Original: In Troy, there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
Modern: Our story takes place in Troy. From the islands of Greece

Original: The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,
Modern: The proud princes, their noble blood stirred up with anger,

Original: Have to the port of Athens sent their ships,
Modern: Have sent their ships to the harbor of Athens,

Original: Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Modern: Loaded with the servants and weapons

Original: Of cruel war: sixty and nine, that wore
Modern: Of brutal war: sixty-nine princes who wore

Original: Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay
Modern: Their royal crowns, sailed from the Athenian harbor

Original: Put forth toward Phrygia; and their vow is made
Modern: Heading toward Troy; and they have sworn an oath

Original: To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
Modern: To destroy Troy, within whose strong walls

Original: The ravish’d Helen, Menelaus’ queen,
Modern: The stolen Helen, Queen of Menelaus,

Original: With wanton Paris sleeps; and that’s the quarrel.
Modern: Sleeps with lustful Paris; and that’s what the fight is about.

Original: To Tenedos they come;
Modern: They arrive at the island of Tenedos;

Original: And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Modern: And the heavy ships unload there

Original: Their warlike fraughtage: now on Dardan plains
Modern: Their cargo of war: now on the plains of Troy

Original: The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Modern: The fresh and still uninjured Greeks set up

Original: Their brave pavilions: Priam’s six-gated city,
Modern: Their fine military tents: King Priam’s city with six gates,

Original: Dardan, and Tymbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
Modern: Dardan, and Tymbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,

Original: And Antenorides, with massy staples
Modern: And Antenorides, with heavy iron bars

Original: And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
Modern: And matching and completing locks,

Original: Sperr up the sons of Troy.
Modern: Lock up the men of Troy inside.

Original: Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits,
Modern: Now anticipation, exciting nervous hearts,

Original: On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Modern: On both sides, Trojan and Greek,

Original: Sets all on hazard: and hither am I come
Modern: Puts everything at risk: and here I have come

Original: A prologue arm’d, but not in confidence
Modern: As an armed narrator, but not with confidence

Original: Of author’s pen or actor’s voice, but suited
Modern: In the writer’s words or actor’s skill, but dressed

Original: In like conditions as our argument,
Modern: In the same warlike manner as our story,

Original: To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Modern: To tell you, noble audience, that our play

Original: Leaps o’er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
Modern: Jumps over the boasting and early stages of these battles,

Original: Beginning in the middle, starting thence away
Modern: Starting in the middle, and moving from there

Original: To what may be digested in a play.
Modern: To what can be fit into the length of a play.

Original: Like or find fault; do as your pleasures are:
Modern: Enjoy it or criticize it; do whatever pleases you:

Original: Now good or bad, ‘tis but the chance of war.
Modern: Whether it’s good or bad, it’s just the luck of battle.

The Prologue of “Troilus and Cressida” is delivered by a single speaker who appears in full armor, establishing the wartime setting of the play. The Prologue announces that the action takes place in Troy during the Trojan War, specifically beginning in the middle of the conflict rather than at its start. He explains that the Greek forces, having already sailed from their ports and assembled at Tenedos, have landed on the Phrygian plains with their intention to ransack Troy in order to rescue Helen, who was taken from her Greek husband Menelaus by the Trojan prince Paris.

The Prologue describes the current state of the war, noting that the princes of Greece and Troy are positioned on opposite sides, with the Greeks having set their pavilions and tents in the field. He clarifies that the play will not begin with the initial causes of the war or the departure of the Greek fleet, but rather jumps into the middle of the action. The Prologue concludes by requesting the audience’s patience and fair judgment, acknowledging his own limitations as a presenter while promising that the play itself will reveal the full scope of the story through its performance.

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.