Original: The providence that’s in a watchful state
Modern: The divine foresight that exists in a vigilant government

Original: Knows almost every grain of Plutus’ gold,
Modern: Knows about almost every bit of wealth in existence,

Original: Finds bottom in the uncomprehensive deeps,
Modern: Discovers the truth even in the deepest, most incomprehensible mysteries,

Original: Keeps place with thought and almost, like the gods,
Modern: Keeps pace with people’s very thoughts and almost, like the gods themselves,

Original: Does thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles.
Modern: Can reveal thoughts before they’re even spoken or fully formed.

Original: There is a mystery—with whom relation
Modern: There is a secret knowledge—which no ordinary communication

Original: Durst never meddle—in the soul of state;
Modern: Would ever dare to interfere with—at the heart of government;

Original: Which hath an operation more divine
Modern: Which has a power more godlike

Original: Than breath or pen can give expressure to:
Modern: Than words spoken or written could ever express:

Original: All the commerce that you have had with Troy
Modern: All the secret dealings that you’ve had with Troy

Original: As perfectly is ours as yours, my lord;
Modern: Are known as completely to us as they are to you, my lord;

Original: And better would it fit Achilles much
Modern: And it would suit Achilles’s reputation much better

Original: To throw down Hector than Polyxena:
Modern: To defeat Hector in battle than to romance Polyxena:

Original: But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home,
Modern: But it must upset young Pyrrhus back home,

Original: When fame shall in our islands sound her trump,
Modern: When rumors spread throughout our Greek islands,

Original: And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing,
Modern: And all the Greek girls shall dance around singing,

Original: ‘Great Hector’s sister did Achilles win,
Modern: ‘Achilles won over great Hector’s sister,

Original: But our great Ajax bravely beat down him.’
Modern: But our great Ajax bravely defeated Hector himself.’

Original: Farewell, my lord: I as your lover speak;
Modern: Goodbye, my lord: I speak to you as your loyal friend;

Original: The fool slides o’er the ice that you should break.
Modern: The fool is rushing carelessly over thin ice that you should be the one to break through.

In Act III, Scene iii of Troilus and Cressida, the Greek leaders, guided by Ulysses, devise a scheme to restore Achilles to active combat. Calchas, the Trojan priest who has defected to the Greeks, petitions the Greek commanders to exchange the Trojan prisoner Antenor for his daughter Cressida, who remains in Troy. The generals agree to the exchange, which sets the plot in motion for Cressida’s removal from Troilus. The scene then shifts focus to Achilles, who has been withdrawing from battle and lounging in his tent with his companion Patroclus. The Greek leaders, led by Agamemnon, deliberately walk past Achilles without acknowledging him, a slight orchestrated by Ulysses to wound Achilles’ pride and provoke him back into fighting.

After the other Greek leaders have passed by, Ulysses lingers and speaks with Achilles, delivering his famous speech on the nature of reputation and the passage of time, arguing that a man’s worth is only recognized through continued action and cannot rest on past glory alone. Ulysses also hints that Ajax is being celebrated in Achilles’ place, stoking Achilles’ competitive jealousy. He further informs Achilles that the Greeks are aware of his secret love for Polyxena, the Trojan princess, which has been keeping him from the battlefield. Stung by these revelations and eager to reclaim his standing, Achilles resolves to re-enter the war, sending Patroclus to summon Thersites and to invite the Trojan leaders to his tent.

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.