William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (350 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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TROILUS
Come, to the port.—I’ll tell thee, Diomed,
This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—
Lady, give me your hand, and as we walk
To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.—
Lady, give me your hand, and as we walk
To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
Exeunt Troilus, Cressida, and Diomedes
A trumpet sounds
PARIS
Hark, Hector’s trumpet.
AENEAS
How have we spent this morning?
The Prince must think me tardy and remiss,
That swore to ride before him in the field.
The Prince must think me tardy and remiss,
That swore to ride before him in the field.
PARIS
‘Tis Troilus’ fault. Come, come to field with him.
DEIPHOBUS Let us make ready straight.
AENEAS
Yea, with a bridegroom’s fresh alacrity
Let us address to tend on Hector’s heels.
The glory of our Troy doth this day lie
On his fair worth and single chivalry.
Exeunt
4.6Let us address to tend on Hector’s heels.
The glory of our Troy doth this day lie
On his fair worth and single chivalry.
Exeunt
Enter Ajax armed, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, a trumpeter, and others
AGAMEMNON
Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting courage.
Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appallèd air
May pierce the head of the great combatant
And hale him hither.
Anticipating time with starting courage.
Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appallèd air
May pierce the head of the great combatant
And hale him hither.
AJAX Thou trumpet, there’s my purse.
He gives him money
Now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe.
Blow, villain, till thy spherèd bias cheek
Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
Come, stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blow’st for Hector.
Blow, villain, till thy spherèd bias cheek
Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
Come, stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blow’st for Hector.
⌈
The trumpet sounds⌉
ULYSSES No trumpet answers.
ACHILLES ’Tis but early days.
AGAMEMNON
Is not yond Diomed with Calchas’ daughter?
ULYSSES
’Tis he. I ken the manner of his gait.
He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Enter Diomedes and Cressida
He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Enter Diomedes and Cressida
AGAMEMNON (
to Diomedes
)
to Diomedes
)
Is this the Lady Cressid?
DIOMEDES Even she.
AGAMEMNON
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
He kisses her
NESTOR
(to Cressida)
(to Cressida)
Our General doth salute you with a kiss.
ULYSSES
Yet is the kindness but particular;
’Twere better she were kissed in general.
’Twere better she were kissed in general.
NESTOR
And very courtly counsel. I’ll begin.
He kisses her
So much for Nestor.
ACHILLES
I’ll take that winter from your lips, fair lady.
He kisses her
Achilles bids you welcome.
MENELAUS (
to Cressida
)
to Cressida
)
I had good argument for kissing once.
PATROCLUS
But that’s no argument for kissing now;
For thus ⌈
stepping between them
⌉ popped Paris in his
hardiment,
And parted thus you and your argument.
For thus ⌈
stepping between them
⌉ popped Paris in his
hardiment,
And parted thus you and your argument.
He kisses her
ULYSSES ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns!
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.
PATROCLUS (
to Cressida
)
to Cressida
)
The first was Menelaus’ kiss; this, mine.
Patroclus kisses you.
Patroclus kisses you.
He kisses her again
MENELAUS O this is trim.
PATROCLUS (
to Cressida
)
to Cressida
)
Paris and I kiss evermore for him.
MENELAUS
I’ll have my kiss, sir.—Lady, by your leave.
CRESSIDA
In kissing do you render or receive?
⌈MENELAUS⌉
Both take and give.
CRESSIDA I’ll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give.
Therefore no kiss.
Therefore no kiss.
MENELAUS
I’ll give you boot: I’ll give you three for one.
CRESSIDA
You are an odd man: give even or give none.
MENELAUS
An odd man, lady? Every man is odd.
CRESSIDA
No, Paris is not—for you know ’tis true
That you are odd, and he is even with you.
That you are odd, and he is even with you.
MENELAUS
You fillip me o’th’ head.
CRESSIDA No, I’ll be sworn.
ULYSSES
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
CRESSIDA
You may.
ULYSSES I do desire it.
CRESSIDA Why, beg too.
ULYSSES
Why then, for Venus’ sake, give me a kiss,
When Helen is a maid again, and his—
When Helen is a maid again, and his—
CRESSIDA
I am your debtor; claim it when ’tis due.
ULYSSES
Never’s my day, and then a kiss of you.
DIOMEDES
Lady, a word. I’ll bring you to your father.
⌈
They talk apart
⌉
NESTOR
A woman of quick sense.
ULYSSES Fie, fie upon her!
There’s language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
Nay, her foot speaks. Her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
O these encounterers so glib of tongue,
That give accosting welcome ere it comes,
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
To every ticklish reader, set them down
For sluttish spoils of opportunity
And daughters of the game.
Nay, her foot speaks. Her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
O these encounterers so glib of tongue,
That give accosting welcome ere it comes,
And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
To every ticklish reader, set them down
For sluttish spoils of opportunity
And daughters of the game.
⌈
Exeunt Diomedes and Cressida
⌉
Exeunt Diomedes and Cressida
⌉
Flourish
ALL The Trojans’ trumpet.
Enter all off Troy: Hector
⌈
armed
⌉
, Paris, Aeneas, Helenus, and attendants, among them Troilus
AGAMEMNON Yonder comes the troop.
AENEAS ⌈
coming forward
⌉
coming forward
⌉
Hail, all you state of Greece! What shall be done
To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose
A victor shall be known? Will you the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
Pursue each other, or shall they be divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.
To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose
A victor shall be known? Will you the knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity
Pursue each other, or shall they be divided
By any voice or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.
AGAMEMNON Which way would Hector have it?
AENEAS
He cares not; he’ll obey conditions.
⌈ACHILLES⌉
’Tis done like Hector—but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal disprising
The knight opposed.
A little proudly, and great deal disprising
The knight opposed.
AENEAS If not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?
ACHILLES If not Achilles, nothing.
AENEAS
Therefore Achilles. But whate’er, know this:
In the extremity of great and little,
Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector,
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector’s blood,
In love whereof half Hector stays at home.
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.
In the extremity of great and little,
Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector,
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hector’s blood,
In love whereof half Hector stays at home.
Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.
ACHILLES
A maiden battle, then? O I perceive you.
Enter Diomedes
AGAMEMNON
Here is Sir Diomed.—Go, gentle knight,
Stand by our Ajax. As you and Lord Aeneas
Consent upon the order of their fight,
So be it: either to the uttermost
Or else a breath.
Stand by our Ajax. As you and Lord Aeneas
Consent upon the order of their fight,
So be it: either to the uttermost
Or else a breath.
⌈
Exeunt Ajax, Diomedes, Hector, and Aeneas
⌉The combatants being kin
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin. ULYSSES They are opposed already.
AGAMEMNON
What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
ULYSSES
The youngest son of Priam, a true knight:
They call him Troilus.
Not yet mature, yet matchless-firm of word,
Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue;
Not soon provoked, nor being provoked soon calmed;
His heart and hand both open and both free.
For what he has he gives; what thinks, he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impare thought with breath.
Manly as Hector but more dangerous,
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender objects, but he in heat of action
Is more vindicative than jealous love.
They call him Troilus, and on him erect
A second hope as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth
Even to his inches, and with private soul
Did in great Ilium thus translate him to me.
Alarum
They call him Troilus.
Not yet mature, yet matchless-firm of word,
Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue;
Not soon provoked, nor being provoked soon calmed;
His heart and hand both open and both free.
For what he has he gives; what thinks, he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty,
Nor dignifies an impare thought with breath.
Manly as Hector but more dangerous,
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender objects, but he in heat of action
Is more vindicative than jealous love.
They call him Troilus, and on him erect
A second hope as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth
Even to his inches, and with private soul
Did in great Ilium thus translate him to me.
Alarum
AGAMEMNON They are in action.
NESTOR Now, Ajax, hold thine own!
TROILUS Hector, thou steep’st! Awake thee!
AGAMEMNON
His blows are well disposed. There, Ajax! ⌈
Exeunt
⌉
4.7Exeunt
⌉
⌈
Enter Hector and Ajax fighting, and Aeneas and
Diomedes interposing
.⌉
Trumpets cease
DIOMEDES
You must no more.
AENEAS Princes, enough, so please you.
AJAX
I am not warm yet. Let us fight again.
DIOMEDES
As Hector pleases.
HECTOR Why then will I no more.—
Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,
A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed.
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation ‘twixt us twain.
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
That thou couldst say ’This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my father‘s,’ by Jove multipotent
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay
That any drop thou borrowed’st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms.
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
Cousin, all honour to thee.
A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed.
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation ‘twixt us twain.
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
That thou couldst say ’This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my father‘s,’ by Jove multipotent
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay
That any drop thou borrowed’st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms.
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
Cousin, all honour to thee.
AJAX I thank thee, Hector.
Thou art too gentle and too free a man.
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition earned in thy death.
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition earned in thy death.
HECTOR
Not Neoptolemus so mirable,
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud‘st oyez
Cries ’This is he!’, could promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud‘st oyez
Cries ’This is he!’, could promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.
AENEAS
There is expectance here from both the sides
What further you will do.
What further you will do.
HECTOR We’ll answer it:
The issue is embracement.—Ajax, farewell.
AJAX
If I might in entreaties find success,
As seld I have the chance, I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
As seld I have the chance, I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
DIOMEDES
’Tis Agamemnon’s wish—and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.
Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.
HECTOR
Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part.
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part.
Desire them home. ⌈
Exit Aeneas
⌉
Exit Aeneas
⌉
Give me thy hand, my cousin.
I will go eat with thee, and see your knights.
Enter Agamemnon and the rest: Aeneas, Ulysses,
Menelaus, Nestor, Achilles, Patroclus, Troilus, and
others
Enter Agamemnon and the rest: Aeneas, Ulysses,
Menelaus, Nestor, Achilles, Patroclus, Troilus, and
others
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