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Troilus and Cressida - Prologue
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Troilus and Cressida - ProloguePrologue
⌜Enter the Prologue in armor.⌝
⟨PROLOGUE
0001 In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
0002 The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,
0003 Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
0004 Fraught with the ministers and instruments
0005 5 Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
0006 Their crownets regal, from th’ Athenian bay
0007 Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
0008 To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
0009 The ravished Helen, Menelaus’ queen,
0010 10 With wanton Paris sleeps; and that’s the quarrel.
0011 To Tenedos they come,
0012 And the deep-drawing ⌜barks⌝ do there disgorge
0013 Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains
0014 The fresh and yet unbruisèd Greeks do pitch
0015 15 Their brave pavilions. Priam’s six-gated city—
0016 Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
0017 And Antenorides—with massy staples
0018 And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
0019 ⌜Spar⌝ up the sons of Troy.
0020 20 Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits
0021 On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
0022 Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
0023 A prologue armed, but not in confidence
0024 Of author’s pen or actor’s voice, but suited
0025 25 In like conditions as our argument,
0026 To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
0027 Leaps o’er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
0028 Beginning in the middle, starting thence away
0029 To what may be digested in a play.
0030 30 Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are.
0031 Now, good or bad, ’tis but the chance of war.⟩
⌜Prologue exits.⌝