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Troilus and Cressida

ACT IV SCENE V The Grecian camp. Lists set out. 
[ Enter AJAX, armed; AGAMEMNON, ACHILLES, PATROCLUS, MENELAUS, ULYSSES, NESTOR, and others ]
AGAMEMNONHere 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 appalled air
May pierce the head of the great combatant5
And hale him hither.
AJAXThou, trumpet, there's my purse.
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias cheek
Outswell the colic of puff'd Aquilon:10
Come, stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood;
Thou blow'st for Hector.
[Trumpet sounds]
ULYSSESNo trumpet answers.
ACHILLES'Tis but early days.
AGAMEMNONIs not yond Diomed, with Calchas' daughter?15
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, with CRESSIDA]
AGAMEMNONIs this the Lady Cressid?
DIOMEDESEven she.20
AGAMEMNONMost dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
NESTOROur general doth salute you with a kiss.
ULYSSESYet is the kindness but particular;
'Twere better she were kiss'd in general.
NESTORAnd very courtly counsel: I'll begin.25
So much for Nestor.
ACHILLESI'll take what winter from your lips, fair lady:
Achilles bids you welcome.
MENELAUSI had good argument for kissing once.
PATROCLUSBut that's no argument for kissing now;30
For this popp'd Paris in his hardiment,
And parted thus you and your argument.
ULYSSESO deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns!
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.
PATROCLUSThe first was Menelaus' kiss; this, mine:35
Patroclus kisses you.
MENELAUSO, this is trim!
PATROCLUSParis and I kiss evermore for him.
MENELAUSI'll have my kiss, sir. Lady, by your leave.
CRESSIDAIn kissing, do you render or receive?40
PATROCLUSBoth take and give.
CRESSIDAI'll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give;
Therefore no kiss.
MENELAUSI'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.45
CRESSIDAYou're an odd man; give even or give none.
MENELAUSAn odd man, lady! every man is odd.
CRESSIDANo, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true,
That you are odd, and he is even with you.
MENELAUSYou fillip me o' the head.50
CRESSIDANo, I'll be sworn.
ULYSSESIt were no match, your nail against his horn.
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?
CRESSIDAYou may.
ULYSSESI do desire it.55
CRESSIDAWhy, beg, then.
ULYSSESWhy then for Venus' sake, give me a kiss,
When Helen is a maid again, and his.
CRESSIDAI am your debtor, claim it when 'tis due.
ULYSSESNever's my day, and then a kiss of you.60
DIOMEDESLady, a word: I'll bring you to your father.
[Exit with CRESSIDA]
NESTORA woman of quick sense.
ULYSSESFie, fie upon her!
There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out65
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 down70
For sluttish spoils of opportunity
And daughters of the game.
[Trumpet within]
ALLThe Trojans' trumpet.
AGAMEMNONYonder comes the troop.
[ Enter HECTOR, armed; AENEAS, TROILUS, and other Trojans, with Attendants ]
AENEASHail, all you state of Greece! what shall be done75
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 be divided
By any voice or order of the field?80
Hector bade ask.
AGAMEMNONWhich way would Hector have it?
AENEASHe cares not; he'll obey conditions.
ACHILLES'Tis done like Hector; but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing85
The knight opposed.
AENEASIf not Achilles, sir,
What is your name?
ACHILLESIf not Achilles, nothing.
AENEASTherefore Achilles: but, whate'er, know this:90
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.95
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.
ACHILLESA maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.100
[Re-enter DIOMEDES]
AGAMEMNONHere 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: the combatants being kin105
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
[AJAX and HECTOR enter the lists]
ULYSSESThey are opposed already.
AGAMEMNONWhat Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?
ULYSSESThe youngest son of Priam, a true knight,
Not yet mature, yet matchless, firm of word,110
Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue;
Not soon provoked nor being provoked soon calm'd:
His heart and hand both open and both free;
For what he has he gives, what thinks he shows;
Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty,115
Nor dignifies an impure 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:120
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 Ilion thus translate him to me.125
[Alarum. Hector and Ajax fight]
AGAMEMNONThey are in action.
NESTORNow, Ajax, hold thine own!
TROILUSHector, thou sleep'st;
Awake thee!
AGAMEMNONHis blows are well disposed: there, Ajax!130
DIOMEDESYou must no more.
[Trumpets cease]
AENEASPrinces, enough, so please you.
AJAXI am not warm yet; let us fight again.
DIOMEDESAs Hector pleases.
HECTORWhy, then will I no more:135
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 so140
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,145
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 borrow'dst from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword150
Be drain'd! 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!
AJAXI thank thee, Hector155
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.
HECTORNot Neoptolemus so mirable,
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st Oyes160
Cries 'This is he,' could promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.
AENEASThere is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will do.
HECTORWe'll answer it;165
The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewell.
AJAXIf I might in entreaties find success--
As seld I have the chance--I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.
DIOMEDES'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles170
Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.
HECTORAEneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin;175
I will go eat with thee and see your knights.
AJAXGreat Agamemnon comes to meet us here.
HECTORThe worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.180
AGAMEMNONWorthy of arms! as welcome as to one
That would be rid of such an enemy;
But that's no welcome: understand more clear,
What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks
And formless ruin of oblivion;185
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
Bids thee, with most divine integrity,
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.
HECTORI thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.190
AGAMEMNON[To TROILUS] My well-famed lord of Troy, no
less to you.
MENELAUSLet me confirm my princely brother's greeting:
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.
HECTORWho must we answer?195
AENEASThe noble Menelaus.
HECTORO, you, my lord? by Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
Mock not, that I affect the untraded oath;
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove:
She's well, but bade me not commend her to you.200
MENELAUSName her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.
HECTORO, pardon; I offend.
NESTORI have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft
Labouring for destiny make cruel way
Through ranks of Greekish youth, and I have seen thee,205
As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
Despising many forfeits and subduements,
When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i' the air,
Not letting it decline on the declined,
That I have said to some my standers by210
'Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!'
And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath,
When that a ring of Greeks have hemm'd thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling: this have I seen;
But this thy countenance, still lock'd in steel,215
I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire,
And once fought with him: he was a soldier good;
But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
Never saw like thee. Let an old man embrace thee;
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.220
AENEAS'Tis the old Nestor.
HECTORLet me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
NESTORI would my arms could match thee in contention,225
As they contend with thee in courtesy.
HECTORI would they could.
NESTORHa!
By this white beard, I'ld fight with thee to-morrow.
Well, welcome, welcome! I have seen the time.230
ULYSSESI wonder now how yonder city stands
When we have here her base and pillar by us.
HECTORI know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw yourself and Diomed235
In Ilion, on your Greekish embassy.
ULYSSESSir, I foretold you then what would ensue:
My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,240
Must kiss their own feet.
HECTORI must not believe you:
There they stand yet, and modestly I think,
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood: the end crowns all,245
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.
ULYSSESSo to him we leave it.
Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome:
After the general, I beseech you next250
To feast with me and see me at my tent.
ACHILLESI shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses, thou!
Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,
And quoted joint by joint.255
HECTORIs this Achilles?
ACHILLESI am Achilles.
HECTORStand fair, I pray thee: let me look on thee.
ACHILLESBehold thy fill.
HECTORNay, I have done already.260
ACHILLESThou art too brief: I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
HECTORO, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er;
But there's more in me than thou understand'st.
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?265
ACHILLESTell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? whether there, or there, or there?
That I may give the local wound a name
And make distinct the very breach whereout
Hector's great spirit flew: answer me, heavens!270
HECTORIt would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: stand again:
Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
As to prenominate in nice conjecture
Where thou wilt hit me dead?275
ACHILLESI tell thee, yea.
HECTORWert thou an oracle to tell me so,
I'd not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well;
For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,280
I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er.
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
His insolence draws folly from my lips;
But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words,
Or may I never--285
AJAXDo not chafe thee, cousin:
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone,
Till accident or purpose bring you to't:
You may have every day enough of Hector
If you have stomach; the general state, I fear,290
Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.
HECTORI pray you, let us see you in the field:
We have had pelting wars, since you refused
The Grecians' cause.
ACHILLESDost thou entreat me, Hector?295
To-morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
To-night all friends.
HECTORThy hand upon that match.
AGAMEMNONFirst, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
There in the full convive we: afterwards,300
As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally entreat him.
Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow,
That this great soldier may his welcome know.
[Exeunt all except TROILUS and ULYSSES]
TROILUSMy Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,305
In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?
ULYSSESAt Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus:
There Diomed doth feast with him to-night;
Who neither looks upon the heaven nor earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view310
On the fair Cressid.
TROILUSShall sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
To bring me thither?
ULYSSESYou shall command me, sir.315
As gentle tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
That wails her absence?
TROILUSO, sir, to such as boasting show their scars
A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?320
She was beloved, she loved; she is, and doth:
But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth.
[Exeunt]


Troilus and Cressida, Act 5, Scene 1

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