Act I, Scene III — The Grecian camp. Before Agamemnon's tent.
Sennet. Enter AGAMEMNON, NESTOR, ULYSSES, MENELAUS, with others.[1084]
Agam. Princes,[1085] What grief hath set the jaundice on your cheeks?[1086] The ample proposition that hope makes[1087] In all designs begun on earth below Fails in the promised largeness: checks and disasters 5 Grow in the veins of actions highest rear'd, As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap, Infect the sound pine and divert his grain[1088] Tortive and errant from his course of growth. Nor, princes, is it matter new to us 10 That we come short of our suppose so far That after seven years' siege yet Troy walls stand; Sith every action that hath gone before,[1089] Whereof we have record, trial did draw Bias and thwart, not answering the aim 15 And that unbodied figure of the thought That gave't surmised shape. Why then, you princes, Do you with checks abash'd behold our works,[1090] And call them shames? which are indeed nought else[1091] But the protractive trials of great Jove 20 To find persistive constancy in men: The fineness of which metal is not found In fortune's love; for then the bold and coward, The wise and fool, the artist and unread, The hard and soft, seem all affined and kin: 25 But in the wind and tempest of her frown, Distinction with a broad and powerful fan[1092] Puffing at all winnows the light away, And what hath mass or matter, by itself[1093] Lies rich in virtue and unmingled. 30
Nest. With due observance of thy godlike seat,[1094] Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply[1095] Thy latest words. In the reproof of chance[1096] Lies the true proof of men: the sea being smooth, How many shallow bauble boats dare sail 35 Upon her patient breast, making their way[1097] With those of nobler bulk![1098] But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage The gentle Thetis, and anon behold The strong-ribb'd bark through liquid mountains cut,[1099] 40 Bounding between the two moist elements, Like Perseus' horse: where's then the saucy boat, Whose weak untimber'd sides but even now Co-rivall'd greatness? either to harbour fled, Or made a toast for Neptune. Even so[1100] 45 Doth valour's show and valour's worth divide In storms of fortune: for in her ray and brightness[1101] The herd hath more annoyance by the breese[1102] Than by the tiger; but when the splitting wind[1103] Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks,[1103] 50 And flies fled under shade, why then the thing of courage[1104] As roused with rage with rage doth sympathize, And with an accent tuned in selfsame key[1105] Retorts to chiding fortune.[1106]
Ulyss. Agamemnon, Thou great commander, nerve and bone of Greece,[1107] 55 Heart of our numbers, soul and only spirit,[1108] In whom the tempers and the minds of all Should be shut up, hear what Ulysses speaks. Besides the applause and approbation The which, [To Agamemnon] most mighty for thy place and sway,[1109] 60 [To Nestor] And thou most reverend for thy stretch'd-out life,[1110] I give to both your speeches, which were such As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece[1111] Should hold up high in brass, and such again As venerable Nestor, hatch'd in silver,[1112] 65 Should with a bond of air, strong as the axletree[1112] On which heaven rides, knit all the Greekish ears[1113] To his experienced tongue, yet let it please both,[1114] Thou great, and wise, to hear Ulysses speak.[1115]
Agam. Speak, Prince of Ithaca; and be't of less expect[1116][1117] 70 That matter needless, of importless burthen,[1116] Divide thy lips, than we are confident,[1116][1118] When rank Thersites opes his mastic jaws,[1116][1119] We shall hear music, wit and oracle.[1116]
Ulyss. Troy, yet upon his basis, had been down,[1116][1120] 75 And the great Hector's sword had lack'd a master, But for these instances.[1121] The specialty of rule hath been neglected: And, look, how many Grecian tents do stand[1122] Hollow upon this plain, so many hollow factions.[1122][1123] 80 When that the general is not like the hive[1124] To whom the foragers shall all repair,[1125] What honey is expected? Degree being vizarded, The unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask.[1126] The heavens themselves, the planets and this centre, 85 Observe degree, priority and place, Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,[1127] Office and custom, in all line of order: And therefore is the glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthroned and sphered 90 Amidst the other; whose medicinable eye[1128] Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil,[1129] And posts like the commandment of a king, Sans check to good and bad: but when the planets In evil mixture to disorder wander, 95 What plagues and what portents, what mutiny, What raging of the sea, shaking of earth, Commotion in the winds, frights, changes, horrors, Divert and crack, rend and deracinate The unity and married calm of states[1130] 100 Quite from their fixure! O, when degree is shaked,[1131] Which is the ladder to all high designs,[1132] The enterprise is sick! How could communities,[1133] Degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities, Peaceful commerce from dividable shores, 105 The primogenitive and due of birth,[1134] Prerogative of age, crowns, sceptres, laurels, But by degree, stand in authentic place? Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows! each thing meets[1135] 110 In mere oppugnancy: the bounded waters Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores,[1136] And make a sop of all this solid globe: Strength should be lord of imbecility,[1137] And the rude son should strike his father dead:[1137] 115 Force should be right; or rather, right and wrong,[1137] Between whose endless jar justice resides,[1138] Should lose their names, and so should justice too.[1136][1137][1139] Then every thing includes itself in power,[1140] Power into will, will into appetite; 120 And appetite, an universal wolf, So doubly seconded with will and power, Must make perforce an universal prey, And last eat up himself. Great Agamemnon,[1141] This chaos, when degree is suffocate, 125 Follows the choking.[1142] And this neglection of degree it is[1143] That by a pace goes backward, with a purpose[1144][1145] It hath to climb. The general's disdain'd[1144] By him one step below; he by the next; 130 That next by him beneath: so every step, Exampled by the first pace that is sick Of his superior, grows to an envious fever Of pale and bloodless emulation: And 'tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot, 135 Not her own sinews. To end a tale of length, Troy in our weakness stands, not in her strength.[1146]
Nest. Most wisely hath Ulysses here discover'd The fever whereof all our power is sick.
Agam. The nature of the sickness found, Ulysses, 140 What is the remedy?
Ulyss. The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns The sinew and the forehand of our host,[1147] Having his ear full of his airy fame, Grows dainty of his worth, and in his tent 145 Lies mocking our designs: with him, Patroclus, Upon a lazy bed, the livelong day Breaks scurril jests;[1148] And with ridiculous and awkward action,[1149] Which, slanderer, he imitation calls, 150 He pageants us. Sometime, great Agamemnon,[1150] Thy topless deputation he puts on;[1151] And, like a strutting player, whose conceit Lies in his hamstring, and doth think it rich To hear the wooden dialogue and sound 155 'Twixt his stretch'd footing and the scaffoldage,[1152] Such to-be-pitied and o'er-wrested seeming[1153] He acts thy greatness in: and when he speaks, 'Tis like a chime a-mending; with terms unsquared,[1154] Which, from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropp'd, 160 Would seem hyperboles. At this fusty stuff,[1155] The large Achilles, on his press'd bed lolling,[1156] From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause; Cries 'Excellent! 'tis Agamemnon just.[1157] Now play me Nestor; hem, and stroke thy beard,[1158] 165 As he being dress'd to some oration.'[1159] That's done; as near as the extremest ends Of parallels, as like as Vulcan and his wife:[1160] Yet god Achilles still cries 'Excellent![1161] 'Tis Nestor right. Now play him me, Patroclus, 170 Arming to answer in a night alarm.' And then, forsooth, the faint defects of age Must be the scene of mirth; to cough and spit. And, with a palsy fumbling on his gorget,[1162] Shake in and out the rivet: and at this sport[1163] 175 Sir Valour dies; cries 'O, enough, Patroclus; Or give me ribs of steel! I shall split all[1164] In pleasure of my spleen.' And in this fashion, All our abilities, gifts, natures, shapes, Severals and generals of grace exact,[1165] 180 Achievements, plots, orders, preventions, Excitements to the field or speech for truce, Success or loss, what is or is not, serves As stuff for these two to make paradoxes.[1166]
Nest. And in the imitation of these twain, 185 Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns[1167] With an imperial voice, many are infect. Ajax is grown self-will'd and bears his head In such a rein, in full as proud a place[1168] As broad Achilles; keeps his tent like him;[1169] 190 Makes factious feasts; rails on our state of war Bold as an oracle, and sets Thersites, A slave whose gall coins slanders like a mint, To match us in comparisons with dirt, To weaken and discredit our exposure,[1170] 195 How rank soever rounded in with danger.[1171]
Ulyss. They tax our policy and call it cowardice, Count wisdom as no member of the war, Forestall prescience and esteem no act[1172] But that of hand: the still and mental parts 200 That do contrive how many hands shall strike When fitness calls them on, and know by measure[1173][1174] Of their observant toil the enemies' weight--[1173][1175] Why, this hath not a finger's dignity: They call this bed-work, mappery, closet-war;[1176] 205 So that the ram that batters down the wall, For the great swing and rudeness of his poise, They place before his hand that made the engine, Or those that with the fineness of their souls[1177] By reason guide his execution.[1178] 210
Nest. Let this be granted, and Achilles' horse Makes many Thetis' sons. [Tucket.[1179]
Agam. What trumpet? look, Menelaus.[1180]
Men. From Troy.
Enter ÆNEAS.[1181]
Agam. What would you 'fore our tent? 215
Æne. Is this great Agamemnon's tent, I pray you?
Agam. Even this.
Æne. May one that is a herald and a prince Do a fair message to his kingly ears?[1182]
Agam. With surety stronger than Achilles' arm[1183] 220 'Fore all the Greekish heads, which with one voice Call Agamemnon head and general.
Æne. Fair leave and large security. How may A stranger to those most imperial looks Know them from eyes of other mortals?
Agam. How! 225
Æne. Ay:[1184] I ask, that I might waken reverence, And bid the cheek be ready with a blush[1185] Modest as morning when she coldly eyes[1186] The youthful Phœbus:[1186] 230 Which is that god in office, guiding men?[1187] Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?
Agam. This Trojan scorns us; or the men of Troy Are ceremonious courtiers.
Æne. Courtiers as free, as debonair, unarm'd, 235 As bending angels; that's their fame in peace:[1188] But when they would seem soldiers, they have galls, Good arms, strong joints, true swords; and, Jove's accord,[1189][1190] Nothing so full of heart. But peace, Æneas,[1189] Peace, Trojan; lay thy finger on thy lips! 240 The worthiness of praise distains his worth, If that the praised himself bring the praise forth:[1191] But what the repining enemy commends,[1192] That breath fame blows; that praise, sole pure, transcends.[1193]
Agam. Sir, you of Troy, call you yourself Æneas? 245
Æne. Ay, Greek, that is my name.
Agam. What's your affair, I pray you?[1194]
Æne. Sir, pardon; 'tis for Agamemnon's ears.
Agam. He hears nought privately that comes from Troy.[1195]
Æne. Nor I from Troy come not to whisper him:[1196] 250 I bring a trumpet to awake his ear, To set his sense on the attentive bent,[1197] And then to speak.
Agam. Speak frankly as the wind; It is not Agamemnon's sleeping hour: That thou shalt know, Trojan, he is awake, 255 He tells thee so himself.
Æne. Trumpet, blow loud,[1198] Send thy brass voice through all these lazy tents; And every Greek of mettle, let him know, What Troy means fairly shall be spoke aloud.
[Trumpet sounds.[1199]
We have, great Agamemnon, here in Troy 260 A prince call'd Hector--Priam is his father-- Who in this dull and long-continued truce[1200] Is rusty grown: he bade me take a trumpet,[1201] And to this purpose speak. Kings, princes, lords! If there be one among the fair'st of Greece, 265 That holds his honour higher than his ease, That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril,[1202] That knows his valour and knows not his fear, That loves his mistress more than in confession[1203] With truant vows to her own lips he loves, 270 And dare avow her beauty and her worth[1204] In other arms than hers--to him this challenge. Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks, Shall make it good, or do his best to do it,[1205] He hath a lady, wiser, fairer, truer,[1205] 275 Than ever Greek did compass in his arms;[1206] And will to-morrow with his trumpet call Midway between your tents and walls of Troy, To rouse a Grecian that is true in love: If any come, Hector shall honour him; 280 If none, he'll say in Troy when he retires, The Grecian dames are sunburnt and not worth The splinter of a lance. Even so much.
Agam. This shall be told our lovers, Lord Æneas: If none of them have soul in such a kind, 285 We left them all at home: but we are soldiers;[1207] And may that soldier a mere recreant prove, That means not, hath not, or is not in love! If then one is, or hath, or means to be,[1208] That one meets Hector; if none else, I am he.[1209] 290
Nest. Tell him of Nestor, one that was a man When Hector's grandsire suck'd: he is old now; But if there be not in our Grecian host[1210] One noble man that hath one spark of fire,[1211] To answer for his love, tell him from me 295 I'll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver And in my vantbrace put this wither'd brawn,[1212] And meeting him will tell him that my lady[1213] Was fairer than his grandam and as chaste As may be in the world: his youth in flood,[1214] 300 I'll prove this truth with my three drops of blood.[1215]
Æne. Now heavens forbid such scarcity of youth![1216]
Ulyss. Amen.[1217]
Agam. Fair Lord Æneas, let me touch your hand;[1218] To our pavilion shall I lead you, sir.[1219] 305 Achilles shall have word of this intent;[1220] So shall each lord of Greece, from tent to tent: Yourself shall feast with us before you go, And find the welcome of a noble foe.
[Exeunt all but Ulysses and Nestor.[1221]
Ulyss. Nestor![1222] 310
Nest. What says Ulysses?
Ulyss. I have a young conception in my brain; Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
Nest. What is't?
Ulyss. This 'tis:[1223] 315 Blunt wedges rive hard knots: the seeded pride That hath to this maturity blown up[1224] In rank Achilles must or now be cropp'd, Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil, To overbulk us all.
Nest. Well, and how?[1225] 320
Ulyss. This challenge that the gallant Hector sends, However it is spread in general name, Relates in purpose only to Achilles.
Nest. The purpose is perspicuous even as substance,[1226] Whose grossness little characters sum up:[1227] 325 And, in the publication, make no strain,[1227] But that Achilles, were his brain as barren[1228] As banks of Libya,--though, Apollo knows,[1229] 'Tis dry enough--will, with great speed of judgement,[1229] Ay, with celerity, find Hector's purpose[1230] 330 Pointing on him.[1230]
Ulyss. And wake him to the answer, think you?
Nest. Yes, 'tis most meet: who may you else oppose,[1231] That can from Hector bring his honour off,[1232] If not Achilles? Though't be a sportful combat,[1233] 335 Yet in this trial much opinion dwells;[1234] For here the Trojans taste our dear'st repute With their finest palate: and trust to me, Ulysses,[1235] Our imputation shall be oddly poised[1236] In this wild action; for the success,[1237] 340 Although particular, shall give a scantling[1238] Of good or bad unto the general; And in such indexes, although small pricks To their subsequent volumes, there is seen The baby figure of the giant mass 345 Of things to come at large. It is supposed He that meets Hector issues from our choice: And choice, being mutual act of all our souls, Makes merit her election, and doth boil, As 'twere from forth us all, a man distill'd 350 Out of our virtues; who miscarrying, What heart from hence receives the conquering part,[1239][1240] To steel a strong opinion to themselves?[1240][1241] Which entertain'd, limbs are his instruments,[1242][1243] In no less working than are swords and bows[1242] 355 Directive by the limbs.[1242]
Ulyss. Give pardon to my speech;[1244] Therefore 'tis meet Achilles meet not Hector.[1244][1245] Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares,[1244] And think, perchance, they'll sell; if not,[1244][1246] 360 The lustre of the better yet to show,[1244][1247] Shall show the better. Do not consent[1244][1248] That ever Hector and Achilles meet;[1244] For both our honour and our shame in this[1244] Are dogg'd with two strange followers.[1244] 365
Nest. I see them not with my old eyes: what are they?[1249]
Ulyss. What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,[1250] Were he not proud, we all should share with him:[1251] But he already is too insolent; And we were better parch in Afric sun[1252] 370 Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes, Should he 'scape Hector fair: if he were foil'd,[1253] Why then, we did our main opinion crush[1254] In taint of our best man. No, make a lottery; And by device let blockish Ajax draw[1255] 375 The sort to fight with Hector: among ourselves[1256] Give him allowance for the better man;[1257] For that will physic the great Myrmidon Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends. 380 If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off, We'll dress him up in voices: if he fail, Yet go we under our opinion still That we have better men. But, hit or miss, Our project's life this shape of sense assumes, 385 Ajax employ'd plucks down Achilles' plumes.
Nest. Ulysses,[1258] Now I begin to relish thy advice;[1258][1259] And I will give a taste of it forthwith[1260] To Agamemnon: go we to him straight. 390 Two curs shall tame each other: pride alone Must tarre the mastiffs on, as 'twere their bone.[1261]
[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[936] Troy. Before Priam's palace.] Capell. Troy. Rowe. The Palace in Troy. Theobald.
Enter....] Enter Troilus, arm'd; Pandarus following. Capell.
[937] Trojan] F₄. Troian F₁ F₂ F₃. Troyan Q.
[938] sleep] sheep Rann.
[939] no] any Rowe.
[940] needs] om. Q.
[941] Ay] Rowe (ed. 1). I Q Ff. Ah Rowe (ed. 2).
[942] here's] F₄. heeres F₁ F₂. heres F₃. heares Q.
[943] of the oven] the oven Q.
[944] you] yea Q.
to burn] burne Q.
[945] lesser] not less Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX).
[946] do I sit] Q F₁. I sit F₂ F₃ F₄. I do sit Rowe.
[947] Cressid] Cressida F₄.
[948] thoughts,-- ... thence?] thoughts,--So, Traitor!--When she comes? when is she thence? Rowe (ed. 2). thoughts, So traitor then she comes when she is thence. Q. thoughts, So (Traitor) then she comes, when she is thence. F₁ F₂. thoughts, ... thence-- F₃ F₄. thoughts,--So, Traitor!--When she comes, when she is thence Rowe (ed. 1).
[949] Well ... else.] Prose in Pope. Three lines, ending Well: ... looke, ... else. in Ff.
[950] thee:--when] thee,--when Capell. thee when Q. thee, when Ff.
[951] a storm] Rowe. a scorne Q. a scorne F₁ F₂. a-scorn F₃ F₄.
[952] An] Rowe (ed. 2). And Q Ff.
[953] women:] women! Q. women. Ff. women,-- Capell.
[954] praise her] Q. praise it Ff.
[955] fathoms] F₄. fadomes Q F₁ F₂ F₃.
[956] indrench'd] intrench'd Rowe.
[957] mad ... love:] mad ... love. Ff. madde: ... loue? Q.
[958] Pour'st] F₄. powr'st F₁ F₂ F₃. powrest Q.
Pour'st ... heart] Transpose to follow line 58, Barry conj.
[959] heart Her ... Handlest] heart, Her ... Handest Rowe (ed. 2). heart; Her ... gate, her voice, Handlest Pope. _heart Her ... voice; Handlest_ Theobald. heart Her ... gait; her voice Handl'st Capell.
[960] Handlest] Hand less Jackson conj.
discourse, O, that her hand,] Malone. discourse: O that her hand Q. discourse. O that her hand Ff. discourse--O that! her hand! Rowe. discourse--how white her hand! Theobald conj. discourse:--O that her hand! Capell. discourse, that her hand, Rann. discourse her hand,--O that, or discourse her hand--O, that her hand, Staunton conj.
[961] O, that ... ploughman:] Marked as a quotation by Staunton.
[962] The ... sense] And spirit of sense the cygnet's down is harsh Grant White conj.
harsh and spirit....] harsh, to th' spirit.... Hanmer. harsh (and spite of sense) Warburton. harsh, in spirit.... Capell.
[963] As] And S. Walker conj.
[964] in't] Ff. in it Q.
[965] an] Pope. and Q Ff.
[966] how now,] why, how now, Capell.
[967] on of you] Ff. of you Q.
[968] she's kin] she is kin F₃ F₄.
[969] an] Hanmer. and Q Ff.
not] om. Q.
[970] on Friday] a Friday Q.
what care I?] what I? Q.
[971] i'] in Steevens.
[972] there] there's F₃ F₄.
[Exit.] Q. Exit. Pand. Ff.
An alarum.] Sound alarum. Q Ff.
[973] Pandar] Pandarus Rowe.
[974] tetchy] Steevens (1793). teachy Q Ff.
[975] stubborn-chaste] Theobald. stubborne, chast Q Ff.
[976] resides] F₂ F₃ F₄. recides F₁. reides Q.
[977] wild] Q F₁. mild F₂ F₃ F₄.
[978] SCENE II. Pope.
How ... afield?] One line in Q. Two in Ff.
afield] F₂ F₃. a field Q F₁ F₄. i' th' field Rowe.
[979] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE III. Pope.
Enter....] Enter Cressid and her man. Q Ff. Enter Cressida, and Alexander her servant. Theobald.
[980] Alex.] Man. Q Ff (and throughout the scene). Ser. Rowe.
[981] battle] fight Pope.
[982] as] all Johnson conj.
a virtue] the Virtue Theobald (Warburton conj.) a statue Steevens conj. (withdrawn). a vulture Jackson conj.
[983] chid] Q. chides Ff.
and] om. Anon. conj.
[984] harness'd light] harnest lyte Q F₁. harnest light F₂ F₃ F₄. harness-dight Theobald. harness'd tight Dyce conj.
[985] The noise ... Greeks] As in Q. Two lines in Ff.
goes, this] goes this Q F₃ F₄. goe's this F₁ F₂. goes thus Pope.
[986] They ... alone] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Q Ff.
[987] man] A Anon. apud Rann conj.
[988] they] the Q.
[989] crushed into] crusted into Warburton. a crush unto Id. conj.
[990] sauced] farced Theobald conj.
[991] no use] of no use Hanmer.
purblind] purblinde Q. purblinded Ff. a purblind Hanmer.
[992] disdain] disdaind F₁.
[993] Enter Pandarus.] Omitted in Q.
[994] SCENE IV. Pope.
[995] Good morrow, Alexander] Omitted by Pope.
[996] Ilium] F₃ F₄. Illum Q. Illium F₁ F₂.
[997] you] Edd. yea Q F₁. ye F₂ F₃ F₄.
Ilium] F₃ F₄. Illium Q F₁ F₂.
[998] up.] F₂ F₃ F₄. up? Q F₁.
[999] Who, Troilus?] as a separate line in Ff.
[1000] Then ... Hector.] Two lines, the first ending I say, in Ff.
[1001] nor Hector] not Hector Q F₁.
degrees] degree Capell conj.
[1002] just to ... them;] just to ... them, Rowe. just, to ... them Q Ff.
[1003] were.] Q Ff. were,--Capell.
[1004] Condition] 'Condition Theobald. On condition Hanmer. --condition Capell. In his right condition! Keightley, reading were-- in line 69.
[1005] no,] Rowe (ed. 2). no? Q Ff.
a'] a Q Ff. he Rowe (ed. 2).
[1006] other's] Rowe. others Q Ff.
[1007] wit] Rowe. will Q Ff.
[1008] brown] between Anon. conj.
[1009] Paris] Paris's Hanmer.
[1010] praised] prasi'd F₁.
[1011] above, his ... is] about his complexion as Hanmer.
[1012] and] om. Hanmer.
[1013] lief] Steevens (1793). lieve Q Ff.
[1014] I ... Paris.] Two lines. The first ending you, in Ff.
[1015] lift] liste Q.
[1016] he so] he is so F₁.
[1017] valiantly] valianty Q. daintily Singer conj.
[1018] an] Pope. and Q Ff.
[1019] Troilus ... so.] Two lines, the first ending thee or the, in Ff.
[1020] the] F₂ F₃ F₄. thee Q F₁.
[1021] marvellous] Pope. maruel's Q F₁. marvel's F₂ F₃. marvell's F₄.
[1022] eyes ran] eyes run F₃. eye run F₄.
[1023] more] Ff. a more Q.
pot] por Q.
[1024] Troilus] Troilus's F₄.
[1025] An't] Pope. And t' Q F₁ F₂. And't F₃. And' F₄. And Rowe.
[1026] two] Q Ff. one Theobald.
[1027] Two] Q Ff. One Theobald.
[1028] my] the Pope.
[1029] pluck't] F₃ F₄. pluckt Q F₁ F₂.
[1030] So ... by.] Two lines, the first ending now, in Ff.
it has] Q F₃ F₄. is has F₁ F₂.
while] wile F₂.
[1031] Well ... on’t.] Two lines, the first ending cozen, in Ff.
[1032] do] does F₁.
[1033] an] Q Ff. as Hanmer.
[1034] [A retreat sounded.] Sound a retreate. Q Ff (after line 166).
[1035] toward] towards Rowe. Ilium] F₃ F₄. Ilion Q. Illium F₁ F₂.
[1036] Æneas passes.] Enter Æneas. Q Ff (and similarly for the rest).
[1037] tell] om. F₁.
[1038] Who's that] Omitted in Johnson (1771).
[1039] shrewd] shrew’d F₂ F₃ F₄. Shrow’d Q F₁.
[1040] a man] Ff. man Q.
[1041] judgements] Q. judgement Ff.
of person] of's person Capell conj. of his person Collier MS.
[1042] him] him him F₁.
[1043] rich ... more] rest ... none Hanmer. mich ... more Warburton. wretch ... more Staunton conj.
[1044] a brave] Q. brave Ff.
[1045] a'] a Q Ff. he Rowe (ed. 2).
man's] man Q.
[1046] there’s laying] thers laying Q. laying Ff.
[1047] will] ill F₁.
[1048] an] Pope. and Q Ff.
[1049] Paris passes.] Enter Paris. Q Ff (after line 198).
[1050] hurt home] home hurt Rowe.
[1051] now, ha!] now ha? Q. now, ha? Ff. now. Ha! Capell.
shall see] Q F₃ F₄. shall F₁ F₂.
[1052] indifferent well.] indifferent well, F₂ F₃ F₄. indifferent, well, Q F₁.
[1053] is] om. F₂.
[1054] note him] not him F₁.
[1055] never Q. ne're Ff.
[1056] or] and Hanmer.
[1057] O admirable man!] Omitted by Capell.
[1058] an eye] Q. money Ff. one eye Collier conj.
Common soldiers pass.] Enter common soldiers. Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1059] come] Ff. comes Q.
[1060] among] Ff. amongst Q.
[1061] such like] Q. so forth Ff.
[1062] season] Q. seasons Ff.
[1063] date is] Q. dates Ff.
[1064] a woman] Q. another woman Ff.
[1065] wiles] will Johnson conj.
[1066] my mask ... and you] upon my mask ... and upon you Collier (Collier MS.)
[1067] and at all ... at a] at all ... and at a Hanmer.
lie, at] lye at, at F₁.
[1068] too] two Q.
[1069] it's] F₁. its Q. is F₂ F₃. it is F₄.
[1070] You] Your F₂.
Enter....] Capell. Enter Boy. Q Ff (after line 255).
[1071] there ... him] Q. Omitted in Ff.
[1072] [Exit Boy.] Capell. om. Q Ff.
[1073] I will be] I wilbe Q. Ile be F₁ F₂ F₃. I'le be F₄.
[1074] uncle?] Edd. uncle: Q. unkle. Ff. _uncle--_Rowe.
[1075] [Exit Pandarus.] Ff. om. Q. Exit. Capell (after line 265).
[1076] gifts] Ff. guifts Q. griefs Reed (1803).
[1077] joy's ... doing] Q F₁. the soules joy lyes in dooing F₂ F₃ F₄.
lies] dies Mason conj. lives Seymour conj.
[1078] nought] Ff. naught Q.
[1079] got] Q F₁. goe F₂. go F₃ F₄.
[1080] Transposed in F₄.
[1081] Achievement is] Achiev'd, men us Singer (Harness conj.) Achiev'd men still Collier MS.
[1082] Then] Q. That Ff.
heart's content] hearts content Q. hearts contents F₁ F₂ F₃. hearts content's F₄. heart content's Rowe (ed. 2). heart's consent Mason conj.
[1083] [Exeunt.] Capell. Exit. Q Ff.
[1084] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope.
The Grecian....] Agamemnon's tent in the Grecian Camp. Rowe.
Sennet.] Senet. F₁. Sonet. F₂ F₃. Sonnet. F₄. om. Q. Trumpets. Rowe.
Enter ... Ulysses,] Capell. Enter ... Ulisses, Diomedes, Q Ff.
[1085] Princes] Keightley marks this as part of an imperfect line.
[1086] the] Ff. these Q. this Capell. on] Ff. ore Q.
[1087] hope makes] Q F₁. hopes makes F₂ F₃ F₄. hopes make Rowe (ed. 2).
[1088] Infect] Ff. Infects Q.
divert] Rowe. diverts Q Ff.
[1089] every] Ff. ever Q.
[1090] works] mocks Singer conj. wrecks Collier (Collier MS.)
[1091] call them shames] Q. thinke them shame Ff. think them shames Capell.
[1092] broad] Q. lowd F₁ F₂. loud F₃ F₄.
[1093] matter, by itself] Hanmer. matter by it selfe, Q Ff.
[1094] thy godlike] Theobald. the godlike Q. thy godly Ff. thy goodly Pope.
[1095] apply] supply Warburton.
[1096] Thy ... chance] One line in Q. Two in Ff.
[1097] patient] Ff. ancient Q.
[1098] nobler] Q F₁. noble F₂ F₃ F₄.
bulk!] bulk, and greater strength; Keightley.
[1099] cut] Q F₁. cut's F₂. cuts F₃ F₄.
[1100] toast] tot Becket conj. boast Halliwell conj.
[1101] In ... brightness] One line in Q. Two in Ff.
[1102] breese] bryze Q. brieze F₁. brize F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1103] the splitting wind Makes] splitting winds Make Pope.
[1104] And ... why then] And flies are fled to shade Seymour conj. And flies along the sky, while bird and beast are Fled under shade, why then Keightley.
And ... courage] One line in Q. Two, the first ending then, in Ff.
fled] get Pope. flee Capell.
[1105] tuned] turn'd Reed (1803).
[1106] Retorts] Dyce. Retires Q F₃ F₄. Retyres F₁ F₂. Returns Pope. Replies Hanmer. Re-chides Staunton (Lettsom conj.) Recries Anon. conj. Revies Anon. conj.
[1107] nerve] Ff. nerves Q.
[1108] spirit] Ff. spright Q.
[1109] [To Aga.] Rowe.
sway] Q F₁. may F₂ F₃. merit F₄.
[1110] [To Nestor] Rowe.
thy] Ff. the Q.
[1111] hand] band Johnson conj. (withdrawn).
[1112] hatch'd ... air] thatch'd ... awe Theobald conj. harp'd ... acier Jackson conj.
[1113] On] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. In F₁.
heaven rides] Q. the heavens ride Ff.
the Greekish] Q. Greekes F₁ F₂. Greeks F₃ F₄. the Grecian Pope (ed. 1). the Grecians Pope (ed. 2).]
[1114] yet] om. Capell.
let it please] please it Seymour conj.
[1115] Thou] Though Hanmer.
[1116] Agam. Speak, ... oracle. Ulyss.] Omitted in Q.
[1117] Prince of] om. Anon. conj.
and be't of] we Pope. and we Capell. and we it Keightley.
of less] less Anon. conj.
expect] Pope. expect: F₁. expect; F₂ F₃ F₄. expect, Rowe.
[1118] lips, than] lips; then F₁. lips: then F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1119] mastic] mastiff Rowe. mastive Boswell.
[1120] his] her F₄.
basis] Ff. bases Q.
[1121] instances] instances, which now I'll shew you Keightley.
[1122] do stand Hollow upon] do stand Upon Hanmer. stand hollow Upon Keightley.
[1123] hollow factions] factions Steevens conj.
[1124] is not like the] not likes the Warburton. is not lik'd o' the Capell. 's not the life of the Heath conj.
[1125] whom] which Hanmer.
[1126] mask.] After this Keightley marks a line omitted.
[1127] Insisture] Ff. In sisture Q. (for In fixture Delius conj.)
[1128] other] rest Pope, ether Singer.
medicinable] med'cinable Q Ff.
[1129] ill aspects of planets evil] Ff. influence of evill planets Q.
[1130] married] mirror'd Anon. conj.
[1131] fixure] Q F₁ F₂. fixture F₃ F₄.
O, when] When Pope. So when Johnson conj.
shaked] shakt Q. shak'd Ff. shaken Rowe.
[1132] to] Ff. of Q.
[1133] The] Q Ff. Then Hanmer.
[1134] primogenitive] Ff. primogenitie Q. primogeniture Rowe.
[1135] meets] melts Q.
[1136] Should] Would F₄.
[1137] should] would F₄.
[1138] Between ... resides] Printed in italics in Q.
resides] recides Q F₁. presides Warburton.
[1139] their] her F₁.
[1140] includes] include Q.
[1141] And last ... Agamemnon] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Q Ff.
himself] it self Theobald.
[1142] choking.] choking of the common weal; Keightley.
[1143] it is] Q. is it Ff.
[1144] backward ... climb] downward ... climb or backward ... advance Seymour conj.
[1145] with] Q. in Ff.
[1146] stands] Q. lives Ff.
[1147] sinew] Ff. sinnow Q.
[1148] jests] jests on thee and all of us Keightley.
[1149] awkward] sillie Q.
[1150] Sometime] Sometimes Rowe (ed. 2).
[1151] topless] stopless Warburton.
[1152] scaffoldage] F₄. scaffolage F₁ F₂ F₃. scaffollage Q.
[1153] o'er-wrested] Pope. ore-rested Q F₁ F₂ F₃. o're-rested F₄. o'er-jested Delius conj.
[1154] unsquared] unsquare Q.
[1155] Would] Wound F₂.
seen] seemes F₁.
[1156] press'd bed] prest bed Q. prest-bed Ff.
[1157] just] Ff. right Q.
[1158] hem] Q. hum Ff.
[1159] dress'd] 'drest Hanmer.
[1160] as like as] like as Capell.
[1161] god] Q F₁. good F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1162] palsy fumbling] palsy'd fumbling Capell conj. palsy-fumbling Steevens (Tyrwhitt conj.)
[1163] and at] at Hanmer.
[1164] split] spilt F₄.
[1165] of grace exact] though of grace exact Hanmer. of grace; exacts Warburton. all grace extract Collier (Collier MS.) are of grace extract Singer conj. of grace and act Staunton conj.
[1166] paradoxes] parodies Johnson conj.
[1167] Who] Whom Pope.
[1168] place] pace Pope.
[1169] broad] braid Becket conj.
keeps] keepes Q. and keepes Ff.
[1170] and] our Q.
[1171] rank] hard Pope.
[1172] prescience] our prescience Rowe.
[1173] calls] call F₁.
[1174] know ... weight] know the measure, By their observant toil, of the enemies' weight Johnson conj.
[1175] enemies'] enemy's Delius conj.
[1176] bed-work, mappery] bed-work Mapp'ry Theobald. bed-work-mapp'ry Hanmer.
[1177] fineness] finesse Q.
[1178] his] its Hanmer.
[1179] [Tucket.] Ff. om. Q.
[1180] trumpet?] trumpet's that? Capell.
Menelaus] om. Steevens conj.
[1181] SCENE VI. Pope.
Enter Æneas.] Ff. om. Q.
[1182] ears] eyes Q.
[1183] Achilles'] Alcides' Johnson conj.
[1184] Ay:] Rowe. I, Q. I: Ff. om. Pope. Put in a separate line first by Steevens.
[1185] bid] Q. on Ff.
[1186] Modest ... Phœbus] As in Ff. One line in Q.
[1187] god in office, guiding] Rowe. god in office guiding Ff. god, in office guiding Q.
[1188] fame] same Q.
[1189] swords: and, Jove's accord, Nothing] Theobald, swords, & Ioues accord, Nothing Ff. sword, & great Ioues accord Nothing Q. swords: and with Jove's accord Nothing’s Malone conj. swords; and Love's a lord Nothing Steevens conj. swords, great Jove's accord, Nothing Mitford conj. See note (11).
[1190] accord] sacaret Warburton conj. own bird Mason conj. a god Malone conj. a lord Steevens conj. a core Jackson conj.
[1191] If that the] Q. if that he Ff. If he that's Pope.
[1192] But what] Q F₁. What F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1193] blows] follows Reed (1803).
sole pure] soul-pure Collier MS. pure Sol Staunton conj.
[1194] affair] affaires Q.
I pray you] om. Steevens conj., reading Ay, Greek ... affair? as one line.
[1195] He ... Troy] One line in Q. Two in Ff.
nought] Ff. naught Q.
[1196] him] with him Q.
[1197] sense on the] seat on that Q.
[1198] loud] alowd Q.
[1199] [Trumpet sounds.] Sound trumpet. Q. The Trumpets sound. Ff.
[1200] this] his Q.
[1201] rusty] restie Q.
[1202] That seeks] Ff. And feeds Q.
[1203] confession] profession Hanmer.
[1204] dare] dares Hanmer.
[1205] good, ... it, He] good, (or ... it) He Theobald. good, ... it. He Q Ff.
[1206] compass] couple Q.
[1207] We] We have Rowe. We've Pope.
[1208] hath, or] Ff. hath a Q.
[1209] else] Q F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
I am] Q. Ile be Ff. I'm Pope.
[1210] host] hoste Q. mould Ff (for world S. Walker conj.)
[1211] One noble man] F₁ F₂ F₃. One nobleman F₄. A noble man Q.
one spark] no sparke Q.
[1212] vantbrace] Ff. vambrace Q.
this] my Q.
wither'd] Ff. withered Q.
brawn] braunes Q.
[1213] will] om. Q.
[1214] in flood] is flood Rowe (ed. 2).
[1215] prove this truth] Malone. prove this troth Q. pawne this truth Ff.
[1216] forbid] for-fend Q.
youth] men Q.
[1217] Ulyss. Amen.] Aga. Amen. Capell, continuing the next speech to Agamemnon.
[1218] Agam.] Aga. Ff. om. Q (reading Amen: faire ... hand as one line).
Fair ... hand] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[1219] you, sir.] you? First Theobald conj.
sir] Q. first Ff.
[1220] intent] incent Anon. conj.
[1221] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Manent Ulysses, and Nestor. Ff (Manet F₁). Omitted in Q.
[1222] SCENE VII. Pope.
[1223] This 'tis] Ff. om. Q.
[1224] blown] grown Capell conj.
[1225] Well, and how?] Well, and how now? Rowe. Well, sir, and how? Capell. Well, and how then? Keightley (Steevens conj.)
[1226] The purpose] True the purpose Q.
even] om. Q.
[1227] up: And ... strain,] up: And ... straine, Q. up, And ... straine Ff. up, And ... strain: Rowe.
[1228] Achilles, were] Ff. Achilles weare Q.
[1229] though ... enough] Printed in italics in Q.
[1230] Ay ... him] As in Ff. One line in Q.
[1231] Yes, 'tis] Ff. Why tis Q. Yes, It is Hanmer, putting Yes, in a separate line. Yes, It is Steevens, reading as one line And wake ... Yes.
who] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. whom F₁.
[1232] his honour] Ff. those honours Q.
[1233] Though't be] though Pope.
[1234] this] Ff. the Q.
[1235] and] om. Pope.
[1236] imputation] reputation Collier (Collier MS.)
[1237] wild] wilde Q.
[1238] give] have Rowe.
[1239] from hence receives the] Ff. receiues from hence a Q.
[1240] from hence ... themselves?] receives from thence a conquering hope, Or feels a strong opinion in himself? Seymour conj.
[1241] steel] steal Capell conj.
[1242] Which ... limbs] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1243] his] in his F₁.
[1244] Give ... followers.] As in Ff. See note (III).
[1245] 'tis meet] 'tis fit Pope.
[1246] if not,] if not, why still Hanmer. if they do not, Keightley (Steevens conj.) or, if they do not, Seymour conj.
[1247] better] fairer Anon. conj.
[1248] better] better thus Grant White conj.
consent] then consent Pope.
[1249] I see] What are they? I see Capell.
[1250] shares] wins Keightley. shears or takes Anon. conj.
[1251] share] Q. weare Ff.
[1252] we were] Ff. it were Q.
Afric] Afric's Anon. conj.
[1253] fair] fairly Becket conj.
[1254] did] Ff. do Q.
[1255] device] Ff. devise Q.
[1256] among] 'mong Pope.
[1257] for the better] Q. as the worthier Ff.
[1258] Ulysses, Now I begin to] Steevens. Now Ulysses, I begin to Q Ff. Ulysses, now I Pope. Now I begin to Capell.
[1259] advice] Ff. advise Q.
[1260] of it] Ff. thereof Q.
[1261] Must tarre] Ff. Must arre Q.
their bone] Ff. a bone Q.
Act II, Scene I — The Grecian camp.[1262]
Enter AJAX and THERSITES.
Ajax. Thersites!
Ther. Agamemnon--how if he had boils--full, all[1263] over, generally?[1264]
Ajax. Thersites!
Ther. And those boils did run?--Say so,--did not the 5 general run then? were not that a botchy core?[1265]
Ajax. Dog!
Ther. Then would come some matter from him; I see[1266] none now.
Ajax. Thou bitch-wolf's son, canst thou not hear? 10 Feel, then. [Strikes him.[1267]
Ther. The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mongrel beef-witted lord!
Ajax. Speak then, thou vinewed'st leaven, speak: I[1268] will beat thee into handsomeness. 15
Ther. I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness: but, I think, thy horse will sooner con an oration than thou[1269] learn a prayer without book. Thou canst strike, canst[1270] thou? a red murrain o' thy jade's tricks![1271]
Ajax. Toadstool, learn me the proclamation.[1272] 20
Ther. Dost thou think I have no sense, thou strikest me thus?
Ajax. The proclamation!
Ther. Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think.[1273]
Ajax. Do not, porpentine, do not; my fingers itch.[1274] 25
Ther. I would thou didst itch from head to foot, and I had the scratching of thee; I would make thee the loathsomest scab in Greece. When thou art forth in the incursions,[1275] thou strikest as slow as another.[1275]
Ajax. I say, the proclamation! 30
Ther. Thou grumblest and railest every hour on Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his greatness as Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty, ay, that thou barkest at him.[1276]
Ajax. Mistress Thersites![1277]
Ther. Thou shouldst strike him.[1278] 35
Ajax. Cobloaf![1278][1279]
Ther. He would pun thee into shivers with his fist, as a[1278][1280] sailor breaks a biscuit.
Ajax. [Beating him] You whoreson cur![1281][1282]
Ther. Do, do.[1283] 40
Ajax. Thou stool for a witch!
Ther. Ay, do, do; thou sodden-witted lord! thou hast[1284] no more brain than I have in my elbows; an assinego[1285] may tutor thee: thou scurvy-valiant ass! thou art here but[1286] to thrash Trojans; and thou art bought and sold among[1287] 45 those of any wit, like a barbarian slave. If thou use to beat me, I will begin at thy heel and tell what thou art by inches, thou thing of no bowels, thou![1288]
Ajax. You dog!
Ther. You scurvy lord! 50
Ajax. [Beating him] You cur![1281]
Ther. Mars his idiot! do, rudeness; do, camel, do, do.
Enter ACHILLES and PATROCLUS.[1289]
Achil. Why, how now, Ajax! wherefore do ye thus?[1290] How now, Thersites! what's the matter, man?
Ther. You see him there, do you? 55
Achil. Ay; what's the matter?
Ther. Nay, look upon him.
Achil. So I do: what's the matter?
Ther. Nay, but regard him well.
Achil. 'Well!' why, so I do.[1291] 60
Ther. But yet you look not well upon him; for, whosoever[1292] you take him to be, he is Ajax.
Achil. I know that, fool.
Ther. Ay, but that fool knows not himself.
Ajax. Therefore I beat thee. 65
Ther. Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he utters! his evasions have ears thus long. I have bobbed his brain more[1293] than he has beat my bones: I will buy nine sparrows for a[1294] penny, and his pia mater is not worth the ninth part of a sparrow. This lord, Achilles, Ajax, who wears his wit in 70 his belly and his guts in his head, I'll tell you what I say[1295] of him.
Achil. What?
Ther. I say, this Ajax-- [Ajax offers to strike him.[1296]
Achil. Nay, good Ajax. 75
Ther. Has not so much wit--
Achil. Nay, I must hold you.
Ther. As will stop the eye of Helen's needle, for whom he comes to fight.
Achil. Peace, fool! 80
Ther. I would have peace and quietness, but the fool will not: he there: that he: look you there!
Ajax. O thou damned cur! I shall--
Achil. Will you set your wit to a fool's?
Ther. No, I warrant you; for a fool's will shame it.[1297] 85
Patr. Good words, Thersites.[1298]
Achil. What's the quarrel?
Ajax. I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenour of the[1299] proclamation, and he rails upon me.
Ther. I serve thee not. 90
Ajax. Well, go to, go to.
Ther. I serve here voluntary.
Achil. Your last service was sufferance, 'twas not voluntary; no man is beaten voluntary: Ajax was here the voluntary, and you as under an impress. 95
Ther. E'en so; a great deal of your wit too lies in[1300] your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall have a great catch, if he knock out either of your brains: a' were[1301] as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel.
Achil. What, with me too, Thersites? 100
Ther. There's Ulysses and old Nestor, whose wit was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes, yoke[1302] you like draught-oxen, and make you plough up the wars.[1303]
Achil. What? what?
Ther. Yes, good sooth: to, Achilles! to, Ajax! to![1304] 105
Ajax. I shall cut out your tongue.
Ther. 'Tis no matter; I shall speak as much as thou[1305] afterwards.
Patr. No more words, Thersites; peace![1306]
Ther. I will hold my peace when Achilles' brooch bids[1307] 110 me, shall I?
Achil. There's for you, Patroclus.
Ther. I will see you hanged, like clotpoles, ere I come[1308] any more to your tents: I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools. [Exit. 115
Patr. A good riddance.
Achil. Marry, this, sir, is proclaim'd through all our host: That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun,[1309] Will with a trumpet 'twixt our tents and Troy To-morrow morning call some knight to arms 120 That hath a stomach, and such a one that dare Maintain--I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell.[1310]
Ajax. Farewell. Who shall answer him?[1311]
Achil. I know not; 'tis put to lottery; otherwise He knew his man. 125
Ajax. O, meaning you. I will go learn more of it.[1312]
[Exeunt.
Act II, Scene II — Troy. A room in Priam's palace.[1313]
Enter PRIAM, HECTOR, TROILUS, PARIS, and HELENUS.
Pri. After so many hours, lives, speeches spent,[1314] Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks: 'Deliver Helen, and all damage else,[1315] As honour, loss of time, travail, expense,[1316] Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is consumed 5 In hot digestion of this cormorant war,[1317] Shall be struck off.' Hector, what say you to't?[1318]
Hect. Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I As far as toucheth my particular,[1319][1320] Yet, dread Priam,[1319] 10 There is no lady of more softer bowels,[1321] More spongy to suck in the sense of fear, More ready to cry out 'Who knows what follows?' Than Hector is: the wound of peace is surety,[1322][1323] Surety secure: but modest doubt is call'd[1323] 15 The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches To the bottom of the worst. Let Helen go.[1324] Since the first sword was drawn about this question, Every tithe soul, 'mongst many thousand dismes, Hath been as dear as Helen; I mean, of ours: 20 If we have lost so many tenths of ours, To guard a thing not ours, nor worth to us,[1325] Had it our name, the value of one ten,[1326] What merit's in that reason which denies[1327] The yielding of her up?
Tro. Fie, fie, my brother! 25 Weigh you the worth and honour of a king,[1328] So great as our dread father, in a scale[1329] Of common ounces? will you with counters sum The past proportion of his infinite?[1330] And buckle in a waist most fathomless[1331] 30 With spans and inches so diminutive As fears and reasons? fie, for godly shame![1332]
Hel. No marvel, though you bite so sharp at reasons,[1333] You are so empty of them. Should not our father[1334] Bear the great sway of his affairs with reasons,[1335] 35 Because your speech hath none that tells him so?[1336]
Tro. You are for dreams and slumbers, brother priest; You fur your gloves with reason. Here are your reasons:[1337] You know an enemy intends you harm; You know a sword employ'd is perilous, 40 And reason flies the object of all harm: Who marvels then, when Helenus beholds A Grecian and his sword, if he do set The very wings of reason to his heels, And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove,[1338] 45 Or like a star disorb'd? Nay, if we talk of reason,[1338] Let's shut our gates, and sleep: manhood and honour[1339] Should have hare hearts, would they but fat their thoughts[1340] With this cramm'd reason: reason and respect Make livers pale and lustihood deject.[1341] 50
Hect. Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost[1342] The holding.[1342]
Tro. What's aught, but as 'tis valued?[1343]
Hect. But value dwells not in particular will; It holds his estimate and dignity[1344] As well wherein 'tis precious of itself 55 As in the prizer: 'tis mad idolatry[1345] To make the service greater than the god;[1346] And the will dotes, that is attributive[1347] To what infectiously itself affects, Without some image of the affected merit.[1348] 60
Tro. I take to-day a wife, and my election Is led on in the conduct of my will; My will enkindled by mine eyes and ears.[1349] Two traded pilots 'twixt the dangerous shores[1350] Of will and judgement: how may I avoid,[1351] 65 Although my will distaste what it elected,[1351] The wife I chose? there can be no evasion[1351][1352] To blench from this, and to stand firm by honour. We turn not back the silks upon the merchant When we have soil'd them, nor the remainder viands[1353] 70 We do not throw in unrespective sieve,[1354] Because we now are full. It was thought meet[1355] Paris should do some vengeance on the Greeks: Your breath of full consent bellied his sails;[1356] The seas and winds, old wranglers, took a truce, 75 And did him service: he touch'd the ports desired; And for an old aunt whom the Greeks held captive He brought a Grecian queen, whose youth and freshness Wrinkles Apollo's and makes stale the morning.[1357] Why keep we her? the Grecians keep our aunt: 80 Is she worth keeping? why, she is a pearl, Whose price hath launch'd above a thousand ships, And turn'd crown'd kings to merchants. If you'll avouch 'twas wisdom Paris went, As you must needs, for you all cried 'Go, go,' 85 If you'll confess he brought home noble prize,[1358] As you must needs, for you all clapp'd your hands And cried 'Inestimable!' why do you now The issue of your proper wisdoms rate,[1359] And do a deed that Fortune never did,[1360] 90 Beggar the estimation which you prized Richer than sea and land? O, theft most base, That we have stol'n what we do fear to keep![1361] But thieves unworthy of a thing so stol'n,[1362] That in their country did them that disgrace[1363] 95 We fear to warrant in our native place!
Cas. [Within] Cry, Trojans, cry![1364][1365]
Pri. What noise? what shriek is this?
Tro. 'Tis our mad sister, I do know her voice.
Cas. [Within] Cry, Trojans![1365]
Hect. It is Cassandra. 100
Enter CASSANDRA, raving, with her hair about her ears.[1366]
Cas. Cry, Trojans, cry! lend me ten thousand eyes,[1367] And I will fill them with prophetic tears.
Hect. Peace, sister, peace!
Cas. Virgins and boys, mid age and wrinkled old,[1368] Soft infancy, that nothing canst but cry,[1369] 105 Add to my clamours! let us pay betimes[1370] A moiety of that mass of moan to come. Cry, Trojans, cry! practise your eyes with tears! Troy must not be, nor goodly Ilion stand; Our firebrand brother, Paris, burns us all. 110 Cry, Trojans, cry! a Helen and a woe: Cry, cry! Troy burns, or else let Helen go. [Exit.
Hect. Now, youthful Troilus, do not these high strains[1371] Of divination in our sister work Some touches of remorse? or is your blood 115 So madly hot that no discourse of reason, Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause, Can qualify the same?
Tro. Why, brother Hector, We may not think the justness of each act[1372] Such and no other than event doth form it; 120 Nor once deject the courage of our minds, Because Cassandra's mad: her brain-sick raptures Cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel Which hath our several honours all engaged To make it gracious. For my private part, 125 I am no more touch'd than all Priam's sons:[1373] And Jove forbid there should be done amongst us Such things as might offend the weakest spleen To fight for and maintain!
Par. Else might the world convince of levity[1374] 130 As well my undertakings as your counsels:[1375] But I attest the gods, your full consent[1376] Gave wings to my propension and cut off All fears attending on so dire a project. For what, alas, can these my single arms? 135 What propugnation is in one man's valour, To stand the push and enmity of those This quarrel would excite? Yet, I protest, Were I alone to pass the difficulties[1377] And had as ample power as I have will, 140 Paris should ne'er retract what he hath done, Nor faint in the pursuit.
Pri. Paris, you speak Like one besotted on your sweet delights: You have the honey still, but these the gall; So to be valiant is no praise at all. 145
Par. Sir, I propose not merely to myself The pleasures such a beauty brings with it; But I would have the soil of her fair rape Wiped off, in honourable keeping her. What treason were it to the ransack'd queen, 150 Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me, Now to deliver her possession up On terms of base compulsion! Can it be That so degenerate a strain as this Should once set footing in your generous bosoms?[1378] 155 There's not the meanest spirit on our party,[1379] Without a heart to dare or sword to draw When Helen is defended, nor none so noble,[1380] Whose life were ill bestow'd or death unfamed Where Helen is the subject: then, I say, 160 Well may we fight for her, whom, we know well, The world's large spaces cannot parallel.
Hect. Paris and Troilus, you have both said well; And on the cause and question now in hand[1381] Have glozed, but superficially; not much[1382] 165 Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought[1383] Unfit to hear moral philosophy. The reasons you allege do more conduce To the hot passion of distemper'd blood Than to make up a free determination 170 'Twixt right and wrong; for pleasure and revenge Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice[1384] Of any true decision. Nature craves All dues be render'd to their owners: now, What nearer debt in all humanity 175 Than wife is to the husband? If this law Of nature be corrupted through affection, And that great minds, of partial indulgence To their benumbed wills, resist the same, There is a law in each well-order'd nation[1385] 180 To curb those raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory.[1386] If Helen then be wife to Sparta's king, As it is known she is, these moral laws Of nature and of nations speak aloud[1387] 185 To have her back return'd: thus to persist In doing wrong extenuates not wrong, But makes it much more heavy. Hector's opinion Is this in way of truth: yet, ne'ertheless, My spritely brethren, I propend to you 190 In resolution to keep Helen still; For 'tis a cause that hath no mean dependance Upon our joint and several dignities.
Tro. Why, there you touch'd the life of our design:[1388] Were it not glory that we more affected 195 Than the performance of our heaving spleens, I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood Spent more in her defence. But, worthy Hector, She is a theme of honour and renown; A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds, 200 Whose present courage may beat down our foes, And fame in time to come canonize us: For, I presume, brave Hector would not lose So rich advantage of a promised glory As smiles upon the forehead of this action 205 For the wide world's revenue.
Hect. I am yours, You valiant offspring of great Priamus. I have a roisting challenge sent amongst The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits:[1389] 210 I was advertised their great general slept, Whilst emulation in the army crept:[1390] This, I presume, will wake him. [Exeunt.
Act II, Scene III — The Grecian camp. Before the tent of Achilles.[1391]
Enter THERSITES, solus.
Ther. How now, Thersites! what, lost in the labyrinth[1392] of thy fury! Shall the elephant Ajax carry it thus? he beats me, and I rail at him: O, worthy satisfaction! would it were otherwise; that I could beat him, whilst he railed at me. 'Sfoot, I'll learn to conjure and raise devils, but I'll 5 see some issue of my spiteful execrations. Then there's Achilles, a rare enginer. If Troy be not taken till these[1393] two undermine it, the walls will stand till they fall of themselves. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget that thou art Jove, the king of gods, and, Mercury, lose all 10 the serpentine craft of thy caduceus, if ye take not that[1394] little little less than little wit from them that they have! which short-armed ignorance itself knows is so abundant[1395] scarce, it will not in circumvention deliver a fly from a spider, without drawing their massy irons and cutting the[1396] 15 web. After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or, rather, the Neapolitan bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the[1397] curse dependant on those that war for a placket. I have[1398] said my prayers; and devil Envy say amen. What, ho! my Lord Achilles! 20
Enter PATROCLUS.[1399]
Patr. Who's there? Thersites! Good Thersites, come[1400] in and rail.
Ther. If I could ha' remembered a gilt counterfeit,[1401] thou wouldst not have slipped out of my contemplation:[1402] but it is no matter; thyself upon thyself! The common 25 curse of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great revenue! heaven bless thee from a tutor, and discipline come not near thee! Let thy blood be thy direction till thy death! then if she that lays thee out says thou art a[1403] fair corse, I'll be sworn and sworn upon't she never shrouded 30 any but lazars. Amen. Where's Achilles?[1404]
Patr. What, art thou devout? wast thou in prayer?[1405]
Ther. Ay; the heavens hear me!
Patr. Amen.[1406]
Enter ACHILLES.
Achil. Who's there? 35
Patr. Thersites, my lord..
Achil. Where, where? Art thou come? why, my[1407] cheese, my digestion, why hast thou not served thyself in[1408] to my table so many meals? Come, what's Agamemnon?[1408]
Ther. Thy commander, Achilles: then tell me, Patroclus, 40 what's Achilles?
Patr. Thy lord, Thersites: then tell me, I pray thee,[1409] what's thyself?
Ther. Thy knower, Patroclus: then tell me, Patroclus, what art thou? 45
Patr. Thou mayst tell that knowest.[1410]
Achil. O, tell, tell.
Ther. I'll decline the whole question. Agamemnon commands Achilles; Achilles is my lord; I am Patroclus' knower, and Patroclus is a fool. 50
Patr. You rascal![1411]
Ther. Peace, fool! I have not done.[1411]
Achil. He is a privileged man. Proceed, Thersites.[1411]
Ther. Agamemnon is a fool; Achilles is a fool; Thersites[1411] is a fool, and, as aforesaid, Patroclus is a fool.[1411] 55
Achil. Derive this; come.
Ther. Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achilles; Achilles is a fool to be commanded of Agamemnon;[1412] Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool, and Patroclus[1413] is a fool positive. 60
Patr. Why am I a fool?
Ther. Make that demand of the prover. It suffices[1414] me thou art. Look you, who comes here?[1415]
Achil. Patroclus, I'll speak with nobody. Come in[1416] with me, Thersites. [Exit.[1417] 65
Ther. Here is such patchery, such juggling and such knavery! all the argument is a cuckold and a whore; a[1418] good quarrel to draw emulous factions and bleed to death[1419] upon. Now, the dry serpigo on the subject! and war and[1420][1421] lechery confound all! [Exit.[1420] 70
Enter AGAMEMNON, ULYSSES, NESTOR, DIOMEDES, and AJAX.[1422]
Agam. Where is Achilles?
Patr. Within his tent; but ill-disposed, my lord.
Agam. Let it be known to him that we are here. He shent our messengers; and we lay by[1423] Our appertainments, visiting of him:[1424] 75 Let him be told so, lest perchance he think[1425] We dare not move the question of our place, Or know not what we are.
Patr. I shall say so to him. [Exit.[1426]
Ulyss. We saw him at the opening of his tent: He is not sick. 80
Ajax. Yes, lion-sick, sick of proud heart: you may call[1427] it melancholy, if you will favour the man; but, by my head,[1428] 'tis pride: but why, why? let him show us the cause. A[1429][1430] word, my lord. [Takes Agamemnon aside.[1430][1431]
Nest. What moves Ajax thus to bay at him? 85
Ulyss. Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him.
Nest. Who, Thersites?
Ulyss. He.
Nest. Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his argument. 90
Ulyss. No, you see, he is his argument that has his argument, Achilles.
Nest. All the better; their fraction is more our wish[1432] than their faction: but it was a strong composure a fool[1433] could disunite. 95
Ulyss. The amity that wisdom knits not, folly may[1434] easily untie.
Re-enter PATROCLUS.[1435]
Here comes Patroclus.[1436]
Nest. No Achilles with him.[1437]
Ulyss. The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy:[1438] 100 his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure.[1438][1439]
Patr. Achilles bids me say, he is much sorry, If any thing more than your sport and pleasure Did move your greatness and this noble state To call upon him; he hopes it is no other[1440] 105 But for your health and your digestion sake, An after-dinner's breath.
Agam. Hear you, Patroclus:[1441] We are too well acquainted with these answers: But his evasion, wing'd thus swift with scorn,[1442] Cannot outfly our apprehensions. 110 Much attribute he hath, and much the reason Why we ascribe it to him: yet all his virtues,[1443] Not virtuously on his own part beheld,[1444] Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss, Yea, like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish,[1445] 115 Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him, We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin,[1446] If you do say we think him over-proud And under-honest; in self-assumption greater[1447] Than in the note of judgement; and worthier than himself[1447][1448] 120 Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,[1449][1450] Disguise the holy strength of their command,[1450] And underwrite in an observing kind[1451] His humorous predominance; yea, watch His pettish lunes, his ebbs, his flows, as if[1452] 125 The passage and whole carriage of this action[1453] Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add, That if he overhold his price so much, We'll none of him, but let him, like an engine Not portable, lie under this report:[1454] 130 'Bring action hither, this cannot go to war:[1454][1455] A stirring dwarf we do allowance give[1454] Before a sleeping giant:' tell him so.[1454]
Patr. I shall; and bring his answer presently. [Exit.[1456]
Agam. In second voice we'll not be satisfied; 135 We come to speak with him. Ulysses, enter you.
[Exit Ulysses.[1457]
Ajax. What is he more than another?
Agam. No more than what he thinks he is.
Ajax. Is he so much? Do you not think he thinks himself a better man than I am? 140
Agam. No question.
Ajax. Will you subscribe his thought and say he is?
Agam. No, noble Ajax; you are as strong, as valiant, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle and altogether[1458] more tractable. 145
Ajax. Why should a man be proud? How doth pride grow? I know not what pride is.[1459]
Agam. Your mind is the clearer, Ajax, and your virtues[1460] the fairer. He that is proud eats up himself: pride is[1461] his own glass, his own trumpet, his own chronicle; and 150 whatever praises itself but in the deed, devours the deed in[1462] the praise.
Ajax. I do hate a proud man, as I hate the engendering[1463] of toads.
Nest. [Aside] Yet he loves himself: is't not strange? 155
Re-enter ULYSSES.[1464]
Ulyss. Achilles will not to the field to-morrow.
Agam. What's his excuse?
Ulyss. He doth rely on none, But carries on the stream of his dispose Without observance or respect of any, In will peculiar and in self-admission.[1465] 160
Agam. Why will he not, upon our fair request, Untent his person, and share the air with us?
Ulyss. Things small as nothing, for request's sake only[1466] He makes important: possess'd he is with greatness,[1467] And speaks not to himself but with a pride 165 That quarrels at self-breath: imagined worth[1468] Holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse That 'twixt his mental and his active parts Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages And batters down himself: what should I say?[1469][1470] 170 He is so plaguy proud that the death-tokens of it[1469][1471] Cry 'No recovery.'
Agam. Let Ajax go to him. Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent: 'Tis said he holds you well, and will be led[1472] At your request a little from himself. 175
Ulyss. O Agamemnon, let it not be so! We'll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord That bastes his arrogance with his own seam[1473] And never suffers matter of the world 180 Enter his thoughts, save such as do revolve[1474] And ruminate himself, shall he be worshipp'd Of that we hold an idol more than he?[1475] No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord Must not so stale his palm, nobly acquired;[1476] 185 Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit, As amply titled as Achilles is,[1477][1478] By going to Achilles:[1477] That were to enlard his fat-already pride,[1479] And add more coals to Cancer when he burns 190 With entertaining great Hyperion. This lord go to him! Jupiter forbid,[1480] And say in thunder 'Achilles go to him.'
Nest. [Aside] O, this is well; he rubs the vein of him.[1481]
Dio. [Aside] And how his silence drinks up this applause![1481][1482] 195
Ajax. If I go to him, with my armed fist[1483] I'll pash him o'er the face.[1483][1484]
Agam. O, no, you shall not go.
Ajax. An a' be proud with me, I'll pheeze his pride:[1485][1486] Let me go to him.[1485] 200
Ulyss. Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel.
Ajax. A paltry, insolent fellow![1487]
Nest. [Aside] How he describes himself![1487][1488]
Ajax. Can he not be sociable?[1487]
Ulyss. [Aside] The raven chides blackness.[1487][1488] 205
Ajax. I'll let his humours blood.[1487][1489]
Agam. [Aside] He will be the physician that should[1487][1488][1490] be the patient.[1487]
Ajax. An all men were o' my mind,--[1487][1491]
Ulyss. [Aside] Wit would be out of fashion.[1487][1488] 210
Ajax. A' should not bear it so, a' should eat swords[1487][1492] first: shall pride carry it?[1487]
Nest. [Aside] An 'twould, you'ld carry half.[1487][1488][1493]
Ulyss. [Aside] A' would have ten shares.[1487][1488][1494][1495]
Ajax. I will knead him, I'll make him supple.[1487][1494][1496] 215
Nest. [Aside] He's not yet through warm: force him[1487][1488][1494][1497] with praises: pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry.[1487][1498]
Ulyss. [To Agamemnon] My lord, you feed too much[1499] on this dislike.
Nest. Our noble general, do not do so.
Dio. You must prepare to fight without Achilles. 220
Ulyss. Why, 'tis this naming of him does him harm.[1500] Here is a man--but 'tis before his face;[1501] I will be silent.[1501]
Nest. Wherefore should you so? He is not emulous, as Achilles is.
Ulyss. Know the whole world, he is as valiant.[1502] 225
Ajax. A whoreson dog, that shall palter thus with us![1503] Would he were a Trojan![1504]
Nest. What a vice were it in Ajax now--[1505]
Ulyss. If he were proud,--[1506]
Dio. Or covetous of praise,-- 230
Ulyss. Ay, or surly borne,--
Dio. Or strange, or self-affected!
Ulyss. Thank the heavens, lord, thou art of sweet[1507] composure; Praise him that got thee, she that gave thee suck:[1508] Famed be thy tutor, and thy parts of nature[1509] 235 Thrice-famed beyond, beyond all erudition:[1510] But he that disciplined thine arms to fight,[1511] Let Mars divide eternity in twain, And give him half: and, for thy vigour,[1512] Bull-bearing Milo his addition yield 240 To sinewy Ajax. I will not praise thy wisdom,[1513] Which, like a bourn, a pale, a shore, confines[1514] Thy spacious and dilated parts: here's Nestor,[1515] Instructed by the antiquary times,[1516] He must, he is, he cannot but be wise; 245 But pardon, father Nestor, were your days As green as Ajax', and your brain so temper'd,[1517] You should not have the eminence of him, But be as Ajax.[1518]
Ajax. Shall I call you father?
Nest. Ay, my good son.[1519]
Dio. Be ruled by him, Lord Ajax. 250
Ulyss. There is no tarrying here; the hart Achilles Keeps thicket. Please it our great general[1520] To call together all his state of war:[1521] Fresh kings are come to Troy: to-morrow[1522] We must with all our main of power stand fast: 255 And here's a lord, come knights from east to west, And cull their flower, Ajax shall cope the best.[1523]
Agam. Go we to council. Let Achilles sleep:[1524] Light boats sail swift, though greater hulks draw deep.[1525]
[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[1262] ACT II. SCENE I.] Rowe. om. Q Ff.
The Grecian Camp.] Rowe.
[1263] boils] biles Q Ff.
[1264] [Talking to himself. Rowe.
[1265] then] Q. om. Ff.
core] sore Collier MS. corps Grant White. cur Staunton conj.
[1266] would] Q. there would Ff.
[1267] [Strikes him.] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1268] thou] Q. you Ff.
vinewed'st] vinew'dest Knight. vinnidst Upton conj. unsalted Q. whinid'st Ff. unwinnow'd'st Theobald. whinnid'st Hanmer. windyest Warburton. vinew'd Johnson conj. vinniedst Heath conj. vinied'st Rann.
leaven] baven Hanmer.
[1269] con] Ff. cunne Q.
oration] Ff. oration without booke Q.
[1270] a prayer] Ff. praier Q.
[1271] murrain] Rowe. murren Ff. murrion Q.
o' thy] F₃ F₄. ath thy Q. o'th thy F₁ F₂.
[1272] Toadstool] Tode-stoole Q. Toads stoole F₁ F₂. Toads stool F₃. Toads-stool F₄.
[1273] a] om. Q.
[1274] porpentine] Ff. porpentin Q. porcupine Rowe.
[1275] When ... another] Q. Omitted in Ff.
[1276] ay, that thou bark'st] O that thou bark'dst Johnson conj.
[1277] Mistress] Master Grant White conj.
[1278] Thou shouldest ... He would] Shouldst thou strike him, Ajax, cobloaf! he would Nares conj.
[1279] Ajax. Cobloaf!] Aiax Coblofe, Q (in italics, as part of Thersites' speech).
Cobloaf] Cop-loaf Malone conj.
[1280] pun] pound Pope.
[1281] [Beating him] Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[1282] Ajax.] om. Q.
[1283] Ther.] om. Q.
Do, do.] Ff. Do? do? Q.
[1284] Ay, do, do;] I, Do? do? Q. I do, do. Ff. Ay, do, Rowe.
[1285] brain] brain in thy head Capell conj.
mine] my Rowe (ed. 2).
assinego] Pope, asinico Q Ff. asnico] Grant White conj.
[1286] thou] Ff. You Q.
scurvy-valiant] Dyce (S. Walker conj.) scurvy valiant Q Ff.
but] put Steevens.
[1287] thrash] Q. thresh Ff.
[1288] bowels] vowels Warburton conj.
[1289] Enter....] Ff. om. Q.
[1290] SCENE II. Pope.
ye thus] Q. you this Ff (yo F₄).
[1291] so I do] Q. I do so Ff.
[1292] whosoever] F₃ F₄. who some ever Q F₁ F₂.
[1293] evasions] orations Collier (Collier MS.)
[1294] I will] Ff. It will Q.
[1295] I'll tell] I tell Q.
[1296] Ajax....] Ajax ... him, Achilles interposes. Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[1297] for a] Ff. the Q.
[1298] Thersites] Thesites Q.
[1299] the vile] Q. thee vile F₁ F₂ F₃. thee, vile F₄.
tenour] tenor Q. tenure Ff.
[1300] E'en] Even Steevens.
so;] so, Q Ff. so-- Rowe. so? Capell.
[1301] if he knock out] Ff. and knocke at Q. an a' knock out Edd conj.
a'] a Q. he Ff.
[1302] your] Theobald. their Q Ff.
on their toes] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1303] wars] Q. waire F₁ F₂. waie F₃ F₄. war Hanmer.
[1304] to, Achilles! to, Ajax!] Theobald. to Achilles, to Ajax, Q Ff.
to!] Capell. to-- Q Ff.
[1305] as much] as much wit Capell.
[1306] peace!] peace. Q. Omitted in Ff.
[1307] brooch] Q Ff. brach Rowe. brock Malone conj.
[1308] clotpoles] clatpoles Q. clodpoles Hanmer.
[1309] fifth] F₃ F₄. fift F₁ F₂. first Q.
[1310] Maintain--I] Hanmer. Maintaine I Q Ff.
[1311] Farewell.] Farewell, Q. Farewell? Ff.
[1312] I will] I'll Pope.
[Exeunt.] Pope. Exit. Ff. om. Q.
[1313] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE III. Pope.
Troy....] Priam's Palace in Troy. Rowe.
[1314] hours] years Theobald conj.
[1315] damage] domage Q.
[1316] travail] travaile F₁ F₂. travel F₃ F₄. travell Q.
[1317] hot] Q Ff. not F₂ F₃ F₄.
cormorant] comorant F₁.
[1318] struck] F₄. stroke Q F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1319] As ... Priam,] Arranged as by Collier. One line in Q Ff. As ... yet, in one line, omitting dread Priam, Pope. _As ... yet, Dread Priam,_ Capell.
[1320] toucheth] Q. touches Ff.
[1321] There is ... more softer] there's ... softer Seymour conj. reading Dread ... bowels as one line.
[1322] wound] worm Hanmer.
[1323] surety, Surety] Ff. surely, Surely Q.
[1324] worst. Let] Ff. worst let Q. wound. Let Hanmer.
go.] F₃ F₄. goe. F₂. go, Q F₁.
[1325] nor] not Theobald. See note (IV).
[1326] ten] tenth Seymour conj. (withdrawn).
[1327] merit's] Ff. merits Q.
[1328] Weigh] Ff. Way Q.
[1329] as] is F₄.
father] Ff. fathers Q.
[1330] past] vast Rowe.
past proportion] past-proportion Johnson. part-proportion Anon. conj.
[1331] waist] waste Q F₁ F₂. wast F₃ F₄.
[1332] godly] Ff. Godly Q. goodly Capell conj.
[1333] at] Ff. of Q.
[1334] are so empty ... father] Q F₁. are empty ... father F₂ F₃ F₄. 're empty ... father Priam Pope.
[1335] reasons] Ff. reason Q.
[1336] tells] tell Q.
[1337] gloves] gloze Becket conj.
reason] reasons Rowe (ed. 2).
[1338] And ... Jove, Or ... reason,] As in Q. These lines are inverted in Ff.
[1339] Let's] Ff. Sets Q.
[1340] have hearts] Q. hard hearts Ff.
[1341] Make] Q. Makes Ff.
livers] F₁. lyvers Q. lovers F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1342] Brother.... The holding] Arranged as by Theobald. Prose in Q. Two lines, the first ending worth, in Ff.
[1343] holding] Ff. keeping Q.
What's] What is Theobald.
[1344] his] its Pope.
[1345] mad] madde Q. made Ff. rank Long MS.
[1346] god] gods Pope.
[1347] attributive] Q. inclineable Ff.
[1348] affected] affected's Hanmer.
[1349] by] in Rowe.
[1350] shores] shore Q.
[1351] avoid, ... chose?] avoid ... chose? Rowe. auoide?... choose, Q. avoyde ... chose, Ff.
[1352] chose] choose Q. chuse Pope.
[1353] soil'd] soild Q. spoyl'd Ff.
[1354] in] in the Keightley.
sieve] Johnson. siue Q. same F₁. place F₂ F₃ F₄. sink Delius conj. safe Anon. conj.
[1355] are] ate F₂.
[1356] of] Ff. with Q.
[1357] Apollo's] Apollo Lettsom conj.
stale] Ff. pale Q.
[1358] he] be Q.
noble] Ff. worthy Q.
[1359] rate] rate thus Keightley.
[1360] Fortune never] Ff. never fortune Q.
did] bid Becket conj.
[1361] That ... what] What ... that Hanmer. That ... that Grant White.
[1362] But] Base Hanmer.
[1363] That in] Who in Pope. What in Hanmer.
[1364] SCENE IV. Pope.
[1365] Cas. [Within] Theobald.
[1366] Enter ...] Enter Cassandra, raving. Q (after line 96). Enter Cassandra with her haire about her eares. Ff (after line 96). Theobald first removed the stage direction from line 96 to 100.
[1367] SCENE IV. Hanmer.
[1368] eld] Collier (Theobald conj.) elders Q. old Ff.
[1369] canst] Q. can Ff.
[1370] clamours] Q. clamour Ff.
[1371] youthful] youth Pope (ed. 2).
these] the Rowe.
[1372] We may] May we Heath conj.
[1373] touch'd] touched Nicholson conj.
[1374] convince] conceive Becket conj.
[1375] my ... counsels] your counsels, as my undertakings Hanmer.
[1376] But] For Hanmer.
[1377] pass] poise Collier MS.
the] these Anon. conj.
[1378] footing in] Q F₁. foot in F₂ F₃ F₄. foot within Rowe.
[1379] There's] Q F₁ F₄. There F₂ F₃.
[1380] nor] om. Pope.
[1381] And] But Theobald.
[1382] glozed, but] glozd, but Q. gloz'd, but Ff. gloss'd, but Rowe. glos'd but Theobald. gloss'd but Hanmer.
[1383] Aristotle thought] graver sages think Rowe, followed by Pope.
[1384] adders] adders' Anon. conj.
[1385] well-order'd] well-orderd Q. well-ordred F₁ F₂. well-ordered F₃ F₄.
[1386] refractory] refracturie Q F₁.
[1387] nations] Q. nation Ff.
[1388] design] designs Rowe (ed. 2).
[1389] strike] shrike Q.
[1390] Whilst ... crept] Omitted by Pope.
[1391] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE V. Pope.
The Grecian camp.] Rowe.
Before the tent of Achilles.] Theobald.
[1392] How now] Q F₁. Now now F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1393] enginer] F₁ F₂. inginer Q. enginier F₃. engineer F₄.
[1394] ye] yee Q. thou Ff.
[1395] short-armed] short-aimed Singer (Dyce).
[1396] their] Q. the Ff.
irons] iron Capell. irons out Keightley.
[1397] Neapolitan] Neopolitan Q. om. Ff.
[1398] dependant] Ff. depending Q.
[1399] Enter Patroclus.] Ff. om. Q.
[1400] Patr.] Patr. [within. Anon. conj.
[1401] ha'] a Q. have Ff.
counterfeit] counter Rowe.
[1402] wouldst] Ff. couldst Q.
[1403] art] Ff. art not Q.
[1404] Amen.] Amen. Enter Patroclus. Anon. conj.
[1405] in prayer] Q. in a prayer Ff.
[1406] Patr. Amen.] Q. Omitted in Ff.
[1407] Where, where?] Where, where, Ff. Where? where? O where? Q.
[1408] in to] Capell. into Q Ff. up to Rowe.
[1409] thyself] Ff. Thersites Q.
[1410] mayst] maist Ff. must Q.
[1411] Patr. You rascal!... fool.] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1412] of Agamemnon] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1413] Patroclus] Ff. this Patroclus Q.
[1414] of the prover] Q. to the creator Ff. to thy creator Rowe (ed. 2). of thy creator Capell.
[1415] SCENE VI. Pope.
[1416] Patroclus] Ff. Come Patroclus Q. Come:--Patroclus Edd. conj.
[1417] [Exit.] Ff. om. Q.
[1418] a cuckold and a whore] Ff. a whore, and a cuckold Q.
[1419] emulous] Q. emulations F₁ F₂. emulatious F₃ F₄.
[1420] Now ... all!] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1421] serpigo] F₄. suppeago F₁. sarpego F₂. serpego F₃.
[1422] [Exit.] Theobald. om. Q Ff.
Enter ... and Ajax.] Capell, after line 63: transferred by Dyce. Enter ... Diomed, Aiax & Calcas. Q. Enter ... Ajax, and Chalcas. Ff (after line 63).
[1423] He shent our] Theobald. He sate, our Q. He sent our Ff. He sent us Hanmer. We sent our Collier (Theobald conj.) He sent back Keightley. See note (V).
[1424] appertainment] Ff. appertainings Q.
[1425] told so, lest] told so, least Q. told of, so F₁. told of, least F₂. told of, lest F₃ F₄. told, if so Collier conj. (withdrawn).
[1426] say so] so say Ff.
[Exit.] Rowe (ed. 2). om. Q Ff.
[1427] proud] Q F₁. a proud F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1428] you will] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. will F₁.
[1429] the cause] Ff. a cause Q.
[1430] A word, my lord.] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[1431] [Takes ...] Malone. Drawing Agamemnon apart. Capell. To Agamemnon. Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[1432] their] this Rowe (ed. 2).
[1433] composure] Q. counsell that Ff.
[1434] knits not,] knits, not F₁.
[1435] Re-enter ...] Enter ... Ff. om. Q.
[1436] SCENE VII. Pope.
[1437] him.] Q. him? Ff.
[1438] The ... flexure] As prose first by Malone. As two lines in Q Ff, the first ending courtesie.
[1439] legs are] Q F₃ F₄. legge are F₁. legges are F₂.
are ... for flexure] Q. are ... for flight Ff. are for necessity, not flexure Pope. are for necessity, not for flexure Capell.
[1440] upon] on Pope.
[1441] breath] breathing Capell conj.
Hear] F₃ F₄. Heare F₁ F₂. Heere Q.
[1442] wing'd] F₂ F₃ F₄. winged Q F₁.
[1443] all] om. Pope.
[1444] on] Q. of Ff.
beheld] upheld Mason conj.
[1445] Yea,] Q. Yea, and F₁. And F₂ F₃ F₄.
unwholesome] unholsome Q F₂. unholdsome F₁. unwholsome F₃. unwholsom F₄.
[1446] come] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. came F₁.
and] om. Pope.
[1447] And under-honest ... worthier] In self-assumption greater than in note Of judgment: say, men worthier Pope.
[1448] in the] om. Steevens conj.
and worthier] Tell him this; And add, besides, that worthier S. Walker conj.
[1449] tend] Q. tends Ff. shend Becket conj.
[1450] on, Disguise the] Ff. on Disguise, the Q.
[1451] underwrite] under-write Q. under write Ff. under-goe Pope.
[1452] pettish lunes] Hanmer. pettish lines Ff. course, and time Q. course and times Pope.
his flows] F₃ F₄. his flowes F₁ F₂. and flowes Q.
as if] Ff. and if Q.
[1453] carriage of this action] Ff. streame of his commencement Q.
[1454] See note (VI).
[1455] cannot] can't Pope.
[1456] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[1457] enter you] Ff. entertaine Q. enter Pope. enter to him Anon. conj.
[Exit Ulysses.] Ff. om. Q.
[1458] wise] wise too Capell, reading 137-155 as verse.
[1459] what pride is] Q. what it is Ff.
[1460] mind is] mind's Capell.
the clearer] clearer Rowe.
Ajax] om. Q.
[1461] that is] that's Capell.
[1462] whatever] whate'er Capell.
in the] i' the Capell.
[1463] SCENE VIII. Pope.
as I hate] Ff. as I do hate Q.
[1464] [Aside] Capell.
Yet] Ff. And yet Q.
is't] is it Capell.
Re-enter Ulysses.] Capell. Enter Ulysses. Q Ff, after line 152.
[1465] will peculiar] will-peculiar Warburton.
[1466] request's] Pope. requests Q Ff.
[1467] possess'd he is] he's possest. Pope.
[1468] worth] Q. wroth F₁ F₂. wrath F₃ F₄.
[1469] And batters.... He is] As one line S. Walker conj.
[1470] down himself] Q. gainst it selfe Ff. 'gainst himself Singer.
[1471] plaguy] om. Steevens conj.
of it] om. Hanmer.
[1472] led] Ff. lead Q.
[1473] seam] scum Mason conj.
[1474] do] F₃ F₄. doe F₁ F₂. doth Q.
[1475] he] him Hanmer.
[1476] Must] Ff. Shall Q.
stale] Rowe. staule Q F₁ F₂. staul F₃ F₄.
[1477] As ... to Achilles] One line in Q Ff. See note (VII).
[1478] titled] Ff. liked Q.
Achilles is] Achilles' is Hanmer.
[1479] Marked by Keightley as an imperfect line.
fat-already pride] Capell. fat already pride Q F₃ F₄. fat already, pride F₁ F₂. fat, already, pride Rowe. pride, already fat Pope.
[1480] lord] Lord Q F₄. L. F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1481] [Aside] Johnson.
[1482] this] Ff. his Q.
[1483] If ... face] As prose in Q Ff. As verse first in Rowe (ed. 2).
[1484] pash] Ff. push Q.
[1485] An a' ... to him] Arranged as in Q. As prose in Ff.
[1486] An a'] An a Knight. And he Q. And a Ff. An he Pope.
pheeze] phese Q Ff.
[1487] Steevens reads as verse, ending the lines describes ... raven ... blood ... patient ... men ... fashion ... so ... carry it ... shares ... supple ... praises ... dry.
[1488] [Aside] First marked by Capell.
[1489] let] Ff. tell Q.
humours] Ff. humorous Q.
[1490] He will be the] He'll be Steevens (1793).
[1491] An] Hanmer. And Q Ff.
o'] Rowe (ed. 2). of Q. a Ff.
[1492] A' ... a'] A ... a Q Ff. He ... he Rowe (ed. 2).
[1493] An 'twould] Pope. And two'od Q. And 'twould Ff.
[1494] Ulyss. A' would ... warm: force....] Distributed as by Theobald. Ajax. A would ... warme? Nest. Force.... Q. Ulis. A would ... shares. Aia. I will ... warme. Nest. Force.... Ff.
[1495] A' would] A would Q Ff. He would Rowe (ed. 2). He'd Steevens.
[1496] I will ... I'll] I'll ... I will Capell.
[1497] through] thorough Capell, reading as verse.
[1498] praises] praiers Q.
pour in, pour in] poure in, poure Q.
[1499] [To Agamemnon] Capell. om. Q Ff.
lord] Lord Q F₄. L. F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1500] does] do's Q. doth Ff.
[1501] Here ... silent] As in Ff. One line in Q.
[1502] valiant.] Ff. _valiant--_Q.
[1503] shall palter] palters Pope (reading as verse).
thus with us] Ff. with us thus Q.
[1504] Would] I would Keightley.
[1505] Ajax] our Ajax Capell.
[1506] Ulyss.] Nest. Lettsom conj.
[1507] the heavens] heaven Anon. conj.
lord] Lord Q. L. Ff.
[1508] got] Ff. gat Q.
she] her Pope.
[1509] Famed] Fam'd Q. Fame Ff.
[1510] beyond, beyond all] Ff. beyond all thy Q. beyond all Steevens (1793). above all, thy Boswell conj.
[1511] thine] Q. thy Ff.
[1512] vigour] strength and vigour Hanmer. vigor, lord Capell. vigour, let Grant White (S. Walker conj.)
[1513] I will] I'll Pope.
[1514] bourn] F₃ F₄. bourne F₁ F₂. boord Q. borne Hanmer.
[1515] Thy] Ff. This Q.
[1516] antiquary times] antiquary, Time Anon. conj.
[1517] Ajax'] Hanmer. Ajax Ff.
[1518] be] Q F₁. he F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1519] Nest.] Q. Ulis. Ff.
[1520] thicket] thicker F₂.
great] Q. om. Ff.
[1521] his] Q F₁. this F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1522] to Troy] to succour Troy Steevens conj.
to-morrow] to-morrow, friends, Pope. to-morrow, sirs, Capell. to-morrow-morn Keightley.
[1523] cull] Ff. call Q.
[1524] council] F₄. counsell Q. counsaile F₁ F₂. counsel F₃.
[1525] sail] saile Q. may saile Ff.
hulks] hulkes Q. bulkes Ff.
Act III, Scene I — Troy. A room in Priam's palace.
Enter PANDARUS and a Servant.[1526]
Pan. Friend, you, pray you, a word: do you not follow[1527] the young Lord Paris?
Serv. Ay, sir, when he goes before me.[1528]
Pan. You depend upon him, I mean?[1529]
Serv. Sir, I do depend upon the Lord. 5
Pan. You depend upon a noble gentleman; I must[1530] needs praise him.
Serv. The Lord be praised!
Pan. You know me, do you not?
Serv. Faith, sir, superficially. 10
Pan. Friend, know me better; I am the Lord Pandarus.
Serv. I hope I shall know your honour better.
Pan. I do desire it.
Serv. You are in the state of grace.[1531]
Pan. Grace! not so, friend; honour and lordship are 15 my titles. [Music within.] What music is this?[1532]
Serv. I do but partly know, sir: it is music in parts.[1533]
Pan. Know you the musicians?
Serv. Wholly, sir.
Pan. Who play they to? 20
Serv. To the hearers, sir.
Pan. At whose pleasure, friend?
Serv. At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
Pan. Command, I mean, friend.[1534]
Serv. Who shall I command, sir? 25
Pan. Friend, we understand not one another: I am too courtly, and thou art too cunning. At whose request[1535] do these men play?
Serv. That's to't, indeed, sir: marry, sir, at the request of Paris my lord, who is there in person; with him, the[1536] 30 mortal Venus, the heart-blood of beauty, love's invisible[1537] soul.[1538]
Pan. Who, my cousin Cressida?
Serv. No, sir, Helen: could not you find out that by[1539] her attributes? 35
Pan. It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not seen[1540] the Lady Cressida. I come to speak with Paris from the[1541] Prince Troilus: I will make a complimental assault upon him, for my business seethes.
Serv. Sodden business! there's a stewed phrase indeed![1542] 40
Enter PARIS and HELEN, attended.[1543]
Pan. Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! fair desires, in all fair measure, fairly guide them! especially to you, fair queen! fair thoughts be your fair pillow!
Helen. Dear lord, you are full of fair words.[1544] 45
Pan. You speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. Fair prince, here is good broken music.
Par. You have broke it, cousin: and, by my life, you[1545] shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance. Nell, he is full of harmony.[1546] 50
Pan. Truly, lady, no.
Helen. O, sir,--
Pan. Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
Par. Well said, my lord! well, you say so in fits.[1547]
Pan. I have business to my lord, dear queen. My 55 lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?
Helen. Nay, this shall not hedge us out: we'll hear[1548] you sing, certainly.
Pan. Well, sweet queen, you are pleasant with me. But, marry, thus, my lord: my dear lord, and most esteemed 60 friend, your brother Troilus--
Helen. My Lord Pandarus; honey-sweet lord,--
Pan. Go to, sweet queen, go to:--commends himself[1549] most affectionately to you--[1549]
Helen. You shall not bob us out of our melody: if you[1550] 65 do, our melancholy upon your head![1550]
Pan. Sweet queen, sweet queen; that's a sweet queen, i' faith.[1551]
Helen. And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.[1552]
Pan. Nay, that shall not serve your turn; that shall it[1553] 70 not, in truth, la. Nay, I care not for such words; no, no.[1553] And, my lord, he desires you, that if the king call for him[1553] at supper, you will make his excuse.[1553][1554]
Helen. My Lord Pandarus,--
Pan. What says my sweet queen, my very very sweet[1555] 75 queen?
Par. What exploit's in hand? where sups he to-night?[1556]
Helen. Nay, but, my lord,--
Pan. What says my sweet queen? My cousin will[1557][1558] fall out with you. You must not know where he sups.[1557][1558][1559] 80
Par. I'll lay my life, with my disposer Cressida.[1557][1560][1561]
Pan. No, no, no such matter; you are wide: come, your disposer is sick.[1561]
Par. Well, I'll make excuse.[1562]
Pan. Ay, good my lord. Why should you say Cressida? 85 no, your poor disposer's sick.[1561][1563]
Par. I spy.[1564]
Pan. You spy! what do you spy? Come, give me an instrument. Now, sweet queen.[1565]
Helen. Why, this is kindly done.[1566] 90
Pan. My niece is horribly in love with a thing you[1567] have, sweet queen.
Helen. She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my lord Paris.
Pan. He! no, she'll none of him; they two are twain.[1568] 95
Helen. Falling in, after falling out, may make them three.
Pan. Come, come, I'll hear no more of this; I'll sing you a song now.
Helen. Ay, ay, prithee now. By my troth, sweet lord,[1569] thou hast a fine forehead. 100
Pan. Ay, you may, you may.[1570]
Helen. Let thy song be love: this love will undo us all. O Cupid, Cupid, Cupid!
Pan. Love! ay, that it shall, i'faith.
Par. Ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love. 105
Pan. In good troth, it begins so. [Sings.[1571]
Love, love, nothing but love, still more![1572] For, O, love's bow[1573] Shoots buck and doe:[1573][1574] The shaft confounds,[1575][1576] 110 Not that it wounds,[1575] But tickles still the sore. These lovers cry Oh! oh! they die:[1577] Yet that which seems the wound to kill,[1578] Doth turn oh! oh! to ha! ha! he![1577][1579] 115 So dying love lives still: Oh! oh! a while, but ha! ha! ha![1577] Oh! oh! groans out for ha! ha! ha![1577]
Heigh-ho![1580]
Helen. In love, i'faith, to the very tip of the nose. 120
Par. He eats nothing but doves, love, and that breeds[1581] hot blood and hot blood begets hot thoughts and hot thoughts beget hot deeds and hot deeds is love.[1582]
Pan. Is this the generation of love? hot blood, hot[1583] thoughts and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers: is love a[1583][1584] 125 generation of vipers? Sweet lord, who's afield to-day?[1583][1585]
Par. Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the gallantry of Troy: I would fain have armed to-day, but[1586] my Nell would not have it so. How chance my brother Troilus went not? 130
Helen. He hangs the lip at something: you know all, Lord Pandarus.
Pan. Not I, honey-sweet queen. I long to hear how they sped to-day. You'll remember your brother's excuse?
Par. To a hair. 135
Pan. Farewell, sweet queen.
Helen. Commend me to your niece.
Pan. I will, sweet queen. [Exit.
[A retreat sounded.[1587]
Par. They're come from field: let us to Priam's hall,[1588] To greet the warriors. Sweet Helen, I must woo you 140 To help unarm our Hector: his stubborn buckles, With these your white enchanting fingers touch'd,[1589] Shall more obey than to the edge of steel Or force of Greekish sinews; you shall do more Than all the island kings,--disarm great Hector. 145
Helen. 'Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris;[1590] Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty Gives us more palm in beauty than we have, Yea, overshines ourself.
Par. Sweet, above thought I love thee. [Exeunt.[1591] 150
Act III, Scene II — An orchard to Pandarus' house.
Enter PANDARUS and TROILUS' Boy, meeting.[1592]
Pan. How now! where's thy master? at my cousin[1593] Cressida's?
Boy. No, sir; he stays for you to conduct him thither.[1594]
Pan. O, here he comes.
Enter TROILUS.
How now, how now! 5
Tro. Sirrah, walk off. [Exit Boy.[1595]
Pan. Have you seen my cousin?
Tro. No, Pandarus: I stalk about her door, Like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks[1596] Staying for waftage. O, be thou my Charon, 10 And give me swift transportance to those fields[1597] Where I may wallow in the lily-beds Proposed for the deserver! O gentle Pandarus,[1598] From Cupid's shoulder pluck his painted wings, And fly with me to Cressid! 15
Pan. Walk here i' the orchard, I'll bring her straight.
[Exit.[1599]
Tro. I am giddy; expectation whirls me round.[1600] The imaginary relish is so sweet That it enchants my sense: what will it be,[1601] When that the watery palates taste indeed[1602] 20 Love's thrice repured nectar? death, I fear me,[1603] Swounding destruction, or some joy too fine,[1604] Too subtle-potent, tuned too sharp in sweetness,[1605] For the capacity of my ruder powers:[1606] I fear it much, and I do fear besides 25 That I shall lose distinction in my joys, As doth a battle, when they charge on heaps The enemy flying.
Re-enter PANDARUS.[1607]
Pan. She's making her ready, she'll come straight: you must be witty now. She does so blush, and fetches 30 her wind so short, as if she were frayed with a sprite: I'll[1608] fetch her. It is the prettiest villain: she fetches her breath[1609] as short as a new-ta'en sparrow. [Exit.[1610]
Tro. Even such a passion doth embrace my bosom: My heart beats thicker than a feverous pulse; 35 And all my powers do their bestowing lose, Like vassalage at unawares encountering[1611] The eye of majesty.
Re-enter PANDARUS with CRESSIDA.[1612]
Pan. Come, come, what need you blush? shame's a[1613] baby. Here she is now: swear the oaths now to her that 40 you have sworn to me. What, are you gone again? you must be watched ere you be made tame, must you? Come your ways, come your ways; an you draw backward, we'll[1614] put you i' the fills. Why do you not speak to her? Come,[1615] draw this curtain, and let's see your picture. Alas the day,[1616] 45 how loath you are to offend daylight! an 'twere dark, you'ld close sooner. So, so; rub on, and kiss the mistress. How now! a kiss in fee-farm! build there, carpenter; the air is sweet. Nay, you shall fight your hearts out ere I part you. The falcon as the tercel, for all the ducks i' the river: go[1617] 50 to, go to.
Tro. You have bereft me of all words, lady.
Pan. Words pay no debts, give her deeds: but she'll bereave you o' the deeds too, if she call your activity in[1618] question. What, billing again? Here's 'In witness whereof[1619] 55 the parties interchangeably'--Come in, come in: I'll go get[1619] a fire. [Exit.[1620]
Cres. Will you walk in, my lord?
Tro. O Cressida, how often have I wished me thus![1621]
Cres. Wished, my lord?--The gods grant--O my lord![1622] 60
Tro. What should they grant? what makes this pretty abruption? What too curious dreg espies my sweet lady[1623] in the fountain of our love?
Cres. More dregs than water, if my fears have eyes.[1624]
Tro. Fears make devils of cherubins; they never see truly.[1625] 65
Cres. Blind fear, that seeing reason leads, finds safer[1626] footing than blind reason stumbling without fear: to fear the worst oft cures the worse.[1627]
Tro. O, let my lady apprehend no fear: in all Cupid's[1628] pageant there is presented no monster.[1628] 70
Cres. Nor nothing monstrous neither?[1629]
Tro. Nothing, but our undertakings; when we vow to[1630] weep seas, live in fire, eat rocks, tame tigers; thinking it harder for our mistress to devise imposition enough than for us to undergo any difficulty imposed. This is the[1631] 75 monstruosity in love, lady, that the will is infinite and the execution confined, that the desire is boundless and the act a slave to limit.
Cres. They say, all lovers swear more performance than they are able, and yet reserve an ability that they never 80 perform, vowing more than the perfection of ten and discharging less than the tenth part of one. They that have the voice of lions and the act of hares, are they not monsters?
Tro. Are there such? such are not we: praise us as we are tasted, allow us as we prove; our head shall go bare till 85 merit crown it: no perfection in reversion shall have a praise[1632] in present: we will not name desert before his birth, and, being born, his addition shall be humble. Few words to fair faith: Troilus shall be such to Cressid as what envy can say worst shall be a mock for his truth, and what[1633] 90 truth can speak truest, not truer than Troilus.
Cres. Will you walk in, my lord?
Re-enter PANDARUS.[1634]
Pan. What, blushing still? have you not done talking[1635] yet?
Cres. Well, uncle, what folly I commit, I dedicate to 95 you.
Pan. I thank you for that: if my lord get a boy of you, you'll give him me. Be true to my lord: if he flinch, chide me for it.
Tro. You know now your hostages; your uncle's word 100 and my firm faith.
Pan. Nay, I 'll give my word for her too: our kindred, though they be long ere they are wooed, they are constant[1636] being won: they are burs, I can tell you; they'll stick where they are thrown. 105
Cres. Boldness comes to me now, and brings me heart.[1637] Prince Troilus, I have loved you night and day[1637] For many weary months.[1637]
Tro. Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?
Cres. Hard to seem won: but I was won, my lord, 110 With the first glance that ever--pardon me;[1638] If I confess much, you will play the tyrant. I love you now; but not, till now, so much[1639] But I might master it: in faith, I lie; My thoughts were like unbridled children, grown[1640] 115 Too headstrong for their mother. See, we fools! Why have I blabb'd? who shall be true to us, When we are so unsecret to ourselves? But, though I loved you well, I woo'd you not; And yet, good faith, I wish'd myself a man, 120 Or that we women had men's privilege[1641] Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue; For in this rapture I shall surely speak The thing I shall repent. See, see, your silence,[1642] Cunning in dumbness, from my weakness draws[1643] 125 My very soul of counsel! Stop my mouth.[1644]
Tro. And shall, albeit sweet music issues thence.[1645]
Pan. Pretty, i' faith.
Cres. My lord, I do beseech you, pardon me; 'Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss: 130 I am ashamed; O heavens! what have I done? For this time will I take my leave, my lord.
Tro. Your leave, sweet Cressid?[1646]
Pan. Leave! an you take leave till to-morrow morning--[1647]
Cres. Pray you, content you.[1648] 135
Tro. What offends you, lady?[1648]
Cres. Sir, mine own company.[1648]
Tro. You cannot shun yourself.[1648][1649]
Cres. Let me go and try:[1648][1650] I have a kind of self resides with you,[1651] 140 But an unkind self that itself will leave To be another's fool. I would be gone:[1652] Where is my wit? I know not what I speak.[1652]
Tro. Well know they what they speak that speak so wisely.[1653]
Cres. Perchance, my lord, I show more craft than love,[1654] 145 And fell so roundly to a large confession To angle for your thoughts: but you are wise;[1655] Or else you love not, for to be wise and love[1655][1656] Exceeds man's might; that dwells with gods above.[1657]
Tro. O that I thought it could be in a woman-- 150 As, if it can, I will presume in you--[1658] To feed for aye her lamp and flames of love;[1659] To keep her constancy in plight and youth, Outliving beauty's outward, with a mind[1660] That doth renew swifter than blood decays! 155 Or that persuasion could but thus convince me,[1661] That my integrity and truth to you Might be affronted with the match and weight Of such a winnowed purity in love;[1662] How were I then uplifted! but, alas! 160 I am as true as truth's simplicity And simpler than the infancy of truth.
Cres. In that I'll war with you.
Tro. O virtuous fight, When right with right wars who shall be most right![1663] True swains in love shall in the world to come[1664] 165 Approve their truths by Troilus: when their rhymes,[1665] Full of protest, of oath and big compare, Want similes, truth tired with iteration,[1666] 'As true as steel, as plantage to the moon,[1667] As sun to day, as turtle to her mate, 170 As iron to adamant, as earth to the centre,' Yet, after all comparisons of truth,[1668] As truth's authentic author to be cited,[1669] 'As true as Troilus' shall crown up the verse[1670] And sanctify the numbers.
Cres. Prophet may you be! 175 If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth, When time is old and hath forgot itself,[1671] When waterdrops have worn the stones of Troy, And blind oblivion swallow'd cities up, And mighty states characterless are grated 180 To dusty nothing, yet let memory, From false to false, among false maids in love, Upbraid my falsehood! when they've said 'as false[1672] As air, as water, wind, or sandy earth,[1673] As fox to lamb, or wolf to heifer's calf,[1674] 185 Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son,' 'Yea,' let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood, 'As false as Cressid.'
Pan. Go to, a bargain made: seal it, seal it; I'll be the witness. Here I hold your hand; here my cousin's. If ever[1675] 190 you prove false one to another, since I have taken such pains[1676] to bring you together, let all pitiful goers-between be called to the world's end after my name; call them all Pandars; let all constant men be Troiluses, all false women Cressids,[1677] and all brokers-between Pandars! Say 'amen.' 195
Tro. Amen.
Cres. Amen.
Pan. Amen. Whereupon I will show you a chamber[1678] with a bed; which bed, because it shall not speak of your[1678] pretty encounters, press it to death: away![1679] 200
[Exeunt Tro. and Cres.
And Cupid grant all tongue-tied maidens here Bed, chamber, Pandar to provide this gear!
[Exit.[1680]
Act III, Scene III — The Grecian camp.
Flourish. Enter AGAMEMNON, ULYSSES, DIOMEDES, NESTOR, AJAX, MENELAUS, and CALCHAS.[1681]
Cal. Now, princes, for the service I have done you,[1682] The advantage of the time prompts me aloud To call for recompense. Appear it to your mind[1683] That, through the sight I bear in things to love,[1684] I have abandon'd Troy, left my possession,[1685] 5 Incurr'd a traitor's name; exposed myself, From certain and possess'd conveniences, To doubtful fortunes; sequestering from me all[1686] That time, acquaintance, custom and condition Made tame and most familiar to my nature, 10 And here, to do you service, am become As new into the world, strange, unacquainted:[1687] I do beseech you, as in way of taste, To give me now a little benefit, Out of those many register'd in promise, 15 Which, you say, live to come in my behalf.
Agam. What wouldst thou of us, Trojan? make demand.
Cal. You have a Trojan prisoner, call'd Antenor, Yesterday took: Troy holds him very dear. Oft have you--often have you thanks therefore-- 20 Desired my Cressid in right great exchange, Whom Troy hath still denied: but this Antenor, I know, is such a wrest in their affairs[1688] That their negotiations all must slack, Wanting his manage; and they will almost[1689] 25 Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam,[1690] 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,[1691] 30 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[1692] Be answer'd in his challenge: Ajax is ready. 35
Dio. This shall I undertake; and 'tis a burthen Which I am proud to bear. [Exeunt Diomedes and Calchas.
Enter ACHILLES and PATROCLUS, before their tent.[1693]
Ulyss. Achilles stands i' the entrance of his tent: Please it our general pass strangely by him,[1694] As if he were forgot; and, princes all, 40 Lay negligent and loose regard upon him: I will come last. 'Tis like he'll question me Why such unplausive eyes are bent on him:[1695] If so, I have derision medicinable,[1696] To use between your strangeness and his pride,[1697] 45 Which his own will shall have desire to drink. It may do good: pride hath no other glass To show itself but pride, for supple knees Feed arrogance and are the proud man's fees.
Agam. We'll execute your purpose and put on 50 A form of strangeness as we pass along; So do each lord, and either greet him not 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? 55 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?
Achil. No.
Nest. Nothing, my lord. 60
Agam. The better. [Exeunt Agamemnon and Nestor.[1698]
Achil. Good day, good day.
Men. How do you? how do you? [Exit.[1699]
Achil. What, does the cuckold scorn me?
Ajax. How now, Patroclus! 65
Achil. Good morrow, Ajax.
Ajax. Ha?[1700]
Achil. Good morrow.[1701]
Ajax. Ay, and good next day too. [Exit.[1702]
Achil. What mean these fellows? Know they not Achilles?[1703] 70
Patr. They pass by strangely: they were used to bend,[1704] To send their smiles before them to Achilles, To come as humbly as they used to creep[1705][1706] To holy altars.[1705]
Achil. What, am I poor of late? 'Tis certain, greatness, once fall'n out with fortune, 75 Must fall out with men too: what the declined is, He shall as soon read in the eyes of others As feel in his own fall: for men, like butterflies, Show not their mealy wings but to the summer, And not a man, for being simply man,[1707] 80 Hath any honour, but honour for those honours[1708] That are without him, as place, riches, and favour,[1709] Prizes of accident as oft as merit: Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, The love that lean'd on them as slippery too,[1710] 85 Do one pluck down another and together[1711][1712] Die in the fall. But 'tis not so with me:[1712] Fortune and I are friends: I do enjoy At ample point all that I did possess, Save these men's looks; who do, methinks, find out 90 Something not worth in me such rich beholding[1713] As they have often given. Here is Ulysses: I'll interrupt his reading.[1714] How now, Ulysses![1714]
Ulyss. Now, great Thetis' son![1715]
Achil. What are you reading?
Ulyss. A strange fellow here 95 Writes me: 'That man, how dearly ever parted, How much in having, or without or in, Cannot make boast to have that which he hath, Nor feels not what he owes, but by reflection; As when his virtues shining upon others[1716] 100 Heat them, and they retort that heat again To the first giver.'[1717]
Achil. This is not strange, Ulysses. The beauty that is borne here in the face[1718] The bearer knows not, but commends itself[1719] To others' eyes: nor doth the eye itself,[1720] 105 That most pure spirit of sense, behold itself,[1720] Not going from itself; but eye to eye opposed[1721] Salutes each other with each other's form:[1722] For speculation turns not to itself, Till it hath travell'd and is married there[1723] 110 Where it may see itself. This is not strange at all.[1724]
Ulyss. I do not strain at the position--[1725] It is familiar--but at the author's drift;[1726] Who in his circumstance expressly proves That no man is the lord of any thing,[1727] 115 Though in and of him there be much consisting,[1728] Till he communicate his parts to others; Nor doth he of himself know them for aught Till he behold them formed in the applause[1729] Where they're extended; who, like an arch, reverberates[1730] 120 The voice again; or, like a gate of steel Fronting the sun, receives and renders back His figure and his heat. I was much rapt in this;[1731] And apprehended here immediately[1731][1732] The unknown Ajax.[1731][1733] 125 Heavens, what a man is there! a very horse;[1731][1733] That has he knows not what. Nature, what things there are,[1731][1733][1734] Most abject in regard and dear in use![1731][1733][1735] What things again most dear in the esteem[1733] And poor in worth! Now shall we see to-morrow--[1733][1736] 130 An act that very chance doth throw upon him--[1733][1736][1737] Ajax renown'd. O heavens, what some men do,[1733][1736][1738] While some men leave to do![1733][1739] How some men creep in skittish fortune's hall,[1739][1740] While others play the idiots in her eyes![1739] 135 How one man eats into another's pride, While pride is fasting in his wantonness![1741] To see these Grecian lords! Why, even already They clap the lubber Ajax on the shoulder, As if his foot were on brave Hector's breast[1742] 140 And great Troy shrieking.[1743]
Achil. I do believe it; for they pass'd by me[1744][1745] As misers do by beggars, neither gave to me[1744] Good word nor look: what, are my deeds forgot?[1744][1746]
Ulyss. Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back 145 Wherein he puts alms for oblivion, A great-sized monster of ingratitudes:[1747] Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devour'd[1748] As fast as they are made, forgot as soon[1748] As done: perseverance, dear my lord,[1748][1749][1750] 150 Keeps honour bright: to have done, is to hang[1749] Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail[1751] In monumental mockery. Take the instant way;[1752] For honour travels in a strait so narrow, Where one but goes abreast: keep then the path;[1753] 155 For emulation hath a thousand sons That one by one pursue: if you give way, Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,[1754] Like to an enter'd tide they all rush by And leave you hindmost:[1755][1756][1757] 160 Or, like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,[1755][1756][1757][1758] Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,[1755][1756][1759][1760][1761] O'er-run and trampled on: then what they do in present,[1755][1756][1760] Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;[1755][1762] For time is like a fashionable host[1755] 165 That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,[1755] And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would fly,[1755][1763] Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles,[1755][1764] And farewell goes out sighing. O, let not virtue seek[1755][1765][1766] Remuneration for the thing it was;[1755][1766][1767] 170 For beauty, wit,[1755][1767] High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service,[1755][1768] Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all[1755][1769] To envious and calumniating time. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin; 175 That all with one consent praise new-born gawds, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And give to dust that is a little gilt[1770][1771] More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.[1770][1772] The present eye praises the present object: 180 Then marvel not, thou great and complete man, That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax;[1773] Since things in motion sooner catch the eye[1774] Than what not stirs. The cry went once on thee,[1775] And still it might, and yet it may again, 185 If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive And case thy reputation in thy tent, Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, Made emulous missions 'mongst the gods themselves,[1776] And drave great Mars to faction.
Achil. Of this my privacy[1777] 190 I have strong reasons.
Ulyss. But 'gainst your privacy[1778] The reasons are more potent and heroical: 'Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love With one of Priam's daughters.
Achil. Ha! known?[1779]
Ulyss. Is that a wonder? 195 The providence that's in a watchful state Knows almost every grain of Plutus' gold,[1780] Finds bottom in the uncomprehensive deeps,[1781] Keeps place with thought and almost like the gods[1782][1783] Does thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles.[1782][1784] 200 There is a mystery, with whom relation[1785] Durst never meddle, in the soul of state; Which hath an operation more divine Than breath or pen can give expressure to:[1786] All the commerce that you have had with Troy 205 As perfectly is ours as yours, my lord; And better would it fit Achilles much To throw down Hector than Polyxena: But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home, When fame shall in our islands sound her trump;[1787] 210 And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing 'Great Hector's sister did Achilles win, But our great Ajax bravely beat down him.'[1788] Farewell, my lord: I as your lover speak; The fool slides o'er the ice that you should break. [Exit.[1789] 215
Patr. To this effect, Achilles, have I moved you:[1790] A woman impudent and mannish grown Is not more loathed than an effeminate man In time of action. I stand condemn'd for this;[1791] They think my little stomach to the war 220 And your great love to me restrains you thus: Sweet, rouse yourself, and the weak wanton Cupid[1792] Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold,[1793] And, like a dew-drop from the lion's mane,[1794] Be shook to air.[1795]
Achil. Shall Ajax fight with Hector? 225
Patr. Ay, and perhaps receive much honour by him.
Achil. I see my reputation is at stake; My fame is shrewdly gored.[1796]
Patr. O, then, beware; Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves: Omission to do what is necessary 230 Seals a commission to a blank of danger; And danger, like an ague, subtly taints Even then when we sit idly in the sun.[1797]
Achil. Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus: I'll send the fool to Ajax and desire him 235 To invite the Trojan lords after the combat To see us here unarm'd: I have a woman's longing,[1798] An appetite that I am sick withal, To see great Hector in his weeds of peace;[1799] To talk with him, and to behold his visage, 240 Even to my full of view.--A labour saved!
Enter THERSITES.[1800]
Ther. A wonder![1801]
Achil. What?
Ther. Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for himself.
Achil. How so? 245
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, a' stalks up and down like a peacock,--a[1802] 250 stride and a stand: ruminates like an hostess 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[1803] coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without 255 knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break't himself in vainglory.[1804] He knows not me: I said 'Good morrow, Ajax;' and he replies 'Thanks, Agamemnon.' What think you of[1805] this man, that takes me for the general? He's grown a very 260 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.[1806]
Ther. Who, I? why, he'll answer nobody; he professes not answering: speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue 265 in's arms. I will put on his presence: let Patroclus make demands to me, you shall see the pageant of Ajax.[1807]
Achil. To him, Patroclus: tell him I humbly desire the valiant Ajax to invite the most valorous Hector to[1808] come unarmed to my tent, and to procure safe-conduct for 270 his person of the magnanimous and most illustrious[1809] six-or-seven-times-honoured captain-general of the Grecian army,[1810] Agamemnon, et cetera. Do this.[1811]
Patr. Jove bless great Ajax!
Ther. Hum! 275
Patr. I come from the worthy Achilles,--
Ther. Ha!
Patr. Who most humbly desires you to invite Hector to his tent,--
Ther. Hum! 280
Patr. And to procure safe-conduct from Agamemnon.
Ther. Agamemnon?
Patr. Ay, my lord.
Ther. Ha!
Patr. What say you to 't? 285
Ther. God be wi' you, with all my heart.[1812]
Patr. Your answer, sir.
Ther. If to-morrow be a fair day, by eleven of the[1813] clock it will go one way or other: howsoever, he shall pay for me ere he has me. 290
Patr. Your answer, sir.
Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart.[1814]
Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?
Ther. No, but he's out o' tune thus. What music will[1815][1816] be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains, I know[1816] 295 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[1817] more capable creature. 300
Achil. My mind is troubled like a fountain stirr'd, And I myself see not the bottom of it.
[Exeunt Achilles and Patroclus.[1818]
Ther. Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at it! I had rather be a tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance. [Exit.[1819] 305
FOOTNOTES:
[1526] ACT III. SCENE I.] Rowe.
Troy.] Rowe.
A room ...] Capell. Paris's Apartments in the Palace. Theobald.
Enter ...] Ff. Enter Pandarus. Q.
[1527] you not] Q. not you Ff.
[1528] Serv.] Ser. Ff. Man. Q (and throughout the scene).
[1529] I mean?] Ff. I meane. Q.
[1530] noble] Ff. notable Q.
[1531] You are] Are you Hanmer.
grace.] Warburton. grace? Q Ff.
[1532] titles] Q F₃ F₄. title F₁ F₂.
[Music within.] Capell. Musicke sounds within. Ff (after Exeunt, at the end of the previous Act). Omitted in Q. Put at the beginning of this scene by Rowe (ed. 2).
[1533] but] om. Pope (ed. 2).
[1534] friend] om. Q.
[1535] too ... art too] Ff. to ... to Q.
[1536] who is] Q. who's Ff.
[1537] invisible] visible Hanmer. invincible Becket conj.
[1538] soul.] soul,--Edd. (Globe Ed.)
[1539] not you] Q. you not Ff.
[1540] that] Ff. om. Q.
[1541] Cressida] Ff. Cressid Q.
[1542] there's] Ff. theirs Q.
[1543] Enter Paris....] Theobald. Enter Paris and Hellen. Q. Enter ... Helena. Ff.
[1544] lord] Q F₄. L. F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1545] broke] Q F₁. broken F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1546] Nell, he] Nel, (in italics) he F₁ F₄. Nel. (in italics) he Q F₂ F₃. Hel. He Anon. conj.
[1547] in fits] in jest Heath conj. it fits Nares conj.
[1548] hear] heare Ff. here Q.
[1549] Go to ... you] As prose first by Capell. Two lines in Q Ff.
[1550] You shall ... head] As prose first by Hanmer. Two lines in Q Ff.
[1551] i' faith.] I faith-- Q Ff.
[1552] And ... offence] Continued to Pandarus by Hanmer. Given to Paris by Capell.
[1553] Pan. Nay ... excuse.] Q Ff. Nay ... no, no-- Pan. And ... excuse. Rowe. Hel. Nay ... no, no. Paris. And ... excuse. Capell.
[1554] supper, you] super. You Q.
his] Q F₁ F₄. this F₂ F₃.
[1555] queen, my] Queenem, y Q.
[1556] Par.] Pan. Steevens (1778).
where] were F₂.
[1557] Pan. What ... Cressida.] Pan. What ... queen? Par. [To Helen.] My ... you. Pan. [To Paris.] You ... sups. Helen. I'll ... deposer Cressida. Ritson conj.
[1558] My ... you.] Transposed by Capell to follow twain, line 95.
My ... sups.] Par. My ... you. Pan. You ... sups. Thirlby conj.
[1559] You ... sups.] Continued to Pandarus by Hanmer. Given to Helen in Q Ff. Hel. You must know ... sups. Johnson (1771).
[1560] Par.] Q F₁ F₃ F₄. Pan. F₂. Helen Rann (Steevens conj.)
I'll lay my life] Q. Omitted in Ff.
my disposer] his disposer Pye conj.
[1561] disposer] dispouser Warburton. deposer Rann (Steevens conj.) despiser Malone conj. dispraiser Collier (Collier MS.)
[1562] make] Ff. makes Q. make's Capell conj.
[1563] poor disposer's] Ff. disposers Q.
[1564] spy.] spie. Ff. spie? Q. spy-- Rowe.
[1565] instrument. Now] Johnson. instrument, now Q. instrument now F₁ F₂ F₃. instrument now, F₄.
[1566] done.] F₃ F₄. done? Q F₁ F₂.
[1567] horribly] Q. horrible Ff.
[1568] twain.] tawine. Q. twain.--My cousin will fall out with you. Capell.
[1569] now. By] now: by Ff. now by Q.
lord] Ff. lad Q.
[1570] may.] Q Ff. may-- Rowe.
[1571] In good ... so] Ff. Omitted in Q.
[Sings.] Song. Capell. om. Q Ff.
[1572] Love ... more!] As prose by Johnson. As part of the Song in Q Ff.
still more] Ff. still love, still more Q (followed by Johnson).
[1573] For, O, ... doe] Two lines in Ff. One in Q.
[1574] buck] bucke Q F₁. both bucke F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1575] The ... wounds] As in Pope. One line in Q Ff.
[1576] shaft confounds,] Johnson. shafts confound Q. shaft confounds Ff.
[1577] Oh! oh!] Oh ho Q Ff.
[1578] Yet ... kill] But that which seems to kill Johnson conj.
the wound] Q F₁. they wound F₂ F₃ F₄. a wound Collier MS.
[1579] turn] turn, Pope.
[1580] Heigh-ho!] As prose first by Rann. As part of the song in Q Ff.
[1581] doves, love] doves' liver Anon. conj.
[1582] is] are Rowe.
[1583] Pan. Is ... to-day?] Hel. Is ... vipers? Pan. Sweet ... to-day? Ritson conj.
[1584] deeds?] Rowe. deedes, Q Ff. deeds,-- Capell.
[1585] who's afield] Rowe. who's a field F₄. whose a field Q F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1586] to-day] to-night Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).
[1587] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[A retreat sounded.] Capell. Sound a retreat. Q Ff.
[1588] They're] Ff. Their Q.
field] Ff. the field Q.
[1589] these] Ff. this Q.
[1590] his] Q F₁. your F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1591] Par.] Q. Omitted in Ff.
Sweet, above ... thee.] Pope. Sweete, above ... thee. Ff. Sweet above ... her? Q. Sweet, above thought, I love thee. Rowe (continuing the speech to Helen). Sweet. Above ... her. Johnson.
[1592] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE III. Pope. om. Q Ff.
An orchard....] Theobald. Pandarus' garden. Capell.
Enter ... meeting.] Enter a Servant, and Pandarus, meeting. Capell. Enter. Pandarus Troylus, man. Q. Enter Pandarus and Troylus Man (Troilus F₃. Troilus's F₄) Ff.
[1593] How now] Now Pope, reading as verse.
[1594] he stays for] Ff. stayes for Q. he stays Pope. he prays Warburton.
[1595] [Exit Boy.] Exit Servant. Capell. om. Q Ff.
[1596] Like] Ff. Like to Q.
[1597] those] Ff. these Q.
[1598] O ... Pandarus] Ff. O ... Pandar Q. Gentle Pandarus Pope.
[1599] I'll] I will Pope.
[Exit.] Exit Pandarus. Ff. om. Q.
[1600] I am] I'm Pope.
[1601] sense] senses Capell conj.
[1602] palates taste] palate tasts Hanmer.
[1603] repured] Q. reputed Ff. See note (VIII).
[1604] Swounding] Sounding Q Ff. Swooning Pope.
[1605] Too subtle-potent] Theobald. To subtill, potent Q. Too subtile, potent Ff.
tuned too] tun’d to Q. and too Ff.
[1606] ruder] rude Pope.
[1607] Re-enter ...] Enter ... Ff. om. Q.
[1608] sprite] Ff. spirite Q.
[1609] fetch] bring Pope.
[1610] as short] Q. so short Ff.
[Exit.] Exit Pand. Ff. om. Q.
[1611] unawares] unwares Q. unawarres F₂.
[1612] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter pandar and Cressid. Q. Enter Pandarus and Cressida. Ff.
[1613] SCENE IV. Pope.
Come ... blush?] Prose in Pope. Verse in Q Ff.
[1614] an] Capell. and Q Ff. if Pope.
[1615] fills] filles Q. fils F₁. files F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1616] the] thy Hanmer.
[1617] as] has Rowe, followed by Pope. as good as Hanmer. at Heath conj.
[1618] o'the] ath' Q. 'oth' F₁ F₂. o' th' F₃ F₄. of Pope.
[1619] Here's 'In-witness ... inter-changeably'--] here's, in witness ... interchangeably-- Theobald, here's in witnesse ... interchangeably. Q Ff.
[1620] [Exit.] Exit Pand. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Q F₁.
[1621] Cressida] Ff. Cressed Q.
[1622] grant--] Pope. graunt? Q. grant? F₁ F₂ F₃. grant; F₄. grant;-- Rowe.
[1623] What ... lady] What dreg espies my too curious sweet lady Hanmer.
[1624] fears] F₃. teares Q F₁ F₂. tears F₄.
[1625] of] om. Reed (1803, 1813, 1821), Harness, Knight.
cherubins] cherubims Capell.
[1626] that] which Pope.
safer] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. safe. F₁.
[1627] worse] worst Capell.
[1628] O, let ... monster.] Printed as prose first by Pope. As two lines, the first ending feare, in Q Ff.
[1629] Nor] Q F₂ F₃ F₄. Not F₁.
neither?] Ff. neither. Q.
[1630] our] Q F₁. their F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1631] is] om. Q.
monstruosity] monstrositie F₃. monstrosity F₄.
[1632] merit crown it: no perfection] Ff (crowne it: F₁ F₂). merit louer part no affection Q. merit cover it: no perfection Delius conj.
[1633] for his truth] 'fore his truth Hanmer.
[1634] Re-enter ...] Enter ... Ff. om. Q.]
[1635] SCENE V. Pope.
[1636] are wooed] bee woed Q.
[1637] Boldness ... months.] As verse first by Rowe. As prose in Q Ff.
[1638] glance that ever--pardon] Rowe. glance; that ever pardon Q F₁. glance that ever: pardon F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1639] not, till now,] not till now Ff. till now not Q.
[1640] grown] F₃ F₄. growne F₂. grone Q. grow F₁.
[1641] we] Q F₁. the F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1642] See, see] See Rowe (ed. 2).
[1643] Cunning] Pope. Comming Q F₁ F₂ F₃. Coming F₄.
from] for Rowe (ed. 2).
[1644] My very soul of counsel] Q. My soule of counsell from me Ff.
[1645] [Kissing. Rowe.
[1646] sweet] fair Capell.
[1647] an] Pope. and Q Ff.
morning--] F₃ F₄. morning. Q F₁ F₂.
[1648] Pray ... try:] Printed as in Q Ff. As three lines, ending lady? ... shun ... try: by Steevens (1793).
[1649] cannot] can't S. Walker conj. reading Sir ... yourself as one line.
[1650] go and try] go try Pope. go in, my lord, and try Steevens conj.
[1651] kind of self resides] kind self that resides Collier MS.
resides] F₂ F₃ F₄. recids Q. recides F₁.
[1652] I would ... speak.] Q. Where is my wit? I would be gone: I speake I know not what. Ff.
[1653] that speak] that speakes F₁.
[1654] show] Q F₃. shew F₁ F₂ F₄. shew'd or show'd Capell conj.
[1655] you are ... you] we're ... we Johnson conj. you are not ... you Keightley.
[1656] Or else] A sign Hanmer. And then Capell. And eke or And so Anon. conj.
not] om. Malone conj.
for] om. Pope.
[1657] that] and Rowe.
[1658] As] Q F₁. And F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1659] aye] age Q.
[1660] beauty’s] Capell. beauties Q Ff.
[1661] Or] Oh Hanmer.
[1662] winnowed] Q Ff. winnow’d Pope.
purity] puriritie F₁.
[1663] When ... right] Omitted by Pope.
shall] should F₄.
right!] right, Q. right: F₁. right? F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1664] to come] come Steevens (1778), a misprint.
[1665] truths] trueth Q.
[1666] Want similes] F₃. Wants simele's Q. Wants similes F₁. Want smiles F₂. Want similies F₄.
similes, truth] similes of truth Rann (Tyrwhitt conj.)
[1667] plantage ... moon] planets to the moon Pope. planets to their moons Theobald (Warburton conj. withdrawn). floodage to the moon Heath conj.
[1668] Yet] om. Q.
[1669] truth’s authentic author] truth authentick, ever Warburton.
[1670] up] om. Capell conj.
[1671] When] O then, when Anon. apud Rann. conj.
and hath] or hath Q.
[1672] they've] they'ave Ff. th' have Q.
[1673] wind, or] Q. as winde, as Ff. wind, as Pope.
[1674] or wolf] Q. as wolfe Ff.
[1675] witness. Here] Rowe. witnes here Q. witnesse here F₁. witnesse, here F₂ F₃ F₄.
hand; here my cousin's.] Johnson. hand, here ... cozens, Q. hand: here ... cousins, Ff.
[1676] one to] to one F₄.
pains] F₃ F₄. paines F₁ F₂. paine Q.
[1677] constant] inconstant Hanmer.
Cressids] Cressida's F₄.
[1678] chamber with a bed; which bed] Hanmer. chamber, which bed Q Ff. bed-chamber, which bed Theobald. chamber, and a bed; which bed Capell. chamber, wherein is a bed, which bed Singer. chamber, whose bed Grant White (Dyce conj.) bed-chamber Collier conj.
[1679] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Q. om. Ff.
[1680] Pandar] Pander Q. and Pander Ff.
[Exit.] Q. Exeunt. Ff.
[1681] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE VI. Pope.
The Grecian camp.] Rowe.
Flourish.] Florish. F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
Ajax] Theobald. om. Q Ff.
[1682] you] om. Q.
[1683] Appear] Appeal Collier (Collier MS.)
to your mind] Ff. to mind Q. to you Pope.
[1684] through the sight ... to love] to the sight ... through Jove Jackson conj.
things to love,] Q F₁ F₂ F₃. things to come, F₄. things, to Jove Johnson. things, to love Steevens conj. things above, Collier, ed. 2 (Mitford conj.) things to Jove, Dyce. things from Jove, Staunton (Becket conj.)
[1685] possession] possessions Capell.
[1686] sequestering ... all] sequestred from all Pope.
[1687] into] unto Capell.
[1688] wrest] rest Hanmer (Theobald conj.)
[1689] his] this Rowe.
[1690] of] o'th' F₄.
[1691] pain] pay Hanmer. payment Keightley. poise Anon. conj.
Diomedes] Diomede Hanmer.
[1692] Withal] With all F₄.
[1693] [Exeunt ...] Capell. Exit Q Ff.
Enter ... before ...] Theobald. Enter ... in ... Ff. Achilles and Patro stand in their tent. Q.
[1694] pass] passe Q. to passe Ff.
[1695] unplausive] Ff. unpaulsive Q.
bent on] Pope. bent? why turnd on Q. bent? why turn'd on Ff.
[1696] derision] Q F₁ F₂. decision F₃ F₄.
[1697] your] our Rowe.
[1698] [Exeunt ...] Capell. om. Q Ff.
[1699] [Exit.] Exit Men. Capell. om. Q Ff.
[1700] Ha?] Pope. Ha: Q. Ha. Ff.
[1701] Good morrow] Good morrow, Ajax Keightley (Steevens conj.) I say, good morrow Steevens conj.
[1702] [Exit.] Exit Ajax. Capell. Exeunt. Q Ff.
[1703] What ... Achilles?] One line in Q. Prose in Ff.
[1704] by] Q F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1705] To come ... altars] As in Rowe (ed. 2). One line in Q Ff.
[1706] used] use S. Walker conj.
[1707] simply] Q F₁. simple F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1708] any] om. Pope.
but honour for] Q. but honour'd for F₁. but honor'd by F₂ F₃ F₄. but is honour'd by Pope. but honour by Johnson. but's honour'd for Capell. but for Seymour conj.
[1709] riches, and favour] Q F₁. riches, favour F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1710] love] loves Keightley (Seymour conj.)
[1711] Do one] Hanmer. Doth one Q F₁ F₃ F₄. Doth on F₂. Do not Seymour conj. Do th'one Anon. conj.
[1712] Do ... fall] Doth ... fall as one line in Q.
[1713] not worth in me such] in me not worth that Rowe.
[1714] I'll ... Ulysses] As in Capell. One line in Q Ff.
[1715] How now] Now Pope.
great] om. Pope.
[Looking up from his book. Collier, ed. 2.
[1716] shining] Ff. ayming Q.
[1717] giver] Ff. givers Q.
[1718] borne] Q F₁ F₂. born F₃ F₄.
[1719] but] but it Hanmer.
[1720] To ... behold itself] Q. Omitted in Ff.
[1721] eye to eye] eyes Pope.
[1722] Salutes] Salute F₄.
[1723] married] Q Ff. mirror'd Singer (Singer MS. and Collier MS.) arrived Keightley.
[1724] at all] om. Pope.
[1725] at] Q. it at Ff.
[1726] but at] but Pope.
[1727] man] may F₁.
[1728] be] Q. is Ff.
[1729] formed] Q Ff. form'd Johnson.
the] Q. th' Ff. their Johnson.
[1730] they're] F₃ F₄. they are F₁ F₂. th' are Q.
who] Q Ff. which Rowe.
reverberates] reverb'rates F₂ F₃ F₄. reverb'rate Q F₁. See note (IX).
[1731] See note (X).
[1732] immediately] F₂ F₃ F₄. immediately, Q. immediately: F₁.
[1733] The unknown ... to do!] Keightley ends the lines there!... what ... regard, ... dear ... we ... chance ... heavens ... to do!
[1734] what. Nature,] F₁. what Nature, F₂ F₃ F₄. See note (X).
there] om. Rowe.
[1735] abject] Ff. obiect Q.
[1736] to-morrow--An ... him--Ajax renown'd.] Edd. to morrow, An ... him Aiax renown'd? Q. to morrow, An ... him? Aiax renown'd? Ff. to morrow, An ... him: Ajax renown'd! Rowe. to-morrow An ... him, Ajax renown'd. Capell.
[1737] An act] Q F₁ F₂. And act F₃ F₄. by an act Keightley (Anon. ap. Rann conj.)
[1738] Ajax renown'd] Ajax' renown Malone conj. (withdrawn).
[1739] While ... eyes] S. Walker would end the lines at creep ... play ... eyes.
[1740] creep] sleep Hanmer.
[1741] fasting] Q. feasting Ff.
[1742] on] one Q.
[1743] shrieking] shriking Q. shrinking Ff.
[1744] I do ... forgot?] Arranged as by Capell. The lines end it, ... beggars, ... looke: ... forgot? in Q Ff.
[1745] I do believe it] This I do believe Pope.
for they] They Pope.
[1746] look] Q F₁. good look F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1747] great ... ingratitudes] great sized muster of ingratitudes Singer conj. great portmanteau of ingratitudes or great scythed monster of ingratitude Anon. conj. (N. and Q.)
ingratitudes] ingratitude Hanmer.
[1748] Those ... As done] Arranged as by Pope. Lines 148, 149 end at past, ... made, in Q Ff.
[1749] perseverance ... bright] perseverance keeps honor bright Pope (followed by Capell), ending the lines bright: ... fashion, ... mockery.
[1750] perseverance] 'tis perseverance Seymour conj.
lord,] lord, it is Keightley. lord, perseverance Anon. conj.
[1751] a rusty] rusty Pope.
mail] male Q Ff.
[1752] Take ... way] Omitted by Pope. Then, dear my lord, take you the instant way Capell.
[1753] one] on Q.
[1754] hedge] Ff. turne Q. edge Collier.
[1755] And leave ... all] Keightley ends the lines horse ... pavement ... on ... yours ... like ... shakes ... arms ... comer ... sighing ... remuneration ... birth, ... love, ... all.
[1756] hindmost: Or ... trampled on: then] him, most, then Q (omitting Or ... on).
[1757] hindmost; Or like a] hindermost; and there you lye Like to a Pope.
[1758] first] the first Keightley.
[1759] Lie] lies Keightley.
[1760] Lie there ... O'er-run and] Arranged as in Ff. For pavement to the abject, near o'errun And Pope. You're left ... O'er-run and Seymour conj.
[1761] abject rear,] Hanmer, reading the rest with Pope and Theobald. abject, neere F₁ F₂. abject, near F₃ F₄. abject near, Theobald.
[1762] in past] Ff. in passe Q.
[1763] And with his] And with Rowe (ed. 2). But with his Pope.
[1764] Grasps in the comer] Grasps the in-comer Hanmer.
welcome] Pope. the welcome Q Ff.
[1765] farewell] Q. farewels F₁ F₂ F₄. farewells F₃.
O,] om. Q.
[1766] virtue seek Remuneration] virtue Seek remuneration Hanmer.
[1767] Remuneration ... For beauty, wit] Arranged as by Steevens (1793). One line in Q Ff.
[1768] vigour of bone,] Omitted by Pope, reading For beauty, ... service, as one line.
[1769] charity] and charity Keightley.
[1770] And ... o'er-dusted] Put in the margin by Pope.
[1771] give] Theobald (Thirlby conj.) goe Q F₁ F₂. go F₃ F₄. shew Johnson.
[1772] than gilt] then guilt Q F₁ F₂. in gilt F₃ F₄. than they will give to gold Hanmer. than gold Thirlby conj.
o'er-dusted] o'er-dusted e'er is given Keightley.
[1773] Greeks] Greeces F₂.
[1774] sooner catch] Q. begin to catch F₁. 'gin to catch F₂ F₃ F₄. quicklier catch Collier MS.
[1775] not stirs] Ff. stirs not Q.
once on] Q. out on Ff. once for Pope.
[1776] emulous missions] emulations Keightley conj. emulous scissions Anon. conj.
[1777] Of this] Of Pope.
[1778] But 'gainst] 'Gainst Pope.
[1779] known?] say you known? Hanmer. is't known? Steevens conj. known, say you? Seymour conj. what, known? Mitford conj.
[1780] every grain of Plutus' gold,] Malone (Steevens conj.) every graine of Plutoes gold; Ff (Pluto's F₃ F₄). every thing, Q.
[1781] deeps] Ff. depth Q. deep Rowe.
[1782] Keeps ... cradles] S. Walker would end the lines thought, ... unveil ... cradles.
[1783] place] pace Hanmer.
[1784] Does thoughts] F₂ F₃ F₄. Do thoughts Q. Doe thoughts F₁. Does ev'n our thoughts Pope. Does even those thoughts Capell. Does thoughts themselves or Does infant thoughts Malone conj. Doth thoughts Anon. conj.
dumb cradles] dumb crudities Collier (Collier MS.) dim crudities Collier conj. dumb oracles Staunton conj. (withdrawn). dumb orat'ries Nicholson conj. dumb cradles laid Keightley. dumb radicles Bullock conj. dim particles Id. conj. (withdrawn). dumb characters Anon. conj.
[1785] whom] which Pope.
[1786] or pen] of pen Rowe (ed. 2).
[1787] our islands] our iland Q. her Iland F₁ F₂ F₃. her island F₄. his island Rowe (ed. 2).
[1788] him] Hector Pope.
[1789] [Exit.] Pope. om. Q Ff.
[1790] SCENE VIII. Pope.
[1791] action] act Pope.
[1792] Sweet,] O, Pope. Swift, Collier (Collier MS.)
wanton Cupid] wanton, Cupid S. Walker conj.
[1793] unloose] enloose Seymour conj.
[1794] a] om. Q.
[1795] air] ayre Q. ayrie ayre F₁ F₂. airie air F₃. airy air F₄. very air Collier MS.
[1796] shrewdly] F₂ F₃ F₄. shrowdly Q F₁.
[1797] we] Ff. they Q.
[1798] here] om. Mitford conj.
unarm'd] om. Pope.
[1799] his] Q F₁. the F₂ F₃ F₄.
[1800] Enter Thersites.] Q. After line 239, in Ff.
[1801] SCENE IX. Pope.
[1802] a'] a Q. he Ff.
[1803] this head] Q. his head Ff.
an] Capell. and Q Ff. if Pope.
[1804] break't] Ff. breakt Q.
[1805] replies] replied Hanmer.
[1806] to him] om. Q.
[1807] demands] Q. his demands Ff.
[1808] most] Ff. om. Q.
[1809] magnanimous] Q F₄. magnanimious F₁ F₂ F₃.
[1810] captain-general] Hanmer. Captaine Generall Q. Captaine, Generall Ff.
Grecian] om. Q.
[1811] et cetera.] &c. Ff. om. Q.
[1812] be wi' you] Rowe. buy you Q F₁ F₂ F₃. b'you F₄.
[1813] eleven of the] a leven of the Q. eleven a Ff.
[1814] you] Ff. yee Q.
[1815] he's out o' tune] he's out a tune Ff. out of tune Q.
[1816] will be in him] Q F₁. will be in F₂ F₃ F₄. he will be in Rowe.
[1817] bear] Q. carry Ff.
[1818] [Exeunt ...] Capell. Exit. Rowe. om. Q Ff.
[1819] [Exit.] Capell. Exeunt. Rowe. om. Q Ff.
Act IV, Scene I — Troy. A street.
Enter, at one side, ÆNEAS, and Servant _with a torch; at the other_, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES, _and others, with torches_.[1820]
Par. See, ho! who is that there?[1821][1822]
Dei. It is the Lord Æneas.[1822]
Æne. Is the prince there in person?[1823] Had I so good occasion to lie long As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business[1824] 5 Should rob my bed-mate of my company.
Dio. That's my mind too. Good morrow, Lord Æneas.
Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas,--take his hand,-- Witness the process of your speech, wherein[1825] You told how Diomed a whole week by days[1825][1826] 10 Did haunt you in the field.[1827]
Æne. Health to you, valiant sir,[1828] During all question of the gentle truce;[1829] But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance As heart can think or courage execute. 15
Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces.[1830] Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health; But when contention and occasion meet,[1831] By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life With all my force, pursuit and policy.[1832] 20
Æne. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly With his face backward. In humane gentleness,[1833] Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life, Welcome, indeed! By Venus' hand I swear, No man alive can love in such a sort 25 The thing he means to kill more excellently.
Dio. We sympathise. Jove, let Æneas live, If to my sword his fate be not the glory, A thousand complete courses of the sun! But, in mine emulous honour, let him die, 30 With every joint a wound, and that to-morrow.[1834]
Æne. We know each other well.[1835]
Dio. We do; and long to know each other worse.[1835]
Par. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting,[1836] The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.[1837][1838] 35 What business, lord, so early?[1837]
Æne. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.
Par. His purpose meets you: 'twas to bring this Greek[1839] To Calchas' house; and there to render him,[1840] For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid: 40 Let's have your company, or, if you please, Haste there before us. I constantly do think,[1841] Or rather, call my thought a certain knowledge, My brother Troilus lodges there to-night: Rouse him and give him note of our approach, 45 With the whole quality wherefore: I fear[1842][1843] We shall be much unwelcome.[1843]
Æne. That I assure you:[1844][1845] Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece[1844] Than Cressid borne from Troy.[1844]
Par. There is no help; The bitter disposition of the time[1846] 50 Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you.[1846]
Æne. Good morrow, all. [Exit with Servant.[1847]
Par. And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,[1848] Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,[1849] Who, in your thoughts, deserves fair Helen best,[1850] 55 Myself or Menelaus?
Dio. Both alike: He merits well to have her that doth seek her, Not making any scruple of her soilure,[1851] With such a hell of pain and world of charge; And you as well to keep her, that defend her, 60 Not palating the taste of her dishonour, With such a costly loss of wealth and friends: He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece; You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins 65 Are pleased to breed out your inheritors: Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor more,[1852] But he as he, the heavier for a whore.[1853]
Par. You are too bitter to your countrywoman.
Dio. She's bitter to her country: hear me, Paris: 70 For every false drop in her bawdy veins A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple Of her contaminated carrion weight, A Trojan hath been slain: since she could speak, She hath not given so many good words breath 75 As for her Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death.
Par. Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do, Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy:[1854] But we in silence hold this virtue well, We'll not commend what we intend to sell.[1855] 80 Here lies our way. [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene II — Court of Pandarus' house.[1856]
Enter TROILUS and CRESSIDA.
Tro. Dear, trouble not yourself: the morn is cold.
Cres. Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine uncle down;[1857] He shall unbolt the gates.
Tro. Trouble him not; To bed, to bed: sleep kill those pretty eyes,[1858] And give as soft attachment to thy senses 5 As infants' empty of all thought![1859]
Cres. Good morrow, then.
Tro. I prithee now, to bed.
Cres. Are you a-weary of me?
Tro. O Cressida! but that the busy day, Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows,[1860] And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer,[1861] 10 I would not from thee.
Cres. Night hath been too brief.
Tro. Beshrew the witch! with venomous wights she stays[1862] As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love[1863] With wings more momentary-swift than thought.[1864] You will catch cold, and curse me.
Cres. Prithee, tarry:[1865] 15 You men will never tarry.[1865][1866] O foolish Cressid! I might have still held off,[1866][1867] And then you would have tarried. Hark! there's one up.[1868]
Pan. [Within] What, 's all the doors open here?[1869]
Tro. It is your uncle. 20
Cres. A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking: I shall have such a life!
Enter PANDARUS.[1870]
Pan. How now, how now! how go maidenheads?[1871] Here, you maid! where's my cousin Cressid?[1871][1872]
Cres. Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle! 25 You bring me to do--and then you flout me too.[1873]
Pan. To do what? to do what? let her say what:[1874] what have I brought you to do?[1874]
Cres. Come, come, beshrew your heart! you'll ne'er[1875] be good, nor suffer others.[1875] 30
Pan. Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! a poor capocchia![1876] hast not slept to-night? would he not, a naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him!
Cres. Did not I tell you? would he were knock'd i'the head! [One knocks.[1877][1878] Who's that at door? good uncle, go and see.[1878] 35 My lord, come you again into my chamber.[1878] You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.[1878][1879]
Tro. Ha, ha!
Cres. Come, you are deceived, I think of no such thing.
[Knocking.[1880]
How earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in: 40 I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
[Exeunt Troilus and Cressida.[1881]
Pan. Who's there? what's the matter? will you beat[1882] down the door? How now! what's the matter?
Enter ÆNEAS.[1883]
Æne. Good morrow, lord, good morrow.[1884]
Pan. Who's there? my Lord Æneas! By my troth,[1885][1886] 45 I knew you not: what news with you so early?[1885][1887]
Æne. Is not prince Troilus here?
Pan. Here! what should he do here?
Æne. Come, he is here, my lord; do not deny him: It doth import him much to speak with me. 50
Pan. Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know, I'll[1888] be sworn: for my own part, I came in late. What should[1889] he do here?
Æne. Who! nay, then: come, come, you'll do him[1890][1891] wrong ere you are ware: you'll be so true to him, to be[1891][1892] 55 false to him: do not you know of him, but yet go fetch[1891][1893] him hither; go.[1891]
Re-enter TROILUS.[1894]
Tro. How now! what's the matter?
Æne. My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so rash: there is at hand[1895] 60 Paris your brother and Deiphobus, The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor Deliver'd to us; and for him forthwith,[1896] Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour, We must give up to Diomedes' hand[1897] 65 The Lady Cressida.
Tro. Is it so concluded?[1898]
Æne. By Priam and the general state of Troy.[1899] They are at hand and ready to effect it.[1900]
Tro. How my achievements mock me![1901] I will go meet them: and, my Lord Æneas, 70 We met by chance; you did not find me here.
Æne. Good, good, my lord; the secrets of nature[1902][1903] Have not more gift in taciturnity.[1902]
[Exeunt Troilus and Æneas.[1904]
Pan. Is't possible? no sooner got but lost? The devil[1905] take Antenor! the young prince will go mad: a plague 75 upon Antenor! I would they had broke's neck!
Re-enter CRESSIDA.[1906]
Cres. How now! what's the matter? who was here?
Pan. Ah, ah![1907]
Cres. Why sigh you so profoundly? where's my lord? gone! Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter? 80
Pan. Would I were as deep under the earth as I am above!
Cres. O the gods! What's the matter?
Pan. Prithee, get thee in: would thou hadst ne'er been[1908] born! I knew thou wouldst be his death: O, poor gentleman! 85 A plague upon Antenor!
Cres. Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I beseech[1909] you, what's the matter?[1909]
Pan. Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor: thou must to thy father,[1910] 90 and be gone from Troilus: 'twill be his death; 'twill be his bane; he cannot bear it.[1911]
Cres. O you immortal gods! I will not go.
Pan. Thou must.
Cres. I will not, uncle: I have forgot my father;[1912] 95 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! Make Cressid's name the very crown of falsehood, If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death,[1913] 100 Do to this body what extremes you can;[1914] 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,--[1915]
Pan. Do, do. 105
Cres. Tear my bright hair and scratch my praised cheeks,[1916] Crack my clear voice with sobs and break my heart With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy. [Exeunt.[1917]
Act IV, Scene III — Before Pandarus' house.[1918]
Enter PARIS, TROILUS, ÆNEAS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, and DIOMEDES.
Par. It is great morning, and the hour prefix'd For her delivery to this valiant Greek[1919] Comes fast upon: good my brother Troilus,[1920] Tell you the lady what she is to do, And haste her to the purpose.
Tro. Walk into her house;[1921] 5 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.[1922]
Par. I know what 'tis to love; 10 And would, as I shall pity, I could help! Please you walk in, my lords. [Exeunt.