Original: Sir, I propose not merely to myself
Modern: Sir, I’m not just thinking about what I personally want,

Original: The pleasures such a beauty brings with it;
Modern: The pleasures that come from possessing such a beautiful woman;

Original: But I would have the soil of her fair rape
Modern: But I want the stain of her abduction

Original: Wiped off, in honourable keeping her.
Modern: Erased by keeping her honorably as our own.

Original: What treason were it to the ransack’d queen,
Modern: What betrayal would it be to this stolen queen,

Original: Disgrace to your great worths and shame to me,
Modern: What dishonor to your noble reputations and humiliation to me,

Original: Now to deliver her possession up
Modern: If we were now to hand her back

Original: On terms of base compulsion! Can it be
Modern: Just because we’re being forced to! Is it possible

Original: That so degenerate a strain as this
Modern: That such a weak and cowardly impulse

Original: Should once set footing in your generous bosoms?
Modern: Could ever take root in your noble hearts?

Original: There’s not the meanest spirit on our party
Modern: There isn’t even the lowest-ranking soldier on our side

Original: Without a heart to dare or sword to draw
Modern: Who lacks the courage to be bold or the willingness to fight

Original: When Helen is defended, nor none so noble
Modern: When it comes to defending Helen, and no one is so high-ranking

Original: Whose life were ill bestow’d or death unfamed
Modern: That his life would be wasted or his death without glory

Original: Where Helen is the subject; then, I say,
Modern: If Helen is the cause; therefore, I’m telling you,

Original: Well may we fight for her whom, we know well,
Modern: We have every right to fight for her because, as we all know,

Original: The world’s large spaces cannot parallel.
Modern: There’s no one in the entire world who can equal 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.