PERSONS REPRESENTE D. Greeks. Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other Attendantș SCENE, Troy, and the Grecian Camp before it. N Troy, there lies the fcene. From ifles of Greece And the deep-drawing barks do there difgorge And Antenoridas) with mally ftaples, 4 Now expectation, tickling skittish fpirits, ст Troi. Why should I war without the walls ALL here my varlet, I'll unarm again : of Troy, I. That find fuch cruel battle here within? Pan. Will this geer ne'er be mended? 1 Mr. Pope (after Dryden) informs us, that the ftory of Troilus and Creffida was originally the work of one Loilius, a Lombard; but Dryden goes yet further. He declares it to have been written in Latin verse, and that Chaucer tranflated it. Lollius was a hiftoriographer of Urbino in Italy. Shakspeare received the greatest part of his materials for the structure of this play from the Troy Boke of Lydgate, printed in 1513. Lydgate was not much more than a tranflator of Guido of Columpna, who was of Meflina in Sicily, and wrote his Hiftory of Troy in Latin, after Dictys Cretenfis, and Dares Phrygius, in 1287. On thefe, as Mr. Warton obferves, he engrafted mauy new romantic inventions, which the taste of his age dictated, and which the connection between Grecian and Gothic fiction easily admitted; at the fame time comprehending in his plan the Theban and Argonautic ftories from Ovid, Statius, and Valerius Flaccus. 2 i. e. proud, difdainful. 3 To fulfill in this place means to fill till there be no room for more. 4 To Sperre, or fpar, from the old Teutonic word fperen, fignifies to shut up, defend by bars, &c. 51. e. the avant, what went before. word anciently fignified a fervant or footman to a knight or warrior. 6 This Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant ; Pan. I fpeak no more than truth. But I am weaker than a woman's tear, 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, muft tarry the grinding. Troi. Have I not tarry'd? Pan. Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the boulting. Troi. Have I not tarry'd ? Troi. Thou doft not speak so much. Pan. 'Faith, I'll not meddle in 't. Let her be as fhe is if the be fair, 'tis the better for her; an fhe be not, fhe has the mends in her own hands 4. Troi. Good Pandarus! How now, Pandarus? Pan. I have had my labour for my travel; illthought on of her, and ill-thought on of you: gone between and between, but small thanks for my labour. Troi. What, art thou angry, Pandarus ? what, with me? Pan. Because she is kin to me, therefore she's Pan. Ay, the boulting; but you must tarry the not fo fair as Helen: an fhe were not kin to me, leavening. Troi. Still have I tarry'd. 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; pay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips. fhe would be as fair on Friday, as Helen is on Sunday. But what care I? I care not, an fhe were a black-a-mpor; 'tis all one to me. Troi. Say I, fhe is not fair? Pan. I do not care whether you do or ne. She's a fool, to ftay behind her father; let her to the Greeks; and fo I'll tell her, the next time I fes Troi. Patience herself, what goddess e'er she be, her: for my part, I'll meddle nor make no mare Doth leffer blench 2 at sufferance than I do. At Priam's royal table do I fit; And when fair Creffid comes into my thoughts,- thence ? in the matter. Troi. Pandarus,— Pan. Not I. Troi. Sweet Pandarus, Pan. Pray you, speak no more to me; I w Pan. Well, the look'd yester-night fairer than leave all as I found it, and there an end. ever I faw her look; or any woman else. Troi. 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, the is my kinfwoman; I would not, as they term it, praise her, But I would fomebody had heard her talk yesterday, as I did, I will not difpraise your fifter Caffandra's wit: but Troi. O Pandarus! I tell thee, Pandarus !— me, As true thou tell'ft me, when I fay,-I love her; Fonder for more childish. [Exit Pandarat [Sound alarm. Troi. Peace, you ungracious clamours! peace, rude founds! Fools on both fides! Helen must needs be fair, Ene. How now, prince Troilus? wherefore Ene. Troilus, by Menelaus. Troi. Let Paris bleed: 'tis but a fear to fcom; Paris is gor'd with Menelaus' horn. [Alarm Ene. Hark! what good sport is out of town to-day! To blench is to fhrink, ftart, or fly off. 3 The meaning is, In comparifon with Creffid's hand, the Spirit of fenfe, the utmost degree, the most exquifite power of fenfibility, which implies a foft hand, fince the fenfe of touching refides chiefly in the fingers, is hard as the callous and infenfible palm of the ploughman. 4 Mr. Steevens thinks this phrafe means She may make the best of a bad bargain. Troi. Better at home, if would I might, were may.-- Was Hector arm'd, and gone, ere ye came to But, to the fport abroad ;-Are you bound thither ? Ent. In all fwift hafte. Troi. Come, go we then together. SCENE A Street. [Exeunt. II. Enter Creffida, and Alexander her fervant. Serv. Up to the eastern tower, He chid Andromache, and ftruck his armourer; Cre. What was his caufe of anger? [Greeks Serv. The noife goes this: There is among the A lord of Trojan blood, nephew to Hector; Cre. Good; And what of him? Serv. They fay he is a very man per fe, And ftands alone, Cre. So do all men; unless they are drunk, fick, or have no legs. Ilium? Helen was not up, was the ? Cre. Hector was gone; but Helen was not up. Cre. That were we talking of, and of his anger, Cre. So he fays here. Pan. True, he was fo; I know the caufe too; he'll lay about him to-day, I can tell them that: and there's Troilus will not come far behind him ;、 let them take heed of Troilus; I can tell them that too. Cre. What, is he angry too? Pan, Who, Troilus? Trolus is the better man Cre. O, Jupiter! there's no comparison. Cre. Ay; if I ever faw him before, and knew him. Cre. Then you fay as I fay; for, I am fure, he is not Hector. Pan. No, nor Hector is not Troilus, infome degrees. Cre, 'Tis juft to each of them; he is himfelt. Pan. Himself? Alas, poor Troilus! I would he were, Cre. So he is. Pan.-Condition, I had gone bare-foot to India. Serv. This man, lady, hath robb'd many beafts Pan. Himself? no, he's not himself.-'Would of their particular additions; he is as valiant as the lion, churlish as the bear, flow as the elephant: a 'a were himself! Well, the gods are above; Time man into whom nature hath so crowded humours, must friend or end: Well, Troilus, well,{ that his valour is crushed into folly, his folly would, my heart were in her body!-No, Hector fauced with difcretion; there is no man hath a is not a better man than Troilus. virtue, that he hath not a glimpse of; nor any man an attaint, but he carries fome ftain of it; he is melancholy without caufe, and merry against the hair 2: he hath the joints of every thing; but a gouty every thing fo out of joint, that he Briareus, many hands and no ufe; or purblinded Argus, all eyes and no fight. Cre. But how should this man, that makes me fmile, make Hector angry? Serv. They fay, he yesterday cop'd Hector in the battle, and ftruck him down; the difdain and fhame where of hath ever fince kept Hector fafting and waking. Enter Pandarus. Cre. Who comes here? Serv. Madam, your uncle Pandarus. Pan. Good morrow, coufin Creffid: What do you talk of Good morrow, Alexander.-How do you, coufin? When were you at Ilium 3? Cre. Excufe me. Gre. Pardon me, pardon me. Pan. The other's not come to 't; you shall tell me another tale, when the other's come to 't. Hector shall not have his wit this year. Cre. He shall not need it, if he have his own. Pan. Nor his beauty. Cre. 'Twould not become him, his own's better. Pan. You have no judgement, niece: Helen her. felf fwore the other day, that Troilus, for a brow A favour, (for fo 'tis, I must confefs)-Not brown neither. Cre. Then Troilus fhould have too much : if the prais'd him above, his complexion is higher than his; he having colour enough, and the other Pan. What were you talking of, when I came higher, is too flaming a praife for a good com Cre. This morning, uncle. 3 Ilium was 1 To be crushed into folly, is to be confused and mingled with folly, fo as that they make one mafs together. 2 This is a phrafe equivalent to another now in ute-against the grain. the palace of Troy. plexion. plexion. I had as lieve, Helen's golden tongue had commended Troilus for a copper nofe. Pan. I fwear to you, I think Helen loves him better than Paris. Cre. Then the's a merry Greek, indeed. Pan. Nay, I am fure the does. She came to him the other day into the compafs'd window and, you know, he has not paft three or four hairs on his chin. Gre. Indeed, a tapfter's arithmetic may foon bring his particulars therein to a total. Pan. Why, he is very young and yet will he, within three pound, lift as much as his brother Hector. Cre. Is he fo yong a man, and fo old a lifter 2? Pan. But, to prove to you that Helen loves him; he came, and puts me her white hand to his cloven chin, Cre. Juno have mercy!-How came it cloven? Pan. Why, you know, 'tis dimpled: think, his fmiling becomes him better than any man in all Phrygia. Gr. O, he fmiles valiantly. Pan. Does he not? Cre. O, yes; an 'twere a cloud in autumn. Pan. Why, go to then :-But, to prove to you that Helen loves Troilus,➖➖➖➖ Gre. Troilus will stand to the proof, if you'll prove it fo. Pan. Troilus? why, he esteems her no more than I efteem an addle egg. Gre. If you love an addle egg as well as you! Jove an idle head, you would eat chickens i' the fhell. Pan. I cannot chufe but laugh, to think how she tickled his chin;-Indeed, the has a marvellous white hand, I muft needs confefs. Gre. Without the rack. Pan. And the takes upon her to fpy a white hair on his chin. Cre. Alas, poor chin! many a wart is richer. Pan. But, there was fuch laughing;-Qucen Hecuba laugh'd, that her eyes ran o'er. Cre. With mill-ftones. Pan. And Caffandra laugh'd. C. But there was more temperate fire under the pot of her eyes ;--Did her eyes run o'er too? Pan. And Hector laugh'd. Cre. At what was all this laughing? One and fifty bairs, quoth he, and one tubite: That white hair is my father, and all the reft are his fan Jupiter! quoth the, which of thefe bairs is Paris my husband? The forked one, quoth he; plack u out, and give it him. But, there was fuch laugh. ing! and Helen fo blush'd, and Paris so chaf'd, and all the reft fo laugh'd, that it país d. Cre. So let it now; for it has been a great while going by. Pan. Well, coufin, I told you a thing yesterday; think on 't. Cre. So I do. Pan. I'll be fworn, 'tis true; he will weep you, an 'twere a man born in April. [Sound a vet ext. Gre. And I'll fpring up in his tears, an 'twere a nettle against May. Pan. Hark, they are coming from the field: Shall we ftand up here, and fee them, as they pars toward Ilium? good niece, do; fweet niece Creffida Cre. At your pleature. Pan. Here, here, here's an excellent place; here we may fee moit bravely: I'll tell you them by their names, as they as by; but mark Trollas above the reft. Amas pafles over flage. Cre. Speak not to loud. Pan. That's Aneas; Is not that a brave man : he's one of the flowers of Troy, I can tell you; But mark Trodus; you fhall fee anon. Cre. Who's that? Antenor palles over. Pan. That's Antenor; he has a shrewd wit, I can tell you; and he's a man good enough: he's one o' the foundest judgement in Troy, wholoever; and a proper man of person ::-When coms Troilus -I'll fhew you Troilus anon; if he fee me, you fhall fee him nod at me. Gre. Will he give you the nod ? Gre. If he do, the rich fhall have more 3. Pan. That's Hector, that, that, look you, that! There's a fellow-Go thy way, Hector;-There's a brave man, niece.-O brave Hector!-Lock, how he looks! there's a countenance: Is 't not a brave man ? Cre. O, a brave man! Pan. Is 'a not? It does a man's heart goodLook you, what hacks are on his helmet: lock Pan. Marry, at the white hair that Helen fpied you yonder, do you fee? look you there! There's on Troilus' chin. no jefting: laying on; take't oft whe will, & Cre. An't had been a green hair, I fhould have they fay: there be hacks! laugh'd too. Pan. They laugh'd not fo much at the hair, as at his pretty anfwer. Cre. What was his anfwer? Cre. Be thofe with fwords? Paris pafies over. Pen. Swords? any thing, he cares not: an the devil come to him, it's all one: By god's lid, a Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris: look ye yonder, niece; Lt not a gallant man too, is 't not ?-Wiry, this s brave now.-Who faid, he came home hurt to Pan. Quoth the, Here's but one and fifty bairs on does one's heart good chin, and one of them is white. your Pas. That's true; make no queftion of that. 2 The word lifter means a thief. We 3 The allufion here is to the word sea The compos'd window is the fame as the bow-window. fill call a perfon who plunders fhops, a fhop lifter. which, as now, did in our author's time, and long before, fignify a filly fellow, and may, by a etymology, guity Likewife full of neds. Creflid means, that a noddy shall have more huds. day he's not hurt: why, this will do Helen's what I would not have hit, I can watch you for heart good now. Ha! 'would I could fee Troilus telling how I took the blow; unless it fwell pait hiding, and then it is paft watching. now!-you fhall fee Troilus anon. Cre. Who's that? Helenus paffes ozier. Pan. That's Helenus,-1 marvel, where Troilus is :-That's Helenus ;-1 think he went not forth to-day-That's Helenus. Cre. Can Helenus fight, uncle? Pan. Helenus? no ;--yes, he'll fight indifferent Cre. What fneaking fellow comes yonder ? Pan. Where? yonder that's Deiphobus: 'Tis Gre. Peace, for fhame, peace! I Pan. You are fuch another! Bey. Sir, my lord would inftantly speak with you. Boy. At your own houfe; there he unarms him. Pan. I'll be with you, niece, by and by. Pan. Av, a token from Troilus. Cre. By the fame token-you are a bawd. Pan. Mark him; note him :-0 brave Troi-Than in the glass of Pandar's praife may be; Women are angels, wooing; Jus-look well upon him, niece; look you, how Yet hold I off. his fword is bloody'd, and his helm more hack'd Things won are done, joy's foul lies in the doing : than Hector's; And how he looks, and how he That the 2 belov'd knows nought, that knows not this,goes!O admirable youth! he ne'er faw three and twenty. Go thy way, Troilus, go thy way; Men prize the thing ungain'd more than it is: had I a fifter were a grace, or a daughter a god-That the 2 was never yet, that ever knew O admirable Love got fo fweet, as when defire did fue : defs, he fhould take his choice. Therefore this maxim out of love I teach,Archievement is, command; ungain'd, beseech : Then though my heart's content 3 firm love doth bear, man! Paris?--Paris is dirt to him; and, I warrant, Helen, to change, would give an eye to boot. Enter Soldiers, &c. Cre. Here come more. Pan. Affes, fools, dolts! chaff and bran, chaff and bran! porridge after meat! I could live and Ne'er look, ne'er die i' the eyes of Troilus. look; the cagles are gone; crows and daws, crows and daws! I had rather be fuch a man as Troilus, than Agamemnon and all Greece. Cre. There is among the Greeks, Achilles; a better man than Troilus. Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear. [Excunt. Enter Agamemnon, Neftor, Ulyffea, Agam. Princes, Pan. Achilles? a dray-man, a porter, a very | What grief hath fet the jaundice on your cheeks? is out. Pan. You are fuch a woman! one knows not at what ward you lie. Gre. Upon my back, to defend my belly; upon my wit, to defend my wiles; upon my fecrecy, to defend mine honefty; my maik, to defend my beauty; and you, to defend all thefe: and at all there wards I lie, at a thousand watches. Pan. Say one of your watches. Gr. Nay, I'll watch you for that; and that's one of the chiefeft of them too : if I cannot ward The ample propofition, that hope makes nought elfe But the protractive trials of great Jove, To account for the introduction of this quibble, it fhould be remembered that dates were an kind 2 i. e. that woman. 3 Content for cabuity. ingredient in ancient pastry of almost every |