Printable version of this page

Troilus and Cressida: Act 5 Scene 6

Scene VI Another part of the plains.

[Enter AJAX]

AJAX

Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head!

[Enter DIOMEDES]

DIOMEDES

Troilus, I say! where's Troilus?

AJAX

What wouldst thou?

DIOMEDES

I would correct him.

AJAX

Were I the general, thou shouldst have my office

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

[Enter TROILUS]

TROILUS

O traitor Diomed! turn thy false face, thou traitor,

And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse!

DIOMEDES

Ha, art thou there?

AJAX

I'll fight with him alone: stand, Diomed.

DIOMEDES

He is my prize; I will not look upon.

TROILUS

Come, both you cogging Greeks; have at you both!

[Exeunt, fighting]

[Enter HECTOR]

HECTOR

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

[Enter ACHILLES]

ACHILLES

Now do I see thee, ha! have at thee, Hector!

HECTOR

Pause, if thou wilt.

ACHILLES

I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan:

Be happy that my arms are out of use:

My rest and negligence befriends thee now,

But thou anon shalt hear of me again;

Till when, go seek thy fortune.

[Exit]

HECTOR

Fare thee well:

I would have been much more a fresher man,

Had I expected thee. How now, my brother!

[Re-enter TROILUS]

TROILUS

Ajax hath ta'en AEneas: 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]

HECTOR

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]