Text	Circles	Dramatis Personae	Synopsis	All Definitions

× Print Troilus and Cressida Select what you want to print Current play Modern text Current act Folio text Current scene Definitions   Key line show Original text show Modern text show Definitions show Key line show Hyperlinks  print Modern text Original text Modern text with Definitions Original text with Definitions Modern text with Key line Hyperlinks Act 0 > Scene 0 Act 1 > Scene 1 Act 1 > Scene 2 Act 1 > Scene 3 Act 2 > Scene 1 Act 2 > Scene 2 Act 2 > Scene 3 Act 3 > Scene 1 Act 3 > Scene 2 Act 3 > Scene 3 Act 4 > Scene 1 Act 4 > Scene 2 Act 4 > Scene 3 Act 4 > Scene 4 Act 4 > Scene 5 Act 5 > Scene 1 Act 5 > Scene 2 Act 5 > Scene 3 Act 5 > Scene 4 Act 5 > Scene 5 Act 5 > Scene 6 Act 5 > Scene 7 Act 5 > Scene 8 Act 5 > Scene 9 Act 5 > Scene 10 All text Prologue Act I scene IIIIII Act II scene IIIIII Act III scene IIIIII Act IV scene IIIIIIIVV Act V scene IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXX First folio Modern text Definitions Key line Enter Aiax, and Thersites. Enter Ajax and Thersites   TC II.i.1 Aia. AJAX   Thersites? Thersites –   TC II.i.1 Ther. THERSITES   Agamemnon, how if he had Biles (ful) all Agamemnon – how if he had boils, full, all   TC II.i.2 ouer generally. over, generally?   TC II.i.3 Aia. AJAX   Thersites? Thersites –   TC II.i.4 Ther. THERSITES   And those Byles did runne, say so; did not And those boils did run? – say so – did not   TC II.i.5 the General run, were not that a botchy core? the general run then? Were not that a botchy core? botchy (adj.) enveloped in sores [botches], tumour-covered TC II.i.6 Aia. AJAX   Dogge. Dog!   TC II.i.7 Ther. THERSITES   Then there would come some matter from Then there would come some matter from matter (n.) pus, discharge, fluid [from a wound] TC II.i.8 him: I see none now. him; I see none now.   TC II.i.9 Aia. AJAX   Thou Bitch-Wolfes-Sonne, canst yu not heare? Feele Thou bitch-wolf's son, canst thou not hear? Feel,   TC II.i.10 then. then.   TC II.i.11 Strikes him. He strikes him   TC II.i.12 Ther. THERSITES   The plague of Greece vpon thee thou The plague of Greece upon thee, thou   TC II.i.12 Mungrel beefe-witted Lord. mongrel beef-witted lord! beef-witted (adj.) old form: beefe-witted beef-brained, thick-headed, brainless TC II.i.13 Aia. AJAX   Speake then you whinid'st leauen speake, I will Speak, then, thou vinewed'st leaven, speak; I will leaven (n.) old form: leauen [baking] fermenting element, infusing mixture, adulteration TC II.i.14 vinewed (adj.) mouldy, rotten, decaying beate thee into handsomnesse. beat thee into handsomeness! handsomeness (n.) old form: handsomnesse graciousness, courtesy, decent behaviour TC II.i.15 Ther. THERSITES   I shal sooner rayle thee into wit and holinesse: I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness; wit (n.) intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability TC II.i.16 rail (v.) old form: rayle rant, rave, be abusive [about] but I thinke thy Horse wil sooner con an Oration, then but I think thy horse will sooner con an oration than con (v.) learn by heart, commit to memory TC II.i.17 yu learn a prayer without booke: Thou canst strike, canst thou learn a prayer without book. Thou canst strike, book, without old form: booke off by heart, by rote TC II.i.18 thou? A red Murren o'th thy Iades trickes. canst thou? – A red murrain o' thy jade's tricks! murrain (n.) old form: Murren plague, pestilence TC II.i.19 jade (n.) old form: Iades worn-out horse, hack, worthless nag Aia. AJAX   Toads stoole, learne me the Proclamation. Toadstool, learn me the proclamation. learn (v.) old form: learne inform of, tell about TC II.i.20 Ther. THERSITES   Doest thou thinke I haue no sence thou Dost thou think I have no sense, thou sense (n.) old form: sence ability to respond to sensation, physical perception TC II.i.21 strik'st me thus? strikest me thus?   TC II.i.22 Aia. AJAX   The Proclamation. The proclamation!   TC II.i.23 Ther. THERSITES   Thou art proclaim'd a foole, I thinke. Thou art proclaimed a fool, I think.   TC II.i.24 Aia. AJAX   Do not Porpentine, do not; my fingers itch. Do not, porpentine, do not; my fingers itch. porpentine (n.) porcupine TC II.i.25 Ther. THERSITES   I would thou didst itch from head to foot, I would thou didst itch from head to foot,   TC II.i.26 and / I had the scratching of thee, I would make thee the and I had the scratching of thee; I would make thee the   TC II.i.27 lothsom'st scab in Greece. loathsomest scab in Greece. scab (n.) scurvy fellow, scoundrel, villain TC II.i.28 Aia. AJAX   I say the Proclamation. I say, the proclamation!   TC II.i.29 Ther. THERSITES   Thou grumblest & railest euery houre on Thou grumblest and railest every hour on   TC II.i.30 Achilles, and thou art as ful of enuy at his greatnes, as Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his greatness as   TC II.i.31 Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty. I, that thou Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty, ay, that thou Cerberus (n.) ['sairberus] three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld, originally 50-headed; charmed to sleep by Orpheus during his quest to rescue Euridice TC II.i.32 Proserpine, Proserpina (n.) daughter of the corn-goddess Ceres; Hades, king of the Underworld, abducted her and made her his queen barkst at him. bark'st at him.   TC II.i.33 Aia. AJAX   Mistresse Thersites. Mistress Thersites!   TC II.i.34 Ther. THERSITES   Thou should'st strike him. Thou shouldest strike him –   TC II.i.35 Aia. AJAX   Coblofe. Cobloaf! cobloaf (n.) old form: Coblofe small round lumpish loaf TC II.i.36 Ther. THERSITES   He would pun thee into shiuers with his fist, He would pun thee into shivers with his fist, pun (v.) pound, hammer, batter TC II.i.37 shiver (n.) old form: shiuers fragment, splinter, piece as a Sailor breakes a bisket. as a sailor breaks a biscuit.   TC II.i.38 Aia. AJAX     (beating him)   TC II.i.39.1 You horson Curre. You whoreson cur! whoreson (adj.) [abusive intensifier, serious or jocular] bastard, wretched, vile TC II.i.39 Ther. THERSITES   Do, do. Do, do. do (v.) go on, carry on TC II.i.40 Aia. AJAX   Thou stoole for a Witch. Thou stool for a witch! stool (n.) old form: stoole chamber-pot, commode TC II.i.41 Ther. THERSITES   I, do, do, thou sodden-witted Lord: thou Ay, do, do! Thou sodden-witted lord, thou sodden-witted (adj.) stew-brained, limp-minded, alcohol-crazed TC II.i.42 hast no more braine then I haue in mine elbows: An hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows; an   TC II.i.43 Asinico may tutor thee. Thou scuruy valiant Asse, thou assinico may tutor thee. Thou scurvy-valiant ass, thou scurvy-valiant (adj.) old form: scuruy valiant supremely worthless, heartily contemptible TC II.i.44 assinico, asinico, assenego (n.) [pron: asi'neekoh] little ass, donkey, dolt art heere but to thresh Troyans, and thou art bought and art here but to thrash Trojans, and thou art bought and buy and sell, past form bought and sold old form: solde betray, exploit, treat treacherously TC II.i.45 solde among those of any wit, like a Barbarian slaue. If sold among those of any wit, like a barbarian slave. If wit (n.) intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability TC II.i.46 thou vse to beat me, I wil begin at thy heele, and tel thou use to beat me, I will begin at thy heel, and tell tell (v.) old form: tel count out, number, itemize TC II.i.47 use (v.) old form: vse be accustomed, make a habit [of] what thou art by inches, thou thing of no bowels thou. what thou art by inches, thou thing of no bowels, thou! inches, by very gradually, bit by bit, by small degrees TC II.i.48 bowels (n.) feelings, sensitivity, heart Aia. AJAX   You dogge. You dog!   TC II.i.49 Ther. THERSITES   You scuruy Lord. You scurvy lord!   TC II.i.50 Aia. AJAX     (beating him)   TC II.i.51 You Curre. You cur!   TC II.i.51 Ther. THERSITES   Mars his Ideot: do rudenes, do Camell, do, Mars his idiot! Do, rudeness, do, camel; do, rudeness (n.) old form: rudenes rough manner, uncouth behaviour TC II.i.52 Mars (n.) Roman god of war do. do!   TC II.i.53 Enter Achilles, and Patroclus. Enter Achilles and Patroclus   TC II.i.54 Achil. ACHILLES   Why how now Aiax? wherefore do you this? Why, how now, Ajax! Wherefore do you this?   TC II.i.54 How now Thersites? what's the matter man? How now, Thersites, what's the matter, man?   TC II.i.55 Ther. THERSITES   You see him there, do you? You see him there, do you?   TC II.i.56 Achil. ACHILLES   I, what's the matter. Ay, what's the matter?   TC II.i.57 Ther. THERSITES   Nay looke vpon him. Nay, look upon him.   TC II.i.58 Achil. ACHILLES   So I do: what's the matter? So I do; what's the matter?   TC II.i.59 Ther. THERSITES   Nay but regard him well. Nay, but regard him well.   TC II.i.60 Achil. ACHILLES   Well, why I do so. Well, why, I do so.   TC II.i.61 Ther. THERSITES   But yet you looke not well vpon him: for But yet you look not well upon him; for,   TC II.i.62 who some euer you take him to be, he is Aiax. whomsoever you take him to be, he is Ajax.   TC II.i.63 Achil. ACHILLES   I know that foole. I know that, fool.   TC II.i.64 Ther. THERSITES   I, but that foole knowes not himselfe. Ay, but that fool knows not himself.   TC II.i.65 Aiax. AJAX   Therefore I beate thee. Therefore I beat thee.   TC II.i.66 Ther. THERSITES   Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he modicum (n.) limited quantity, tiny amount TC II.i.67 wit (n.) intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability vtters: his euasions haue eares thus long. I haue bobb'd utters! His evasions have ears thus long. I have bobbed bob (v.) old form: bobb'd punch, strike, buffet TC II.i.68 his Braine more then he has beate my bones: I will buy his brain more than he has beat my bones. I will buy   TC II.i.69 nine Sparrowes for a peny, and his Piamater is not nine sparrows for a penny, and his pia mater is not pia mater (n.) old form: Piamater [Latin] dutiful mother: membrane covering the brain; brain TC II.i.70 worth the ninth part of a Sparrow. This Lord (Achilles) worth the ninth part of a sparrow. This lord, Achilles –   TC II.i.71 Aiax who wears his wit in his belly, and his guttes in his Ajax, who wears his wit in his belly, and his guts in his   TC II.i.72 head, Ile tell you what I say of him. head – I'll tell you what I say of him.   TC II.i.73 Achil. ACHILLES   What? What?   TC II.i.74 Ther. THERSITES   I say this Aiax--- I say, this Ajax –   TC II.i.75 Ajax threatens to beat him; Achilles intervenes   TC II.i.76 Achil. ACHILLES   Nay good Aiax. Nay, good Ajax.   TC II.i.76 Ther. THERSITES   Has not so much wit. Has not so much wit –   TC II.i.77 Achil: ACHILLES   Nay, I must hold you. Nay, I must hold you.   TC II.i.78 Ther. THERSITES   As will stop the eye of Helens Needle, for As will stop the eye of Helen's needle, for   TC II.i.79 whom he comes to fight. whom he comes to fight.   TC II.i.80 Achil. ACHILLES   Peace foole. Peace, fool!   TC II.i.81 Ther. THERSITES   I would haue peace and quietnes, but the I would have peace and quietness, but the   TC II.i.82 foole will not: he there, that he, looke you there. fool will not: he there, that he – look you there.   TC II.i.83 Aiax. AJAX   O thou damn'd Curre, I shall--- O thou damned cur, I shall –   TC II.i.84 Achil. ACHILLES   Will you set your wit to a Fooles. Will you set your wit to a fool's?   TC II.i.85 Ther. THERSITES   No I warrant you, for a fooles will shame No, I warrant you, for a fool's will shame warrant (v.) assure, promise, guarantee, confirm TC II.i.86 it. it.   TC II.i.87 Pat. PATROCLUS   Good words Thersites. Good words, Thersites.   TC II.i.88 Achil. ACHILLES   What's the quarrell? What's the quarrel?   TC II.i.89 Aiax. AJAX   I bad thee vile Owle, goe learne me the tenure of the I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenor of the tenor, tenour (n.) old form: tenure substance, content, matter, drift TC II.i.90 learn (v.) old form: learne inform of, tell about Proclamation, and he rayles vpon me. proclamation, and he rails upon me.   TC II.i.91 Ther. THERSITES   I serue thee not. I serve thee not.   TC II.i.92 Aiax. AJAX   Well, go too, go too. Well, go to, go to.   TC II.i.93 Ther. THERSITES   I serue heere voluntary. I serve here voluntary.   TC II.i.94 Achil. ACHILLES   Your last seruice was sufferance, 'twas not Your last service was sufferance, 'twas not sufferance (n.) distress, suffering, hardship TC II.i.95 voluntary, no man is beaten voluntary: Aiax was heere voluntary; no man is beaten voluntary. Ajax was here   TC II.i.96 the voluntary, and you as vnder an Impresse. the voluntary, and you as under an impress. impress (n.) old form: Impresse conscription, enforced service TC II.i.97 voluntary (n.) volunteer Ther. THERSITES   E'neso, a great deale of your wit too lies in E'en so; a great deal of your wit, too, lies in even, e'en (adv.) old form: E'ne just, exactly TC II.i.98 your sinnewes, or else there be Liars. Hector shall haue a your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall have a sinew (n.) old form: sinnewes muscle TC II.i.99 great catch, if he knocke out either of your braines, he great catch if he knock out either of your brains: he   TC II.i.100 were as good cracke a fustie nut with no kernell. were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel. fusty (adj.) old form: fustie musty, mouldy, stale-smelling TC II.i.101 Achil. ACHILLES   What with me to Thersites? What, with me too, Thersites?   TC II.i.102 Ther. THERSITES   There's Vlysses, and old Nestor, whose Wit There's Ulysses and old Nestor – whose wit   TC II.i.103 was mouldy ere their Grandsires had nails on their toes, was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes   TC II.i.104 yoke you like draft-Oxen, and make you plough vp – yoke you like draught-oxen, and make you plough up   TC II.i.105 the warre. the wars.   TC II.i.106 Achil. ACHILLES   What? what? What? What?   TC II.i.107 Ther. THERSITES   Yes good sooth, to Achilles, to Aiax, to--- Yes, good sooth; to, Achilles! To, Ajax, to! sooth (n.) truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] TC II.i.108 Aiax. AJAX   I shall cut out your tongue. I shall cut out your tongue.   TC II.i.109 Ther. THERSITES   'Tis no matter, I shall speake as much as thou 'Tis no matter; I shall speak as much as thou   TC II.i.110 afterwards. afterwards.   TC II.i.111 Pat. PATROCLUS   No more words Thersites. No more words, Thersites; peace!   TC II.i.112 Ther. THERSITES   I will hold my peace when Achilles Brooch I will hold my peace when Achilles' brooch brooch (n.) jewel, ornament TC II.i.113 bids me, shall I? bids me, shall I?   TC II.i.114 Achil. ACHILLES   There's for you Patroclus. There's for you, Patroclus.   TC II.i.115 Ther. THERSITES   I will see you hang'd like Clotpoles ere I I will see you hanged like clotpolls ere I clotpoll, clotpole, clatpole (n.) blockhead, dolt, numskull TC II.i.116 come any more to your Tents; I will keepe where there is come any more to your tents; I will keep where there is keep (v.) old form: keepe lodge, live, dwell TC II.i.117 wit stirring, and leaue the faction of fooles. wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools. faction (n.) party, group, set [of people] TC II.i.118 Exit. Exit   TC II.i.118 Pat. PATROCLUS   A good riddance. A good riddance.   TC II.i.119 Achil. ACHILLES   Marry this Sir is proclaim'd through al our host, Marry, this, sir, is proclaimed through all our host: marry (int.) [exclamation] by Mary TC II.i.120 That Hector by the fift houre of the Sunne, That Hector, by the fifth hour of the sun,   TC II.i.121 Will with a Trumpet, 'twixt our Tents and Troy Will with a trumpet 'twixt our tents and Troy   TC II.i.122 To morrow morning call some Knight to Armes, Tomorrow morning call some knight to arms   TC II.i.123 That hath a stomacke, and such a one that dare That hath a stomach, and such a one that dare stomach (n.) old form: stomacke wish, inclination, desire TC II.i.124 Maintaine I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell. Maintain – I know not what: 'tis trash. Farewell.   TC II.i.125 Aiax. AJAX   Farewell? who shall answer him? Farewell. Who shall answer him? answer (v.) engage with, encounter, meet [in fight] TC II.i.126 Achil. ACHILLES   I know not, 'tis put to Lottry: otherwise I know not – 'tis put to lottery. Otherwise   TC II.i.127 He knew his man. He knew his man.   TC II.i.128 Aiax. AJAX   O meaning you, I wil go learne more of it. O, meaning you? I will go learn more of it.   TC II.i.129 Exit. Exeunt   TC II.i.129 PROLOGUE ACT I. Act I. > scene I. Act I. > scene II. Act I. > scene III. ACT II. Act II. > scene I. Act II. > scene II. Act II. > scene III. ACT III. Act III. > scene I. Act III. > scene II. Act III. > scene III. ACT IV. Act IV. > scene I. Act IV. > scene II. Act IV. > scene III. Act IV. > scene IV. Act IV. > scene V. ACT V. Act V. > scene I. Act V. > scene II. Act V. > scene III. Act V. > scene IV. Act V. > scene V. Act V. > scene VI. Act V. > scene VII. Act V. > scene VIII. Act V. > scene IX. Act V. > scene X.  Previous Act II, Scene I Next