Original: I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft
Modern: I have often seen you, brave Trojan warrior,

Original: Labouring for destiny make cruel way
Modern: fighting hard to fulfill your fate, cutting a brutal path

Original: Through ranks of Greekish youth, and I have seen thee,
Modern: through lines of young Greek soldiers, and I have watched you,

Original: As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
Modern: as fierce as the hero Perseus, driving your Trojan horse forward,

Original: Despising many forfeits and subduements,
Modern: ignoring many chances to capture enemies who had surrendered,

Original: When thou hast hung thy advanced sword i’ the air,
Modern: when you held your raised sword in the air,

Original: Not letting it decline on the declined,
Modern: refusing to bring it down on those who had already fallen,

Original: That I have said to some my standers by
Modern: so that I said to those standing near me,

Original: ‘Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!’
Modern: “Look, it’s like a god over there, deciding who lives and who dies!”

Original: And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath,
Modern: And I have seen you stop to catch your breath,

Original: When that a ring of Greeks have hemm’d thee in,
Modern: when a circle of Greeks had surrounded you,

Original: Like an Olympian wrestling: this have I seen;
Modern: like a god in a wrestling match—I’ve witnessed all this;

Original: But this thy countenance, still lock’d in steel,
Modern: but this face of yours, still locked inside your helmet,

Original: I never saw till now. I knew thy grandsire,
Modern: I’ve never seen until now. I knew your grandfather,

Original: And once fought with him: he was a soldier good;
Modern: and once fought alongside him—he was a good soldier;

Original: But, by great Mars, the captain of us all,
Modern: but I swear by Mars, the god of war who commands us all,

Original: Never saw like thee. Let an old man embrace thee;
Modern: I’ve never seen anyone like you. Let an old man hug you;

Original: And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.
Modern: and, noble warrior, welcome to our camp.

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.