Part 41

And. Caſſandra, call my father to persuade. Exit Caſſandra

Hect. No, faith, young Troylus; doff thy harness, youth; I am to-day i’ th’ vein of chivalry. Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war. Unarm thee, go; and doubt thou not, brave boy, I’ll stand to-day for thee and me and Troy.

Troy. Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you Which better fits a lion than a man.

Hect. What vice is that, good Troylus? Chide me for it.

Troy. When many times the captive Grecian falls, Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword, You bid them rise and live.

Hect. O, ’tis fair play!

Troy. Fool’s play, by heaven, Hector.

Hect. How now! how now!

Troy. For th’ love of all the gods, Let’s leave the hermit Pity with our mother; And when we have our armours buckled on, The venom’d vengeance ride upon our swords, Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth!

Hect. Fie, savage, fie!

Troy. Hector, then ’tis wars.

Hect. Troylus, I would not have you fight to-day.

Troy. Who should withhold me? Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars Beck’ning with fiery truncheon my retire; Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees, Their eyes o’ergalled with recourse of tears; Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn, Oppos’d to hinder me, should stop my way, But by my ruin.

Re-enter Caſſandra, with Priam

Caſ. Lay hold upon him, Priam, hold him fast; He is thy crutch; now if thou lose thy stay, Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee, Fall all together.

Pri. Come, Hector, come, go back. Thy wife hath dreamt; thy mother hath had visions; Caſſandra doth foresee; and I myself Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt To tell thee that this day is ominous. Therefore, come back.

Hect. Æneas is a-field; And I do stand engag’d to many Greeks, Even in the faith of valour, to appear This morning to them.

Pri. Ay, but thou shalt not go.

Hect. I must not break my faith. You know me dutiful; therefore, dear sir, Let me not shame respect; but give me leave To take that course by your consent and voice Which you do here forbid me, royal Priam.

Caſ. O Priam, yield not to him!

And. Do not, dear father.

Hect. Andromache, I am offended with you. Upon the love you bear me, get you in. Exit Andromache

Troy. This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl Makes all these bodements.

Caſ. O, farewell, dear Hector! Look how thou diest. Look how thy eye turns pale. Look how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. Hark how Troy roars; how Hecuba cries out; How poor Andromache shrills her dolours forth; Behold distraction, frenzy, and amazement, Like witless antics, one another meet, And all cry, Hector! Hector’s dead! O Hector!

Troy. Away, away!

Caſ. Farewell!-yet, soft! Hector, I take my leave. Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive. Exit

Hect. You are amaz’d, my liege, at her exclaim. Go in, and cheer the town; we’ll forth, and fight, Do deeds worth praise and tell you them at night.

Pri. Farewell. The gods with safety stand about thee! Exeunt severally Priam and Hector. Alarums