Calchas, a Trojan priest, taking part with the Greeks. Pandarus, uncle to Cressida. Margarelon, a bastard son of Priam. Agamemnon, the Grecian general: Achilles, Ajax, Ulysses, Grecian commanders. Nestor, Diomedes, Patroclus,. Thersites, a deformed and scurrilous Grecian. Alexander, servant to Cressida. Servant to Troilus. Servant to Paris. Servant to Diomedes. Helen, wife to Menelaus. Andromache, wife to Hector. Cassandra, daughter to Priam; a prophetess. Trojan and Greek Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE, Troy, and the Grecian Camp before it. TROILUS AND CRESSIDA. w PROLOGUE. IN Troy, there lies the scene. From isles of Greece The princes orgulous, their high blood chaf'd, With wanton Paris sleeps; And that's the quarrel. And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits, 432 To tell you, fair beholders, that our play Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are; m ACT I. SCENE I-Troy. Before Priam's Palace. Enter Troilus armed, and Pandarus. Troilus. CALL here my varlet, I'll unarm again: Tro. The Greeks are strong, and skilful to their strength, Fierce to their skill,, and to their fierceness valiant; Pan. Well, I have told you enough of this: for my part, I'll not meddle nor make no further. He, that will have a cake out of the wheat, must tarry the grinding. Tro. Have I not tarried? Pan. Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the bolting. Tro. Have I not tarried? Pan. Ay, the bolting; but you must tarry the leavening. Tre. Still have I tarried. Pan. Ay, to the leavening: but here's yet in the word-hereafter, the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking; nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips. Tro. Patience herself, what goddess ere she be, Doth lesser blench at sufferance than I do. At Priam's royal table do I sit; And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts,- Tro. I was about to tell thee,-When my heart, Pan. An her hair were not somewhat darker than Helen's, (well, go to,) there were no more comparison between the women,-But, for my part, she is my kinswoman; I would not, as they term it, praise her,-But I would somebody had heard her talk yesterday, as I did. I will not dispraise your sister Cassandra's wit; but Tro. O Pandarus! I tell thee, Pandarus,When I do tell thee, There my hopes lie drown'd, Reply not in how many fathoms deep They lie indrench'd. I tell thee, I am mad In Cressid's love: Thou answer'st, She is fair; Pour'st in the open ulcer of my heart Her eyes, her air, her cheek, her gait, her voice; Writing their own reproach: To whose soft seizure Vol. 5 Nn |