 | Troilus And Cressida, Or, Truth Found too Late |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
A Camp.Enter Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Diomedes, Nestor.
Agam.
Princes, it seems not strange to us nor new,
That after Nine years Seige Troy makes defence,
Since every Action of Recorded Fame
Has with long difficulties been involv'd,
Not Answering that Idea of the thought
Which gave it Birth, why then you Grecian Chiefs,
With sickly Eyes do you behold our labours,
And think 'em our dishonour, which indeed,
Are the protractive Tryals of the Gods,
To prove heroique Constancy in Men?
Nestor.
With due observance of thy Soveraign Seat
Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply,
Thy well-weigh'd words: In struggling with misfortunes,
Lyes the true proof of Virtue: on smooth Seas,
How many bawble Boats dare set their Sails,
And make an equall way with firmer Vessels!
But let the Tempest once inrage that Sea,
And then behold the strong rib'd Argosie,
Bounding between the Ocean and the Ayr
Like Perseus mounted on his Pegasus.
Then where are those weak Rivals of the Maine?
Or made a Prey to Neptune: even thus
Do empty show, and true-priz'd worth divide
In storms of Fortune.
Ulisses.
Mighty Agamemnon!
Heart of our Body, Soul of our designs,
In whom the tempers, and the minds of all
Shou'd be inclos'd: hear what Ulisses speaks.
Agam.
—You have free leave.
Ulisses.
Troy had been down ere this, and Hectors Sword
Wanted a Master but for our disorders:
The observance due to rule has been neglected;
Observe how many Grecian Tents stand void
Upon this plain; so many hollow factions:
For when the General is not like the Hive
To whom the Foragers should all repair,
What Hony can our empty Combs expect?
O when Supremacy of Kings is shaken,
What can succeed: How cou'd communities
Or peacefull traffick from divided shores,
Prerogative of Age, Crowns, Scepters, Lawrells,
But by degree stand on their solid base!
Then every thing resolves to brutal force
And headlong force is led by hoodwink'd will,
For wild Ambition, like a ravenous Woolf,
Spurd on by will and seconded by power,
Must make an universal prey of all,
And last devour it self.
Nest.
Most prudently Ulisses has discover'd
The Malady whereof our state is sick.
Diom.
'Tis truth he speaks, the General's disdain'd
By him one step beneath, he by the next:
That next by him below: So each degree
Spurns upward at Superior eminence:
Thus our distempers are their sole support;
Troy in our weakness lives, not in her strength.
Agam.
The Nature of this sickness found, inform us
From whence it draws its birth?
Ulysses.
The great Achilles whom opinion crowns
The chief of all our Host—
Having his ears buzz'd with his noisy Fame
Disdains thy Sovereign charge, and in his Tent,
Lyes mocking our designes, with him Patroclus
Upon a lazy Bed, breaks scurvil Jests
And with ridiculous and awkard action,
Mimicks the Grecian chiefs.
Agam.
As how Ulysses?
Ulysses.
Ev'n thee the King of men 'he do's not spare
(The monkey Authour) but thy greatness Pageants
And makes of it Rehearsals: like a Player
Bellowing his Passion till he break the spring
And his rack'd Voice jar to his Audience;
So represents he Thee, though more unlike
Then Vulcan is to Venus.
And at this fulsome stuff, this wit of Apes,
The large Achilles on his prest Bed lolling,
From his deep Chest roars out a loud Applause,
Tickling his spleen, and laughing till he wheeze.
Nestor.
Nor are you spar'd Ulysses, but as you speak in Council
He hems ere he begins, then strokes his Beard,
Casts down his looks, and winks with half an Eye;
'Has every action, cadence, motion, tone,
All of you but the sence.
Agam.
Fortune was merry
When he was born, and plaid a trick on Nature
To make a mimick Prince: he ne're acts ill
But when he would seem wise:
For all he says or do's from serious thought
Appears so wretched that he mocks his title
And is his own Buffoon.
Ulysses.
In imitation of this scurril fool
Ajax is grown self-will'd as broad Achilles,
He keeps a Table too, makes Factious Feasts,
Rails on our State of War, and sets Thirsites
(A slanderous slave of an ore-flowing gall)
To level us with low Comparisons:
They tax our Policy with Cowardice
Count Wisdom of no moment in the War,
In brief, esteem no Act, but that of hand;
The still and thoughtful parts which move those hands
With them are but the tasks cut out by fear
To be perform'd by Valour.
Agam.
Let this be granted, and Achilles horse
Is more of use then he: but you grave pair
Like time and wisdome marching hand in hand
Must put a stop to these incroaching Ills:
To you we leave the care:
You who cou'd show whence the distemper springs
Must vindicate the Dignity of Kings.
Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Troy.Enter Pandarus, and Troilus.
Troil.
Why should I fight without the Trojan walls
Who, without fighting, am ore'thrown within:
The Trojan who is Master of a Soul
Let him to battel, Troilus has none.
Pand.
Will this never be at an end with you?
Troil.
The Greeks are strong and skillful to their strength
Fierce to their skill, and to their feirceness wary;
But I am weaker then a Womans tear,
Tamer then sleep, fonder then Ignorance:
And Artless as unpractic'd Infancy.
Pand.
Well, I have told you enough of this; for my part I'll not
meddle nor make any further in your Love: He that will eat of the
Roastmeat, must stay for the kindling of the fire.
Troil.
Have I not stay'd?
Pand.
I, the kindling: but you must stay the spitting of the meat.
Troil.
Have I not stay'd?
Pand.
I, the spitting: but there's two words to a bargain: you must
stay the roasting too.
Troil.
Still have I stay'd: and still the farther off.
Pand.
That's but the roasting, but there's more in this word stay;
there's the taking off the Spitt, the making of the sawce, the dishing,
the setting on the Table, and the saying Grace; nay you must stay the
cooling too, or you may chance to burn your chaps.
Troil.
At Priams table pensive do I sit,
And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts
(Can she be say'd to come, who ne're was absent!)
Pand.
Well, she's a most ravishing creature; and she look'd Yesterday
most killingly, she had such a stroke with her eyes, she cut to the
quick with every glance of e'm.
Troil.
I was about to tell thee, when my heart
Was ready with a sigh to cleave in two
Lest Hector, or my Father should perceive me,
I have with mighty anguish of my Soul
Just at the Birth stifled this still-born-sigh
And forc'd my face into a painful smile.
Pand.
I measur'd her with my girdle Yesterday, she's not half a yard
about the waste, but so taper a shape did I never see, but when I had
her in my arms, Lord thought I, and by my troth I could not forbear
sighing, if Prince Troilus had her at this advantage, and I were holding
an Inch of Hellen neither; but there's no more comparison between the
Women—there was wit, there was a sweet tongue: How her
words melteth in her mouth! Mercury wou'd have been glad to have
had such a tongue in his mouth I warrant him.
I wou'd some body had heard her talk Yesterday, as I did:
Troil.
Oh Pandarus, when I tell thee I am mad
In Cressid's Love, thou answer'st she is fair;
Praisest her eyes, her stature and her wit;
But praising thus, instead of oyl and balme,
Thou lay'st in every wound her Love has giv'n me
The Sword that made it.
Pand.
I give her but her due.
Troil.
Thou give'st her not so much.
Pand.
Faith 'Ile speak no more of her, let her be as she is:
If she be a beauty 'tis the better for her, and she be not
She has the mends in her own hands for Pandarus.
Troil.
In spight of me thou wilt mistake my meaning.
Pand.
I have had but my labour for my pains,
Ill thought on of her, and ill thought on of you:
Gone between and between, and am ground in the Millstones
For my Labour.
Troil.
What art thou angry Pandarus with thy friend?
Pand.
Because she's my Niece, therefore she's not so fair as Hellen,
and she were not my Niece, show me such another piece of Womans
flesh; take her limb by limb, I say no more, but if Paris had seen her
first, Menelaus had been no Cuckold: but what care if she were a Blackmoore,
what am I the better for her face.
Troil.
Say'd I she was not beautiful.
Pand.
I care not if you did, she's a fool to stay behind her Father
Calchas, let her to the Greeks; and so I'le tell her: for my part I am
resolute, I'le meddle no more in your affairs.
Troil.
But hear me!
Pand.
Not I.
Troil.
Dear Pandarus—
Pand.
Pray speak no more on't, I'le not burn my fingers in another body's
business, I'le leave it as I found it, & there's an end.
[Exit Pandarus.
Troil.
O Gods, how do you torture me?
I cannot come to Cressid but by him,
And he's as peevish to be woo'd to wooe,
As she is to be won.
Enter Æneas.
Æneas.
How now, Prince Troilus; why not in the battle?
Troil.
Because not there, this Womans answer suites me;
What news Æneas from the field to day?
Æn.
Paris is hurt.
Troil.
By whom?
Æn.
By Menelaus. Hark what good sport
Alarum within.
Is out of Town to day, when I hear such Musick
I cannot hold from dancing.
Troil.
I'le make one,
And try to lose an anxious thought or two
In heat of action.
[Aside]
Thus Coward-like from love to War I run,
Seek the less dangers, and the greater shun.
[Exit Troil.
Enter Cressida.
Cressid.
My Lord Æneas, who were those went by? I mean the Ladys!
Æn.
Queen Hecuba, and Hellen.
Cressi.
And whither go they?
Æn.
Up to the Western Tower.
Whose height commands as subject, all the vale;
To see the battle, Hector whose patience
Is fix'd like that of Heav'n, to day was mov'd:
He chid Andromache, and strook his Armourer,
And as there were good Husbandry in War,
Before the Sun was up he went to field;
Your pardon Lady that's my business too.
[Exit Æneas.
Cressi.
Hectors a gallant Wariour.
Enter Pandarus.
Pand.
What's that, what's that!
Cressi.
Good morrow Uncle Pandarus.
Pand.
Good morrow Cousin Cressida: when were you at Court?
Cressi.
This morning Uncle!
Pand.
What were you a talking when I came? was Hector arm'd,
And gone ere ye came? Hector was stirring early.
Cressi.
That I was talking of; and of his anger!
Pand.
Was he angry say you? true he was so, and I know the cause:
He was struck down yesterday in the battle, but he'll lay about him;
he'll cry quittance with 'em to day I'le answer for him: and there's
Troilus will not come far behind him; let 'em take heed of Troilus, I
can tell 'em that too.
Cressi.
What was he struck down too?
Pand.
Who, Troilus? Troilus is the better man of the two.
Cressi.
Oh Jupiter! there's no comparison, Troilus the better man!
Pand.
What, no comparison between Hector and Troilus? do you
know a man if you see him?
No, for he may look like a man, and not be one.
Pand.
Well, I say Troilus is Troilus.
Cressi.
That's what I say, for I am sure he is not Hector.
Pand.
No, nor Hector is not Troilus, make your best of that Neece!
Cressi.
'Tis true, for each of'em is himself.
Pand.
Himself! alas poor Troilus! I wou'd he were himself, well
the Gods are all sufficient, and time must mend or end: I wou'd he
were himself, and wou'd I were a Lady for his sake. I would not
answer for my Maidenhead,—No, Hector is not a better man than
Troilus.
Cressi.
Excuse me.
Pand.
Pardon me: Troilus is in the bud; 'tis early day with him, you
shall tell me another tale when Troilus is come to bearing: and yet he'll
not bear neither in some sence. No, Hector shall never have his virtues.
Cressi.
No matter.
Pand.
Nor his beauty, nor his fashion, nor his wit, he shall have
nothing of him.
Cressi.
They would not become him, his own are better.
Pand.
How, his own better! you have no judgment Neece, Hellen
her self swore tother day, that Troilus for a manly brown complexion;
(for so it is, I must confess;) not brown neither.
Cressi.
No, but very brown.
Pand.
Faith to say truth, brown and not brown: come I swear to
you, I think Hellen loves him better then Paris: Nay I'm sure she does,
she comes me to him tother day, into the bow window, and you know
Troilus has not above three or four hairs on his chin.
Cressi.
That's but a bare commendation.
Pand.
But to prove to you that Hellen loves him, she comes, and
puts me her white hand to his cloven chin!
Cressi.
Has he been fighting then, how came it cloven?
Pand.
Why, you know it is dimpled. I cannot choose but laugh to
think how she tickled his cloven chin: She has a marvellous white hand
But let that pass, for I know who has a whiter:
Well Cousin I told you a thing yesterday, think on't, think on't.
Cressi.
So I do Uncle.
Pand.
I'le besworn 'tis true; he will weep ye, and 'twere a man
born in April.
[A Retreat sounded.
Hark, they are returning from the field; shall we stay and see 'em as
they come by, sweet Neece do, sweet Neece Cressida.
Cressi.
For once you shall command me.
Pand.
Here, here, here's an excellent place; we may see 'em here
most bravely, and I'le tell you all their names as they pass by: but
mark Troilus above the rest, mark Troilus, he's worth your marking.
Cressi.
Speak not so loud then.
Pand.
That's Æneas, Is't not a brave man that, he's a swinger,
many a Grecian he has laid with his face upward; but mark Troilus, you
shall see anon.
That's Anthenor, he has a notable head-peece I can tell you, and
he's the ablest man for judgment in all Troy, you may turn him loose
i'faith, and by my troth a proper person: When comes Troilus? I'le
show you Troilus anon, if he see me, you shall see him nod at me.
Hector passes over.
That's Hector, that, that, look you that, there's a fellow, go thy way
Hector, there's a brave man Neece: O brave Hector, look how he
looks! there's a countenance! is't not a brave man Neece?
Cressi.
I always told you so.
Pand.
Is a not? it does a mans heart good to look on him, look you,
look you there, what hacks are on his Helmet! this was no boys play
i'faith, he laid it on with a vengeance, take it off whose who's will as
they say! there are hacks Neece!
Cressi.
Were those with Swords.
Pand.
Swords, or Bucklers, Faulchions, Darts, and Lances! any
thing he cares not! and the devil come 'tis all one to him, by Jupiter
he looks so terribly that I am half afraid to praise him.
Enter Paris.
Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris, look ye yonder Neece; is't
not a brave young Prince too! He draws the best bow in all Troy, he
hits you to a span twelvescore level; who said he came home hurt to
day: why this will do Hellen's heart good now! Ha! that I cou'd see
Troilus now!
Enter Helenus.
Cressi.
Who's that black man Uncle?
Pand.
That's Helenus, I marvel where Troilus is all this while? that's
Helenus, I think Troilus went not forth to day; that's Helenus.
Cressi.
Can Helenus fight Uncle?
Pand.
Helenus! No, yes, he'll fight indifferently well, I marvel in
my heart what's become of Troilus? Hark! do you not hear the people
cry Troilus? Helenus is a Priest and keeps a whore; he'll fight for's
whore, or he's no true Priest I warrant him.
Enter Troilus passing over.
Cressi.
What sneaking fellow comes yonder?
Where, yonder! that's Deiphobus: No I lye, I lye, that's
Troilus, there's a man Neece! hem! O brave Troilus! the Prince of
chivalry, and flower of fidelity!
Cressi.
Peace, for shame peace.
Pand.
Nay but mark him then! O brave Troilus! there's a man of
men Neece! look you how his Sword is bloody, and his Helmet more
hack'd then Hectors, and how he looks, and how he goes! O admirable
youth! he nere saw two and twenty. Go thy way Troilus, go thy
way! had I a sister were a grace, and a daughter a Goddesse, he shou'd
take his choice of 'em, O admirable man! Paris! Paris is dirt to him,
and I warrant Hellen to change, wou'd give all the shooes in her shop
to boot.
Enter Common Souldiers passing over.
Cressi.
Here come more.
Pand.
Asses, fools, dolts, dirt and dung, stuff and lumber: porredg
after meat? but I cou'd live and dye with Troilus. Nere look
Neece, nere look, the Lyons are gone; Apes and Monkeys, the fag
end of the creation. I had rather be such a man as Troilus, then Agamemnon
and all Greece.
Cressi.
There's Achilles among the Greeks, he's a braveman!
Pand.
Achilles! a Carman, a beast of burden; a very Camel, have
you any eyes Neece, do you know a man! is he to be compar'd with
Troilus!
Enter Page.
Page.
Sir, my Lord Troilus wou'd instantly speak with you.
Pand.
Where boy, where!
Page.
At his own house, if you think convenient.
Pand.
Good boy tell him I come instantly, I doubt he's wounded,
farewell good Neece: But I'le be with you by and by.
Cressi.
To bring me Uncle!
Pand.
I, a token from Prince Troilus.
Cressi.
By the same token you are a procurer Uncle.
[Exit Pandarus.
Cressida alone.
A strange dissembling Sex we Women are,
Well may we men, when we our selves deceive.
Long has my secret Soul lov'd Troilus.
I drunk his praises from my Uncles mouth,
As if my ears cou'd nere be satisfi'd;
Why then, why said I not, I love this Prince?
How cou'd my tongue conspire against my heart,
To say I lov'd him not, O childish love!
'Tis like an Infant froward in his play.
And what he most desires, he throws away.
[Exit Cressida.
| Troilus And Cressida, Or, Truth Found too Late | |