QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 5.3
SPEAKER: Troilus
CONTEXT:
HECTOR
No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy harness, youth;
I am to-day i’ the 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 to-day for thee and me and Troy.
TROILUS
Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you,
Which better fits a lion than a man.
HECTOR
What vice is that, good Troilus? chide me for it.
TROILUS
When many times the captive Grecian falls,
Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
You bid them rise, and live.
HECTOR
O,’tis fair play.
TROILUS
Fool’s play, by heaven, Hector.

DUTCH:
Gij hebt een edelmoedigheid -gebrek,
Dat, broeder, leeuwen beter staat dan mannen.

MORE:
Doff=Take off
Harnass=Armour
Vein=Mood for
Knots=Bulges
Brush=Encounter
Lion=Supposedly didn’t attack still or surrendering prey
Captive=Wretched
Compleat:
To doff=Afligen, afdoen
Vein=Ader; styl

Topics: age/experience, mercy