Enter Ajax, armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon,
Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, etc. ⌜and Trumpeter.⌝AGAMEMNON, ⌜to Ajax⌝ 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 appallèd air5 May pierce the head of the great combatant And hale him hither.AJAX Thou, trumpet, there’s my purse.⌜He gives money to Trumpeter.⌝ Now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe. Blow, villain, till thy spherèd bias cheek10 Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon. Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood. Thou blowest for Hector.⌜Sound trumpet.⌝
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ULYSSES No trumpet answers.ACHILLES ’Tis but early days.⌜Enter Cressida and Diomedes.⌝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.AGAMEMNON Is this the Lady Cressid?DIOMEDES 20 Even she.AGAMEMNON Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.⌜He kisses her.⌝NESTOR Our general doth salute you with a kiss.ULYSSES Yet is the kindness but particular. ’Twere better she were kissed in general.NESTOR 25 And very courtly counsel. I’ll begin.⌜He kisses her.⌝ So much for Nestor.ACHILLES I’ll take that winter from your lips, fair lady. Achilles bids you welcome.⌜He kisses her.⌝MENELAUS I had good argument for kissing once.PATROCLUS, ⌜stepping between Menelaus and Cressida⌝ 30 But that’s no argument for kissing now, For thus popped Paris in his hardiment [And parted thus you and your argument.]⌜He kisses her.⌝
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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.⌜He kisses her again.⌝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?⌜MENELAUS⌝ 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 are 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’ th’ 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.
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CRESSIDA Why, beg ⌜two.⌝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.⌜Diomedes and Cressida talk aside.⌝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 thoughts70 To every ⟨tickling⟩ reader! Set them down For sluttish spoils of opportunity And daughters of the game.⟨⌜Diomedes and Cressida⌝ exit.⟩Flourish.ALL The Trojan’s trumpet.Enter all of Troy: ⟨Hector, ⌜armed,⌝ Paris, Aeneas,
Helenus, ⌜Troilus,⌝ and Attendants.⟩AGAMEMNON Yonder comes the troop.AENEAS 75 Hail, all the 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
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Pursue each other, or shall they be divided80 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.AGAMEMNON ’Tis done like Hector.⌜ACHILLES⌝ 85 But securely done, A little proudly, and great deal misprizing The knight opposed.AENEAS If not Achilles, sir, What is your name?ACHILLES 90 If not Achilles, nothing.AENEAS Therefore Achilles. But whate’er, know this: In the extremity of great and little, Valor and pride excel themselves in Hector, The one almost as infinite as all,95 The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well, 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 seek100 This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.ACHILLES A maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.⌜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,105 So be it, either to the uttermost Or else a breath. The combatants being kin Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
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⌜Hector and Ajax enter the lists.⌝⟨ULYSSES They are opposed already.⟩AGAMEMNON What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?ULYSSES 110 The youngest son of Priam, a true knight, Not yet mature, yet matchless firm of word, Speaking ⟨in⟩ deeds, and deedless in his tongue, Not soon provoked, nor being provoked soon calmed, His heart and hand both open and both free.115 For what he has, he gives; what thinks, he shows; Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty, Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath; Manly as Hector, but more dangerous, For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes120 To tender objects, but he in heat of action 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 youth125 Even to his inches, and with private soul Did in great Ilium thus translate him to me.Alarum. ⌜The fight begins.⌝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!Trumpets cease.DIOMEDES You must no more.AENEAS Princes, enough, so please you.AJAX I am not warm yet. Let us fight again.DIOMEDES As Hector pleases.
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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 sinister145 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 borrowd’st from thy mother,150 My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax. By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms! Hector would have them fall upon him thus. Cousin, all honor to thee!⌜They embrace.⌝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 earnèd in thy death.HECTOR Not Neoptolemus so mirable—160 On whose bright crest Fame with her loud’st “Oyez” Cries “This is he”—could promise to himself A thought of added honor 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.⌜They embrace again.⌝
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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 unarmed 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.⌜Aeneas speaks to Trojans, who exit; he then
returns with Troilus.⌝ ⌜To Ajax.⌝ Give me thy hand, my cousin. 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, ⌜to Aeneas⌝ The worthiest of them tell me name by name;180 But for Achilles, my own searching eyes Shall find him by his large and portly size.AGAMEMNON Worthy all arms! As welcome as to one That would be rid of such an enemy— ⟨But that’s no welcome. Understand more clear:185 What’s past and what’s to come is strewed with husks And formless ruin of oblivion; But in this extant moment, faith and troth, Strained purely from all hollow bias-drawing, Bids thee, with most divine integrity,⟩190 From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.HECTOR I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.
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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, ⌜to Aeneas⌝ 195 Who must we answer?AENEAS The noble Menelaus.HECTOR O, you, my lord? By Mars his gauntlet, thanks! Mock not ⟨that I⟩ affect th’ 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, Laboring for destiny, make cruel way205 Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen thee, As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed, Despising many forfeits and subduments, When thou hast hung ⟨thy⟩ advanced sword i’ th’ air,210 Not letting it decline on the declined, 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 ⟨hemmed⟩ thee in,215 Like an Olympian wrestling. This have I seen. But this thy countenance, still locked 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,220 Never like thee! O, let an old man embrace thee; And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.
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AENEAS, ⌜to Hector⌝ ’Tis the old Nestor.HECTOR Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle That hast so long walked hand in hand with time.225 Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.⌜They embrace.⌝NESTOR 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’d fight with thee tomorrow.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 favor, Lord Ulysses, well. Ah, sir, there’s many a Greek and Trojan dead235 Since first I saw yourself and Diomed In Ilium, 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 Yon 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 cost245 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.
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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 name270 And make distinct the very breach whereout 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 pleasantly275 As to prenominate in nice conjecture 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,
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280 For I’ll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there, But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm, I’ll kill thee everywhere, yea, o’er and o’er.— You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag; His insolence draws folly from my lips.285 But I’ll endeavor deeds to match these words, 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.290 You may have every day enough of Hector If you have stomach. The general state, I fear, Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.HECTOR, ⌜to Achilles⌝ I pray you, let us see you in the field. We have had pelting wars since you refused295 The Grecians’ cause.ACHILLES Dost thou entreat me, Hector? Tomorrow do I meet thee, fell as death; Tonight all friends.HECTOR Thy hand upon that match.AGAMEMNON 300 First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent; There in the full convive we. Afterwards, As Hector’s leisure and your bounties shall Concur together, severally entreat him. ⟨Beat loud the taborins;⟩ let the trumpets blow,305 That this great soldier may his welcome know.⌜Flourish.⌝⌜All but Troilus and Ulysses⌝ exit.TROILUS 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 tonight,
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310 Who neither looks upon the heaven nor Earth, But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view On the fair Cressid.TROILUS Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so much, After we part from Agamemnon’s tent,315 To bring me thither?ULYSSES You shall command me, sir. ⟨As⟩ gentle tell me, of what honor was This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there That wails her absence?TROILUS 320 O sir, to such as boasting show their scars 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.They exit.
Troilus and Cressida
