[Enter, from one side, AENEAS, and Servant with a]
[p]torch; from the other, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR,
[p]DIOMEDES, and others, with torches]
- Paris. See, ho! who is that there?
- Deiphobus. It is the Lord AEneas.
2200
- Aeneas. Is the prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lie long
As you, prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.
- Diomedes. That's my mind too. Good morrow, Lord AEneas.
2205
- Paris. A valiant Greek, AEneas,—take his hand,—
Witness the process of your speech, wherein
You told how Diomed, a whole week by days,
Did haunt you in the field.
- Aeneas. Health to you, valiant sir,
2210
During all question of the gentle truce;
But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance
As heart can think or courage execute.
- Diomedes. The one and other Diomed embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health!
2215 But when contention and occasion meet,
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life
With all my force, pursuit and policy.
- Aeneas. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly
With his face backward. In humane gentleness,
2220 Welcome to Troy! now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed! By Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love in such a sort
The thing he means to kill more excellently.
- Diomedes. We sympathize: Jove, let AEneas live,
2225
If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
A thousand complete courses of the sun!
But, in mine emulous honour, let him die,
With every joint a wound, and that to-morrow!
- Aeneas. We know each other well.
2230
- Diomedes. We do; and long to know each other worse.
- Paris. This is the most despiteful gentle greeting,
The noblest hateful love, that e'er I heard of.
What business, lord, so early?
- Aeneas. I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.
2235
- Paris. His purpose meets you: 'twas to bring this Greek
To Calchas' house, and there to render him,
For the enfreed Antenor, the fair Cressid:
Let's have your company, or, if you please,
Haste there before us: I constantly do think—
2240 Or rather, call my thought a certain knowledge—
My brother Troilus lodges there to-night:
Rouse him and give him note of our approach.
With the whole quality wherefore: I fear
We shall be much unwelcome.
2245
- Aeneas. That I assure you:
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece
Than Cressid borne from Troy.
- Paris. There is no help;
The bitter disposition of the time
2250 Will have it so. On, lord; we'll follow you.
- Aeneas. Good morrow, all.
[Exit with Servant]
- Paris. And tell me, noble Diomed, faith, tell me true,
Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship,
2255 Who, in your thoughts, merits fair Helen best,
Myself or Menelaus?
- Diomedes. Both alike:
He merits well to have her, that doth seek her,
Not making any scruple of her soilure,
2260 With such a hell of pain and world of charge,
And you as well to keep her, that defend her,
Not palating the taste of her dishonour,
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends:
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
2265 The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece;
You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins
Are pleased to breed out your inheritors:
Both merits poised, each weighs nor less nor more;
But he as he, the heavier for a whore.
2270
- Paris. You are too bitter to your countrywoman.
- Diomedes. She's bitter to her country: hear me, Paris:
For every false drop in her bawdy veins
A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
2275 A Trojan hath been slain: since she could speak,
She hath not given so many good words breath
As for her Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death.
- Paris. Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy:
2280 But we in silence hold this virtue well,
We'll but commend what we intend to sell.
Here lies our way.
[Exeunt]
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