Troilus and Cressida

Another Part of the Plains.

Enter AJAX.

Ajax.Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head!

Enter DIOMEDES.

Dio.Troilus, I say! where’s Troilus?

Ajax.What wouldst thou?

Dio.I would correct him.

Ajax.Were I the general, thou shouldst have my office

Ere that correction. Troilus, I say! what, Troilus!

Enter TROILUS.

Tro.O traitor Diomed! Turn thy false face, thou traitor!

And pay thy life thou ow’st me for my horse!

Dio.Ha! art thou there?

Ajax.I’ll fight with him alone: stand, Diomed.

Dio.He is my prize; I will not look upon.

Tro.Come, both you cogging Greeks; have at you both![Exeunt, fighting.

Enter HECTOR.

Hect.Yea, Troilus? O, well fought, my youngest brother!

Enter ACHILLES.

Achil.Now I do see thee. Ha! have at thee, Hector!

Hect.Pause, if thou wilt.

Achil.I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan.

Be happy that my arms are out of use:

My rest and negligence befriend thee now,

But thou anon shalt hear of me again;

Till when, go seek thy fortune.[Exit.

Hect.Fare thee well:—

I would have been much more a fresher man,

Had I expected thee. How now, my brother!

Re-enter TROILUS.

Tro.Ajax hath ta’en Æneas: 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.

Hect.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.