William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, Act V, Scene VI

Updated September 23, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

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

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