In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,[926] Have to the port of Athens sent their ships, Fraught with the ministers and instruments Of cruel war: sixty and nine, that wore 5 Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures[927] The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen, With wanton Paris sleeps; and that's the quarrel. 10 To Tenedos they come; And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge[928] Their warlike fraughtage: now on Dardan plains The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch Their brave pavilions: Priam's six-gated city,[929] 15 Dardan, and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,[930] And Antenorides, with massy staples,[931] And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,[932] Sperr up the sons of Troy.[933] Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits, 20 On one and other side, Trojan and Greek, Sets all on hazard: and hither am I come A prologue arm'd, but not in confidence Of author's pen or actor's voice, but suited In like conditions as our argument, 25 To tell you, fair beholders, that our play Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils, Beginning in the middle; starting thence away[934] To what may be digested in a play. Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are: 30 Now good or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.[935] FOOTNOTES: [925] THE PROLOGUE. _In Troy ... of war._] Omitted in Q. Ritson and Steevens (1793), suggest that it is not Shakespeare's. [926] _orgulous_] Steevens. _orgillous_ Ff. [927] _immures_] _emures_ F₁. [928] _barks_] F₃ F₄. _barkes_ F₂. _barke_ F₁. [929] _six-gated city_] _six gates i' th' city_ Theobald. [930] _Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien_] Ff. _Thymbria, Ilia, Scæa, Troian_ Theobald. _Thymbria, Ilias, Chetas, Troyan_ Capell. [931] _Antenorides_] Theobald. _Antenonidus_ Ff. _Anteroridas_ Pope. [932] _fulfilling_] _full-filling_ Theobald conj. [933] _Sperr_] _Sperre_ Theobald. _Stirre_ F₁ F₂. _Stirr_ F₃. _Stir_ F₄. _Sperrs_ Capell. _Sparr_ Collier MS. [934] _Beginning in the_] _'Ginning i' th'_ Theobald. _away_] om. Pope. [935] _Now good or bad_] _Now good, now bad_ or _Or good or bad_ Capell conj. ACT I. SCENE I. _Troy. Before Priam's palace._ _Enter_ PANDARUS _and_ TROILUS.[936] _Tro._ 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,[937] Let him to field; Troilus, alas, hath none! 5 _Pan._ Will this gear ne'er be mended?