ACT 1
Scene 2
...shall have more.
Enter Hector and crosses the stage.
ACT 2
Scene 2
...more of it.
Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris and Helenas.
...you to ’t?
Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I
As far as toucheth my particular,
Yet, dread Priam,
There is no lady of more softer bowels,
More spongy to suck in the sense of fear,
More ready to cry out “Who knows what follows?”
Than Hector is. The wound of peace is surety,
Surety secure; but modest doubt is called
The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches
To th’ bottom of the worst. Let Helen go.
Since the first sword was drawn about this question,
Every tithe soul, ’mongst many thousand dismes,
Hath been as dear as Helen; I mean, of ours.
If we have lost so many tenths of ours
To guard a thing not ours—nor worth to us,
Had it our name, the value of one ten—
What merit’s in that reason which denies
The yielding of her up?
...and lustihood deject.
Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost
The keeping.
...as ’tis valued?
But value dwells not in particular will;
It holds his estimate and dignity
As well wherein ’tis precious of itself
As in the prizer. ’Tis mad idolatry
To make the service greater than the god;
And the will dotes that is attributive
To what infectiously itself affects
Without some image of th’ affected merit.
...voice. Cry, Trojans!
It is Cassandra.
...with prophetic tears.
Peace, sister, peace!
...let Helen go.
Now, youthful Troilus, do not these high strains
Of divination in our sister work
Some touches of remorse? Or is your blood
So madly hot that no discourse of reason
Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause
Can qualify the same?
...spaces cannot parallel.
Paris and Troilus, you have both said well,
And on the cause and question now in hand
Have glozed—but superficially, not much
Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought
Unfit to hear moral philosophy.
The reasons you allege do more conduce
To the hot passion of distempered blood
Than to make up a free determination
’Twixt right and wrong, for pleasure and revenge
Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice
Of any true decision. Nature craves
All dues be rendered to their owners. Now,
What nearer debt in all humanity
Than wife is to the husband? If this law
Of nature be corrupted through affection,
And that great minds, of partial indulgence
To their benumbèd wills, resist the same,
There is a law in each well-ordered nation
To curb those raging appetites that are
Most disobedient and refractory.
If Helen, then, be wife to Sparta’s king,
As it is known she is, these moral laws
Of nature and of nations speak aloud
To have her back returned. Thus to persist
In doing wrong extenuates not wrong,
But makes it much more heavy. Hector’s opinion
Is this in way of truth; yet, ne’ertheless,
My sprightly brethren, I propend to you
In resolution to keep Helen still,
For ’tis a cause that hath no mean dependence
Upon our joint and several dignities.
...wide world’s revenue.
I am yours,
You valiant offspring of great Priamus.
I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks
Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits.
I was advertised their great general slept,
Whilst emulation in the army crept.
This, I presume, will wake him.
They exit.
ACT 4
Scene 5
...The Trojan’s trumpet.
Enter all of Troy: Hector, armed, Paris, Aeneas, Helenus, Troilus, and Attendants.
...their strokes begin.
Hector and Ajax enter the lists.
...him to me.
Alarum. The fight begins.
...As Hector pleases.
Why, then, will I no more.—
Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,
A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed.
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation ’twixt us twain.
Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
That thou couldst say “This hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my father’s,” by Jove multipotent,
Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud. But the just gods gainsay
That any drop thou borrowd’st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drained. Let me embrace thee, Ajax.
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms!
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.
Cousin, all honor to thee!
They embrace.
...in thy death.
Not Neoptolemus so mirable—
On whose bright crest Fame with her loud’st “Oyez”
Cries “This is he”—could promise to himself
A thought of added honor torn from Hector.
...you will do.
We’ll answer it;
The issue is embracement.—Ajax, farewell.
They embrace again.
...the valiant Hector.
Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
And signify this loving interview
To the expecters of our Trojan part;
Desire them home. To Ajax.
Give me thy hand, my cousin.
I will go eat with thee and see your knights.
...meet us here.
to Aeneas
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, my own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.
...great Hector, welcome.
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.
...brothers, welcome hither.
to Aeneas
Who must we answer?
...The noble Menelaus.
O, you, my lord? By Mars his gauntlet, thanks!
Mock not that I affect th’ untraded oath;
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus’ glove.
She’s well, but bade me not commend her to you.
...a deadly theme.
O, pardon! I offend.
...the old Nestor.
Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle
That hast so long walked hand in hand with time.
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.
They embrace.
...thee in courtesy.
I would they could.
...pillar by us.
I know your favor, Lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, sir, there’s many a Greek and Trojan dead
Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
In Ilium, on your Greekish embassy.
...their own feet.
I must not believe you.
There they stand yet, and modestly I think
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood. The end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.
...joint by joint.
Is this Achilles?
...I am Achilles.
Stand fair, I pray thee. Let me look on thee.
...Behold thy fill.
Nay, I have done already.
...limb by limb.
O, like a book of sport thou ’lt read me o’er;
But there’s more in me than thou understand’st.
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?
...Answer me, heavens!
It would discredit the blest gods, proud man,
To answer such a question. Stand again.
Think’st thou to catch my life so pleasantly
As to prenominate in nice conjecture
Where thou wilt hit me dead?
...tell thee, yea.
Wert thou an oracle to tell me so,
I’d not believe thee. Henceforth guard thee well,
For I’ll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there,
But, by the forge that stithied Mars his helm,
I’ll kill thee everywhere, yea, o’er and o’er.—
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag;
His insolence draws folly from my lips.
But I’ll endeavor deeds to match these words,
Or may I never—
...odd with him.
to Achilles
I pray you, let us see you in the field.
We have had pelting wars since you refused
The Grecians’ cause.
...Tonight all friends.
Thy hand upon that match.
...welcome know. Flourish.
All but Troilus and Ulysses exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
...were not Menelaus.
Enter Hector, Troilus, Ajax, Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor, Menelaus, and Diomedes, with lights.
...see the lights.
I trouble you.
...tend on you.
Thanks, and good night to the Greeks’ general.
...night, my lord.
Good night, sweet lord Menelaus.
...night, great Hector.
Give me your hand.
...you honor me.
And so, good night.
...enter my tent.
Achilles, Ajax, Nestor, and Hector exit.
Scene 3
...devil take them!
Enter Hector, armed, and Andromache.
...not fight today.
You train me to offend you. Get you in.
By all the everlasting gods, I’ll go!
...to the day.
No more, I say.
...O, ’tis true!
calling out
Ho! Bid my trumpet sound!
...heavens, sweet brother!
Begone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.
...Unarm, sweet Hector.
Hold you still, I say.
Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate.
Life every man holds dear, but the dear man
Holds honor far more precious-dear than life.
Enter Troilus, armed.
How now, young man? Meanest thou to fight today?
...father to persuade.
No, faith, young Troilus, doff thy harness, youth.
I am today i’ th’ vein of chivalry.
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
Unarm thee, go, and doubt thou not, brave boy,
I’ll stand today for thee and me and Troy.
...than a man.
What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.
...rise and live.
O, ’tis fair play.
...by heaven. Hector.
How now? How now?
...them from ruth.
Fie, savage, fie!
...then ’tis wars.
Troilus, I would not have you fight today.
...Therefore, come back.
Aeneas is afield,
And I do stand engaged to many Greeks,
Even in the faith of valor, to appear
This morning to them.
...shalt not go.
I must not break my faith.
You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir,
Let me not shame respect, but give me leave
To take that course by your consent and voice
Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.
...not, dear father.
Andromache, I am offended with you.
Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
...our Troy deceive.
You are amazed, my liege, at her exclaim.
Go in and cheer the town. We’ll forth and fight,
Do deeds worth praise, and tell you them at night.
...stand about thee!
Hector and Priam exit at separate doors.
Scene 4
...now the sleeve!
Enter Hector.
What art thou, Greek? Art thou for Hector’s match?
Art thou of blood and honor?
...very filthy rogue.
I do believe thee. Live.
He exits.
Scene 6
...at you both!
Enter Hector.
Yea, Troilus? O, well fought, my youngest brother!
...at thee, Hector!
They fight.
Pause if thou wilt.
...seek thy fortune.
Fare thee well.
I would have been much more a fresher man
Had I expected thee.
Enter Troilus.
How now, my brother?
...in Greek armor.
Stand, stand, thou Greek! Thou art a goodly mark.
No? Wilt thou not? I like thy armor well.
I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all,
But I’ll be master of it. Wilt thou not, beast, abide?
Why then, fly on. I’ll hunt thee for thy hide.
He exits.
Scene 9
...take thee, coward!
Enter Hector, with the body of the Greek in armor.
Most putrefied core, so fair without,
Thy goodly armor thus hath cost thy life.
Now is my day’s work done. I’ll take my breath.
Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death.
He begins to disarm.
...life is done.
I am unarmed. Forgo this vantage, Greek.
...man I seek.
The Myrmidons kill Hector.
...the Trojan trail.
They exit with the bodies.