The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Cres._ And you this glove. When shall I see you?[1961] 70
_Tro._ I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels,
To give thee nightly visitation.[1962]
But yet, be true.[1962]
_Cres._ O heavens! 'Be true' again!
_Tro._ Hear why I speak it, love:[1963]
The Grecian youths are full of quality;[1963][1964] 75
They're loving, well composed with gifts of nature,[1963]
And flowing o'er with arts and exercise:[1963]
How novelties may move and parts with person,[1965]
Alas, a kind of godly jealousy--[1966]
Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin-- 80
Makes me afeard.[1967]
_Cres._ O heavens! you love me not.
_Tro._ Die I a villain then!
In this I do not call your faith in question,
So mainly as my merit: I cannot sing,[1968]
Nor heel the high lavolt, nor sweeten talk, 85
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. 90
_Cres._ Do you think I will?[1969]
_Tro._ No:[1970]
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,[1971] 95
Presuming on their changeful potency.[1972]
_Æne._ [_Within_] Nay, good my lord!
_Tro._ Come, kiss; and let us part.
_Par._ [_Within_] Brother Troilus!
_Tro._ Good brother, come you hither;
And bring Æneas and the Grecian with you.
_Cres._ My lord, will you be true?[1973] 100
_Tro._ Who, I? alas, it is my vice, my fault:
Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion,[1974]
I with great truth catch mere simplicity;
Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns,[1975]
With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.[1976] 105
Fear not my truth: the moral of my wit[1977]
Is 'plain and true;' there's all the reach of it.[1978]
_Enter_ ÆNEAS, PARIS, ANTENOR, DEIPHOBUS, _and_ DIOMEDES.[1979]
Welcome, Sir Diomed! here is the lady[1980]
Which for Antenor we deliver you:[1981]
At the port, lord, I'll give her to thy hand; 110
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 Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
As Priam is in Ilion.
_Dio._ Fair Lady Cressid,[1982] 115
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[1983]
You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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