The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: 2¶1v - Tragedies, p. [14]

Left Column


Troylus and Cressida. Ile send the foole to Aiax, and desire him T'inuite the Troian Lords after the Combat
[2030]
To see vs here vnarm'd: I haue a womans longing, An appetite that I am sicke withall, To see great Hector in his weedes of peace; Enter Thersi. To talke with him, and to behold his visage, Euen to my full of view. A labour sau'd.
Ther.
[2035]

A wonder.

Achil.

What?

Ther.

Aiax goes vp and downe the field, asking for

himselfe.

Achil.

How so?

Ther.
[2040]

Hee must fight singly to morrow with Hector,

and is so prophetically proud of an heroicall cudgelling,

that he raues in saying nothing.

Achil.

How can that be?

Ther.

Why he stalkes vp and downe like a Peacock, a

[2045]

stride and a stand: ruminates like an hostesse, that hath no

Arithmatique but her braine to set downe her recko­

ning: bites his lip with a politique regard, as who should

say, there were wit in his head and twoo'd out; and so

there is: but it lyes as coldly in him, as fire in a flint,

[2050]

which will not shew without knocking. The mans vn­

done for euer; for if Hector breake not his necke i'th'com­

bat, heele break't himselfe in vaine‑glory. He knows

not mee: I said, good morrow Aiax; And he replyes,

thankes Agamemnon. What thinke you of this man,

[2055]

that takes me for the Generall? Hee's growne a very

land‑fish, languagelesse, a monster: a plague of o­

pinion, a man may weare it on both sides like a leather

Ierkin.

Achil.

Thou must be my Ambassador to him Thersites.

Ther.
[2060]

Who, I: why, heele answer nobody: he pro­

fesses not answering; speaking is for beggers: he weares

his tongue in's armes: I will put on his presence;let Pa­ troclus make his demands to me, you shall see the Page­

ant of Aiax.

Achil.
[2065]

To him Patroclus; tell him, I humbly desire the

valiant Aiax, to inuite the most valorous Hector, to come

vnarm'd to my Tent, and to procure safe conduct for his

person, of the magnanimious and most illustrious, sixe or

seauen times honour'd Captaine, Generall of the Grecian

[2070]

Armie Agamemnon, &c. doe this.

Patro.

Ioue blesse great Aiax.

Ther.

Hum.

Patr.

I come from the worthy Aehilles Achilles .

Ther.

Ha?

Patr.
[2075]

Who most humbly desires you to inuite Hector

to his Tent.

Ther.

Hum.

Patr.

And to procure safe conduct from Agamemnon.

Ther.

Agamemnon?

Patr.
[2080]

I my Lord.

Ther.

Ha?

Patr.

What say you too't.

Ther.

God buy you with all my heart.

Patr.

Your answer sir.

Ther.
[2085]

If tomorrow be a faire day, by eleuen a clocke

it will goe one way or other; howsoeuer, he shall pay for

me ere he has me.

Patr.

Your answer sir.

Ther.

Fare you well withall my heart.

Achil.
[2090]

Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?

Ther.

No, but he's out a tune thus: what musicke will

be in him when Hector has knockt out his braines, I know

not: but I am sure none, vnlesse the Fidler Apollo get his

Right Column


sinewes to make catlings on.

Achil.
[2095]
Come, thou shalt beare a Letter to him straight.
Ther.

Let me carry another to his Horse; for that's the

more capable creature.

Achil. My minde is troubled like a Fountains stir'd, And I my selfe see not the bottome of it. Ther.
[2100]

Would the Fountaine of your minde were cleere

againe, that I might water an Asse at it: I had rather be a

Ticke in a Sheepe, then such a valiant ignorance.

[Act 4, Scene 1] Enter at one doore Æneas with a Torch, at another Paris, Diephœbus, Anthenor, Diomed the Grecian, with Torches. Par.

See hoa, who is that there?

Dieph.

It is the Lord Æneas

Æne.
[2105]
Is the Prince there in person? Had I so good occasion to lye long As you Prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse, Should rob my bed‑mate of my company.
Diom.

That's my minde too: good morrow Lord

[2110]

Æneas.

Par. A valiant Greeke Æneas take his hand, Witnesse the processe of your speech within; You told how Diomed in a whole weeke by dayes Did haunt you in the Field. Æne.
[2115]
Health to you valiant sir, During all question of the gentle truce: But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance, As heart can thinke, or courage execute.
Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,
[2120]
Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health: But when contention, and occasion meetes, By Ioue, Ile play the hunter for thy life, With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.
Æne. And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye
[2125]
With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse: Welcome to Troy; now by Anchises life, Welcome indeede; by Venus hand I sweare, No man aliue can loue in such a sort, The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.
Diom.
[2130]
We simpathize. Ioue let Æneas liue (If to my sword his fate be not the glory) A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne, But in mine emulous honor let him dye: With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.
Æne.
[2135]

We know each other well.

Dio.

We doe, and long to know each other worse.

Par. This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting; The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of. What businesse Lord so early? Æne.
[2140]

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

Par. His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek To Calchas house; and there to render him, For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid: Lets haue your company; or if you please,
[2145]
Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke (Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge) My brother Troylus lodges there to night. Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach, With the whole quality whereof, I feare
[2150]
We shall be much vnwelcome.
Æne. That I assure you; Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece, Then Cressid borne from Troy. Par. There

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[Act 4, Scene 1] Enter at one doore Æneas with a Torch, at another Paris, Diephœbus, Anthenor, Diomed the Grecian, with Torches. Par.

See hoa, who is that there?

Dieph.

It is the Lord Æneas

Æne.
[2105]
Is the Prince there in person? Had I so good occasion to lye long As you Prince Paris, nothing but heauenly businesse, Should rob my bed‑mate of my company.
Diom.

That's my minde too: good morrow Lord

[2110]

Æneas.

Par. A valiant Greeke Æneas take his hand, Witnesse the processe of your speech within; You told how Diomed in a whole weeke by dayes Did haunt you in the Field. Æne.
[2115]
Health to you valiant sir, During all question of the gentle truce: But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance, As heart can thinke, or courage execute.
Diom. The one and other Diomed embraces,
[2120]
Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health: But when contention, and occasion meetes, By Ioue, Ile play the hunter for thy life, With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.
Æne. And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye
[2125]
With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse: Welcome to Troy; now by Anchises life, Welcome indeede; by Venus hand I sweare, No man aliue can loue in such a sort, The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.
Diom.
[2130]
We simpathize. Ioue let Æneas liue (If to my sword his fate be not the glory) A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne, But in mine emulous honor let him dye: With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.
Æne.
[2135]

We know each other well.

Dio.

We doe, and long to know each other worse.

Par. This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting; The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of. What businesse Lord so early? Æne.
[2140]

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

Par. His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek To Calchas house; and there to render him, For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid: Lets haue your company; or if you please,
[2145]
Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke (Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge) My brother Troylus lodges there to night. Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach, With the whole quality whereof, I feare
[2150]
We shall be much vnwelcome.
Æne. That I assure you; Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece, Then Cressid borne from Troy. Par. There is no helpe:
[2155]
The bitter disposition of the time will haue it so On Lord, weele follow you.
Æne.

Good morrow all.

Exit Æneas Par. And tell me noble Diomed; faith tell me true, Euen in the soule of sound good fellowship,
[2160]
Who in your thoughts merits faire Helen most? My selfe, or Menelaus?
Diom. Both alike. He merits well to haue her, that doth seeke her, Not making any scruple of her soylure,
[2165]
With such a hell of paine, and world of charge. And you as well to keepe her, that defend her, Not pallating the taste of her dishonour, With such a costly losse of wealth and friends: He like a puling Cuckold, would drinke vp
[2170]
The lees and dregs of a flat tamed peece: You like a letcher, out of whorish loynes, Are pleas'd to breede out your inheritors: Both merits poyz'd, each weighs no lesse nor more, But he as he, which heauier for a whore.
Par.
[2175]
You are too bitter to your country‑woman.
Dio. Shee's bitter to her countrey: heare me Paris, For euery false drop in her baudy veines, A Grecians life hath sunke: for euery scruple Of her contaminated carrion weight,
[2180]
A Troian hath beene slaine. Since she could speake, She hath not giuen so many good words breath, As for her, Greekes and Troians suffred death.
Par. Faire Diomed, you doe as chapmen doe, Dis praise the thing that you desire to buy:
[2185]
But we in silence hold this vertue well; Weele not commend, what we intend to sell. Here lyes our way,
Exeunt.
 

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<div type="scene" n="1" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 1]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter at one doore Æneas with a Torch, at another
      <lb/>Paris, Diephœbus, Anthenor, Diomed the
      <lb/>Grecian, with Torches.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="2103">See hoa, who is that there?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-die">
      <speaker rend="italic">Dieph.</speaker>
      <p n="2104">It is the Lord<hi rend="italic">Æneas</hi>
      </p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <l n="2105">Is the Prince there in person?</l>
      <l n="2106">Had I so good occasion to lye long</l>
      <l n="2107">As you Prince<hi rend="italic">Paris</hi>, nothing but heauenly businesse,</l>
      <l n="2108">Should rob my bed‑mate of my company.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Diom.</speaker>
      <p n="2109">That's my minde too: good morrow Lord
      <lb n="2110"/>
         <hi rend="italic">Æneas</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2111">A valiant Greeke<hi rend="italic">Æneas</hi>take his hand,</l>
      <l n="2112">Witnesse the processe of your speech within;</l>
      <l n="2113">You told how<hi rend="italic">Diomed</hi>in a whole weeke by dayes</l>
      <l n="2114">Did haunt you in the Field.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <l n="2115">Health to you valiant sir,</l>
      <l n="2116">During all question of the gentle truce:</l>
      <l n="2117">But when I meete you arm'd, as blacke defiance,</l>
      <l n="2118">As heart can thinke, or courage execute.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Diom.</speaker>
      <l n="2119">The one and other<hi rend="italic">Diomed</hi>embraces,</l>
      <l n="2120">Our blouds are now in calme; and so long health:</l>
      <l n="2121">But when contention, and occasion meetes,</l>
      <l n="2122">By<hi rend="italic">Ioue</hi>, Ile play the hunter for thy life,</l>
      <l n="2123">With all my force, pursuite and pollicy.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <l n="2124">And thou shalt hunt a Lyon that will flye</l>
      <l n="2125">With his face backward, in humaine gentlenesse:</l>
      <l n="2126">Welcome to Troy; now by<hi rend="italic">Anchises</hi>life,</l>
      <l n="2127">Welcome indeede; by<hi rend="italic">Venus</hi>hand I sweare,</l>
      <l n="2128">No man aliue can loue in such a sort,</l>
      <l n="2129">The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Diom.</speaker>
      <l n="2130">We simpathize.<hi rend="italic">Ioue</hi>let<hi rend="italic">Æneas</hi>liue</l>
      <l n="2131">(If to my sword his fate be not the glory)</l>
      <l n="2132">A thousand compleate courses of the Sunne,</l>
      <l n="2133">But in mine emulous honor let him dye:</l>
      <l n="2134">With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <p n="2135">We know each other well.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Dio.</speaker>
      <p n="2136">We doe, and long to know each other worse.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2137">This is the most, despightful'st gentle greeting;</l>
      <l n="2138">The noblest hatefull loue, that ere I heard of.</l>
      <l n="2139">What businesse Lord so early?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <p n="2140">I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2141">His purpose meets you; it was to bring this Greek</l>
      <l n="2142">To<hi rend="italic">Calchas</hi>house; and there to render him,</l>
      <l n="2143">For the enfreed<hi rend="italic">Anthenor</hi>, the faire<hi rend="italic">Cressid</hi>:</l>
      <l n="2144">Lets haue your company; or if you please,</l>
      <l n="2145">Haste there before vs. I constantly doe thinke</l>
      <l n="2146">(Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge)</l>
      <l n="2147">My brother<hi rend="italic">Troylus</hi>lodges there to night.</l>
      <l n="2148">Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach,</l>
      <l n="2149">With the whole quality whereof, I feare</l>
      <l n="2150">We shall be much vnwelcome.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <l n="2151">That I assure you;</l>
      <l n="2152">
         <hi rend="italic">Troylus</hi>had rather Troy were borne to Greece,</l>
      <l n="2153">Then<hi rend="italic">Cressid</hi>borne from Troy.</l>
   </sp>
   <pb facs="FFimg:axc0607-0.jpg"/>
   <cb n="1"/>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2154">There is no helpe:</l>
      <l n="2155">The bitter disposition of the time will haue it so</l>
      <l n="2156">On Lord, weele follow you.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-aen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Æne.</speaker>
      <p n="2157">Good morrow all.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Æneas</stage>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2158">And tell me noble<hi rend="italic">Diomed</hi>; faith tell me true,</l>
      <l n="2159">Euen in the soule of sound good fellowship,</l>
      <l n="2160">Who in your thoughts merits faire<hi rend="italic">Helen</hi>most?</l>
      <l n="2161">My selfe, or<hi rend="italic">Menelaus?</hi>
      </l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Diom.</speaker>
      <l n="2162">Both alike.</l>
      <l n="2163">He merits well to haue her, that doth seeke her,</l>
      <l n="2164">Not making any scruple of her soylure,</l>
      <l n="2165">With such a hell of paine, and world of charge.</l>
      <l n="2166">And you as well to keepe her, that defend her,</l>
      <l n="2167">Not pallating the taste of her dishonour,</l>
      <l n="2168">With such a costly losse of wealth and friends:</l>
      <l n="2169">He like a puling Cuckold, would drinke vp</l>
      <l n="2170">The lees and dregs of a flat tamed peece:</l>
      <l n="2171">You like a letcher, out of whorish loynes,</l>
      <l n="2172">Are pleas'd to breede out your inheritors:</l>
      <l n="2173">Both merits poyz'd, each weighs no lesse nor more,</l>
      <l n="2174">But he as he, which heauier for a whore.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2175">You are too bitter to your country‑woman.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-dio">
      <speaker rend="italic">Dio.</speaker>
      <l n="2176">Shee's bitter to her countrey: heare me<hi rend="italic">Paris</hi>,</l>
      <l n="2177">For euery false drop in her baudy veines,</l>
      <l n="2178">A Grecians life hath sunke: for euery scruple</l>
      <l n="2179">Of her contaminated carrion weight,</l>
      <l n="2180">A Troian hath beene slaine. Since she could speake,</l>
      <l n="2181">She hath not giuen so many good words breath,</l>
      <l n="2182">As for her, Greekes and Troians suffred death.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-tro-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="2183">Faire<hi rend="italic">Diomed</hi>, you doe as chapmen doe,</l>
      <l n="2184">Dis praise the thing that you desire to buy:</l>
      <l n="2185">But we in silence hold this vertue well;</l>
      <l n="2186">Weele not commend, what we intend to sell.</l>
      <l n="2187">Here lyes our way,</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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