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, Yet, dread Priam,
Modern: When it comes to my own personal safety, but great 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 quick to absorb feelings of fear,

Original: More ready to cry out ‘Who knows what follows?’
Modern: More ready to worry aloud “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: Being too certain of security; 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 the first sword was drawn over this issue,

Original: Every tithe soul, ‘mongst many thousand dismes,
Modern: Every tenth person, among many thousands who could be counted as tenths,

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 of our own people,

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

Original: Had it our name, the value of one ten,
Modern: Even if it had our name on it, the value of even one-tenth of them,

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

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

In Act II, Scene 2 of “Troilus and Cressida,” the Trojan council convenes to debate whether Helen should be returned to the Greeks to end the war. Priam has received Nestor’s proposal offering peace in exchange for Helen’s return, along with compensation for the Trojans’ losses. Hector opens the debate by advocating for her return, arguing that she is not worth the cost in Trojan blood and that keeping her defies reason and moral law. Troilus passionately opposes this view, contending that honor demands they keep Helen since they chose to take her, and that Paris’s judgment in taking her should be respected. He argues that value is subjective and that they cannot now dismiss what they once valued enough to risk war over.

Paris supports Troilus, reminding the council that all of Troy approved the expedition to take Helen and that returning her would be shameful, especially given that she has brought glory to Troy and remains worthy of defense. Cassandra enters in a prophetic frenzy, warning that Troy will burn if Helen is not returned, but Troilus dismisses her ravings as madness. Hector then shifts his position, acknowledging that while reason and moral law favor Helen’s return, the matter concerns honor, which supersedes such considerations. Despite his earlier arguments for her return based on justice and natural law, he concludes that honor requires they continue fighting to keep Helen, thus resolving to maintain the war.

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.