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Troilus and Cressida: Act 5 Scene 8

Scene VIII Another part of the plains.

[Enter HECTOR]

HECTOR

Most putrefied core, so fair without,

Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life.

Now is my day's work done; I'll take good breath:

Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and death.

[Puts off his helmet and hangs his shield

behind him]

[Enter ACHILLES and Myrmidons]

ACHILLES

Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set;

How ugly night comes breathing at his heels:

Even with the vail and darking of the sun,

To close the day up, Hector's life is done.

HECTOR

I am unarm'd; forego this vantage, Greek.

ACHILLES

Strike, fellows, strike; this is the man I seek.

[HECTOR falls]

So, Ilion, fall thou next! now, Troy, sink down!

Here lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone.

On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain,

'Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.'

[A retreat sounded]

Hark! a retire upon our Grecian part.

MYRMIDONS

The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord.

ACHILLES

The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth,

And, stickler-like, the armies separates.

My half-supp'd sword, that frankly would have fed,

Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed.

[Sheathes his sword]

Come, tie his body to my horse's tail;

Along the field I will the Trojan trail.

[Exeunt]