Enter Thersites. Ther. A wonder! And I myself see not the bottom of it. Ther. Ajax goes up and down the field, asking clear again, that I might water an ass at it! I had for himself. rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance. [Exit Achil. How so? Ther. He must fight singly to-morrow with Hector; and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling, that he raves in saying nothing. Achil. How can that be? Ther. Why, he stalks up and down like a pea ACT IV. Eneas and Servant, with a torch; at the other, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes, and oth ers, with torches. cock, a stride and a stand: ruminates, like a host-SCENE I.-Trov. A street. Enter, at one side, ess, that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set down her reckoning: bites his lip with a politic regard, as who should say-there were wit in this head, an 'twould out; and so there is; but it lies: as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i'the combat, he'll break it himself in vain-glory. He knows not me: I said, Good-morrow, Ajax; and he replies, Thanks, Agamemnon. What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? He is grown a very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Achil. Thou must be my ambassador to him, Thersites. Ther. Who, I? why, he'll answer nobody; he professes not answering; speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue in his arms. I will put on his presence; let Patroclus make demands to me, you shall see the pageant of Ajax. Acnil. To him, Patroclus: Tell him,-I humbly desire the valiant Ajax, to invite the most valorous Hector to come unarmed to my tent; and to procure safe conduct for his person, of the magnanimous, and most illustrious, six-or-seven-times-honoured captain-general of the Grecian army, Agamemnon. Do this. Patr. Jove bless great Ajax. Patr. I come from the worthy Achilles,- Pat. Who most humbly desires you, to invite Ther. Humph! Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Aga Patr. Your answer, sir. Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart. Achil. Why, but he is not in his tune, is he? Ther. No, but he's out o'tune thus. What music will be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains, I know not: But, I am sure, none; unless the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings' on. Achil. Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight. Ther. Let me bear another to his horse; for that's the more capable creature. Achil. My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirr'd; 1) Lute-strings made of catgut. (2) Intelligent. Par. See, ho! who's that there? Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand: Æne. Health to you, valiant sir, Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces. Ene. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly Dio. We do; and long to know each other worse. Par. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting, The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.What business, lord, so early? Ene. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not. Par. His purpose meets you; 'Twas to bring To Calchas' house; and there to render him, The bitter disposition of the time (3) Conversation. Ene. Good morrow, all. Exit. -Here, you maid! where's my cousin Cressid? Cres. Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle! Par. And tell me, noble Diomed; 'faith, tell me true, Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,- Dio. Both alike: He merits well to have her, that doth seek her Par. You are too bitter to your country woman. For every false drop in her bawdy veins A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple A Trojan hath been slain: since she could speak, Par. Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do, Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy: But we in silence hold this virtue well,We'll not commend what we intend to sell. Here lies our way. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Court before the house of Pandarus. Enter Troilus and Cressida. Tro. Dear, trouble not yourself; the morn is cold. Pan. Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! a poor capocchia 4-hast not slept to-night? would he not, a naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him! [Knocking. Cres. Did I not tell you?-Would he were knock'd o'the head! Who's that at door? good uncle, go and see.- Cres. Come, you are deceiv'd, I think of no such thing.[Knocking. How earnestly they knock!-pray you, come in; I would not for half Troy have you seen here. [Exeunt Troilus and Cressida. Pan. [Going to the door.] Who's there? what's the matter? will you beat down the door? How now? what's the matter? Enter Æneas. Ene. Good morrow, lord, good morrow. Pan. Who's there? my lord Eneas? By my troth, I knew you not; what news with you so early? Ene. Is not prince Troilus here! It Pan. Here! what should he do here? Ene. Come, he is here, my lord, do not deny him; doth import him much, to speak with me. Pan. Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know, Cres. Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine uncle'll be sworn :-For my own part, I came in late: down; He shall unbolt the gates. Tro. Trouble him not; To bed, to bed: Sleep kill those pretty eyes, Tro. Pr'ythee now, to bed. Good morrow then. Are you a-weary of me? Tro. O Cressida! but that the busy day, Wak'd by the lark, hath rous'd the ribald crows, And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer, I would not from thee. Cres. Night hath been too brief. Tro. Beshrew the witch! with venomous wights she stays, What should he do here? Ene. Who!-nay, then : Come, come, you'll do him wrong ere you are 'ware: You'll be so true to him, to be false to him: Do not you know of him, yet go fetch him hither; Go. As Pandarus is going out, enter Troilus. Tro. How now? what's the matter? Ene. My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so rash: There is at hand Paris your brother, and Deiphobus, The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor Deliver'd to us; and for him forthwith, Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour, We must give up to Diomedes' hand The lady Cressida. [Exeunt Troilus and Æneas. Pan. Is't possible? no sooner got, but lost? The devil take Antenor! the young prince will go mad. Pan. How now, how now? how go maiden- A plague upon Antenor: I would, they had broke' I shall have such a life, Enter Cressida. Cres. O Troilus! Troilus. [Embracing him. Part. What a pair of spectacies is here! Let Cres. How now? What is the matter? Who me embrace too: O heart!-as the goodly saying was here? Pan. Ah, ah' Cres. Why sigh you so profoundly? where's Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter? Cres. O the gods!-what's the matter? Pan. Pr'ythee, get thee in; 'Would thou hadst ne'er been born! I knew, thou would'st be his death:-0 poor gentleman!-A plague upon An tenor? Cres. Good uncle, I beseech you on my knees, I beseech you, what's the matter? Pan. Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor: thou must to thy father, and be gone from Troilus; 'twill be his death; 'twill be his bane; he cannot bear it. Cres. O you immortal gods!-I will not go. Cres. I will not, uncle: I have forgot my father; Cres. Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praised cheeks, is, o heart, o heavy heart, where he answers again, Because thou canst not ease thy smart, There never was a truer rhyme. Let us cast away Pan. Ay, ay, ay, ay; 'tis too plain a case. Cres. What, and from Troilus too! Our lock'd embrasures, strangles our dear vows Even in the birth of our own labouring breath: We two, that with so many thousand sighs Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves With the rude brevity and discharge of one. Injurious time now, with a robber's haste, Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how As many farewells as be stars in heaven, With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy. With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to their. [Exeunt. He fumbles up into a loose adieu; SCENE III.-The same. Before Pandarus' And scants us with a single famish'd kiss, house. Enter Paris, Troilus, Eneas, Deipho-Distasted with the salt of broken' tears. bus, Antenor, and Diomedes. Par. It is great morning; and the hour prefix'd And haste her to the purpose. Tro. Walk in to her house; I'll bring her to the Grecian presently: And to his hand when I deliver her, Think it an altar; and thy brother Troilus A priest, there offering to it his own heart. [Exit. Par. I know what 'tis to love; And 'would, as I shall pity, I could help!- [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A room in Pandarus' house. Enter Pandarus and Cressida. Pan. Be moderate, be moderate. Cres. Why tell you me of moderation? The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, And violenteth in a sense as strong Ene. [Within.] My lord! is the lady ready? Tro. Nay, we must use expostulation kindly, I speak not, be thou true, as fearing thee; As that which causeth it: How can I moderate it? But be thou true, say I, to fashion in My sequents protestation; be thou true, Cres. O, you shall be expos'd, my lord, to dangers Tro. And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear Cres. And you this glove. When shall see you? To give thee nightly visitation. But yet, be true. O heavens !-be true again? Tro. Hear why I speak it, love; The Grecian youths are full of quality;' I'll answer to my lust: And know you, lord, Tro. Come, to the port.-I'll tell thee, Diomed, They're loving, well compos'd, with gifts of nature This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head. flowing, And swelling o'er with arts and exercise; How novelty may move, and parts with person, Alas, a kind of godly jealously (Which I beseech you, call a virtuous sin,) Makes me afeard. Cres. O heavens! you love me not. In this I do not call your faith in question, To which the Grecians are most prompt and preg nant: With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare. Enter Æneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and Welcome, sir Diomed! here is the lady, Dio. Fair lady Cressid, So please you, save the thanks this prince expects : You shall be mistress, and command him wholly. I charge thee, use her well, even for my charge; Dio. O, be not mov'd, prince Troilus: Let me be privileg'd by my place, and message, To be a speaker free; when I am hence, (1) Highly accomplished. (4) Inform. (3) Gate. (2) A dance. Lady, give me your hand; and, as we walk, To our own selves bend we our needful talk. [Exeunt Troilus, Cressida, and Diomed [Trumpet heare Par. Hark! Hector's trumpet. Æne. How have we spent this morning The prince must think me tardy and remiss, That swore to ride before him to the field. Par. 'Tis Troilus' fault: Come, come, to field with him. Dei. Let us make ready straight. Ene. Yea, with a bridegroom's fresh alacrity, Let us address to tend on Hector's heels The glory of our Troy doth this day lie, On his fair worth and single chivalry. Lists set out. SCENE Y.-The Grecian camp. Enter Ajax armed; Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, and others. Agam. Here art thou in appointments fresh and fair, Anticipating time with starting courage. Ajax. Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood; Thou blow'st for Hector. Cyss. No trumpet answers. [Trumpet sounds 'Tis but early days. Agam. Is not yon Diomed, with Calchas' daughter? He rises on the toe: that spirit of his In aspiration lifts him from the earth, Enter Diomed, with Cressida. Agam. Is this the lady Cressid? Dio. Agam. Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady. Even sne. Nest. Our general doth salute you with a kiss Twere better she were kiss'd in general. Achil. I'll take that winter from your lips, fair lady: Achilles bids you welcome. Men. I had good argument for kissing once. Patr. But that's no argument for kissing now: For thus popp'd Paris in his hardiment; And parted thus you and your argument. Ulyss. O deadly gall and theme of all o scorns! For wnich we lose our heads, to gild his horns. Men. Ulyss. Cres. I do desire it. Why, beg then. O, these encounters, so glib of tongue, [Trumpet within. Yonder comes the troop. Re-enter Diomed. Stand by our Ajax: as you and lord Æneas Ulyss. The youngest son of Priam, a true knight; Agam. They are in action. Tro. Hector, thou sleep'st; [Trumpets cease. Dio. You must no more. Hect. Why then, will I no more :Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, The obligation of our blood forbids A cousin-german to great Priam's seed; Were thy commixion Greek and Trojan so, A gory emulation 'twixt us twain: That thou could'st 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 sinister10 Bounds-in my father's; by Jove's multipotent, Thou should'st not bear from me a Greekish member of our rank feud: But the just gods gainsay, Wherein my sword had not impressure made That any drop thou borrow'st from thy mother, My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax : By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms; Cousin, all honour to thee! Hector would have them fall upon him thus: Ajar. 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. Hect. Not Neoptolemus12 so mirable (On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st O yes Cries, This is he,) could promise to himself A thought of added honour torn from Hector. Ene. There is expectance here from both the What further you will do. sides, (7) Explain his character. (9) Right. (11) Title. (8) Bloody. (10) Left, (12) Achilles. |