Original: Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I
Modern: No one fears the Greeks less than I do

Original: As far as toucheth my particular,
Modern: When it comes to my personal safety,

Original: Yet, dread Priam,
Modern: But, mighty King Priam,

Original: There is no lady of more softer bowels,
Modern: There is no woman with a more tender heart,

Original: More spongy to suck in the sense of fear,
Modern: More ready to absorb feelings of fear,

Original: More ready to cry out ‘Who knows what follows?’
Modern: More quick to ask ‘Who knows what will happen next?’

Original: Than Hector is: the wound of peace is surety,
Modern: Than Hector is: the danger to peace is overconfidence,

Original: Surety secure; but modest doubt is call’d
Modern: Feeling too secure; but reasonable doubt is called

Original: The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches
Modern: The guiding light of wise people, the probe that examines

Original: To the bottom of the worst. Let Helen go:
Modern: Down to the worst possible outcome. Let Helen go:

Original: Since the first sword was drawn about this question,
Modern: Since we first went to war over this issue,

Original: Every tithe soul, ‘mongst many thousand dismes,
Modern: Every single soul out of many thousands lost,

Original: Hath been as dear as Helen; I mean, of ours:
Modern: Has been as valuable as Helen; I mean, of our people:

Original: If we have lost so many tenths of ours,
Modern: If we have lost so many portions of our people,

Original: To guard a thing not ours nor worth to us,
Modern: To protect something that isn’t ours and isn’t worth it to us,

Original: Had it our name, the value of one ten,
Modern: Even if it belonged to us, not worth a tenth of what we’ve lost,

Original: What merit’s in that reason which denies
Modern: What sense is there in any argument that refuses

Original: The yielding of her up?
Modern: To give her back?

In Act 2, Scene 2 of “Troilus and Cressida,” Priam convenes a council with his sons and advisors to debate whether Helen should be returned to the Greeks, thereby ending the war. Hector opens the discussion by arguing that Helen is not worth the cost of Trojan lives lost in her defense, citing the Greek proposal to end hostilities if she is surrendered. Troilus vehemently opposes this position, accusing Hector of cowardice and arguing that honor demands they keep Helen since she was taken as a prize. He contends that they cannot place a value on her worth simply because the price of keeping her has proven high, comparing this to a merchant who cannot back out of a voyage simply because it becomes dangerous.

The debate intensifies as Helenus supports Hector’s practical stance, while Troilus continues to argue for maintaining their commitment to keeping Helen, asserting that her value is not diminished by the cost of defending that choice. Paris joins Troilus in arguing for keeping Helen, stating that Priam himself approved the original mission to take her and that surrendering her now would be dishonorable. Cassandra enters in a prophetic frenzy, warning that Troy will burn if Helen is not returned, but her warnings are dismissed by Troilus as mad ravings. Hector ultimately concedes to continue the war despite his earlier reasoning, stating that Helen should be kept because his honor and that of other Trojans is now tied to the decision, though he maintains his view that she is not worth what Troy has sacrificed for her.

Troilus and Cressida is set during the Trojan War and follows two interconnected storylines. The first centers on the tragic love affair between Troilus, a young Trojan prince, and Cressida, daughter of the Trojan priest Calchas who has defected to the Greeks. With the help of Cressida’s uncle Pandarus, the lovers are brought together and consummate their relationship, pledging eternal fidelity to one another.

Meanwhile, the Greek camp is plagued by dissension and a breakdown in military hierarchy. The war has dragged on for seven years with little progress. Agamemnon and Nestor struggle to maintain order while Achilles sulks in his tent, refusing to fight. The Greeks attempt to provoke Achilles by having Ajax challenge the Trojan hero Hector to single combat, but this strategy fails to rouse Achilles to action.

The two plots converge when the Greeks and Trojans arrange a prisoner exchange: Cressida is to be traded to the Greek camp in return for the Trojan commander Antenor. Despite their vows of love, Cressida is forced to leave Troy. Once in the Greek camp, she quickly becomes involved with the Greek warrior Diomedes. Troilus witnesses her apparent betrayal during a nighttime encounter and is devastated by her inconstancy.

The play concludes with renewed fighting between the two armies. Hector, despite ominous warnings, enters battle and is treacherously killed by Achilles and his Myrmidons. Troilus, consumed with grief and rage over both Cressida’s betrayal and Hector’s death, vows revenge against the Greeks. The play ends without resolution, as the war continues with both sides having suffered significant losses.