Original: You are for dreams and slumbers, brother priest;
Modern: You’re all about dreams and sleeping, brother priest;

Original: You fur your gloves with reason. Here are your reasons:
Modern: You pad your arguments with logic. Here’s your reasoning:

Original: You know an enemy intends you harm;
Modern: You know an enemy plans to hurt you;

Original: You know a sword employ’d is perilous,
Modern: You know a sword being used is dangerous,

Original: And reason flies the object of all harm:
Modern: And logic tells you to run away from anything harmful:

Original: Who marvels then, when Helenus beholds
Modern: Who’s surprised then, when Helenus sees

Original: A Grecian and his sword, if he do set
Modern: A Greek soldier with his sword, if he uses

Original: The very wings of reason to his heels
Modern: Logic itself as wings on his feet

Original: And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove,
Modern: And runs away like the god Mercury fleeing from an angry Jupiter,

Original: Or like a star disorb’d? Nay, if we talk of reason,
Modern: Or like a star knocked out of its orbit? No, if we follow reason,

Original: Let’s shut our gates and sleep: manhood and honour
Modern: Let’s just close our gates and go to sleep: bravery and honor

Original: Should have hare-hearts, would they but fat their thoughts
Modern: Would become cowardly as rabbits, if they fed their minds

Original: With this cramm’d reason: reason and respect
Modern: With this overstuffed logic: reason and caution

Original: Make livers pale and lustihood deject.
Modern: Make men cowardly and drain away their courage.

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.