The Pandarus. Is 't possible? no sooner got but lost? devil take Antenor! the young prince will go mad. plague upon Antenor! I would they had broke 's neck! Re-enter CRESSIDA. Cressida. How now! what 's the matter? who was here? Pandarus. Ah, ah! A Cressida. Why sigh you so profoundly? where 's my lord? gone! Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter? 80 Pandarus. Would I were as deep under the earth as I am above! Cressida. O the gods! what's the matter? Pandarus. Prithee, get thee in. Would thou hadst ne'er been born! I knew thou wouldst be his death. O, poor gentleman! A plague upon Antenor! Cressida. Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I beseech you, what's the matter? Pandarus. Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor. Thou must to thy father, and be gone from Troilus: 't will be his death; 't will be his bane; he cannot bear it. Cressida. O you immortal gods!-I will not go. Pandarus. Thou must. Cressida. I will not, uncle. I have forgot my father; I know no touch of consanguinity; No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me As the sweet Troilus.-O you gods divine! If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death, Do to this body what extremes you can; But the strong base and building of my love Is as the very centre of the earth, Drawing all things to it. I'll go in and weep,— Pandarus. Do, do. 92 100 Cressida. Tear my bright hair and scratch my praised cheeks, Crack my clear voice with sobs and break my heart SCENE III. The Same. Street before Pandarus's House. Enter PARIS, TROILUS, ÆNEAS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, and DIOMEDES. Paris. It is great morning, and the hour prefix'd Of her delivery to this valiant Greek Comes fast upon.-Good my brother Troilus, Tell you the lady what she is to do, And haste her to the purpose. Troilus. Walk into her house; I'll bring her to the Grecian presently: And would, as I shall pity, I could help !— [Exit. 10 [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Same. Pandarus's House. Enter PANDARUS and CRESSIDA. Pandarus. Be moderate, be moderate. Cressida. Why tell you me of moderation? The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, And violenteth in a sense as strong As that which causeth it; how can I moderate it? If I could temporize with my affection, Or brew it to a weak and colder palate, No more my grief, in such a precious loss. Pandarus. Here, here, here he comes. ΤΟ Ah, sweet ducks! Enter TROILUS. Cressida. O Troilus! Troilus! [Embracing him. Let me Pandarus. What a pair of spectacles is here! embrace too. O heart,' as the goodly saying is, O heart, heavy heart, Why sigh'st thou without breaking?' where he answers again, 'Because thou canst not ease thy smart By friendship nor by speaking.' 20 There was never a truer rhyme. Let us cast away nothing, for we may live to have need of such a verse; we see it, we see it. How now, lambs? Troilus. Cressid, I love thee in so strain'd a purity, That the blest gods, as angry with my fancy, Pandarus. Ay, ay, ay, ay; 't is too plain a case. Cressida. What, and from Troilus too? Troilus. From Troy and Troilus. Is it possible? Troilus. And suddenly; where injury of chance 30 Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how; With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them, And scants us with a single famish'd kiss, Distasted with the salt of broken tears. Eneas. [Within] My lord, is the lady ready? Troilus. Hark! you are called; some say the Genius so Cries 'come' to him that instantly must die.— Bid them have patience; she shall come anon. 51 Pandarus. Where are my tears? rain, to lay this wind, or my heart will be blown up by the root. Cressida. I must then to the Grecians? Troilus. No remedy. [Exit. Cressida. A woful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks! When shall we see again? Troilus. Hear me, my love: be thou but true of heart,— Cressida. I true! how now! what wicked deem is this? Troilus. Nay, we must use expostulation kindly, For it is parting from us. I speak not be thou true,' as fearing thee, Cressida. O, you shall be expos'd, my lord, to dangers 60 Troilus. And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve. Cressida. And you this glove. When shall I see you? Troilus. I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels, To give thee nightly visitation. But yet be true. 70 Cressida. O heavens! 'be true' again! Troilus. Hear why I speak it, love: The Grecian youths are full of quality; They're loving, well compos'd with gifts of nature, How novelty may move, and parts with person, Alas, a kind of godly jealousy Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin Makes me afeard. Cressida. O heavens! you love me not. Troilus. Die I a villain, then! In this I do not call your faith in question So mainly as my merit. I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk, Nor play at subtle games; fair virtues all, To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant: But I can tell that in each grace of these There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive devil That tempts most cunningly; but be not tempted. Troilus. No. But something may be done that we will not; 80 90 Come, kiss; and let us part. Paris. [Within] Brother Troilus! Good brother, come you hither; And bring Æneas 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 craft for great opinion, I with great truth catch mere simplicity; Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns, 100 |