Cressida’s betrayal is displayed to Troilus in Scene 2. The comedy of seduction enacted in Calchas’ tent is an episode in a War fought in consequence of a very similar incident: Troilus is not the first to be so conspicuously betrayed. Diomedes asks Calchas: ‘Where’s your daughter?.’ Calchas says that she will soon be with him. Troilus and Ulysses enter and at a distance behind them, Thersites. Troilus sees Cressida meeting Diomedes and whispering in his ear. Ulysses who remembers Cressida’s behavior, says ‘She will sing any man at first sight.’ Cressida addresses Diomedes as ‘Sweet honey Greek,’ and pleads that he ‘tempt me no more to folly.’ As Cressida attempts to play hard to get, Diomedes brushes her aside with ‘Fo, fo, come, tell a pin; you are foresworn’, and tells her that having been effectually unfaithful already, she can hardly stand upon her honor now. And so the scene goes on with Cressida giving in to Diomedes while trying to appear as though she isn’t willing. The audience actually witnesses Cressida’s fall and Troilus agonized attempts to understand what he is seeing. He grows slowly uncontrollable and gives Ulysses enough reason to worry about his mental and emotional state.

Standing in the shadows, Troilus pronounces that he would challenge him even if Diomedes was a devil and wore the sleeve on his horn. Cressida muses that the past is the past and then adds to Diomedes that she will not keep her word to him. When an exasperated Diomedes threatens to leave, Cressida gives in and asks him to come to her. After Diomedes exits, Cressida bids Troilus farewell. She says that one eye still looks at him but her other eye sees with her heart. She says she finds one fault with women - the error of their eyes directs their minds. She concludes that ‘Minds sway’d by eyes are full of turpitude.’ before she exits. Ulysses tells Troilus to contain himself as his passionate outburst would draw people to their hiding spot. Aeneas enters and tells Troilus that Hector is preparing to set off for Troy. Troilus bids farewell to Ulysses and to Cressida: ‘Farewell, revolted fair!.’

At the beginning of Scene 3, Hector’s wife Andromache who has had an ominous dream, attempts to persuade Hector not to go into battle. Hector refuses to listen to her. Cassandra enters and seconds Andromache, but to no avail. Andromache sends Cassandra to call Priam to persuade Hector. When Troilus comes by, Hector tells him to disarm himself and that he, Hector will stand for himself, Troilus and Troy. Troilus replies that Hector had the ‘vice of mercy’ in him - he often let Greeks live even when they found themselves at the wrong end of his sword. Hector thinks that is ‘fair play’ but Troilus believes it is ‘Fool’s play.’ He says that during wars, they must stop their swords from showing compassion. Hector thinks Troilus’ idea savage but the younger insists that that is the way of wars, and says that he wishes to fight for himself since he seeks vengeance and not the exercise of mercy. Hector says that he won’t let him fight on that day. Troilus says nobody can stop him. Cassandra reenters with Priam and tells him to stop Hector from going into battle as he is ‘thy crutch’ and if he is lost, then that would mean the destruction of Troy. Priam attempts to dissuade Hector who insists that he had given his word to fight many Greeks. Cassandra and Andromache tell Priam not to yield to him. Hector dismisses Andromache, and Troilus puts Cassandra down for being a ‘foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl.’ Knowing that all is lost, Cassandra presents a vivid picture of Hector’s end as she bids him farewell. Priam having failed in his mission can only hope the gods will protect Hector. Troilus says he intends to win his sleeve or lose his arm in his fight with Diomedes. Pandarus enters bearing a letter from Cressida. He asks Troilus what she has written and Troilus replies that there were mere words ‘no matter from the heart;’ He continues that Cressida’s words and deeds contradicted one another, and tears the letter.

Table of Contents | Printable Version