To the Quarto Edition of this Play, 1609.

A never writer, to an ever reader. Newes.

Eternall reader, you have heere a new play, never stal'd with the stage, never clapper-claw'd with the palmes of the vulger, and yet paffing full of the palme comicall; for it is a birth of your braine, that never under-tooke any thing commicall, vainely and were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the titles of commodities, or of playes for pleas; you should see all those grand cenfors, that now ftile them fuch vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their gravities: especially this authors commedies, that are fo fram'd to the life, that they serve for the most common commentaries of all the actions or our lives, fhewing fuch a dexteritie and power of witte, that the most displeased with playes, are pleasd with his commedies. And all such dull and heavy witted worldlings, as were never capable of the witte of a commedie, comming by report of them to his representations, have found that witte there, that they never found in them-felves, and have parted better-witted than they came: feeling an edge of witte fet upon them, more then ever they dreamd they had braine to grind it on. So much and fuch favored falt of witte is in his commedies, that they feeme (for their height of pleasure) to be borne in that sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is none more witty than this: and had I time I would comment upon it, though I know it needs not, (for so much as will make you think your testerne well beftowd) but for so much worth, as even poore I know to be stuft in it. It deferves fuch a labour, as well as the best commedy in Terence or Plautus. And beleeve this, that when hee is gone, and his commedies out of fale, you will scramble for them, and fet up a new English inquifition. Take this for a warning, and at the peril of your pleasures loffe, and judgements, refuse not, nor like this the leffe, for not being fullied with the smoaky breath of the multitude; but thanke fortune for the scape it hath made amongst you. Since by the grand poffeffors wills I believe you should have prayd for them rather then beene prayd. And fo I leave all fuch to bee prayd for (for the ftates of their wits healths) that will not praise it. Vale.

PROLOGUE.

IN Troy, there lies the fcene. From ifles of Greece
The princes orgillous, their high blood chaf'd,
Have to the port of Athens fent their fhips
Fraught with the minifters and inftruments
Of cruel war: Sixty and nine, that wore
Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia: and their vow is made,
To ranfack Troy; within whofe ftrong immures
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,

b

With wanton Paris fleeps; And that's the quarrel.
To Tenedos they come;

And the deep-drawing barks do there difgorge
Their warlike fraughtage: Now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: Priam's fix-gated city
(Dardan, and Thymbria, Ilias, Chetas, Troyan,
And Antenoridas) with maffy staples,

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And correfponfive and fulfilling bolts,
Sperrs up the fons of Troy.

Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits,
On one and other fide, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on bazard:-And hither am I come
A prologue arm'd,—but not in confidence
Of author's pen, or actor's voice; but fuited
In like conditions as our argument,

f

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To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Leaps o'er the vaunt and firftlings of thofe broils,
'Ginning in the middle; starting thence away
To what may be digefted in a play.

Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are;
'Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.

arm'd,]-in a dress adapted to the character I fuftain in this warlike play. f the vaunt and firstlings]-high speeches, and firft effays, the prelude.

Now good, now bad.

HELEN, Wife to MENELAUS.

ANDROMACHE, Wife to HECTOR.

CASSANDRA, Daughter to PRIAM, a Prophetefs.
CRESSIDA, Daughter to CALCHAS.

ALEXANDER, CRESSIDA's Servant.

BOY, Page to TROILUS.

Servant to DIOMED.

Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other Attendants.

SCENE-TROY, and the Grecian Camp before it.

THIS PLAY was probably written in the year 1602; the principal circumstances of it are extracted from LYDGATE'S TROY-BOKE, and CHAUCER'S TALE OF TROILUS AND CRESSEIDE.

TROILUS

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA.

ACT I. SCENE I.

TRO r.

Priam's Palace.

Enter Pandarus, and Troilus.

Troi. Call here my varlet", I'll unarm again:
Why should I war without the walls of Troy,
That find fuch cruel battle here within?
Each Trojan, that is master of his heart,
Let him to field; Troilus, alas! hath none.
Pan. Will this geer ne'er be mended?

Troi. The Greeks are ftrong, and fkilful to their strength,

Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercenefs valiant;

But I am weaker than a woman's tear,

k

Tamer than sheep, fonder than ignorance;

Lefs valiant than the virgin in the night,

And skill-lefs as unpractis'd infancy.

Pan. Well, I have told you enough of this: for my

varlet,]-valet.

Will this geer ne'er be mended?]-Will this foolery never end?

fender]-more childish.