women Cressids, and all brokers-between Pan-[[So do each lord; and either greet him not, dars say, Amen. Tro. Amen. Cres. Amen. Pan. Amen. Whereupon I will show you at chamber and a bed, which bed, because it shall not speak of your pretty encounters, press it to death away. And Cupid grant all tongue-tied maidens here, Bed, chamber, Pandar, to provide this geer! [Exeunt. SCENE III-The Grecian camp. Enter Agamemnon, Ulysses, Diomedes, Nestor, Ajax, Menelaus, and Calchas. Cal. Now, princes, for the service I have done you, The advantage of the time prompts me aloud make demand. my behalf. Cal. You have a Trojan prisoner, call'd Antenor, Yesterday took; Troy holds him very dear. Oft have you (often have you thanks therefore,) Desir'd my Cressid in right great exchange, Whom Troy hath still denied: But this Antenor, I know, is such a wrest in their affairs, That their negotiations all must slack, Wanting his manage; and they will almost Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam, In change of him: let him be sent, great princes, And he shall buy my daughter; and her presence Shall quite strike off all service I have done, In most accepted pain. Agam. Let Diomedes bear him, And bring us Cressid hither; Calchas shall have What he requests of us.-Good Diomed, Furnish you fairly for this interchange: Withal, bring word-if Hector will to-morrow Be answer'd in his challenge: Ajax is ready. Dio. This shall I undertake; and 'tis a burden Which I am proud to bear. [Exe. Dio. and Cal. Enter Achilles and Patroclus, before their tent. Ulyss. Achilles stands i'the entrance of his tent : Please it our general to pass strangely2 by him, I will come last: 'Tis like, he'll question me, Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more Than if not look'd on. I will lead the way. Achil. What, comes the general to speak with me? You know my mind, I'll fight no more 'gainst Troy. Agam. What says Achilles? would he aught with us? Nest. Would you, my lord, aught with the general? to bend, To send their smiles before them to Achilles; Achil. What, am I poor of late? Hath any honour; but honour for those honours Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, Ulyss. Now, great Thetis' son? Achil. Why such unplausive eyes are bent, why turn'd on The bearer knows not, but commends itself If so, him: I have derision med'cinable, To use between your strangeness and his pride, (1) An instrument for tuning harps, &c. To others' eyes; nor doth the eye Till it hath travell'd, and is married there It is familiar; but at the author's drift: Who, in his circumstance,1 expressly proves- The present eye praises the present object: The voice again; or like a gate of steel Heavens, what a man is there! a very horse; there are, Most abject in regard, and dear in use! What things again most dear in the esteem, And poor in worth! Now shall we see to-morrow, Ajax renown'd. O heavens, what some men do,The providence that's in a watchful state, How some men creep in skittish fortune's hall, To see these Grecian lords!-Why, even already Achil. I do believe it: for they pass'd by me, Knows almost every grain of Plutus' gold; Those scraps are good deeds past: which are de- Great Hector's sister did Achilles win; vour'd As fast as they are made, forgot as soon In monumental mockery. Take the instant way; Or, like a gallant horse fallen in first rank, But our great Ajax bravely beat down him. [Exit. Patr. To this effect, Achilles, have I mov'd you: Achil. Shall Ajax fight with Hector? Achil. I see, my reputation is at stake; Patr. O, then beware; fly,Those wounds heal ill, that men do give themselves: Omission to do what is necessary That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand; seek Remuneration for the thing it was; High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service, Seals a commission to a blank of danger; Achil. Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus: One touch of nature makes the whole world (1) Detail of argument. (2) New-fashioned toys. 's longing, To see great Hector in his weeds of peace; (3) The descent of the deities to combat on ei ther side. Enter Thersites. Ther. A wonder! Achil. What? 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 rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance. for himself. 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? T'her. Why, he stalks up and down like a pea ACT IV. [Exit. cock, a stride and a stand: ruminates, like a host-SCENE I-Troy. A street. Enter, at one side, Eneas and Servant, with a torch; at the other, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes, and others, with torches. Par. See, ho! who's that there? Dei. 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 'Tis the lord Æneas. show without knocking. The man's undone for ne. Is the prince there in person?— ever; for if Hector break not his neck i'the com-Had I so good occasion to lie long, bat, he'll break it himself in vain-glory. He knows As you, prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business not me: I said, Good-morrow, Ajax; and he re- Should rob my bed-mate of my company. plies, Thanks, Agamemnon. What think you of Dio. That's my mind too.-Good morrow, lord this man, that takes me for the general? He is Æneas. 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. Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand. Ene. Health to you, valiant sir, Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces. Achil. To him, Patroclus: Tell him,-I humbly cure safe conduct for his person, of the magnani- ne. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly mous, and most illustrious, six-or-seven-times-hon-With his face backward.-In humane gentleness, oured captain-general of the Grecian army, Aga- Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life, memnon. Do this. Patr. Jove bless great Ajax. Ther. Humph! Patr. I come from the worthy Achilles, Ther. Ha! Welcome, indeed! By Venus' hand I swear, Patr. Who most humbly desires you, to invite A thousand complete courses of the sun! Ther. Humph! Patr. And to procure safe conduct from Aga memnon. Ther. Agamemnon? Patr. Ay, my lord. Ther. Ha! To Calchas' house; and there to render him, Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart. Achil. Why, but he is not in this 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; un-Rouse him, and give him note of our approach, less the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make cat- With the whole quality wherefore: I fear, lings1 on. We shall be much unwelcome. 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. Ene. Par. He merits well to have her, that doth seek her Par. You are too bitter to your countrywoman. For every false drop in her bawdy veins Par Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do, [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. Court before the house of Pandarus. Enter Troilus and Cressida. Tro. Dear, trouble not yourself; the morn is cold. Cres. Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine uncle down; He shall unbolt the gates. Tro. Trouble him not; To bed, to bed: Sleep kill those pretty eyes, And give as soft attachment to thy senses, Cres. Tro. Pr'ythee now, to bed. Cres. 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. she stays, As tediously as hell; but flies the grasps of love, You men will never tarry. Pr'ythee, tarry;— Enter Pandarus. Cres. A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking: I shall have such a life, You bring me to do,2 and then you flout me too. Pan. To do what? to do what?-let her say what: what have I brought you to do? Cres. Come, come; beshrew3 your heart! you'll ne'er be good, Nor suffer others. 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 Æneas? By my troth, I knew you not: what news with you so early? Ene. Is not prince Troilus here? Pan. Here! what should he do here? Ene. Come, he is here, my lord, do not deny him; It doth import him much, to speak with me. I'll be sworn :-For my own part, I came in late: Pan. Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know, What should he do here? Ene. Who-nay, then : Come, come, you'll do him wrong ere you are 'ware: As Pandarus is going out, enter Troilus. My matter is so rash :5 There is at hand Tro. Tro. How my achievements mock me! I will go meet them: and, my lord Æneas, ture Have not more gift in taciturnity. [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's 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; cheeks, Cres. O Troilus! Troilus! [Embracing him. Pan. What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me embrace too: O heart!-as the goodly saying is, o heart, o heavy heart, Why sigh'st thou without breaking? where he answers again, Because thou canst not ease thy smart, By friendship, nor by speaking. Pan. Ay, ay, ay, ay; 'tis too plain a case. Cres. What, and from Troilus too? Is it possible? Tro. And suddenly; where injury of chance Our lock'd embrasures, strangles our dear vows Even in the birth of our own labouring breath: Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves We two, that with so many thousand sighs Cres. Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praised Injurious time now, with a robber's haste, With the rude brevity and discharge of one. Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how: With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy. With distinct breath and consign'd2 kisses to them, As many farewells as be stars in heaven, [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. Before Pandarus' And scants us with a single famish'd kiss, He fumbles up into a loose adieu; house. Enter Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Deipho-Distasted with the salt of broken3 tears. bus, Antenor, and Diomedes. Par. It is great morning; and the hour prefix'd Tro. Ene. [Within.] My lord! is the lady ready? Cries, Come! to him that instantly must die.- I'll bring her to the Grecian presently: And 'would, as I shall pity, I could help!-- [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A room in Pandarus' [Exit Pandarus. Cres. I must then to the Greeks? Cres. A woful Cressid 'mongst the No remedy. merry Greeks? Tro. Hear me, my love: Be thou but true of heart, Cres. I true! how now? what wicked deem1 is this? 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 If I could temporize with my affection, Enter Troilus. Pan. Here, here, here he comes.-Ah, sweet ducks! (1) Sense or feeling of relationship. (2) Sealed. |