TPTT The History of Troilus and Cressida: ACT IV
Introduction
PROLOGUE
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. Troy. A street.
SCENE II. The same. Court of Pandarus' house.
SCENE III. The same. Street before Pandarus' house.
SCENE IV. The same. Pandarus' house.
SCENE V. The Grecian camp. Lists set out.
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE V. The Grecian camp. Lists set out.
Enter AJAX, armed; AGAMEMNON, ACHILLES, PATROCLUS, MENELAUS, ULYSSES, NESTOR, and others
AGAMEMNON
      Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
      Anticipating time with starting courage.
      Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
      Thou dreadful Ajax; that the appalled air
5     May pierce the head of the great combatant
      And hale him hither.
AJAX
      Thou, trumpet, there's my purse.
      Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
      Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias cheek
10    Outswell the colic of puff'd Aquilon:
      Come, stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood;
      Thou blow'st for Hector.
Trumpet sounds
ULYSSES
      No trumpet answers.
ACHILLES
      'Tis but early days.
AGAMEMNON
15    Is not yond Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?
ULYSSES
      'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait;
      He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
      In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Enter DIOMEDES, with CRESSIDA
AGAMEMNON
      Is this the Lady Cressid?
DIOMEDES
20    Even she.
AGAMEMNON
      Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
NESTOR
      Our general doth salute you with a kiss.
ULYSSES
      Yet is the kindness but particular;
      'Twere better she were kiss'd in general.
NESTOR
25    And very courtly counsel: I'll begin.
      So much for Nestor.
ACHILLES
      I'll take what winter from your lips, fair lady:
      Achilles bids you welcome.
MENELAUS
      I had good argument for kissing once.
PATROCLUS
30    But that's no argument for kissing now;
      For this popp'd Paris in his hardiment,
      And parted thus you and your argument.
ULYSSES
      O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns!
      For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.
PATROCLUS
35    The first was Menelaus' kiss; this, mine:
      Patroclus kisses you.
MENELAUS
      O, this is trim!
PATROCLUS
      Paris and I kiss evermore for him.
MENELAUS
      I'll have my kiss, sir. Lady, by your leave.
CRESSIDA
40    In kissing, do you render or receive?
PATROCLUS
      Both take and give.
CRESSIDA
      I'll make my match to live,
      The kiss you take is better than you give;
      Therefore no kiss.
MENELAUS
45    I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.
CRESSIDA
      You're an odd man; give even or give none.
MENELAUS
      An odd man, lady! every man is odd.
CRESSIDA
      No, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true,
      That you are odd, and he is even with you.
MENELAUS
50    You fillip me o' the head.
CRESSIDA
      No, I'll be sworn.
ULYSSES
      It were no match, your nail against his horn.
      May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
CRESSIDA
      You may.
ULYSSES
55    I do desire it.
CRESSIDA
      Why, beg, then.
ULYSSES
      Why then for Venus' sake, give me a kiss,
      When Helen is a maid again, and his.
CRESSIDA
      I am your debtor, claim it when 'tis due.
ULYSSES
60    Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.
DIOMEDES
      Lady, a word: I'll bring you to your father.
Exit with CRESSIDA
NESTOR
      A woman of quick sense.
ULYSSES
      Fie, fie upon her!
      There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
65    Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
      At every joint and motive of her body.
      O, these encounterers, so glib of tongue,
      That give accosting welcome ere it comes,
      And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
70    To every ticklish reader! set them down
      For sluttish spoils of opportunity
      And daughters of the game.
Trumpet within
ALL
      The Trojans' trumpet.
AGAMEMNON
      Yonder comes the troop.
Enter HECTOR, armed; AENEAS, TROILUS, and other Trojans, with Attendants
AENEAS
75    Hail, all you state of Greece! what shall be done
      To him that victory commands? or do you purpose
      A victor shall be known? will you the knights
      Shall to the edge of all extremity
      Pursue each other, or shall be divided
80    By any voice or order of the field?
      Hector bade ask.
AGAMEMNON
      Which way would Hector have it?
AENEAS
      He cares not; he'll obey conditions.
ACHILLES
      'Tis done like Hector; but securely done,
85    A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
      The knight opposed.
AENEAS
      If not Achilles, sir,
      What is your name?
ACHILLES
      If not Achilles, nothing.
AENEAS
90    Therefore Achilles: but, whate'er, know this:
      In the extremity of great and little,
      Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector;
      The one almost as infinite as all,
      The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
95    And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
      This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood:
      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
100   A maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.
Re-enter DIOMEDES
AGAMEMNON
      Here is Sir Diomed. Go, gentle knight,
      Stand by our Ajax: as you and Lord AEneas
      Consent upon the order of their fight,
      So be it; either to the uttermost,
105   Or else a breath: the combatants being kin
      Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
AJAX and HECTOR enter the lists
ULYSSES
      They are opposed already.
AGAMEMNON
      What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
ULYSSES
      The youngest son of Priam, a true knight,
110   Not yet mature, yet matchless, firm of word,
      Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue;
      Not soon provoked nor being provoked soon calm'd:
      His heart and hand both open and both free;
      For what he has he gives, what thinks he shows;
115   Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty,
      Nor dignifies an impure thought with breath;
      Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
      For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
      To tender objects, but he in heat of action
120   Is more vindicative than jealous love:
      They call him Troilus, and on him erect
      A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
      Thus says AEneas; one that knows the youth
      Even to his inches, and with private soul
125   Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me.
Alarum. Hector and Ajax fight
AGAMEMNON
      They are in action.
NESTOR
      Now, Ajax, hold thine own!
TROILUS
      Hector, thou sleep'st;
      Awake thee!
AGAMEMNON
130   His blows are well disposed: there, Ajax!
DIOMEDES
      You must no more.
Trumpets cease
AENEAS
      Princes, enough, so please you.
AJAX
      I am not warm yet; let us fight again.
DIOMEDES
      As Hector pleases.
HECTOR
135   Why, then will I no more:
      Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son,
      A cousin-german to great Priam's seed;
      The obligation of our blood forbids
      A gory emulation 'twixt us twain:
140   Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan 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 dexter cheek, and this sinister
145   Bounds in my father's;' by Jove multipotent,
      Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
      Wherein my sword had not impressure made
      Of our rank feud: but the just gods gainsay
      That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother,
150   My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
      Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:
      By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
      Hector would have them fall upon him thus:
      Cousin, all honour to thee!
AJAX
155   I thank thee, Hector
      Thou art too gentle and too free a man:
      I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
      A great addition earned in thy death.
HECTOR
      Not Neoptolemus so mirable,
160   On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st Oyes
      Cries 'This is he,' could promise to himself
      A thought of added honour torn from Hector.
AENEAS
      There is expectance here from both the sides,
      What further you will do.
HECTOR
165   We'll answer it;
      The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewell.
AJAX
      If I might in entreaties find success--
      As seld I have the chance--I would desire
      My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
DIOMEDES
170   'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles
      Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.
HECTOR
      AEneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
      And signify this loving interview
      To the expecters of our Trojan part;
175   Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin;
      I will go eat with thee and see your knights.
AJAX
      Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.
HECTOR
      The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
      But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes
180   Shall find him by his large and portly size.
AGAMEMNON
      Worthy of arms! as welcome as to one
      That would be rid of such an enemy;
      But that's no welcome: understand more clear,
      What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks
185   And formless ruin of oblivion;
      But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
      Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
      Bids thee, with most divine integrity,
      From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.
HECTOR
190   I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.
AGAMEMNON
      (To TROILUS) My well-famed lord of Troy, no
      less to you.
MENELAUS
      Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting:
      You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
HECTOR
195   Who must we answer?
AENEAS
      The noble Menelaus.
HECTOR
      O, you, my lord? by Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
      Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath;
      Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove:
200   She's well, but bade me not commend her to you.
MENELAUS
      Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.
HECTOR
      O, pardon; I offend.
NESTOR
      I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft
      Labouring for destiny make cruel way
205   Through ranks of Greekish youth, and I have seen thee,
      As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
      Despising many forfeits and subduements,
      When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i' the air,
      Not letting it decline on the declined,
210   That I have said to some my standers by
      'Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!'
      And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath,
      When that a ring of Greeks have hemm'd thee in,
      Like an Olympian wrestling: this have I seen;
215   But this thy countenance, still lock'd in steel,
      I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire,
      And once fought with him: he was a soldier good;
      But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
      Never saw like thee. Let an old man embrace thee;
220   And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.
AENEAS
      'Tis the old Nestor.
HECTOR
      Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
      That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:
      Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
NESTOR
225   I would my arms could match thee in contention,
      As they contend with thee in courtesy.
HECTOR
      I would they could.
NESTOR
      Ha!
      By this white beard, I'ld fight with thee to-morrow.
230   Well, welcome, welcome! I have seen the time.
ULYSSES
      I wonder now how yonder city stands
      When we have here her base and pillar by us.
HECTOR
      I know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well.
      Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
235   Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
      In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy.
ULYSSES
      Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue:
      My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
      For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
240   Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
      Must kiss their own feet.
HECTOR
      I must not believe you:
      There they stand yet, and modestly I think,
      The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
245   A drop of Grecian blood: the end crowns all,
      And that old common arbitrator, Time,
      Will one day end it.
ULYSSES
      So to him we leave it.
      Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome:
250   After the general, I beseech you next
      To feast with me and see me at my tent.
ACHILLES
      I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou!
      Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
      I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,
255   And quoted joint by joint.
HECTOR
      Is this Achilles?
ACHILLES
      I am Achilles.
HECTOR
      Stand fair, I pray thee: let me look on thee.
ACHILLES
      Behold thy fill.
HECTOR
260   Nay, I have done already.
ACHILLES
      Thou art too brief: I will the second time,
      As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
HECTOR
      O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er;
      But there's more in me than thou understand'st.
265   Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?
ACHILLES
      Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
      Shall I destroy him? whether there, or there, or there?
      That I may give the local wound a name
      And make distinct the very breach whereout
270   Hector's great spirit flew: answer me, heavens!
HECTOR
      It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
      To answer such a question: stand again:
      Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
      As to prenominate in nice conjecture
275   Where thou wilt hit me dead?
ACHILLES
      I tell thee, yea.
HECTOR
      Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,
      I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well;
      For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
280   But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,
      I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er.
      You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
      His insolence draws folly from my lips;
      But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words,
285   Or may I never--
AJAX
      Do not chafe thee, cousin:
      And you, Achilles, let these threats alone,
      Till accident or purpose bring you to't:
      You may have every day enough of Hector
290   If you have stomach; the general state, I fear,
      Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.
HECTOR
      I pray you, let us see you in the field:
      We have had pelting wars, since you refused
      The Grecians' cause.
ACHILLES
295   Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
      To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
      To-night all friends.
HECTOR
      Thy hand upon that match.
AGAMEMNON
      First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
300   There in the full convive we: afterwards,
      As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
      Concur together, severally entreat him.
      Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow,
      That this great soldier may his welcome know.
Exeunt all except TROILUS and ULYSSES
TROILUS
305   My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
      In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?
ULYSSES
      At Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus:
      There Diomed doth feast with him to-night;
      Who neither looks upon the heaven nor earth,
310   But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
      On the fair Cressid.
TROILUS
      Shall sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
      After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
      To bring me thither?
ULYSSES
315   You shall command me, sir.
      As gentle tell me, of what honour was
      This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
      That wails her absence?
TROILUS
      O, sir, to such as boasting show their scars
320   A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
      She was beloved, she loved; she is, and doth:
      But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth.
Exeunt
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