The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

ACT IV.

Scene I. Troy. A street.

Enter, at one side, Æneas, and Servant with a torch; at the other, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, Diomedes, and others, with torches.[1820]

Par. See, ho! who is that there?[1821][1822]

Dei. It is the Lord Æneas.[1822]

Æne. Is the prince there in person?[1823]
Had I so good occasion to lie long
As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business [1824] 5
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.

Dio. That's my mind too. Good morrow, Lord Æneas.

Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas,—take his hand,—
Witness the process of your speech, wherein [1825]
You told how Diomed a whole week by days[1825][1826] 10
Did haunt you in the field.[1827]

Æne. Health to you, valiant sir,[1828]
During all question of the gentle truce;[1829]
But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance
As heart can think or courage execute. 15

Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces.[1830]
Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health;
But when contention and occasion meet,[1831]
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life
With all my force, pursuit and policy.[1832] 20

Æne. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly
With his face backward. In humane gentleness,[1833]
Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed! By Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love in such a sort 25
The thing he means to kill more excellently.

Dio. We sympathise. Jove, let Æneas live,
If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
A thousand complete courses of the sun!
But, in mine emulous honour, let him die, 30
With every joint a wound, and that to-morrow.[1834]

Æne. We know each other well.[1835]

Dio. We do; and long to know each other worse.[1835]

Par. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting,[1836]
The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.[1837][1838] 35
What business, lord, so early?[1837]

Æne. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.

Par. His purpose meets you: 'twas to bring this Greek [1839]
To Calchas' house; and there to render him,[1840]
For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid: 40
Let's have your company, or, if you please,
Haste there before us. I constantly do think,[1841]
Or rather, call my thought a certain knowledge,
My brother Troilus lodges there to-night:
Rouse him and give him note of our approach, 45
With the whole quality wherefore: I fear [1842][1843]
We shall be much unwelcome.[1843]

Æne. That I assure you:[1844][1845]
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece[1844]
Than Cressid borne from Troy.[1844]

Par. There is no help;
The bitter disposition of the time [1846] 50
Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you.[1846]

Æne. Good morrow, all. [Exit with Servant.[1847]

Par. And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,[1848]
Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,[1849]
Who, in your thoughts, deserves fair Helen best,[1850] 55
Myself or Menelaus?

Dio. Both alike:
He merits well to have her that doth seek her,
Not making any scruple of her soilure,[1851]
With such a hell of pain and world of charge;
And you as well to keep her, that defend her, 60
Not palating the taste of her dishonour,
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends:
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece;
You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins 65
Are pleased to breed out your inheritors:
Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor more,[1852]
But he as he, the heavier for a whore.[1853]

Par. You are too bitter to your countrywoman.

Dio. She's bitter to her country: hear me, Paris: 70
For every false drop in her bawdy veins
A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
A Trojan hath been slain: since she could speak,
She hath not given so many good words breath 75
As for her Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death.

Par. Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy:[1854]
But we in silence hold this virtue well,
We'll not commend what we intend to sell.[1855] 80
Here lies our way. [Exeunt.

Scene II. Court of Pandarus' house.[1856]

Enter Troilus and Cressida.

Tro. Dear, trouble not yourself: the morn is cold.

Cres. Then, sweet my lord, I'll call mine uncle down;[1857]
He shall unbolt the gates.

Tro. Trouble him not;
To bed, to bed: sleep kill those pretty eyes,[1858]
And give as soft attachment to thy senses 5
As infants' empty of all thought![1859]

Cres. Good morrow, then.

Tro. I prithee now, to bed.

Cres. Are you a-weary of me?

Tro. O Cressida! but that the busy day,
Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows,[1860]
And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer,[1861] 10
I would not from thee.

Cres. Night hath been too brief.

Tro. Beshrew the witch! with venomous wights she stays [1862]
As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love [1863]
With wings more momentary-swift than thought.[1864]
You will catch cold, and curse me.

Cres. Prithee, tarry:[1865] 15
You men will never tarry.[1865][1866]
O foolish Cressid! I might have still held off,[1866][1867]
And then you would have tarried. Hark! there's one up.[1868]

Pan. [Within] What, 's all the doors open here?[1869]

Tro. It is your uncle. 20

Cres. A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking:
I shall have such a life!

Enter Pandarus.[1870]

Pan. How now, how now! how go maidenheads?[1871]
Here, you maid! where's my cousin Cressid?[1871][1872]

Cres. Go hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle! 25
You bring me to do—and then you flout me too.[1873]

Pan. To do what? to do what? let her say what:[1874]
what have I brought you to do?[1874]

Cres. Come, come, beshrew your heart! you'll ne'er [1875]
be good, nor suffer others.[1875] 30

Pan. Ha, ha! Alas, poor wretch! a poor capocchia![1876]
hast not slept to-night? would he not, a naughty man, let
it sleep? a bugbear take him!

Cres. Did not I tell you? would he were knock'd i'the head! [One knocks.[1877][1878]
Who's that at door? good uncle, go and see.[1878] 35
My lord, come you again into my chamber.[1878]
You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.[1878][1879]

Tro. Ha, ha!

Cres. Come, you are deceived, I think of no such thing.

[Knocking.[1880]

How earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in: 40
I would not for half Troy have you seen here.

[Exeunt Troilus and Cressida.[1881]

Pan. Who's there? what's the matter? will you beat [1882]
down the door? How now! what's the matter?

Enter Æneas.[1883]

Æne. Good morrow, lord, good morrow.[1884]

Pan. Who's there? my Lord Æneas! By my troth,[1885][1886] 45
I knew you not: what news with you so early?[1885][1887]

Æne. Is not prince Troilus here?

Pan. Here! what should he do here?

Æne. Come, he is here, my lord; do not deny him:
It doth import him much to speak with me. 50

Pan. Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know, I'll [1888]
be sworn: for my own part, I came in late. What should [1889]
he do here?

Æne. Who! nay, then: come, come, you'll do him [1890][1891]
wrong ere you are ware: you'll be so true to him, to be[1891][1892] 55
false to him: do not you know of him, but yet go fetch[1891][1893]
him hither; go.[1891]

Re-enter Troilus.[1894]

Tro. How now! what's the matter?

Æne. My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash: there is at hand [1895] 60
Paris your brother and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor
Deliver'd to us; and for him forthwith,[1896]
Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
We must give up to Diomedes' hand [1897] 65
The Lady Cressida.

Tro. Is it so concluded?[1898]

Æne. By Priam and the general state of Troy.[1899]
They are at hand and ready to effect it.[1900]

Tro. How my achievements mock me![1901]
I will go meet them: and, my Lord Æneas, 70
We met by chance; you did not find me here.

Æne. Good, good, my lord; the secrets of nature [1902][1903]
Have not more gift in taciturnity.[1902]

[Exeunt Troilus and Æneas.[1904]

Pan. Is't possible? no sooner got but lost? The devil [1905]
take Antenor! the young prince will go mad: a plague 75
upon Antenor! I would they had broke's neck!

Re-enter Cressida.[1906]

Cres. How now! what's the matter? who was here?

Pan. Ah, ah![1907]

Cres. Why sigh you so profoundly? where's my lord?
gone! Tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter? 80

Pan. Would I were as deep under the earth as I am
above!

Cres. O the gods! What's the matter?

Pan. Prithee, get thee in: would thou hadst ne'er been [1908]
born! I knew thou wouldst be his death: O, poor gentleman! 85
A plague upon Antenor!

Cres. Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I beseech [1909]
you, what's the matter?[1909]

Pan. Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone;
thou art changed for Antenor: thou must to thy father,[1910] 90
and be gone from Troilus: 'twill be his death; 'twill be his
bane; he cannot bear it.[1911]

Cres. O you immortal gods! I will not go.

Pan. Thou must.

Cres. I will not, uncle: I have forgot my father;[1912] 95
I know no touch of consanguinity;
No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me
As the sweet Troilus. O you gods divine!
Make Cressid's name the very crown of falsehood,
If ever she leave Troilus! Time, force, and death,[1913] 100
Do to this body what extremes you can;[1914]
But the strong base and building of my love
Is as the very centre of the earth,
Drawing all things to it. I'll go in and weep,—[1915]

Pan. Do, do. 105

Cres. Tear my bright hair and scratch my praised cheeks,[1916]
Crack my clear voice with sobs and break my heart
With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy. [Exeunt.[1917]

Scene III. Before Pandarus' house.[1918]

Enter Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Deiphobus, Antenor, and Diomedes.

Par. It is great morning, and the hour prefix'd
For her delivery to this valiant Greek [1919]
Comes fast upon: good my brother Troilus,[1920]
Tell you the lady what she is to do,
And haste her to the purpose.

Tro. Walk into her house;[1921] 5
I'll bring her to the Grecian presently:
And to his hand when I deliver her,
Think it an altar, and thy brother Troilus
A priest, there offering to it his own heart. [Exit.[1922]

Par. I know what 'tis to love; 10
And would, as I shall pity, I could help!
Please you walk in, my lords. [Exeunt.

Scene IV. A room in Pandarus' house.[1923]

Enter Pandarus and Cressida.

Pan. Be moderate, be moderate.

Cres. Why tell you me of moderation?
The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste,
And violenteth in a sense as strong [1924]
As that which causeth it: how can I moderate it?[1924][1925] 5
If I could temporise with my affection,[1926]
Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
The like allayment could I give my grief:
My love admits no qualifying dross;[1927]
No more my grief, in such a precious loss. 10

Enter Troilus.[1928]

Pan. Here, here, here he comes. Ah, sweet ducks![1929]

Cres. O Troilus! Troilus! [Embracing him.[1930]

Pan. What a pair of spectacles is here! Let me embrace
too. 'O heart,' as the goodly saying is,[1931]

'O heart, heavy heart,[1932] 15
Why sigh'st thou without breaking?'[1932][1933]

where he answers again,

'Because thou canst not ease thy smart [1934]
By friendship nor by speaking.'[1934][1935]

There was never a truer rhyme. Let us cast away nothing, 20
for we may live to have need of such a verse: we see it, we
see it. How now, lambs!

Tro. Cressid, I love thee in so strain'd a purity,[1936]
That the blest gods, as angry with my fancy,
More bright in zeal than the devotion which 25
Cold lips blow to their deities, take thee from me.[1937]

Cres. Have the gods envy?

Pan. Ay, ay, ay, ay; 'tis too plain a case.[1938]

Cres. And is it true that I must go from Troy?

Tro. A hateful truth.

Cres. What, and from Troilus too? 30

Tro. From Troy and Troilus.

Cres. Is it possible?[1939]

Tro. And suddenly; where injury of chance [1940]
Puts back leave-taking, justles roughly by [1941]
All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
Of all rejoindure, forcibly prevents 35
Our lock'd embrasures, strangles our dear vows [1942]
Even in the birth of our own labouring breath:
We two, that with so many thousand sighs
Did buy each other, must poorly sell ourselves [1943]
With the rude brevity and discharge of one.[1944] 40
Injurious time now with a robber's haste [1945]
Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how:
As many farewells as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them,
He fumbles up into a loose adieu,[1946] 45
And scants us with a single famish'd kiss,
Distasted with the salt of broken tears.[1947]

Æneas. [Within] My lord, is the lady ready?[1948]

Tro. Hark! you are call'd: some say the Genius so [1949]
Cries 'Come!' to him that instantly must die.[1949] 50
Bid them have patience; she shall come anon.

Pan. Where are my tears? rain, to lay this wind, or my [1950]
heart will be blown up by the root. [Exit.[1950][1951]

Cres. I must then to the Grecians?[1952]

Tro. No remedy.[1953]

Cres. A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks![1954] 55
When shall we see again?[1955]

Tro. Hear me, my love: be thou but true of heart.[1955][1956]

Cres. I true! how now! what wicked deem is this?

Tro. Nay, we must use expostulation kindly,[1957]
For it is parting from us:[1957] 60
I speak not 'be thou true,' as fearing thee;
For I will throw my glove to Death himself,
That there's no maculation in thy heart:[1958]
But 'be thou true' say I, to fashion in
My sequent protestation; be thou true,[1959] 65
And I will see thee.[1959]

Cres. O, you shall be exposed, my lord, to dangers
As infinite as imminent: but I'll be true.

Tro. And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.[1960]

Cres. And you this glove. When shall I see you?[1961] 70

Tro. I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels,
To give thee nightly visitation.[1962]
But yet, be true.[1962]

Cres. O heavens! 'Be true' again!

Tro. Hear why I speak it, love:[1963]
The Grecian youths are full of quality;[1963][1964] 75
They're loving, well composed with gifts of nature,[1963]
And flowing o'er with arts and exercise:[1963]
How novelties may move and parts with person,[1965]
Alas, a kind of godly jealousy—[1966]
Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin— 80
Makes me afeard.[1967]

Cres. O heavens! you love me not.

Tro. Die I a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question,
So mainly as my merit: I cannot sing,[1968]
Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk, 85
Nor play at subtle games; fair virtues all,
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant:
But I can tell that in each grace of these
There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive devil
That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted. 90

Cres. Do you think I will?[1969]

Tro. No:[1970]
But something may be done that we will not:
And sometimes we are devils to ourselves,
When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,[1971] 95
Presuming on their changeful potency.[1972]

Æne. [Within] Nay, good my lord!

Tro. Come, kiss; and let us part.

Par. [Within] Brother Troilus!

Tro. Good brother, come you hither;
And bring Æneas and the Grecian with you.

Cres. My lord, will you be true?[1973] 100

Tro. Who, I? alas, it is my vice, my fault:
Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,[1974]
I with great truth catch mere simplicity;
Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns,[1975]
With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.[1976] 105
Fear not my truth: the moral of my wit [1977]
Is 'plain and true;' there's all the reach of it.[1978]

Enter Æneas, Paris, Antenor, Deiphobus, and Diomedes.[1979]