Original: Thou art, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,
Modern: You are, great lord, my father’s sister’s son,

Original: A cousin-german to great Priam’s seed;
Modern: A first cousin to the children of great Priam;

Original: The obligation of our blood forbids
Modern: Our family relationship forbids

Original: A gory emulation ‘twixt us twain:
Modern: A bloody competition between the two of us:

Original: Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so
Modern: If your blood were mixed Greek and Trojan in such a way

Original: That thou couldst say ‘This hand is Grecian all,
Modern: That you could say ‘This hand is completely Greek,

Original: And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
Modern: And this one is Trojan; the muscles of this leg

Original: All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother’s blood
Modern: Are all Greek, and this one all Trojan; my mother’s blood

Original: Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Modern: Flows on the right cheek, and this left one

Original: Bounds in my father’s;’ by Jove multipotent,
Modern: Pulses with my father’s;’ by all-powerful Jove,

Original: Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member
Modern: There wouldn’t be a single Greek part of your body

Original: Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Modern: Where my sword had not made its mark

Original: Of our rank feud: but the just gods gainsay
Modern: In our bitter feud: but the fair gods forbid

Original: That any drop thou borrow’dst from thy mother,
Modern: That any drop of blood you inherited from your mother,

Original: My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Modern: My sacred aunt, should by my deadly sword

Original: Be drain’d! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:
Modern: Be spilled! Let me embrace you, Ajax:

Original: By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
Modern: By Zeus who makes the thunder, you have strong arms;

Original: Hector would have them fall upon him thus:
Modern: Hector would want them to embrace him like this:

Original: Cousin, all honour to thee!
Modern: Cousin, all honor to you!

In Act IV, Scene 5 of “Troilus and Cressida,” the exchange of Cressida for the Trojan prisoner Antenor takes place in the Greek camp. Diomedes arrives with Cressida, and the Greek commanders—including Agamemnon, Nestor, Ulysses, Menelaus, and Ajax—greet her with a series of kisses, which she returns with varying degrees of wit and flirtation. Ulysses observes her behavior critically, remarking privately that she is a wanton woman whose eyes and spirits reveal her loose nature. The scene establishes Cressida’s new position among the Greeks and foreshadows her eventual betrayal of Troilus.

The focus then shifts to the upcoming single combat between Hector and Ajax. Hector enters the Greek camp and, after exchanging courteous greetings with the Greek leaders, prepares to fight Ajax. However, when the combat begins, it is quickly interrupted when Hector recognizes that Ajax is his cousin through his aunt Hesione. They embrace, and the duel is called off. Hector is then invited to feast with the Greeks, and he accepts graciously, requesting that Troilus be allowed to join them as well. Achilles and Hector exchange challenging words, with Achilles vowing that he will kill Hector the next day in battle, while Hector calmly replies that he will do his best to prevent it. The scene concludes with the Trojans and Greeks proceeding to the feast together.

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.