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  • William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, Act IV, Scene II

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Scene IIThe same. Court of Pandarus’ houseEnter Troilus and CressidaTroilusDear, trouble not yourself: the morn is cold.CressidaThen, sweet my lord, I’ll call mine uncle down; He shall unbolt the gates.TroilusTrouble him not; To bed, to bed: sleep kill those pretty eyes, And give as soft attachment to thy senses As infants’ empty of all thought!CressidaGood morrow, then.TroilusI prithee now, to bed.CressidaAre you a-weary of me?TroilusO Cressida! but that the busy day, Waked by the lark, hath roused the ribald crows, And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer, I would not from thee.CressidaNight hath been too brief.TroilusBeshrew the witch! with venomous wights she stays As tediously as hell, but flies the grasps of love With wings more momentary-swift than thought. You will catch cold, and curse me.CressidaPrithee, tarry: You men will never tarry. O foolish Cressid! I might have still held off, And then you would have tarried. Hark! there’s one up.PandarusWithinWhat, ’s all the doors open here?TroilusIt is your uncle.CressidaA pestilence on him! now will he be mocking: I shall have such a life!Enter PandarusPandarusHow now, how now! how go maidenheads? Here, you maid! where’s my cousin Cressid?CressidaGo hang yourself, you naughty mocking uncle! You bring me to do, and then you flout me too.PandarusTo do what? to do what? let her say what: what have I brought you to do?CressidaCome, come, beshrew your heart! you’ll ne’er be good, Nor suffer others.PandarusHa! ha! Alas, poor wretch! ah, poor capocchia! hast not slept to-night? would he not, a naughty man, let it sleep? a bugbear take him!CressidaDid not I tell you? Would he were knock’d i’ the head!Knocking withinWho’s that at door? good uncle, go and see. My lord, come you again into my chamber: You smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.TroilusHa, ha!CressidaCome, you are deceived, I think of no such thing.Knocking withinHow earnestly they knock! Pray you, come in: I would not for half Troy have you seen here.Exeunt Troilus and CressidaPandarusWho’s there? what’s the matter? will you beat down the door? How now! what’s the matter?Enter AeneasAeneasGood morrow, lord, good morrow.PandarusWho’s there? my Lord AEneas! By my troth, I knew you not: what news with you so early?AeneasIs not Prince Troilus here?PandarusHere! what should he do here?AeneasCome, he is here, my lord; do not deny him: It doth import him much to speak with me.PandarusIs he here, say you? ’tis more than I know, I’ll be sworn: for my own part, I came in late. What should he do here?AeneasWho!—nay, then: come, come, you’ll do him wrong ere you’re ware: you’ll be so true to him, to be false to him: do not you know of him, but yet go fetch him hither; go.Re-enter TroilusTroilusHow now! what’s the matter?AeneasMy lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so rash: there is at hand Paris your brother, and Deiphobus, The Grecian Diomed, and our Antenor Deliver’d to us; and for him forthwith, Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour, We must give up to Diomedes’ hand The Lady Cressida.TroilusIs it so concluded?AeneasBy Priam and the general state of Troy: They are at hand and ready to effect it.TroilusHow my achievements mock me! I will go meet them: and, my Lord AEneas, We met by chance; you did not find me here.AeneasGood, good, my lord; the secrets of nature Have not more gift in taciturnity.Exeunt Troilus and AeneasPandarusIs’t possible? no sooner got but lost? The devil take Antenor! the young prince will go mad: a plague upon Antenor! I would they had broke ’s neck!Re-enter CressidaCressidaHow now! what’s the matter? who was here?PandarusAh, ah!CressidaWhy sigh you so profoundly? where’s my lord? gone! Tell me, sweet uncle, what’s the matter?PandarusWould I were as deep under the earth as I am above!CressidaO the gods! what’s the matter?PandarusPrithee, get thee in: would thou hadst ne’er been born! I knew thou wouldst be his death. O, poor gentleman! A plague upon Antenor!CressidaGood uncle, I beseech you, on my knees! beseech you, what’s the matter?PandarusThou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art changed for Antenor: thou must to thy father, and be gone from Troilus: ’twill be his death; ’twill be his bane; he cannot bear it.CressidaO you immortal gods! I will not go.PandarusThou must.CressidaI will not, uncle: I have forgot my father; 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, Do to this body what extremes you can; 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,—PandarusDo, do.CressidaTear my bright hair and scratch my praised cheeks, Crack my clear voice with sobs and break my heart With sounding Troilus. I will not go from Troy.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, Act IV

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William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, Act V, Scene II

  • William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, Act V, Scene II

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
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  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales