BDeBooks
Troilus and Cressida

William Shakespeare · Chapter 22 of 26

PDF pages

Troilus and Cressida

Scene VI

Another part of the plains.

Enter Ajax.
Ajax Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head!
Enter Diomedes.
Diomedes Troilus, I say! where’s Troilus?
Ajax What wouldst thou?
Diomedes I would correct him.
Ajax

Were I the general, thou shouldst have my office
Ere that correction. Troilus, I say! what, Troilus!

Enter Troilus.
Troilus

O traitor Diomed! turn thy false face, thou traitor,
And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse!

Diomedes Ha, art thou there?
Ajax I’ll fight with him alone: stand, Diomed.
Diomedes He is my prize; I will not look upon.
Troilus Come, both you cogging Greeks; have at you both! Exeunt, fighting.
Enter Hector.
Hector Yea, Troilus? O, well fought, my youngest brother!
Enter Achilles.
Achilles Now do I see thee, ha! have at thee, Hector!
Hector Pause, if thou wilt.
Achilles

I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan:
Be happy that my arms are out of use:
My rest and negligence befriends thee now,
But thou anon shalt hear of me again;
Till when, go seek thy fortune. Exit.

Hector

Fare thee well:
I would have been much more a fresher man,
Had I expected thee. How now, my brother!

Reenter Troilus.
Troilus

Ajax hath ta’en Aeneas: shall it be?
No, by the flame of yonder glorious heaven,
He shall not carry him: I’ll be ta’en too,
Or bring him off: fate, hear me what I say!
I reck not though I end my life to-day. Exit.

Enter one in sumptuous armour.
Hector

Stand, stand, thou Greek; thou art a goodly mark:
No? wilt thou not? I like thy armour 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. Exeunt.