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Act 5, Scene 4 — The plain between Troy and the Grecian camp.
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The argument On the battlefield, the Greeks and Trojans clash. Diomedes and Ajax fight Trojans. Hector kills Patroclus's friend, driving the battle toward climax.
Alarums. Excursions. Enter Thersites.
THERSITES dialogue

Now they are clapper-clawing one another; I’ll go look on. That

dissembling abominable varlet, Diomed, has got that same scurvy doting

foolish young knave’s sleeve of Troy there in his helm. I would fain

see them meet, that that same young Trojan ass that loves the whore

there might send that Greekish whoremasterly villain with the sleeve

back to the dissembling luxurious drab of a sleeve-less errand. O’ the

other side, the policy of those crafty swearing rascals that stale old

mouse-eaten dry cheese, Nestor, and that same dog-fox, Ulysses, is not

prov’d worth a blackberry. They set me up, in policy, that mongrel cur,

Ajax, against that dog of as bad a kind, Achilles; and now is the cur,

Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles, and will not arm today; whereupon

the Grecians begin to proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill

opinion.

Now they are clapper-clawing one another; I’ll go look on. That dissembling abominable varlet, Diomed, has got that same scurvy doting foolish young knave’s sleeve of Troy there in his helm. I would fain see them meet, that that same young Trojan ass that loves the whore there might send that Greekish whoremasterly villain with the sleeve back to the dissembling luxurious drab of a sleeve-less errand. O’ the other side, the policy of those crafty swearing rascals that stale old mouse-eaten dry cheese, Nestor, and that same dog-fox, Ulysses, is not prov’d worth a blackberry. They set me up, in policy, that mongrel cur, Ajax, against that dog of as bad a kind, Achilles; and now is the cur, Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles, and will not arm today; whereupon the Grecians begin to proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill opinion.

now they are clapper-clawing one another; i’ll go look on. that dissembling abominable varlet, diomed, has got that same scurvy doting foolish young knave’s sleeve of troy there in his helm. i would fain see them meet, that that same young trojan ass that loves the whore there might send that greekish whoremasterly villain with the sleeve back to the dissembling luxurious drab of a sleeve-less errand. o’ the other side, the policy of those crafty swearing rascals that stale old mouse-eaten dry cheese, nestor, and that same dog-fox, ulysses, is not prov’d worth a blackberry. they set me up, in policy, that mongrel cur, ajax, against that dog of as bad a kind, achilles; and now is the cur, ajax prouder than the cur achilles, and will not arm today; whereupon the grecians begin to proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill opinion.

now they are clapper-clawing one another; i’ll go look on.

Enter Diomedes, Troilus following.
Soft! here comes sleeve, and t’other.
TROILUS dialogue

Fly not; for shouldst thou take the river Styx, I would swim after.

Fly not; for shouldst you take the river Styx, I would swim after.

fly not; for shouldst you take the river styx, i would swim after.

fly not; for shouldst you take the river styx, i would swim

DIOMEDES ≋ verse dialogue

Thou dost miscall retire.

I do not fly; but advantageous care

Withdrew me from the odds of multitude.

Have at thee!

you dost miscall retire. I do not fly; but advantageous care Withdrew me from the odds of multitude. Have at you!

you dost miscall retire. i do not fly; but advantageous care withdrew me from the odds of multitude. have at you!

you dost miscall retire. i do not fly; but advantageous

THERSITES ≋ verse dialogue

Hold thy whore, Grecian; now for thy whore,

Trojan! now the sleeve, now the sleeve!

Hold your whore, Grecian; now for your whore, Trojan! now the sleeve, now the sleeve!

hold your whore, grecian; now for your whore, trojan! now the sleeve, now the sleeve!

hold your whore, grecian; now for your whore, trojan! now

[_Exeunt Troilus and Diomedes fighting_.]
Enter Hector.
HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

What art thou, Greek? Art thou for Hector’s match?

Art thou of blood and honour?

What art thou, Greek? Art you for Hector’s match? Art you of blood and honour?

what art thou, greek? art you for hector’s match? art you of blood and honour?

what art thou, greek? art you for hector’s match? art you

THERSITES dialogue

No, no I am a rascal; a scurvy railing knave; a very filthy rogue.

No, no I am a rascal; a scurvy railing knave; a very filthy rogue.

no, no i'm a rascal; a scurvy railing knave; a very filthy rogue.

no, no i'm a rascal; a scurvy railing knave; a very filthy

HECTOR dialogue

I do believe thee. Live.

I do believe you. Live.

i do believe you. live.

i do believe you. live.

[_Exit_.]
THERSITES dialogue

God-a-mercy, that thou wilt believe me; but a plague break thy neck for

frighting me! What’s become of the wenching rogues? I think they have

swallowed one another. I would laugh at that miracle. Yet, in a sort,

lechery eats itself. I’ll seek them.

God-a-mercy, that you will believe me; but a plague break your neck for frighting me! What’s become of the wenching rogues? I think they have swallowed one another. I would laugh at that miracle. Yet, in a sort, lechery eats itself. I’ll seek them.

god-a-mercy, that you will believe me; but a plague break your neck for frighting me! what’s become of the wenching rogues? i think they have swallowed one another. i would laugh at that miracle. yet, in a sort, lechery eats itself. i’ll seek them.

god-a-mercy, that you will believe me; but a plague break

[_Exit_.]

The Reckoning

War is now real: not argument or policy, but bodies falling. The scene is brief but brutal — it's the prelude to Achilles's vengeance. The body count rises, and with it, the stakes of the final confrontation.

If this happened today…

Two armies march toward each other. Soldiers start falling. One side loses someone important. The general orders the charge.

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