They're loving, well composed with gifts of nature, Flowing and swelling o'er with arts and exercise:
How novelty may move, and parts with person, Alas, a kind of godly jealousy--Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin--Makes me afeard. CRESSIDA O heavens! you love me not. TROILUS Die I a villain, then!
In this I do not call your faith in question So mainly as my merit: I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk, Nor play at subtle games; fair virtues all, To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant:
But I can tell that in each grace of these There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive devil That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted. CRESSIDA Do you think I will? TROILUS No.
But something may be done that we will not:
And sometimes we are devils to ourselves, When we will tempt the frailty of our powers, Presuming on their changeful potency. AENEAS [Within] Nay, good my lord,-- TROILUS Come, kiss; and let us part. PARIS [Within] Brother Troilus! TROILUS Good brother, come you hither;
And bring AEneas and the Grecian with you. CRESSIDA My lord, will you be true? TROILUS Who, I? alas, it is my vice, my fault:
Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion, I with great truth catch mere simplicity;
Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns, With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.
Fear not my truth: the moral of my wit Is 'plain and true;' there's all the reach of it.
Enter AENEAS, PARIS, ANTENOR, DEIPHOBUS, and DIOMEDES Welcome, Sir Diomed! here is the lady Which for Antenor we deliver you:
At the port, lord, I'll give her to thy hand, And by the way possess thee what she is.
Entreat her fair; and, by my soul, fair Greek, If e'er thou stand at mercy of my sword, Name Cressida and thy life shall be as safe As Priam is in Ilion. DIOMEDES Fair Lady Cressid, So please you, save the thanks this prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heaven in your cheek, Pleads your fair usage; and to Diomed You shall be mistress, and command him wholly. TROILUS Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously, To shame the zeal of my petition to thee In praising her: I tell thee, lord of Greece, She is as far high-soaring o'er thy praises As thou unworthy to be call'd her servant.
I charge thee use her well, even for my charge;
For, by the dreadful Pluto, if thou dost not, Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard, I'll cut thy throat. DIOMEDES O, be not moved, Prince Troilus:
Let me be privileged by my place and message, To be a speaker free; when I am hence I'll answer to my lust: and know you, lord, I'll nothing do on charge: to her own worth She shall be prized; but that you say 'be't so,'
I'll speak it in my spirit and honour, 'no.' TROILUS Come, to the port. I'll tell thee, Diomed, This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.
Lady, give me your hand, and, as we walk, To our own selves bend we our needful talk.
Exeunt TROILUS, CRESSIDA, and DIOMEDES Trumpet within PARIS Hark! Hector's trumpet. AENEAS How have we spent this morning!
The prince must think me tardy and remiss, That sore to ride before him to the field. PARIS 'Tis Troilus' fault: come, come, to field with him. DEIPHOBUS Let us make ready straight. AENEAS Yea, with a bridegroom's fresh alacrity, Let us address to tend on Hector's heels:
The glory of our Troy doth this day lie On his fair worth and single chivalry.
