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Troilus and Cressida

William Shakespeare

Set during the Trojan War, it follows two intertwined plots: a doomed love affair between Trojan prince Troilus and Cressida, and the Greek commanders' struggle to rouse proud Achilles into battle against Hector.

"Troilus and Cressida" by William Shakespeare is a play. Set during the Trojan War, it follows two intertwined plots: a doomed love affair between Trojan prince Troilus and Cressida, and the Greek commanders' struggle to rouse proud Achilles into battle against Hector.

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Read a passage

TROILUS. Call here my varlet; I’ll unarm again. Why should I war without the walls of Troy That find such cruel battle here within? Each Trojan that is master of his heart, Let him to field; Troilus, alas! hath none.

PANDARUS. Will this gear ne’er be mended?

TROILUS. The Greeks are strong, and skilful to their strength, Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant; But I am weaker than a woman’s tear, Tamer than sleep, fonder than ignorance, Less valiant than the virgin in the night, And skilless as unpractis’d infancy.

PANDARUS. Well, I have told you enough of this; for my part, I’ll not meddle nor make no farther. He that will have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding.

PANDARUS. Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the bolting.

PANDARUS. Ay, the bolting; but you must tarry the leavening.

PANDARUS. Ay, to the leavening; but here’s yet in the word ‘hereafter’ the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking; nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance burn your lips.

TROILUS. Patience herself, what goddess e’er she be, Doth lesser blench at suff’rance than I do. At Priam’s royal table do I sit; And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts, So, traitor! ‘when she comes’! when she is thence?

PANDARUS. Well, she look’d yesternight fairer than ever I saw her look, or any woman else.

Contents

  1. 01Prologue
  2. 02Act I
  3. 03Scene I. Troy. Before Priam’s palace.
  4. 04Scene II. Troy. A street.
  5. 05Scene III. The Grecian camp. Before Agamemnon’s tent.
  6. 06Act II
  7. 07Scene I. The Grecian camp.
  8. 08Scene II. Troy. Priam’s palace.
  9. 09Scene III. The Grecian camp. Before the tent of Achilles.
  10. 10Act III
  11. 11Scene I. Troy. Priam’s palace.
  12. 12Scene II. Troy. Pandarus’ orchard.
  13. 13Scene III. The Greek camp.
  14. 14Act IV
  15. 15Scene I. Troy. A street.
  16. 16Scene II. Troy. The court of Pandarus’ house.
  17. 17Scene III. Troy. A street before Pandarus’ house.
  18. 18Scene IV. Troy. Pandarus’ house.
  19. 19Scene V. The Grecian camp. Lists set out.
  20. 20Act V
  21. 21Scene I. The Grecian camp. Before the tent of Achilles.
  22. 22Scene II. The Grecian camp. Before Calchas’ tent.
  23. 23Scene III. Troy. Before Priam’s palace.
  24. 24Scene IV. The plain between Troy and the Grecian camp.
  25. 25Scene V. Another part of the plain.
  26. 26Scene VI. Another part of the plain.
  27. 27Scene VII. Another part of the plain.
  28. 28Scene VIII. Another part of the plain.
  29. 29Scene IX. Another part of the plain.
  30. 30Scene X. Another part of the plain.

About this edition

Author
William Shakespeare
Era
Early modern (c. 1500–1800)
Reading level
Introductory: no background needed
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
179 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers