Page 2838 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

That my integrity and truth to you
Might be affronted with the match and weight
Of such a winnowed purity in love − [165]
How were I then uplifted! But alas,

I am as true as truth’s simplicity,
And simpler than the infancy of truth.

CRESSIDA
In that I’ll war with you.

TROILUS
O virtuous fight,
When right with right wars who shall be most right! [170]

True swains in love shall in the world to come
Approve their truths by Troilus; when their rhymes,
Full of protest, of oath, and big compare,
Want similes, truth tired with iteration −

As true as steel, as plantage to the moon, [175]
As sun to day, as turtle to her mate,
As iron to adamant, as earth to th’centre −
Yet, after all comparisons of truth,

As truth’s authentic author to be cited,
‘As true as Troilus’ shall crown up the verse, [180]
And sanctify the numbers.

CRESSIDA
Prophet may you be!
If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth,

When time is old and hath forgot itself,
When waterdrops have worn the stones of Troy,
And blind oblivion swallowed cities up, [185]

And mighty states characterless are grated
To dusty nothing; yet let memory,
From false to false, among false maids in love,
Upbraid my falsehood! When they’ve said ‘As false
As air, as water, wind, or sandy earth, [190]

As fox to lamb, as wolf to heifer’s calf,
Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son’ −