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Act 4, Scene 1

Troy. A street

  1. [Enter, at one side, AENEAS, and servant with a torch; at another, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES the Grecian, and others, with torches.]
  2. Paris
  3. 2052 See, ho! Who is that there?
  4. Deiphobus
  5. 2053 It is the Lord Aeneas.
  6. Aeneas
  7. 2054 Is the Prince there in person?
  8. 2055 Had I so good occasion to lie long
  9. 2056 As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business
  10. 2057 Should rob my bed-mate of my company.
  11. Diomedes
  12. 2058 That's my mind too. Good morrow, Lord Aeneas.
  13. Paris
  14. 2059 A valiant Greek, Aeneas—take his hand:
  15. 2060 Witness the process of your speech, wherein
  16. 2061 You told how Diomed, a whole week by days,
  17. 2062 Did haunt you in the field.
  18. Aeneas
  19. 2063 Health to you, valiant sir,
  20. 2064 During all question of the gentle truce;
  21. 2065 But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance
  22. 2066 As heart can think or courage execute.
  23. Diomedes
  24. 2067 The one and other Diomed embraces.
  25. 2068 Our bloods are now in calm; and so long health!
  26. 2069 But when contention and occasion meet,
  27. 2070 By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life
  28. 2071 With all my force, pursuit, and policy.
  29. Aeneas
  30. 2072 And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly
  31. 2073 With his face backward. In humane gentleness,
  32. 2074 Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life,
  33. 2075 Welcome indeed! By Venus' hand I swear
  34. 2076 No man alive can love in such a sort
  35. 2077 The thing he means to kill, more excellently.
  36. Diomedes
  37. 2078 We sympathise. Jove let Aeneas live,
  38. 2079 If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
  39. 2080 A thousand complete courses of the sun!
  40. 2081 But in mine emulous honour let him die
  41. 2082 With every joint a wound, and that to-morrow!
  42. Aeneas
  43. 2083 We know each other well.
  44. Diomedes
  45. 2084 We do; and long to know each other worse.
  46. Paris
  47. 2085 This is the most despiteful'st gentle greeting
  48. 2086 The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.
  49. 2087 What business, lord, so early?
  50. Aeneas
  51. 2088 I was sent for to the King; but why, I know not.
  52. Paris
  53. 2089 His purpose meets you: 'twas to bring this Greek
  54. 2090 To Calchas' house, and there to render him,
  55. 2091 For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid.
  56. 2092 Let's have your company; or, if you please,
  57. 2093 Haste there before us. I constantly believe—
  58. 2094 Or rather call my thought a certain knowledge—
  59. 2095 My brother Troilus lodges there to-night.
  60. 2096 Rouse him and give him note of our approach,
  61. 2097 With the whole quality wherefore; I fear
  62. 2098 We shall be much unwelcome.
  63. Aeneas
  64. 2099 That I assure you:
  65. 2100 Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
  66. 2101 Than Cressid borne from Troy.
  67. Paris
  68. 2102 There is no help;
  69. 2103 The bitter disposition of the time
  70. 2104 Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you.
  71. Aeneas
  72. 2105 Good morrow, all.
  73. [Exit with servant.]
  74. Paris
  75. 2106 And tell me, noble Diomed-faith, tell me true,
  76. 2107 Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship—
  77. 2108 Who in your thoughts deserves fair Helen best,
  78. 2109 Myself or Menelaus?
  79. Diomedes
  80. 2110 Both alike:
  81. 2111 He merits well to have her that doth seek her,
  82. 2112 Not making any scruple of her soilure,
  83. 2113 With such a hell of pain and world of charge;
  84. 2114 And you as well to keep her that d
  85. 2115 Not palating the taste of her dishonour,
  86. 2116 With such a costly loss of wealth and friends.
  87. 2117 He like a puling cuckold would drink up
  88. 2118 The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece;
  89. 2119 You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
  90. 2120 Are pleas'd to breed out your inheritors.
  91. 2121 Both merits pois'd, each weighs nor less nor more;
  92. 2122 But he as he, the heavier for a whore.
  93. Paris
  94. 2123 You are too bitter to your country-woman.
  95. Diomedes
  96. 2124 She's bitter to her country. Hear me, Paris:
  97. 2125 For every false drop in her bawdy veins
  98. 2126 A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple
  99. 2127 Of her contaminated carrion weight
  100. 2128 A Troyan hath been slain; since she could speak,
  101. 2129 She hath not given so many good words breath
  102. 2130 As for her Greeks and Troyans suff'red death.
  103. Paris
  104. 2131 Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
  105. 2132 Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy;
  106. 2133 But we in silence hold this virtue well:
  107. 2134 We'll not commend what we intend to sell.
  108. 2135 Here lies our way.
  109. [Exeunt.]