QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Agamemnon
CONTEXT:
AGAMEMNON
Hear you, Patroclus:
We are too well acquainted with these answers:
But his evasion, winged thus swift with scorn,
Cannot outfly our apprehensions.
Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
Why we ascribe it to him; yet all his virtues,
Not virtuously on his own part beheld,
Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss,
Yea, like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish,
Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him,
We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin,
If you do say we think him over-proud
And under-honest, in self-assumption greater
Than in the note of judgement; and worthier than himself
Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,
Disguise the holy strength of their command,
And underwrite in an observing kind
His humorous predominance; yea, watch
His pettish lunes, his ebbs, his flows, as if
The passage and whole carriage of this action
Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add,
That if he overhold his price so much,
We’ll none of him; but let him, like an engine
Not portable, lie under this report:
‘Bring action hither, this cannot go to war:
A stirring dwarf we do allowance give
Before a sleeping giant.’ Tell him so.

DUTCH:
Een dwerg, die goed zich roert, is meer ons waard
Dan eenig reus, die slaapt; ga, meld hem dit.

MORE:
Apprehensions=Comprehension, grasp
Attribute=Reputation
Unwholesome=Unhealthy
Like=Likely
Self-assumption=Self-regard, arrogance
Note=Observation
Tend=Attend, wait on
Savage=Uncivilised
Strangeness=Aloofness
Underwrite=Subscribe to
Observing=Compliant
Predominance=Superior power, influence
Humorous=Capricious
Pettish=Petulant
Lunes=Fits of madness (relating to the changing moons)
Action=Military campaign
Overhold=Overestimate
Stirring=Active
Compleat:
Apprehension=Bevatting, begryping; jaloezy, achterdogt
Attribute=Eigenschap
Unwholesom=Ongezond
Assumption=Aanmaatiging, aanneeming
To note=Merken, aanteykenen, aanmerken
To attend=Opwachten, verzellen
Savage=Woest, wild, wreed, ruuw
Strangeness=Vreemdheid
To underwrite=Onderschryven
Observant=Gedienstig, opmerkend, waarneemend, eerbiedig
Predominancy=Overheersching
Humoursom (humerous)=Eigenzinnig, koppig, styfhoofdig, eenzinnig
Pettish=Kribbig, korzel
Action=Een daad, handeling, rechtzaak, gevecht
Stirring=Beweeging, verroering

Topics: reputation, merit, pride, honesty, vanity