PROLOGUE. N Troy, there lies the fcene: from Ifles of Greece With wanton Paris fleeps; and That's the Quarrel. And the deep-drawing Barks do there difgorge (1) -Priam's fix-gated City Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Trojan, And Antenoridan, with maffy Staples And correfponfive and fulfilling bolts Stir up the Sons of Troy.] This has been a most miserably mangled Paffage, through all the Editions: corrupted at once into falfe Concord, and falfe Reasoning. Priam's fix-gated City fiirre up the Sons of Troy ?-----Here's a Verb plural governed of a Nominative fingular. But that is eafily remedied. The next Queftion to be asked, is, In what Sense a City having fix ftrong Gates, and those well barred and bolted, can be faid to ftir up its Inhabitants? unless they may be fuppofed to derive fome Spirit from the Strength of their Fortifications. But this could not be the Poet's Thought. He muft mean, I take it, that the Greeks had pitched their Tents upon the Plains before Troy; and that the Trojans were fecurely barricaded within the Walls and Gates of their City. This Senfe my Correction reftores. To sperre, or fpar, from the old Teutonic Word, (SPERREN) fignifies, to fut up, defend by Bars, &c, And And correfponfive and fulfilling bolts, Now expectation tickling skittish spirits To tell you, (fair Beholders) that our Play Like, or find fault, -de, as your pleafures are; Helen, Wife to Menelaus, in love with Paris. Caffandra, Daughter to Priam, a Prophetefs.. Alexander, Creffida's Man. Boy, Page to Troilus. Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other Attendants. SCENE, Troy; and the Grecian Camp before it. TROILUS TROILUS and CRESSIDA. C ACT I. SCENE, the Palace in Troy. TROILUS. ALL here my varlet; I'll unarm again. Pan. Will this geer ne'er be mended? Troi. The Greeks are ftrong, and skilful to their ftrength, Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercenefs valiant. But I am weaker than a woman's tear, Tamer than fleep, fonder than ignorance; Lefs valiant than the virgin in the night, And skill-lefs as unpractis'd infancy. Pan. Well, I have told you enough of this: for my part, I'll not meddle nor make any farther. He, that will have a cake out of the wheat, must needs tarry the grinding. Troi. Have I not tarried? Pan. Ay, the grinding, but you must tarry the boulting. 04. Troi. Troi. Have I not tarried? Pan. Ay, the boulting; but you must tarry the leav'ning. Troi. Still have I tarried. Pan. Ay, to the leav'ning; but here's yet in the word hereafter, the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking, nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips. Troi. Patience herfelf, what Goddess e'er fhe be, Doth leffer blench at fufferance, than I do. At Priam's royal table do I fit, And when fair Crefida comes into my thoughts, Troi. I was about to tell thee, when my heart, But forrow, that is couch'd in feeming gladness, Pan. An her hair were not fomewhat darker than Helen's-well,go to, there were no more comparison between the women. But, for my part, fhe is my kinfwoman; I would not (as they term it) praise her- but I would, fomebody had heard her talk yesterday, as I did: I will not difpraise your fifter Cassandra's wit, but Troi. O Pandarus! I teli thee, Pandarus When I do tell thee, there my hopes lie drown'd, They lie indrench'd. I tell thee, I am mad Her eyes, her hair, her cheek, her gate, her voice; Writing their own reproach) to whofe foft feizure (As, |