 | Troilus And Cressida, Or, Truth Found too Late |  |
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
Enter Pandarus, Cressida meeting.Pand.
I'st possible! no sooner got but lost!
The devil take Antenor: the young Prince will go mad:
A plague upon Anthenor! wou'd they had broke's neck.
Cressi.
How now! what's the matter! who was here!
Pand.
Oh, oh!
Cressi.
Why sigh you so! O where's my Troilus? tell me sweet
Uncle what's the matter?
Pand.
Wou'd I were as deep under the earth, as I am above it!
Cressi.
Oh the Gods, what's the matter?
Pand.
Prithee get thee in, wou'd thou hadst never been born!
I knew thou woud'st be his death; oh poor Gentleman!
A plague upon Antenor?
Cressi.
Good Uncle, I beseech you on my knees, tell me what's the
matter?
Pand.
Thou must be gone girl; thou must be gone, to the fugitive
Rogue Priest thy father, (and he's my brother too, but that's all one
at this time:) a pox upon Antenor.?
Cressi.
O ye immortal Gods, I will not go.
Pand.
Thou must, thou must?
Cressi.
I will not: I have quite forgot my father;
I have no touch of birth; no spark of Nature:
No kinn, no blood, no life; nothing so near me
As my dear Troilus?
Enter Troilus.
Pand.
Here, here, here, he comes sweet Duck!
Cressi.
O Troilus, Troilus!
[They both weep over each other, she running into his armes.
Pand.
What a pair of Spectacles is here! let me embrace too: Oh
heart, sings (as the saying is) O heart, heavy heart, why sighst thou
without breaking (where he answers again) because thou canst not
ease thy smart, by friendship nor by speaking, there was never a truer
rhime; let us cast away nothing; for we may live to have need of such
a verse: we see it, we see it, how now lambs?
Troil.
Cressida, I love thee with so strange a purity
That the blest Gods, angry with my devotions
More bright in zeal, than that I pay their Altars,
Will take thee from my sight?
Cressi.
Have the Gods envy?
Pand.
I, I, I, 'tis too plain a case!
And is it true, that I must go from Troy?
Troil.
A hastefull truth?
Cressi.
What, and from Troilus too?
Troil.
From Troy and Troilus: and suddenly.
So suddenly 'tis counted but by minutes.
Cressi.
What not an hour allow'd for taking leave?
Troil.
Ev'n that's bereft us too: our envious fates
Justle betwixt, and part the dear adieus
Of meeting lips, clasp'd hands, and lock'd embraces.
Æneas within.
My Lord, is the Lady ready yet?
Troil.
Hark, you are call'd: some say the Genius so
Cryes come, to him who instantly must dye.
Pand.
Where are my tears! some rain to 'lay this wind:
Or my heart will be blown up by th' roots!
Troil.
Hear me my Love! be thou but true like me.
Cressi.
I true! how now, what wicked thought is this?
Troil.
Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,
For it is parting from us:
I spoke not, be thou true, as fearing thee;
But be thou true, I said to introduce
My following protestation: be thou true,
And I will see thee.
Cressi.
You'll be expos'd to dangers.
Troil.
I care not: but be true.
Cressi.
Be true again?
Troil.
Hear why I speak it love.
The Grecian Youths are full of Grecian Arts:
Alas a kind of holy jealousie
Which I beseech you call a vertuous sin,
Makes me afraid how far you may be tempted.
Cressi.
O Heavens, you love me not!
Troil
Dye I, a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question
But my own merit.
Cressi.
Fear not; I'le be true.
Troil.
Then fate thy worst; for I will see thee love
Not all the Grecian host shall keep me out,
Nor Troy, though wall'd with fire, shou'd hold me in.
Æneas within.
My Lord, my Lord Troilus: I must call you.
Pand.
A mischief call him: nothing but Schreechowls? do, do, call
again; you had best part 'em now in the sweetnesse of their love! I'le
be hang'd if this Æneas be the Son of Venus, for all his bragging.
a drop of Venus blood in him: honest Venus was a Punk.
Troil.
To Pand.
Prithee go out; and gain one minute more.
Pand.
Marry and I will: follow you your business; lose no time, 'tis
very precious; go, Bill again: I'le tell the Rogue his own I warrant
him.
[Exit Pandarus.
Cressi.
What have we gain'd by this one minute more?
Troil.
Only to wish another, and another
A longer struggling with the pangs of death.
Cressi.
O those who do not know what parting is
Can never learn to dye!
Troil.
When I but think this sight may be our last,
If Jove cou'd set me in the place of Atlas
And lay the weight of Heav'n and Gods upon me
He cou'd not presse me more.
Cressi.
Oh let me go that I may know my grief;
Grief is but guess'd, while thou art standing by:
But I too soon shall know what absence is.
Troil.
Why 'tis to be no more: another name for death.
'Tis the Sunn parting from the frozen North;
And I, me thinks, stand on some Icey cliff,
To watch the last low circles that he makes;
Till he sink down from Heav'n! O only Cressida,
If thou depart from me, I cannot live:
I have not soul enough to last for grief,
But thou shalt hear what grief has done with me.
Cressi.
If I could live to hear it, I were false,
But as a careful traveller who fearing
Assaults of Robbers, leaves his wealth behind,
I trust my heart with thee; and to the Greeks
Bear but an empty Casket.
Troil.
Then, I will live; that I may keep that treasure:
And arm'd with this assurance, let thee go
Loose, yet secure as is the gentle Hawk
When whistled off she mounts into the wind:
Our love's, like Mountains high above the clouds,
Though winds and tempests beat their aged feet,
Their peaceful heads nor storm nor thunder know,
But scorn the threatning rack that roles below,
Exeunt Ambo.
SCENE II.
Achilles and Patroclus, standing in their Tent.Ulysses, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Nestor, Ajax, passing over the Stage.
Ulyss.
Achilles stands in th'entrance of his Tent:
Please it our General to pass strangely by him,
As if he were forgot, and Princes all
Look on him with neglectful eyes and scorn:
Pride must be cur'd by pride.
Agam.
We'll execute your purpose, and put on
A form of strangness as we pass along
So do each Prince either salute him not
Or else disdainfully, which will shake him more
Then if not look'd on: I will lead the way.
Achill.
What, comes the General to speak with me!
You know my mind; I'll fight no more with Troy.
Agam.
What says Achilles, wou'd he ought with us?
Nest.
Wou'd you, my Lord, ought with the General!
Achill.
No.
Nest.
Nothing my Lord.
Agam.
The better.
Menel.
How do you, how do you!
Achill.
What does the Cuckold scorn me!
Ajax.
How now Patroclus!
Achill.
Good morrow Ajax.
Ajax.
Ha!
Achill.
Good morrow.
Ajax.
I; and good next day too.
[Exeunt all but Achilles, and Patroclus.
Achill.
What mean these fellows! know they not Achilles?
Patroc.
They pass by strangely; they were us'd to bow;
And send their smiles before 'em to Achilles,
To come as humbly as they us'd to creep, to holy Altars.
Achill.
Am I poor of late!
'Tis certain, greatness once fall'n out with fortune
Must fall out with men too! what the declind is
He shall as soon read in the eyes of others
As feel in his own fall: for men like butter-flyes,
Show not their mealy wings but to the Summer.
Patroc.
'Tis known you are in love with Hector's Sister,
And therefore will not fight: and your not fighting
A woman impudent and mannish grown
Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man,
In time of action: I'm condemn'd for this:
They think my little appetite to warr
Deads all the fire in you: but rowse your self,
And love shall from your neck unloose his folds;
Or like a dew drop from a Lyons Mane
Be shaken into ayr.
Achill.
Shall Ajax fight with Hector?
Patrocl.
Yes, and perhaps shall gain much honour by him.
Achill.
I see my reputation is at stake.
Patroc.
O then beware, those wounds heal ill that men have giv'n
themselves, because they give e'm deepest.
Achill.
I'le do something:
But what I know not yet,—No more our Champion.
Re-enter Ajax, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nest. Diomede, Trumpet.
Agam.
Here art thou daring combat, valiant Ajax.
Give with thy Trumpet, a loud note to Troy,
Thou Noble Champion, that the sounding ayr
May pierce the ears of the great challenger,
And call him hither.
Ajax.
Trumpet take that purse:
Now crack thy lungs, and split the sounding brass;
Thou blow'st for Hector.
[Trumpet sounds, and is answer'd from within.
Enter Hector, Æneas, and other Trojans.
Agam.
Yonder comes the Troop.
Æneas, coming to the Greeks.
Health to the Grecian Lords; what shall be done
To him that shall be vanquish'd? or do you purpose,
A Victor should be known! will you the Knights,
Shall to the edg of all extremity,
Pursue each other, or shall be divided
By any voice or order of the field;
Hector bad ask.
Agam.
Which way wou'd Hector have it?
Æne.
He cares not, he'll obey conditions.
Achill.
'Tis done like Hector but securely done;
A little proudly, and too much dispising
The Knight oppos'd, he might have found his match.
Æne.
If not Achilles, Sir, what is your name!
If not Achilles nothing.
Æne.
Therefore Achilles, but who ere know this;
Great Hector knows no pride, weigh him but well,
And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
This Ajax is half made of Hectors blood,
In love whereof half Hector stays at home;
Achill.
A Maiden battle! I perceive you then.
Agam.
Go Diomede, and stand by valiant Ajax:
As you and Lord Æneas shall consent,
So let the fight proceed or terminate.
[The Trumpets sound on both sides, while Æneas and Diomede take their places, as Judges of the Field: The Trojans and Grecians rank themselves on either side.
Ulyss.
They are oppos'd already.
[Fight equal at first, then Ajax has Hector at disadvantage: at last Hector clos s, Ajax falls on one knee, Hector stands over him but striks not, and Ajax rises.
Æneas throwing his Gantlet betwixt them.
Princes enough, you both have shown much valour.
Diomede.
And we as Judges of the Field declare;
The combat here shall cease.
Ajax.
I am not warm yet, let us fight again.
Æne.
Then let it be as Hector shall determine.
Hect.
If it be left to me, I will no more.
Ajax, thou art my Aunt Hesion's Son;
The Obligation of our blood forbids us.
But were thy mixture Greek and Trojan so,
That thou cou'dst say, this part is Grecian all
And this is Trojan, hence thou shou'dst not bear
One Grecian limb, wherein my pointed Sword
Had not impression made, but Heav'n forbid
That any drop thou borrowst from my Mother,
Shou'd ere be draind by me, let me embrace thee Cousin:
By him who thunders thou hast sinnewy arms,
Hector wou'd have 'em fall upon him thus:— [Embrace]
Thine be the honour, Ajax.
Ajax.
I thank thee Hector,
Thou art too gentle, and too free a Man:
I came to kill thee Cousin, and to gain
A great addition from that glorious act:
But thou hast quite disarm'd me.
Hect.
I am glad.
Ajax.
If I might in intreaty finde success,
I wou'd desire to see thee at my Tent.
Diom.
'Tis Agamemnons wish, and great Achilles,
Both long to see the valiant Hector there.
Hect.
Æneas, call my Brother Troilus to me;
And you two signe this friendly enterview.
[Agamemnon, and the chief of both sides approach,
Agam.
to Hect.
Worthy of Arms, as welcome as to one
Who wou'd be rid of such an Enemy.
To Troil.
My well fam'd Lord of Troy, no less to you.
Nest.
I have, thou gallant Trojan seen thee often
Labouring for destiny, make cruel way,
Through ranks of Grecian youth, and I have seen thee
As swift as lightning spur thy Phrygian Steed,
And seen thee scorning many forfeit lives,
When thou hast hung thy advanc'd Sword ith'ayr,
Not leting it decline, on prostrate foes:
That I have said to all the standers by
Lo Jove is yonder, distributing life.
Hect.
Let me embrace thee, good old Chronicle,
Who hast so long walkt hand in hand with time:
Most Reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
Ulyss.
I wonder now, how yonder City stands,
When we have here, her base and pillar by us.
Hect.
I know your count'nance, Lord Ulysses well;
Ah Sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw your self and Diomede,
In Ilion, on your Greekish Embassy.
Achill.
Now Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perus'd thee Hector,
And quoted joint by joint.
Hect.
Is this Achilles!
Achill.
I am Achilles.
Hect.
Stand fair, I prithee let me look on thee.
Achill.
Behold thy fill.
Hect.
Nay, I have done already.
Achill.
Thou art too brief, I will the second time
As I wou'd buy thee, view thee limb by limb.
Hect.
O, like a Book of sport thou read'st me ore;
But there's more in me then thou understand'st.
Achill.
Tell me ye Heav'ns, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? there, or there, or there!
That I may give th' imagin'd wound a name,
And make distinct the very breach, whereout
Hect.
Wert thou an Oracle to tell me this!
I'de not believe thee, henceforth guard thee well,
I'le kill thee every where:
Ye Noble Grecians pardon me this boast,
His insolence draws folly from my lips,
But I'le endeavour deeds to match these words;
Else may I never.—
Ajax.
Do not chase thee Cousin,
And you Achilles let these threats alone:
You may have every day enough of Hector,
If you have stomack, the General State I fear
Can scarce intreat you to perform your boast.
Hect.
I pray you let us see you in the field;
We have had paltry Wars, since you refus'd
The Grecian cause.
Achill.
Dost thou entreat me Hector!
To morrow will I meet thee fierce as death;
To Night all peace.
Hect.
Thy hand upon that match.
Agam.
First all you Grecian Princes go with me,
And entertain great Hector, afterwards,
As his own leasure, shall concur with yours,
You may invite him to your several Tents.
[Exeunt Agam. Hect. Menel. Nestor, Diomede, together.
Troil.
My Lord Ulysses.
Tell me I beseech you;
In what part of the field does Calchas lodg!
Ulyss.
At Menelaus Tent;
There Diomede does feast with him to Night:
Who neither looks on Heaven or on Earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view,
On Cressida alone.
Troil.
Shall I, brave Lord be bound to you so much
After we part from Agamemnons Tent.
To bring me thither!
Ulyss.
I shall wait on you.
As freely tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy? had she no Lovers there
Who mourn her absence?
Troil.
O Sir, to such as boasting show their scars,
Reproof is due, she lov'd and was belov'd:
That's all I must impart. Lead on my Lord.
[Exeunt Ulysses Troilus.
Achill.
to Patro.
I'le heat his blood with Greckish wine to Night,
Patroclus, let us feast him to the height.
Enter Thersites.
Patro.
Here comes Thersites.
Achill.
How now thou core of envy,
Thou crusty batch of Nature, what's the news?
Thers.
Why thou picture of what thou seemst, thou Idoll of
Ideot worshippers, there's a Letter for thee.
Achill.
From whence fragment?
Thers.
Why thou full dish of fool, from Troy.
Patroc.
Well said adversity! what makes thee so keen to day?
Thers.
Because a fool's my whetstone.
Patro.
Meaning me?
Thers.
Yes meaning thy no meaning; prithee be silent, boy, I profit
not by thy talk: Now the rotten diseases of the South, gut gripings,
ruptures, Catarrhs; loads of gravell in the back, Lethargies, cold
palsies, and the like, take thee, and take thee again; thou green Sarcenet
flap for a sore eye, thou tassell of a prodigals purse, thou: Ah how
the poor world is pester'd with such water-flys: such diminitives of
nature.
Achill.
My dear Patroclus, I am quite prevented
From my great purpose, bent on Hector's life:
Here is a Letter from my love Polixena,
Both taxing, and ingaging me to keep
An Oath that I have sworn: and will not break it
To save all Greece: let honour go or stay,
There's more Religion in my love than fame:
Exeunt Achilles, Patroclus.
Thers.
With too much blood and too little brain, these two are
running mad before the dog-days. There's Agamemnon too, an honest
fellow enough, and loves a brimmer heartily; but he has not so much
brains as an old gander. But his brother Menelaus, there's a fellow:
the goodly transformation of Iupiter when he lov'd Europa: the primitive
Cuckold: A vile Monkey ty'd eternally to his brothers table. To
be a D g, a Mule, a Cat, a toad, an Owle, a Lizard, a Herring without
a roe, I wou'd not care: but to be Menelaus I wou'd conspire against
destiny—Hey day! will with a wispe, and Jack a lanthorn!
Hector, Ajax, Agamemnon, Diomede, Ulisses, Troilus, going with torches over the stage.
Agam.
We go wrong; we go wrong.
Ajax.
No, yonder 'tis; there where we see the light.
Hect.
I trouble you.
Ajax.
Not at all Cousin: Here comes Achilles himself to guide us.
Achill.
Welcome brave Hector, welcome princes all:
Agam.
So now, brave Prince of Troy, I take my leave;
Ajax commands the guard, to wait on you.
Men.
Good night my Lord!
Hect.
Good night Sweet Lord Menelaus.
Thers.
aside.
Sweet quoth a! sweet Sink, sweet shore, sweet Jakes!
Achill.
Nestor will stay; and you Lord Diomede.
Keep Hector company an hour or two.
Diom.
I cannot Sir: I have important business.
Achill.
Enter my Lords.
Uliss.
to Troil.
Follow his torch: he goes to Calchas's tent.
[Exeunt Achill. Hect. Ajax at one way, Diomede, another; and after him Ulyss, Troylus.
Thers.
This Diomede's a most false-hearted rogue,
an unjust Knave: I will no more trust him when he winks with one eye,
then I will a Serpent when he hisses. He will spend his mouth and promise,
like Brabbler the Hound: but when he performs, Astronomers
set it down for a prodigy; Though I long to see Hector, I cannot forbear
dogging him. They say a keeps a Trojan Drabb: and uses Calchas
tent, that fugitive Priest of Troy; that Canonical Rogue of our side.
I'le after him: nothing but whoring in this Age: all incontinent
Rascalls!
Exit Thersites.
Entere Calchas, Cressida.
Calch.
O, what a blessing is a vertuous child!
Thou hast reclam'd my mind, and calm'd my passions
Of anger and revenge: my love to Troy
Revives within me, and my lost Tyara
No more disturbs my mind:
Cress.
A vertuous conquest.
Calch.
I have a womans longing to return
But yet which way without your ayd I know not.
Cress.
Time must instruct us how.
Calch.
You must dissemble love to Diomede still:
False Diomede, bred in Ulysses School
Can never be deceiv'd,
But by strong Arts and blandishments of love:
Put 'em in practice all; seem lost and won,
And draw him on, and give him line again.
This Argus then may close his hundred eyes
And leave our flight more easy.
Cress.
How can I answer this to love and Troilus?
Calch.
Why 'tis for him you do it: promise largely;
That Ring he saw you wear, he much suspects
Diom.
within.
Hoa; Calchas, Calchas!
Calch.
Hark! I hear his voice.
Pursue your project: doubt not the success.
Cress.
Heaven knows against my will: and yet my hopes
This night to meet my Triolus, while 'tis truce
Afford my minde some ease.
Calch.
No more: retire.
Exit Cressida.
Enter Diomede; Troilus and Ulysses appear listening at one door, and Thersites watching at another.
Diom.
I came to see your Daughter, worthy Calchas.
Calch.
My Lord I'le call her to you.
Exit Calchas.
Ulyss.
to Troil.
Stand where the torch may not discover us.
Enter Cressida.
Troil.
Cressida comes forth to him!
Diom.
How now my charge?
Cress.
Now my sweet Guardian: hark a word with you.
Whisper.
Troil.
I, so familiar!
Diom.
Will you remember?
Cress.
Remember: yes.
Troil.
Heav'ns! what shou'd she remember! plague and madnesse!
Ulysses.
Prince, you are mov'd: let us depart in time
Lest your displeasure should enlarge it self
To wrathfull terms: this place is dangerous;
The time unfit: 'beseech you let us go.
Troil.
I pray you stay; by Hell, and by Hell torments
I will not speak a word.
Diom.
I'le hear no more: good night.
Cress.
Nay, but you part in anger!
Troil.
Does that grieve thee! O wither'd truth!
Diom.
Farewell Cousner.
Cress.
Indeed I am not: pray come back again.
Ulyss.
You shake my Lord, at something: will you go?
You will break out.
Troil.
By all the Gods I will not.
There is between my will and all my actions,
A guard of patience! stay a little while.
Thers.
aside.
How the devill luxury with his fat rump, and potato
finger, tickles these together! put him off a little, you foolish Harlot!
'twill sharpen him the more.
Diom.
But will you then?
Cressi.
I will as soon as ere the War's concluded.
Give me some token, for the surety of it:
The Ring I saw you wear.
Cressi.
Giving it.
If you must have it.
Troil.
The Ring! nay then 'tis plain! O beauty where's thy faith!
Ulyss.
You have sworn patience.
Thersi.
That's well, that's well, the pledge is given, hold her to
her word good Devil, and her soul's thine I warrant thee.
Diom.
Who's wast?
Cressi.
By all Diana's waiting train of stars,
And by her self, I will not tell you whose.
Diom.
Why then thou lov'st him still, farewell for ever:
Thou never shalt mock Diomede again.
Cressi.
You shall not go, one cannot speak a word
But straight it starts you.
Diom.
I do not like this fooling.
Thersi.
Nor I by Pluto: but that which likes not me, pleases me best.
Diom.
I shall expect your promise.
Cressi.
I'le perform it.
Not a word more, good night—I hope for ever:
[aside.
Thus to deceive deceivers is no fraud.
[Exeunt Diomede Cressida severally.
Ulyss.
All's done my Lord.
Troil.
Is it?
Ulyss.
Pray let us go.
Troil.
Was Cressida here?
Ulyss.
I cannot conjure Trojan.
Troil.
She was not sure! she was not.
Let it not be believ'd for womanhood:
Think we had Mothers, do not give advantage,
To biting Satyr, apt without a theme,
For defamation, to square all the sex
By Cressid's rule, rather think this not Cressida.
Thersi.
Will he swagger himself out on's own eyes!
Troil.
This she! no this was Diomedes Cressida.
If beauty have a Soul, this is not she:
I cannot speak for rage, that Ring was mine,
By Heaven I gave it, in that point of time
When both our joys were fullest!—if he keeps it
Let dogs eat Troilus.
Thersi.
He'll tickle it for his Concupy: this will be sport to see!
Patroclus will give me any thing for the intelligence of this whore;
a parrot will not do more for an almond, than he will for a commodious
drab: I would I cou'd meet with this Rogue Diomede too; I wou'd
croke like a Raven to him; I wou'd bode: it shall go hard but I'le
find him out.
Exit Thersites.
Æn.
I have been seeking you this hour, my Lord:
Hector by this is arming him in Troy.
Ulyss.
Commend me gallant Troilus to your Brother:
Tell him I hope he shall not need to arm:
The fair Polixena has by a letter
Disarm'd our great Achilles of his rage.
Troil.
This I shall say to Hector.
Ulyss.
So I hope!
Pray Heaven Thersites have inform'd me true,—
[aside.
Troil.
Good night, my Lord; accept distracted thanks.
[Exit Ulisses.
Enter Pandarus.
Pand.
Hear ye, my Lord, hear ye; I have been seeing yon poor girl.
There have been old doings there i'faith.
Troil.
aside.
Hold yet, my Spirits; let him powr it in:
The poyson's kind: the more I drink of it
The sooner 'twill dispatch me.
Æne.
to Pand.
Peace you babbler!
Pand.
She has been mightily made on by the Greeks: she takes most
wonderfully among 'em: Achilles kiss'd her, and Patroclus kiss'd her:
Nay and old Nestor put aside his gray beard and brush'd her with his
whiskers. Then comes me Agamemnon with his Generals Staff, diving
with a low bow e'en to the ground, and rising again, just at her lips:
And after him came Ulysses, and Ajax, and Menelaus: and they so
pelted her i'faith: pitter patter, pitter patter, as thick as hayl-stones.
And after that a whole rout of 'em: Never was woman in Phrygia
better kiss'd.
Troil.
aside.
Hector said true: I finde, I finde it now!
Pand.
And last of all comes me Diomede so demurely: that's a notable
sly Rogue I warrant him! mercy upon us, how he layd her on upon
the lips! for as I told you, she's most mightily made on among the
Greekes. What, cheer up I say Man! she has every ones good word. I
think in my conscience, she was born with a caull upon her head.
Troil.
aside.
Hell, death, confusion, how he tortures me!
Pand.
And that Rogue-Priest my Brother, is so courted and treated
for her sake: the young Sparks do so pull him about, and hall him
by the Cassock: nothing but invitations to his Tent, and his Tent,
and his Tent. Nay and one of'em was so bold, as to ask him if she were
a Virgin, and with that the Rogue my Brother, takes me up a little
God in his hand, and kisses it; and swears devoutly that she was, then
was I ready to burst my sides with laughing, to think what had pass'd
betwixt you two.
Troil.
O I can bear no more: she's falshood all:
False by both kinds; for with her mothers milk
She only wants an opportunity,
Her Soul's a whore already.
Pand.
What wou'd you make a Monopoly of a womans lips: a little
consolation or so, might be allow'd one wou'd think in a lovers absence!
Troil.
Hence from my sight: let ignominy brand thy hated name:
Let Modest Matrons at thy mention start;
And blushing Virgins, when they read our Annals,
Skip o're the guilty page that holds thy Legend,
And blots the noble work.
Pand.
O world world; thou art an ungratefull patch of Earth!
Thus the poor Agent is despis'd! he labours painfully in his calling,
and trudges between parties: but when their turns are serv'd, come
out's too good for him. I am mighty melancholy: I'le e'en go home,
and shut up my doors; and dye o'th sullens like an old bird in a Cage!
Exit Pandarus.
Enter Diomede and Thersites.
Thers.
aside.
There; there he is: now let it work: now play thy part
jealousy, and twinge e'm: put 'em between thy milstones, and grinde
the Rogues together.
Diom.
My Lord I am by Ajax sent to inform you
This hour must end the truce.
Æneas
to Troil.
Contain your self;
Think where we are.
Diom.
Your stay will be unsafe.
Troil.
It may for those I hate.
Thers.
aside.
Well said Trojan: there's the first hit.
Diom.
Beseech you Sir make haste, my own affairs
Call me another way.
Thers.
aside.
What affairs; what affairs; demand that, Dolthead! the
Rogue will lose a quarrell for want of wit to ask that question.
Troil.
May I enquire where your affairs conduct you?
Thers.
aside.
Well sayd again; I beg thy pardon.
Diom.
Oh, it concerns you not.
Troil.
Perhaps it does.
Diom.
You are too inquisitive: nor am I bound
To satisfy an Enemies request.
Troil.
You have a Ring upon your finger Diomede,
And given you by a Lady,
Diom.
If it were; 'Twas given to one who can defend her gift.
Thers.
aside.
So, so; the boars begin to gruntle at one another: set
up your bristles now a'both sides: whet and foam Rogues.
Troil.
You must restore it Greek, by Heaven you must:
No spoil of mine shall grace a Traitors hand.
Of my false fair; which, perjur'd as she is,
I never will resigne, but with my Soul.
Diom.
Then thou it seems art that forsaken fool
Who wanting merit to preserve her heart,
Repines in vain to see it better plac'd;
But know, (for now I take a pride to grieve thee)
Thou art so lost a thing in her esteem
I never heard thee nam'd; but some scorn follow'd:
Thou wert our table talk for laughing meals:
Thy name our sportful theme for Evening walks:
And intermissive hours of cooler Love:
When hand in hand we went.
[Troil.]
Hell and furies!
Thersi.
Aside.
O well stung Scorpion!
Now Menelaus his Greek horns are out o'doors, there's a new Cuckold
start up on the Trojan side.
Troil.
Yet this was she, ye Gods that very she,
Who in my arms lay melting all the Night;
Who kiss'd and sigh'd, and sigh'd, and kiss'd again,
As if her Soul flew upward to her lips,
To meet mine there, and panted at the passage.
Who loath to finde the breaking day, look'd out,
And shrunk into my bosome, there to make
A little longer darkness.
Diom.
Plagues and tortures!
Thersi.
Good, good, by Pluto! their fool's mad to lose his harlot;
and our fools mad, that tother fool had her first: if I sought peace now,
I cou'd tell 'em there's punk enough to satisfie 'em both: whose sufficient!
but let 'em worry one another, the foolish currs; they think they
can never have enough of carrion.
Æneas.
My Lords, this fury is not proper here,
In time of truce; if either side be injur'd
To morrow's Sun will rise apace, and then—
Troil.
And then! but why should I defer till then?
My blood calls now, there is no truce for Traytors.
My vengeance rowls within my breast, it must
It will have vent.—
[Draws.
Diom.
Hinder us not Æneas,
My blood rides high as his, I trust thy honour;
And know thou art too brave a foe to break it.—
[Draws.
Thersi.
Now Moon! now shine sweet Moon! let 'em have just light
enough to make their passes: and not light enough to ward 'em.
Æne.
Drawing too.
By Heav'n he comes on this who strikes the first,
You both are mad, is this like gallant men
To fight at midnight; at the Murderers hour?
Let night enjoy her dues of soft repose;
But let the Sun behold the brave mans courage.
And this I dare engage for Diomede
Foe though I am, he shall not hide his head,
But meet you in the very face of danger.
Diom.
putting up.
Be't so: and were it on some precipice
High as Olympus, and a Sea beneath
Call when thou dar'st, just on the sharpest point
I'le meet, and tumble with thee to destruction.
Troil.
A gnawing conscience haunts not guilty men
As I'le haunt thee, to summon thee to this,
Nay, should'st thou take the Stygian lake for refuge
I'le plunge in after, through the boiling flames
To push thee hissing down the vast Abysse.
Diom.
Where shall we meet?
Troil.
Before the Tent of Calchas:
Thither, through all your Troops, I'le fight my way;
And in the sight of perjur'd Cressida
Give death to her through thee.
Diom.
Tis largely promis'd.
But I disdain to answer with a boast;
Be sure thou shalt be met.
Troil.
And thou be found.
[Exeunt Troilus, Æneas, one way: Diomede the other.
Thers.
Now the furies take Æneas, for letting 'em sleep upon their
quarrell: who knows but rest may cool their brains, and make 'em rise
maukish to mischief upon consideration? May each of 'em dream he
sees his Cockatrice in to thers arms: and be stabbing one another in
their sleep, to remember 'em of their business when they wake: let
'em be punctual to the point of honour; and if it were possible let both
be first at the place of Execution. Let neither of 'em have cogitation enough,
to consider 'tis a whore they fight for: and let 'em vallue their
lives at as little as they are worth. And lastly let no succeeding fools
take warning by 'em; but in imitation of them when a Strumpet is in
question,
And think it great to perish by Example.
Exit.
| Troilus And Cressida, Or, Truth Found too Late | |