| ACT V SCENE VIII | Another part of the plains. | |
| [Enter HECTOR] |
| HECTOR | Most putrefied core, so fair without, |
| Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life. |
| Now is my day's work done; I'll take good breath: |
| Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death. |
| [
Puts off his helmet and hangs his shield
behind him
] |
| [Enter ACHILLES and Myrmidons] |
| ACHILLES | Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set; | 5 |
| How ugly night comes breathing at his heels: |
| Even with the vail and darking of the sun, |
| To close the day up, Hector's life is done. |
| HECTOR | I am unarm'd; forego this vantage, Greek. |
| ACHILLES | Strike, fellows, strike; this is the man I seek. | 10 |
[HECTOR falls] |
| So, Ilion, fall thou next! now, Troy, sink down! |
| Here lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone. |
| On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain, |
| 'Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.' |
[A retreat sounded] |
| Hark! a retire upon our Grecian part. | 15 |
| MYRMIDONS | The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord. |
| ACHILLES | The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth, |
| And, stickler-like, the armies separates. |
| My half-supp'd sword, that frankly would have fed, |
| Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed. | 20 |
[Sheathes his sword] |
| Come, tie his body to my horse's tail; |
| Along the field I will the Trojan trail. |
| [Exeunt] |
Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida: Scenes and Commentary