No Fear Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida: Act 5 Scene 2

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Troilus and Cressida

William Shakespeare

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Original Text

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Enter DIOMEDES.	Enter DIOMEDES.
DIOMEDES What, are you up here, ho? Speak.	DIOMEDES What, are you up here, ho? Speak.
CALCHAS , within Who calls?	CALCHAS , within Who calls?
DIOMEDES Diomed. Calchas, I think? Where’s your daughter?	DIOMEDES Diomed. Calchas, I think? Where’s your daughter?
CALCHAS , within 5 She comes to you.	CALCHAS , within She comes to you.
Enter TROILUS and ULYSSES, at a distance, and then, apart from them, THERSITES.	Enter TROILUS and ULYSSES, at a distance, and then, apart from them, THERSITES.
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Stand where the torch may not discover us.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Stand where the torch may not discover us.
Enter CRESSIDA.	Enter CRESSIDA.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Cressid comes forth to him.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Cressid comes forth to him.
DIOMEDES How now, my charge?	DIOMEDES How now, my charge?
CRESSIDA Now, my sweet guardian. Hark, a word with you.	CRESSIDA Now, my sweet guardian. Hark, a word with you.
She whispers to him.	She whispers to him.
TROILUS , aside 10 Yea, so familiar?	TROILUS , aside Yea, so familiar?
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS She will sing any man at first sight.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS She will sing any man at first sight.
THERSITES , aside And any man may sing her, if he can take her clef. She’s noted.	THERSITES , aside And any man may sing her, if he can take her clef. She’s noted.
DIOMEDES 15 Will you remember?	DIOMEDES Will you remember?
CRESSIDA Remember? Yes.	CRESSIDA Remember? Yes.
DIOMEDES Nay, but do, then, and let your mind be coupled with your words.	DIOMEDES Nay, but do, then, and let your mind be coupled with your words.
TROILUS , aside What should she remember?	TROILUS , aside What should she remember?
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS 20 List!	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS List!
CRESSIDA Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more to folly.	CRESSIDA Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more to folly.
THERSITES , aside Roguery!	THERSITES , aside Roguery!
DIOMEDES Nay, then—	DIOMEDES Nay, then—
CRESSIDA I’ll tell you what—	CRESSIDA I’ll tell you what—
DIOMEDES 25 Foh, foh, come, tell a pin! You are forsworn.	DIOMEDES Foh, foh, come, tell a pin! You are forsworn.
CRESSIDA In faith, I cannot. What would you have me do?	CRESSIDA In faith, I cannot. What would you have me do?
THERSITES , aside A juggling trick: to be secretly open!	THERSITES , aside A juggling trick: to be secretly open!
DIOMEDES What did you swear you would bestow on me?	DIOMEDES What did you swear you would bestow on me?
CRESSIDA I prithee, do not hold me to mine oath. 30 Bid me do anything but that, sweet Greek.	CRESSIDA I prithee, do not hold me to mine oath. Bid me do anything but that, sweet Greek.
DIOMEDES Good night.	DIOMEDES Good night.
TROILUS , aside Hold, patience!	TROILUS , aside Hold, patience!
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS How now, Trojan?	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS How now, Trojan?
CRESSIDA Diomed—	CRESSIDA Diomed—
DIOMEDES 35 No, no, good night. I’ll be your fool no more.	DIOMEDES No, no, good night. I’ll be your fool no more.
TROILUS , aside Thy better must.	TROILUS , aside Thy better must.
CRESSIDA Hark, a word in your ear.	CRESSIDA Hark, a word in your ear.
She whispers to him.	She whispers to him.
TROILUS , aside O plague and madness!	TROILUS , aside O plague and madness!
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You are moved, prince. Let us depart, I pray you, 40 Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself To wrathful terms. This place is dangerous; The time right deadly. I beseech you, go.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You are moved, prince. Let us depart, I pray you, Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself To wrathful terms. This place is dangerous; The time right deadly. I beseech you, go.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Behold, I pray you.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Behold, I pray you.
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Nay, good my lord, go off. You flow to great distraction. Come, my lord.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Nay, good my lord, go off. You flow to great distraction. Come, my lord.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES 45 I prithee, stay.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES I prithee, stay.
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You have not patience. Come.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You have not patience. Come.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES I pray you, stay. By hell and all hell’s torments, I will not speak a word.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES I pray you, stay. By hell and all hell’s torments, I will not speak a word.
DIOMEDES 50 And so good night.	DIOMEDES And so good night.
He starts to leave.	He starts to leave.
CRESSIDA Nay, but you part in anger.	CRESSIDA Nay, but you part in anger.
TROILUS , aside Doth that grieve thee? O withered truth!	TROILUS , aside Doth that grieve thee? O withered truth!
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS How now, my lord?	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS How now, my lord?
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES 55 By Jove, I will be patient.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES By Jove, I will be patient.
CRESSIDA Guardian! Why, Greek!	CRESSIDA Guardian! Why, Greek!
DIOMEDES Foh foh! Adieu. You palter.	DIOMEDES Foh foh! Adieu. You palter.
CRESSIDA In faith, I do not. Come hither once again.	CRESSIDA In faith, I do not. Come hither once again.
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You shake, my lord, at something. Will you go? 60 You will break out.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You shake, my lord, at something. Will you go? You will break out.
TROILUS , aside She strokes his cheek!	TROILUS , aside She strokes his cheek!
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Come, come.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS Come, come.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Nay, stay. By Jove, I will not speak a word. There is between my will and all offenses 65 A guard of patience. Stay a little while.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Nay, stay. By Jove, I will not speak a word. There is between my will and all offenses A guard of patience. Stay a little while.
THERSITES , aside How the devil Luxury, with his fat rump and potato finger, tickles these together. Fry, lechery, fry!	THERSITES , aside How the devil Luxury, with his fat rump and potato finger, tickles these together. Fry, lechery, fry!
DIOMEDES But will you, then?	DIOMEDES But will you, then?
CRESSIDA 70 In faith, I will, la. Never trust me else.	CRESSIDA In faith, I will, la. Never trust me else.
DIOMEDES Give me some token for the surety of it.	DIOMEDES Give me some token for the surety of it.
CRESSIDA I’ll fetch you one.	CRESSIDA I’ll fetch you one.
She exits.	She exits.
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You have sworn patience.	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS You have sworn patience.
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Fear me not, my lord. 75 I will not be myself nor have cognition Of what I feel. I am all patience.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES Fear me not, my lord. I will not be myself nor have cognition Of what I feel. I am all patience.
Enter CRESSIDA with TROILUS’s sleeve.	Enter CRESSIDA with TROILUS’s sleeve.
THERSITES , aside Now the pledge, now, now, now!	THERSITES , aside Now the pledge, now, now, now!
CRESSIDA , giving the sleeve Here, Diomed. Keep this sleeve.	CRESSIDA , giving the sleeve Here, Diomed. Keep this sleeve.
80 TROILUS , aside O beauty, where is thy faith?	TROILUS , aside O beauty, where is thy faith?
ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS My lord—	ULYSSES , aside to TROILUS My lord—
TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES I will be patient; outwardly I will.	TROILUS , aside to ULYSSES I will be patient; outwardly I will.
CRESSIDA You look upon that sleeve? Behold it well. He loved me—O false wench!—Give ’t me again.	CRESSIDA You look upon that sleeve? Behold it well. He loved me—O false wench!—Give ’t me again.
She snatches the sleeve from DIOMEDES.	She snatches the sleeve from DIOMEDES.
DIOMEDES 85 Whose was ’t?	DIOMEDES Whose was ’t?
CRESSIDA It is no matter, now I ha ’t again. I will not meet with you tomorrow night. I prithee, Diomed, visit me no more.	CRESSIDA It is no matter, now I ha ’t again. I will not meet with you tomorrow night. I prithee, Diomed, visit me no more.
THERSITES , aside Now she sharpens. Well said, 90 whetstone.	THERSITES , aside Now she sharpens. Well said, whetstone.
DIOMEDES I shall have it.	DIOMEDES I shall have it.
CRESSIDA What, this?	CRESSIDA What, this?
DIOMEDES Ay, that.	DIOMEDES Ay, that.
CRESSIDA O all you gods!—O pretty, pretty pledge! 95 Thy master now lies thinking on his bed Of thee and me, and sighs, and takes my glove, And gives memorial dainty kisses to it As I kiss thee.	CRESSIDA O all you gods!—O pretty, pretty pledge! Thy master now lies thinking on his bed Of thee and me, and sighs, and takes my glove, And gives memorial dainty kisses to it As I kiss thee.
He grabs the sleeve, and she tries to retrieve it.	He grabs the sleeve, and she tries to retrieve it.
DIOMEDES Nay, do not snatch it from me.	DIOMEDES Nay, do not snatch it from me.
CRESSIDA 100 He that takes that doth take my heart withal.	CRESSIDA He that takes that doth take my heart withal.
DIOMEDES I had your heart before. This follows it.	DIOMEDES I had your heart before. This follows it.
TROILUS , aside I did swear patience.	TROILUS , aside I did swear patience.
CRESSIDA You shall not have it, Diomed, faith, you shall not. I’ll give you something else.	CRESSIDA You shall not have it, Diomed, faith, you shall not. I’ll give you something else.
DIOMEDES 105 I will have this. Whose was it?	DIOMEDES I will have this. Whose was it?
CRESSIDA It is no matter.	CRESSIDA It is no matter.
DIOMEDES Come, tell me whose it was.	DIOMEDES Come, tell me whose it was.
CRESSIDA ’Twas one’s that loved me better than you will. But now you have it, take it.	CRESSIDA ’Twas one’s that loved me better than you will. But now you have it, take it.
DIOMEDES 110 Whose was it?	DIOMEDES Whose was it?
CRESSIDA By all Diana’s waiting-women yond, And by herself, I will not tell you whose.	CRESSIDA By all Diana’s waiting-women yond, And by herself, I will not tell you whose.
DIOMEDES Tomorrow will I wear it on my helm And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it.	DIOMEDES Tomorrow will I wear it on my helm And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it.
TROILUS , aside 115 Wert thou the devil and wor’st it on thy horn, It should be challenged.	TROILUS , aside Wert thou the devil and wor’st it on thy horn, It should be challenged.
CRESSIDA Well, well, ’tis done, ’tis past. And yet it is not. I will not keep my word.	CRESSIDA Well, well, ’tis done, ’tis past. And yet it is not. I will not keep my word.
DIOMEDES Why, then, farewell. 120 Thou never shalt mock Diomed again.	DIOMEDES Why, then, farewell. Thou never shalt mock Diomed again.
He starts to leave.	He starts to leave.
CRESSIDA You shall not go. One cannot speak a word But it straight starts you.	CRESSIDA You shall not go. One cannot speak a word But it straight starts you.
DIOMEDES I do not like this fooling.	DIOMEDES I do not like this fooling.
TROILUS , aside Nor I, by Pluto! But that that likes not you 125 Pleases me best.	TROILUS , aside Nor I, by Pluto! But that that likes not you Pleases me best.
DIOMEDES What, shall I come? The hour?	DIOMEDES What, shall I come? The hour?
CRESSIDA Ay, come.—O Jove!—Do, come.—I shall be plagued.	CRESSIDA Ay, come.—O Jove!—Do, come.—I shall be plagued.
DIOMEDES Farewell, till then.	DIOMEDES Farewell, till then.
CRESSIDA Good night. I prithee, come.—	CRESSIDA Good night. I prithee, come.—
He exits.	He exits.
130 Troilus, farewell. One eye yet looks on thee, But with my heart the other eye doth see. Ah, poor our sex! This fault in us I find: The error of our eye directs our mind. What error leads must err. O, then conclude: 135 Minds swayed by eyes are full of turpitude.	Troilus, farewell. One eye yet looks on thee, But with my heart the other eye doth see. Ah, poor our sex! This fault in us I find: The error of our eye directs our mind. What error leads must err. O, then conclude: Minds swayed by eyes are full of turpitude.
She exits.	She exits.
THERSITES , aside A proof of strength she could not publish more, Unless she said “My mind is now turned whore.”	THERSITES , aside A proof of strength she could not publish more, Unless she said “My mind is now turned whore.”
ULYSSES All’s done, my lord.	ULYSSES All’s done, my lord.
TROILUS It is.	TROILUS It is.
ULYSSES 140 Why stay we then?	ULYSSES Why stay we then?
TROILUS To make a recordation to my soul Of every syllable that here was spoke. But if I tell how these two did co-act, Shall I not lie in publishing a truth? 145 Sith yet there is a credence in my heart, An esperance so obstinately strong. That doth invert th’ attest of eyes and ears, As if those organs had deceptious functions, Created only to calumniate. 150 Was Cressid here?	TROILUS To make a recordation to my soul Of every syllable that here was spoke. But if I tell how these two did co-act, Shall I not lie in publishing a truth? Sith yet there is a credence in my heart, An esperance so obstinately strong. That doth invert th’ attest of eyes and ears, As if those organs had deceptious functions, Created only to calumniate. Was Cressid here?
ULYSSES I cannot conjure, Trojan.	ULYSSES I cannot conjure, Trojan.
TROILUS She was not, sure.	TROILUS She was not, sure.
ULYSSES Most sure she was.	ULYSSES Most sure she was.
TROILUS Why, my negation hath no taste of madness.	TROILUS Why, my negation hath no taste of madness.
ULYSSES 155 Nor mine, my lord. Cressid was here but now.	ULYSSES Nor mine, my lord. Cressid was here but now.
TROILUS Let it not be believed for womanhood! Think, we had mothers. Do not give advantage To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme For depravation, to square the general sex 160 By Cressid’s rule. Rather, think this not Cressid.	TROILUS Let it not be believed for womanhood! Think, we had mothers. Do not give advantage To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme For depravation, to square the general sex By Cressid’s rule. Rather, think this not Cressid.
ULYSSES What hath she done, prince, that can soil our mothers?	ULYSSES What hath she done, prince, that can soil our mothers?
TROILUS Nothing at all, unless that this were she.	TROILUS Nothing at all, unless that this were she.
THERSITES , aside Will he swagger himself out on ’s 165 own eyes?	THERSITES , aside Will he swagger himself out on ’s own eyes?
TROILUS This she? No, this is Diomed’s Cressida. If beauty have a soul, this is not she; If souls guide vows, if vows be sanctimonies, If sanctimony be the gods’ delight, 170 If there be rule in unity itself, This is not she. O madness of discourse, That cause sets up with and against itself! Bifold authority, where reason can revolt Without perdition, and loss assume all reason 175 Without revolt. This is and is not Cressid. Within my soul there doth conduce a fight Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparate Divides more wider than the sky and Earth, And yet the spacious breadth of this division 180 Admits no orifex for a point as subtle As Ariachne’s broken woof to enter. Instance, O instance, strong as Pluto’s gates, Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heaven; Instance, O instance, strong as heaven itself, 185 The bonds of heaven are slipped, dissolved, and loosed, And with another knot, five-finger-tied, The fractions of her faith, orts of her love, The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics 190 Of her o’er-eaten faith are given to Diomed.	TROILUS This she? No, this is Diomed’s Cressida. If beauty have a soul, this is not she; If souls guide vows, if vows be sanctimonies, If sanctimony be the gods’ delight, If there be rule in unity itself, This is not she. O madness of discourse, That cause sets up with and against itself! Bifold authority, where reason can revolt Without perdition, and loss assume all reason Without revolt. This is and is not Cressid. Within my soul there doth conduce a fight Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparate Divides more wider than the sky and Earth, And yet the spacious breadth of this division Admits no orifex for a point as subtle As Ariachne’s broken woof to enter. Instance, O instance, strong as Pluto’s gates, Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heaven; Instance, O instance, strong as heaven itself, The bonds of heaven are slipped, dissolved, and loosed, And with another knot, five-finger-tied, The fractions of her faith, orts of her love, The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics Of her o’er-eaten faith are given to Diomed.
ULYSSES May worthy Troilus be half attached With that which here his passion doth express?	ULYSSES May worthy Troilus be half attached With that which here his passion doth express?
TROILUS Ay, Greek, and that shall be divulgèd well In characters as red as Mars his heart 195 Inflamed with Venus. Never did young man fancy With so eternal and so fixed a soul. Hark, Greek: as much as I do Cressid love, So much by weight hate I her Diomed. That sleeve is mine that he’ll bear on his helm. 200 Were it a casque composed by Vulcan’s skill, My sword should bite it. Not the dreadful spout Which shipmen do the hurricano call, Constringed in mass by the almighty sun, Shall dizzy with more clamor Neptune’s ear 205 In his descent than shall my prompted sword Falling on Diomed.	TROILUS Ay, Greek, and that shall be divulgèd well In characters as red as Mars his heart Inflamed with Venus. Never did young man fancy With so eternal and so fixed a soul. Hark, Greek: as much as I do Cressid love, So much by weight hate I her Diomed. That sleeve is mine that he’ll bear on his helm. Were it a casque composed by Vulcan’s skill, My sword should bite it. Not the dreadful spout Which shipmen do the hurricano call, Constringed in mass by the almighty sun, Shall dizzy with more clamor Neptune’s ear In his descent than shall my prompted sword Falling on Diomed.
THERSITES , aside He’ll tickle it for his concupy.	THERSITES , aside He’ll tickle it for his concupy.
TROILUS O Cressid! O false Cressid! False, false, false! Let all untruths stand by thy stainèd name, 210 And they’ll seem glorious.	TROILUS O Cressid! O false Cressid! False, false, false! Let all untruths stand by thy stainèd name, And they’ll seem glorious.
ULYSSES O, contain yourself. Your passion draws ears hither.	ULYSSES O, contain yourself. Your passion draws ears hither.
Enter AENEAS.	Enter AENEAS.
AENEAS , to TROILUS I have been seeking you this hour, my lord. Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy. Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.	AENEAS , to TROILUS I have been seeking you this hour, my lord. Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy. Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.
TROILUS 215 My courteous lord, adieu.— Farewell, revolted fair!—And, Diomed, Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!	TROILUS My courteous lord, adieu.— Farewell, revolted fair!—And, Diomed, Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!
ULYSSES I’ll bring you to the gates.	ULYSSES I’ll bring you to the gates.
TROILUS 220 Accept distracted thanks.	TROILUS Accept distracted thanks.
TROILUS , AENEAS, and ULYSSES exit.	TROILUS , AENEAS, and ULYSSES exit.
THERSITES Would I could meet that rogue Diomed! I would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would bode. Patroclus will give me anything for the intelligence of this whore. The parrot will not do more 225 for an almond than he for a commodious drab. Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery! Nothing else holds fashion. A burning devil take them!	THERSITES Would I could meet that rogue Diomed! I would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would bode. Patroclus will give me anything for the intelligence of this whore. The parrot will not do more for an almond than he for a commodious drab. Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery! Nothing else holds fashion. A burning devil take them!
He exits.	He exits.