Page 2837 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

CRESSIDA

Pray you, content you.

TROILUS
What offends you, lady?

CRESSIDA
Sir, mine own company.

TROILUS
You cannot shun yourself.

CRESSIDA
Let me go and try. [145]

I have a kind of self resides with you;
But an unkind self, that itself will leave
To be another’s fool. Where is my wit?
I would be gone; I speak I know not what.

TROILUS
Well know they what they speak that speak so wisely. [150]

CRESSIDA
Perchance, my lord, I showed more craft than love,

And fell so roundly to a large confession,
To angle for your thoughts; but you are wise,
Or else you love not; for to be wise and love

Exceeds man’s might − that dwells with gods above. [155]

TROILUS

O that I thought it could be in a woman −
As, if it can, I will presume in you −
To feed for aye her lamp and flames of love;
To keep her constancy in plight and youth,

Outliving beauty’s outward, with a mind [160]
That doth renew swifter than blood decays!
Or that persuasion could but thus convince me,