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Act 5, Scene 3 — Troy. Before Priam’s palace.
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The argument The Trojan council meets: Troilus demands that Hector fight; Cassandra warns of doom; Andromache pleads with Hector not to enter battle. Hector, moved, says he will not fight. Then Troilus shames him into going anyway.
Enter Hector and Andromache.
ANDROMACHE ≋ verse dialogue

When was my lord so much ungently temper’d

To stop his ears against admonishment?

Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.

When was my lord so much ungently temper’d To stop his ears against admonishment? Unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.

when was my lord so much ungently temper’d to stop his ears against admonishment? unarm, unarm, and do not fight today.

when was my lord so much ungently temper’d to stop his ears

HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

You train me to offend you; get you in.

By all the everlasting gods, I’ll go.

You train me to offend you; get you in. By all the everlasting gods, I’ll go.

you train me to offend you; get you in. by all the everlasting gods, i’ll go.

you train me to offend you; get you in. by all the

ANDROMACHE dialogue

My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.

My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.

my dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.

my dreams will, sure, prove ominous to the day.

HECTOR dialogue

No more, I say.

No more, I say.

no more, i say.

no more, i say.

Enter Cassandra.
CASSANDRA dialogue

Where is my brother Hector?

Where is my brother Hector?

where is my brother hector?

where is my brother hector?

ANDROMACHE ≋ verse dialogue

Here, sister, arm’d, and bloody in intent.

Consort with me in loud and dear petition,

Pursue we him on knees; for I have dreamt

Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night

Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.

Here, sister, arm’d, and bloody in intent. Consort with me in loud and dear petition, Pursue we him on knees; for I have dreamt Of bloody turbulence, and this whole night has nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.

here, sister, arm’d, and bloody in intent. consort with me in loud and dear petition, pursue we him on knees; for i've dreamt of bloody turbulence, and this whole night has nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.

here, sister, arm’d, and bloody in intent. consort with me

CASSANDRA dialogue

O, ’tis true!

O, ’tis true!

o, ’tis true!

o, ’tis true!

HECTOR dialogue

Ho! bid my trumpet sound.

Ho! bid my trumpet sound.

ho! bid my trumpet sound.

ho! bid my trumpet sound.

CASSANDRA dialogue

No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother!

No notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother!

no notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother!

no notes of sally, for the heavens, sweet brother!

HECTOR dialogue

Be gone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.

Be gone, I say. The gods have heard me swear.

be gone, i say. the gods have heard me swear.

be gone, i say. the gods have heard me swear.

CASSANDRA ≋ verse dialogue

The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows;

They are polluted off’rings, more abhorr’d

Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.

The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows; They are polluted off’rings, more abhorr’d Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.

the gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows; they are polluted off’rings, more abhorr’d than spotted livers in the sacrifice.

the gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows; they are

ANDROMACHE ≋ verse dialogue

O, be persuaded! Do not count it holy

To hurt by being just. It is as lawful,

For we would give much, to use violent thefts

And rob in the behalf of charity.

O, be persuaded! Do not count it holy To hurt by being just. It is as lawful, For we would give much, to use violent thefts And rob in the behalf of charity.

o, be persuaded! do not count it holy to hurt by being just. it is as lawful, for we would give much, to use violent thefts and rob in the behalf of charity.

o, be persuaded! do not count it holy to hurt by being

CASSANDRA ≋ verse dialogue

It is the purpose that makes strong the vow;

But vows to every purpose must not hold.

Unarm, sweet Hector.

It is the purpose that makes strong the vow; But vows to every purpose must not hold. Unarm, sweet Hector.

it is the purpose that makes strong the vow; but vows to every purpose must not hold. unarm, sweet hector.

it is the purpose that makes strong the vow; but vows to

HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

Hold you still, I say.

Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate.

Life every man holds dear; but the dear man

Holds honour far more precious dear than life.

Hold you still, I say. Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate. Life every man holds dear; but the dear man Holds honour far more precious dear than life.

hold you still, i say. mine honour keeps the weather of my fate. life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honour far more precious dear than life.

hold you still, i say. mine honour keeps the weather of my

Enter Troilus.
How now, young man! Mean’st thou to fight today?
ANDROMACHE dialogue

Cassandra, call my father to persuade.

Cassandra, call my father to persuade.

cassandra, call my father to persuade.

cassandra, call my father to persuade.

[_Exit_ Cassandra.]
HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy harness, youth;

I am today 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 today for thee and me and Troy.

No, faith, young Troilus; doff your harness, youth; I am today i’ th’vein of chivalry. Let grow your sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war. Unarm you, go; and doubt you not, brave boy, I’ll stand today for you and me and Troy.

no, faith, young troilus; doff your harness, youth; i'm today i’ th’vein of chivalry. let grow your sinews till their knots be strong, and tempt not yet the brushes of the war. unarm you, go; and doubt you not, brave boy, i’ll stand today for you and me and troy.

no, faith, young troilus; doff your harness, youth; i'm

TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you,

Which better fits a lion than a man.

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

brother, you've a vice of mercy in you, which better fits a lion than a man.

brother, you've a vice of mercy in you, which better fits a

HECTOR dialogue

What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.

What vice is that? Good Troilus, chide me for it.

what vice is that? good troilus, chide me for it.

what vice is that? good troilus, chide me for it.

TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

When many times the captive Grecian falls,

Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,

You bid them rise and live.

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

when many times the captive grecian falls, even in the fan and wind of your fair sword, you bid them rise and live.

when many times the captive grecian falls, even in the fan

HECTOR dialogue

O, ’tis fair play!

O, ’tis fair play!

o, ’tis fair play!

o, ’tis fair play!

TROILUS dialogue

Fool’s play, by heaven, Hector.

Fool’s play, by heaven, Hector.

fool’s play, by heaven, hector.

fool’s play, by heaven, hector.

HECTOR dialogue

How now? how now?

How now? how now?

how now? how now?

how now? how now?

TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

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!

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!

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!

for th’ love of all the gods, let’s leave the hermit pity

HECTOR dialogue

Fie, savage, fie!

Fie, savage, fie!

fie, savage, fie!

fie, savage, fie!

TROILUS dialogue

Hector, then ’tis wars.

Hector, then ’tis wars.

hector, then ’tis wars.

hector, then ’tis wars.

HECTOR dialogue

Troilus, I would not have you fight today.

Troilus, I would not have you fight today.

troilus, i would not have you fight today.

troilus, i would not have you fight today.

TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

Who should withhold me?

Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars

Beckoning with fiery truncheon my retire;

Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,

Their eyes o’er-galled 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.

Who should withhold me? Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars Beckoning with fiery truncheon my retire; Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees, Their eyes o’er-galled 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.

who should withhold me? not fate, obedience, nor the hand of mars beckoning with fiery truncheon my retire; not priamus and hecuba on knees, their eyes o’er-galled 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.

who should withhold me? not fate, obedience, nor the hand

Re-enter Cassandra with Priam.
CASSANDRA ≋ verse dialogue

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.

Lay hold upon him, Priam, hold him fast; He is your crutch; now if you lose your stay, you on him leaning, and all Troy on you, Fall all together.

lay hold upon him, priam, hold him fast; he is your crutch; now if you lose your stay, you on him leaning, and all troy on you, fall all together.

lay hold upon him, priam, hold him fast; he is your crutch;

PRIAM ≋ verse dialogue

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.

Come, Hector, come, go back. your wife has dreamt; your mother has had visions; Cassandra does foresee; and I myself Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt To tell you that this day is ominous. Therefore, come back.

come, hector, come, go back. your wife has dreamt; your mother has had visions; cassandra does foresee; and i myself am like a prophet suddenly enrapt to tell you that this day is ominous. therefore, come back.

come, hector, come, go back. your wife has dreamt; your

HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

Aeneas is a-field;

And I do stand engag’d to many Greeks,

Even in the faith of valour, to appear

This morning to them.

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

aeneas is a-field; and i do stand engag’d to many greeks, even in the faith of valour, to appear this morning to them.

aeneas is a-field; and i do stand engag’d to many greeks,

PRIAM dialogue

Ay, but thou shalt not go.

Ay, but you shall not go.

ay, but you shall not go.

ay, but you shall not go.

HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

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.

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.

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.

i must not break my faith. you know me dutiful; therefore,

CASSANDRA dialogue

O Priam, yield not to him!

O Priam, yield not to him!

o priam, yield not to him!

o priam, yield not to him!

ANDROMACHE dialogue

Do not, dear father.

Do not, dear father.

do not, dear father.

do not, dear father.

HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

Andromache, I am offended with you.

Upon the love you bear me, get you in.

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

andromache, i'm offended with you. upon the love you bear me, get you in.

andromache, i'm offended with you. upon the love you bear

[_Exit_ Andromache.]
TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl

Makes all these bodements.

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

this foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl makes all these bodements.

this foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl makes all these

CASSANDRA ≋ verse dialogue

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!’

O, farewell, dear Hector! Look how you diest. Look how your eye turns pale. Look how your 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!’

o, farewell, dear hector! look how you diest. look how your eye turns pale. look how your 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!’

o, farewell, dear hector! look how you diest. look how your

TROILUS dialogue

Away, away!

Away, away!

away, away!

away, away!

CASSANDRA ≋ verse dialogue

Farewell! yet, soft! Hector, I take my leave.

Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive.

Farewell! yet, soft! Hector, I take my leave. you dost thyself and all our Troy deceive.

farewell! yet, soft! hector, i take my leave. you dost thyself and all our troy deceive.

farewell! yet, soft! hector, i take my leave. you dost

[_Exit_.]
HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

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.

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.

you're 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.

you're amaz’d, my liege, at her exclaim. go in, and cheer

PRIAM dialogue

Farewell. The gods with safety stand about thee!

Farewell. The gods with safety stand about you!

farewell. the gods with safety stand about you!

farewell. the gods with safety stand about you!

[_Exeunt severally Priam and Hector. Alarums._]
TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

They are at it, hark! Proud Diomed, believe,

I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.

They are at it, hark! Proud Diomed, believe, I come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.

they are at it, hark! proud diomed, believe, i come to lose my arm or win my sleeve.

they are at it, hark! proud diomed, believe, i come to lose

Enter Pandarus.
PANDARUS dialogue

Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?

Do you hear, my lord? Do you hear?

do you hear, my lord? do you hear?

do you hear, my lord? do you hear?

TROILUS dialogue

What now?

What now?

what now?

what now?

PANDARUS dialogue

Here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.

Here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.

here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.

here’s a letter come from yond poor girl.

TROILUS dialogue

Let me read.

Let me read.

let me read.

let me read.

PANDARUS dialogue

A whoreson tisick, a whoreson rascally tisick, so troubles me, and the

foolish fortune of this girl, and what one thing, what another, that I

shall leave you one o’ these days; and I have a rheum in mine eyes too,

and such an ache in my bones that unless a man were curs’d I cannot

tell what to think on’t. What says she there?

A whoreson tisick, a whoreson rascally tisick, so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of this girl, and what one thing, what another, that I shall leave you one o’ these days; and I have a rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ache in my bones that unless a man were curs’d I cannot tell what to think on’t. What says she there?

a whoreson tisick, a whoreson rascally tisick, so troubles me, and the foolish fortune of this girl, and what one thing, what another, that i shall leave you one o’ these days; and i've a rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ache in my bones that unless a man were curs’d i cannot tell what to think on’t. what says she there?

a whoreson tisick, a whoreson rascally tisick, so troubles

TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart;

Th’effect doth operate another way.

Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart; Th’effect does operate another way.

words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart; th’effect does operate another way.

words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart;

[_Tearing the letter_.]
Go, wind, to wind, there turn and change together.
My love with words and errors still she feeds,
But edifies another with her deeds.
[_Exeunt severally_.]

The Reckoning

The machinery of fate grinds forward. Every woman in Troy warns Hector not to fight — his wife, his sister, his intuition — and he agrees. Then his younger brother shames him with a single appeal to honor, and Hector walks to his death. It's not destiny, it's pride and peer pressure.

If this happened today…

A man's family begs him not to take a dangerous job. He decides to stay home. His younger brother calls him a coward on social media. By evening, he's applied for the job. By week's end, he's dead.

Continue to 5.4 →