomedes and Cressida]

  AGAMEMNON Is this the lady Cressid?

  DIOMEDES Even she.

  AGAMEMNON Most dearly21 welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.

  Kisses her

  NESTOR Our general doth salute you with a kiss.

  ULYSSES Yet23 is the kindness but particular;

  ’Twere better she were kissed in general24.

  NESTOR And very courtly25 counsel: I’ll begin.

  Kisses her

  So much for Nestor.

  ACHILLES I’ll take that winter27 from your lips, fair lady:

  Achilles bids you welcome.

  Kisses her

  MENELAUS I had good argument29 for kissing once.

  PATROCLUS But that’s no argument30 for kissing now;

  For thus popped31 Paris in his hardiment.

  Kisses her

  ULYSSES O, deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns32,

  For which we lose our heads33 to gild his horns.

  PATROCLUS The first was Menelaus’ kiss, this, mine:

  Patroclus kisses you.

  Kisses her again

  MENELAUS O, this is trim36!

  PATROCLUS Paris and I kiss evermore for37 him.

  MENELAUS I’ll have my kiss, sir.— Lady, by your leave38.

  CRESSIDA In kissing, do you render39 or receive?

  PATROCLUS Both take and give.

  CRESSIDA I’ll make my match to live41,

  The kiss you take42 is better than you give:

  Therefore no kiss.

  MENELAUS I’ll give you boot44, I’ll give you three for one.

  CRESSIDA You are an odd45 man: give even or give none.

  MENELAUS An odd46 man, lady? Every man is odd.

  CRESSIDA No, Paris is not; for you know ’tis true

  That you are odd48 and he is even with you.

  MENELAUS You fillip me o’th’head49.

  CRESSIDA No, I’ll be sworn.

  ULYSSES It were no match51, your nail against his horn.

  May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

  CRESSIDA You may.

  ULYSSES I do desire54 it.

  CRESSIDA Why, beg then.

  ULYSSES Why then for Venus’ sake, give me a kiss,

  When Helen is a maid57 again, and his—

  CRESSIDA I am your debtor, claim it when ’tis due58.

  ULYSSES Never’s my day, and then a kiss59 of you.

  DIOMEDES Lady, a word: I’ll bring you to your father.

  NESTOR A woman of quick sense61.

  ULYSSES Fie62, fie upon her!

  There’s a language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;

  Nay, her foot speaks, her wanton64 spirits look out

  At every joint and motive65 of her body.

  O, these encounterers66, so glib of tongue,

  That give a coasting welcome ere it comes67,

  And wide unclasp68 the tables of their thoughts

  To every tickling69 reader! Set them down

  For sluttish spoils of opportunity70

  And daughters of the game71.

  Exeunt [Diomedes and Cressida]

  Enter all of Troy: Hector, Paris, Aeneas, Helenus and Attendants. Flourish

  ALL The Trojans’ trumpet.

  AGAMEMNON Yonder comes the troop.

  AENEAS Hail, all you state74 of Greece. What shall be done

  To him that victory commands75? Or do you purpose

  A victor shall be known76? Will you the knights

  Shall to the edge of all extremity77

  Pursue each other, or shall be divided

  By any voice or order of the field78?

  Hector bade80 ask.

  AGAMEMNON Which way would Hector have it?

  AENEAS He cares not: he’ll obey conditions82.

  ACHILLES ’Tis done like Hector, but securely83 done,

  A little proudly, and great deal disprizing84

  The knight opposed.

  AENEAS If not Achilles, sir, what is your name?

  ACHILLES If not Achilles, nothing.

  AENEAS Therefore Achilles. But whate’er know this:

  In the extremity of great and little,

  Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector89;

  The one91 almost as infinite as all,

  The other92 blank as nothing. Weigh him well,

  And that which looks like pride is courtesy.

  This Ajax is half made of Hector’s blood94,

  In love whereof, half Hector stays at home:

  Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek

  This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.

  ACHILLES A maiden98 battle, then? O, I perceive you.

  [Enter Diomedes]

  AGAMEMNON Here is Sir Diomed. Go, gentle99 knight,

  Stand by our Ajax: as you and Lord Aeneas

  Consent upon the order101 of their fight,

  So be it, either to the uttermost102,

  Or else a breath103. The combatants being kin

  Half stints104 their strife before their strokes begin.

  Ajax and Hector enter the lists

  ULYSSES They are opposed105 already.

  AGAMEMNON What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy106?

  ULYSSES The youngest son of Priam, a true knight,

  // They call him Troilus: //

  Not yet mature, yet matchless109, firm of word,

  Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue110;

  Not soon provoked nor being provoked soon calmed;

  His heart and hand both open and both free112,

  For what he has he gives, what thinks he shows;

  Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty114,

  Nor dignifies an impare115 thought with breath:

  Manly as Hector, but more dangerous,

  For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes117

  To tender objects118, but he in heat of action

  Is more vindicative119 than jealous love.

  They call him Troilus, and on him erect

  A second hope as fairly built as Hector120.

  Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth

  Even to his inches123, and with private soul

  Did in great Ilium thus translate124 him to me.

  Alarum

  AGAMEMNON They are in action125.

  Hector and Ajax fight

  NESTOR Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

  TROILUS Hector, thou sleep’st: awake thee!

  AGAMEMNON His blows are well disposed128. There, Ajax!

  DIOMEDES You must no more129.

  Trumpets cease

  AENEAS Princes, enough, so130 please you.

  AJAX I am not warm131 yet: let us fight again.

  DIOMEDES As Hector pleases.

  HECTOR Why, then will I no more:

  Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,

  A cousin-german135 to great Priam’s seed.

  The obligation of our blood forbids

  A gory emulation137 ’twixt us twain:

  Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan138 so

  That thou couldst say ’This hand is Grecian all,

  And this is Trojan: the sinews of this leg

  All Greek, and this all Troy: my mother’s blood

  Runs on the dexter142 cheek, and this sinister

  Bounds in143 my father’s’, by Jove multipotent,

  Thou shouldst not bear144 from me a Greekish member

  Wherein my sword had not impressure145 made

  Of our rank146 feud. But the just gods gainsay

  That any drop thou borrowed’st from thy mother,

  My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword

  Be drained! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:

  By him that thunders150, thou hast lusty arms;

  Hector would have them fall upon him thus.

  Cousin, all honour to thee!

  Embraces him

  AJAX I thank thee, Hector.

  Thou art too gentle154 and too free a man:

  I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence

  A great addition156 earnèd in thy death.

  HECTOR Not Neoptolemus157 so mirable,

  On whose bright crest158 Fame with her loud’st ‘Oyez’

  Cries ‘This is he’, couldst promise to himself

  A thought of added honour torn from Hector159.

  AENEAS There is expectance161 here from both the sides,

  What further you will do.

  HECTOR We’ll answer it:

  The issue164 is embracement. Ajax, farewell.

  Embraces Ajax

  AJAX If I might in entreaties find success —

  As seld166 I have the chance — I would desire

  My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

  DIOMEDES ’Tis Agamemnon’s wish, and great Achilles

  Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.

  HECTOR Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,

  And signify171 this loving interview

  To the expecters of our Trojan part172:

  Desire them173 home.— Give me thy hand, my cousin,

  To Ajax

  I will go eat with thee and see your knights.

  Agamemnon and the rest [come forward]

  AJAX Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

  HECTOR The worthiest of them tell me name by name:

  To Aeneas

  But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes

  Shall find him by his large and portly178 size.

  AGAMEMNON Worthy of arms179, as welcome as to one

  That would be rid of such an enemy —

  But that’s no welcome181: understand more clear,

  What’s past and what’s to come is strewed with husks