The Grecian Camp. Lists set out.
 Enter AJAX armed, ACHILLES, PATROCLUS, AGAMEMNON, MENELAUS,
 ULYSSES, NESTOR, CALCHAS, TRUMPETER, and OTHERS.

Agamemnon	Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
	Anticipating time with starting courage.
	Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy,
	Thou dreadful Ajax, that the appalld air
	May pierce the head of the great combatant,
	And hale him hither.

Ajax							Thou, trumpet, there's my purse.
	Now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe;
	Blow, villain, till thy spherd bias cheek
	Outswell the colic of puffed Aquilon.
	Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood:
	Thou blowest for Hector.
												[Sound trumpet.
Ulysses	No trumpet answers.

Achilles							'Tis but early days.

Agamemnon	Is not yond Diomed with Calchas' daughter?

Ulysses	'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait;
	He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
	In aspiration lifts him from the earth.

                       Enter DIOMEDES and CRESSIDA.

Agamemnon	Is this the Lady Cressid?

Diomedes									Even she.

Agamemnon	Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.
												[Kisses her.
Nestor	Our general doth salute you with a kiss.

Ulysses	Yet is the kindness but particular;
	'Twere better she were kissed in general.

Nestor	And very courtly counsel. I'll begin.
												[Kisses her.
	So much for Nestor.

Achilles	I'll take that winter from your lips, fair lady.
												[Kisses her.
	Achilles bids you welcome.

Menelaus	I had good argument for kissing once.

Patroclus	But that's no argument for kissing now;
	For thus popped Paris in his hardiment,
	And parted thus you and your argument.
												[Kisses her.

Ulysses	[Aside.] O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns!
	For which we lose our heads to gild his horns.

Patroclus	The first was Menelaus' kiss; this, mine.
												[Kisses her again.
	Patroclus kisses you.

Menelaus								O, this is trim.

Patroclus	Paris and I kiss evermore for him.

Menelaus	I'll have my kiss, sir. Lady, by your leave.

Cressida	In kissing, do you render or receive?

Menelaus	Both take and give.

Cressida							I'll make my match to live,
	The kiss you take is better than you give:
	Therefore no kiss.

Menelaus	I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.

Cressida	You are an odd man; give even or give none.

Menelaus	An odd man, lady? Every man is odd.

Cressida	No, Paris is not; for you know 'tis true
	That you are odd, and he is even with you.

Menelaus	You fillip me a'th' head.

Cressida									No, I'll be sworn.

Ulysses	It were no match, your nail against his horn.
	May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

Cressida	You may.

Ulysses				I do desire it.

Cressida									Why, beg then.

Ulysses	Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss
	When Helen is a maid again, and his.

Cressida	I am your debtor; claim it when 'tis due.

Ulysses	Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.

Diomedes	Lady, a word. I'll bring you to your father.
												[Exeunt DIOMEDES and CRESSIDA.
Nestor	A woman of quick sense.

Ulysses								Fie, fie upon her!
	There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
	Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
	At every joint and motive of her body.
	O these encounterers so glib of tongue,
	That give accosting welcome ere it comes,
	And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
	To every tickling reader: - set them down
	For sluttish spoils of opportunity
	And daughters of the game.
												[Flourish.
All	The Trojan's trumpet.

Agamemnon								Yonder comes the troop.

             Enter all of Troy: HECTOR, armed, PARIS, AENEAS,
                    TROILUS, HELENUS, and ATTENDANTS.

Aeneas	Hail, all the state of Greece! What shall be done
	To him that victory commands? Or do you purpose
	A victor shall be known? Will you the knights
	Shall to the edge of all extremity
	Pursue each other; or shall they be divided
	By any voice or order of the field?
	Hector bade ask.

Agamemnon						Which way would Hector have it?

Aeneas	He cares not; he'll obey conditions.

Agamemnon	'Tis done like Hector.

Achilles								But securely done,
	A little proudly, and great deal disprizing
	The knight opposed.

Aeneas							If not Achilles, sir,
	What is your name?

Achilles						If not Achilles, nothing.

Aeneas	Therefore Achilles; but whate'er, know this:
	In the extremity of great and little,
	Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector;
	The one almost as infinite as all,
	The other blank as nothing. Weigh him well,
	And that which looks like pride is courtesy.
	This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood;
	In love whereof, half Hector stays at home.
	Half heart, half hand, half Hector comes to seek
	This blended knight, half Trojan and half Greek.

Achilles	A maiden battle, then? O, I perceive you.

                            Re-enter DIOMEDES.

Agamemnon	Here is Sir Diomed. Go, gentle knight,
	Stand by our Ajax. As you and Lord Aeneas
	Consent upon the order of their fight,
	So be it: either to the uttermost,
	Or else a breath. The combatants being kin
	Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.
									[AJAX and HECTOR prepare to fight.
Ulysses	They are opposed already.

Agamemnon	What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy?

Ulysses	The youngest son of Priam, a true knight;
	Not yet mature, yet matchless; firm of word,
	Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue;
	Not soon provoked, nor, being provoked, soon calmed;
	His heart and hand both open and both free,
	For what he has he gives, what thinks he shows,
	Yet gives he not till judgement guide his bounty,
	Nor dignifies an impare thought with breath.
	Manly as Hector, but more dangerous,
	For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
	To tender objects, but he in heat of action
	Is more vindicative than jealous love.
	They call him Troilus, and on him erect
	A second hope as fairly built as Hector.
	Thus says Aeneas, one that knows the youth
	Even to his inches, and with private soul
	Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me.
											[Alarum. AJAX and HECTOR fight.
Agamemnon	They are in action.

Nestor	Now, Ajax, hold thine own!

Troilus	Hector, thou sleep'st; awake thee!

Agamemnon	His blows are well disposed. There, Ajax!
												[Trumpets cease.
Diomedes	You must no more.

Aeneas						Princes, enough, so please you.

Ajax	I am not warm yet; let us fight again.

Diomedes	As Hector pleases.

Hector						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 borrowed'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 honour to thee!

Ajax								I thank thee, Hector.
	Thou art too gentle and too free a man.
	I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
	A great addition earnd in thy death.

Hector	Not Neoptolemus so mirable,
	On whose bright crest fame with her loud'st Oyes
	Cries "This is he", could promise to himself
	A thought of added honour torn from Hector.

Aeneas	There is expectance here from both the sides
	What further you will do.

Hector								We'll answer it:
	The issue is embracement. Ajax, farewell.

Ajax	If I might in entreaties find success,
	As seld I have the chance, I would desire
	My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

Diomedes	'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles
	Doth long to see unarmed the valiant Hector.

Hector	Aeneas, call my brother Troilus to me,
	And signify this loving interview
	To the expecters of our Trojan part;
	Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my cousin;
	I will go eat with thee, and see your knights.
								[AGAMEMNON and the REST come forward.

Ajax	Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

Hector	The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
	But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes
	Shall find him by his large and portly size.

Agamemnon	Worthy of arms, as welcome as to one
	That would be rid of such an enemy.
	But that's no welcome. Understand more clear:
	What's past and what's to come is strewed with husks
	And formless ruin of oblivion;
	But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
	Strained purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
	Bids thee with most divine integrity
	From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.

Hector	I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

Agamemnon	[To TROILUS.] My well-famed lord of Troy, no less to you.

Menelaus	Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting:
	You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.

Hector	Who must we answer?

Aeneas							The noble Menelaus.

Hector	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.

Menelaus	Name her not now, sir; she's a deadly theme.

Hector	O, pardon; I offend.

Nestor	I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
	Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
	Through ranks of Greekish youth, and I have seen thee
	As hot as Perseus spur thy Phrygian steed,
	Despising many forfeits and subduements,
	When thou hast hung thy advancd sword i'th' air,
	Not letting it decline on the declined,
	That I have said to some my standers-by
	"Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life";
	And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath,
	When that a ring of Greeks have hemmed thee in,
	Like an Olympian wrestling. This have I seen,
	But this thy countenance, still locked in steel,
	I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire,
	And once fought with him: he was a soldier good,
	But, by great Mars the captain of us all,
	Never like thee. Let an old man embrace thee;
	And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.

Aeneas	'Tis the old Nestor.

Hector	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.

Nestor	I would my arms could match thee in contention,
	As they contend with thee in courtesy.

Hector	I would they could.

Nestor	Ha!
	By this white beard, I'd fight with thee tomorrow.
	Well, welcome, welcome. I have seen the time.

Ulysses	I wonder now how yonder city stands,
	When we have here her base and pillar by us?

Hector	I know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well.
	Ah, sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead
	Since first I saw yourself and Diomed
	In Ilion on your Greekish embassy.

Ulysses	Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue.
	My prophecy is but half his journey yet;
	For yonder walls that pertly front your town,
	Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
	Must kiss their own feet.

Hector								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.

Ulysses							So to him we leave it.
	Most gentle and most valiant Hector, welcome.
	After the general, I beseech you next
	To feast with me and see me at my tent.

Achilles	I shall forestall thee, Lord Ulysses - thou.
	Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
	I have with exact view perused thee, Hector,
	And quoted joint by joint.

Hector								Is this Achilles?

Achilles	I am Achilles.

Hector	Stand fair, I pray thee; let me look on thee.

Achilles	Behold thy fill.

Hector						Nay, I have done already.

Achilles	Thou art too brief. I will the second time,
	As I would buy thee, view thee limb by limb.

Hector	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?

Achilles	Tell me, you heavens, in which part of his body
	Shall I destroy him? Whether there, or there, or there,
	That I may give the local wound a name,
	And make distinct the very breach whereout
	Hector's great spirit flew? Answer me, heavens.

Hector	It would discredit the blessed 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?

Achilles									I tell thee, yea.

Hector	Wert thou the 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 endeavour deeds to match these words,
	Or may I never-

Ajax						Do not chafe thee, cousin;
	And you, Achilles, let these threats alone,
	Till accident or purpose bring you to't.
	You may have every day enough of Hector,
	If you have stomach. The general state, I fear,
	Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him.

Hector	I pray you let us see you in the field;
	We have had pelting wars since you refused
	The Grecians' cause.

Achilles							Dost thou entreat me, Hector?
	Tomorrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
	Tonight, all friends.

Hector							Thy hand upon that match.

Agamemnon	First, all you peers of Greece, go to my tent;
	There in the full convive you; afterwards,
	As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
	Concur together, severally entreat him.
	Beat loud the taborins, let the trumpets blow,
	That this great soldier may his welcome know.
												[Sound drums and trumpets.
								  Exeunt all but TROILUS and ULYSSES.

Troilus	My Lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
	In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?

Ulysses	At Menelaus' tent, most princely Troilus.
	There Diomed doth feast with him tonight,
	Who neither looks on heaven nor on earth,
	But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view
	On the fair Cressid.

Troilus	Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to you so much,
	After we part from Agamemnon's tent,
	To bring me thither?

Ulysses							You shall command me, sir.
	As gentle tell me, of what honour was
	This Cressida in Troy? Had she no lover there
	That wails her absence?

Troilus	O sir, to such as boasting show their scars
	A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
	She was beloved, she loved; she is, and doth;
	But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth.
												[Exeunt.
