'st thou my mercy, villain!--Take thy wish.--

_Cres._ Hold, hold your hand, my lord, and hear me speak.
[TROILUS _turns back; in which time_ DIOMEDE _rises,
Trojans and Greeks enter, and rank themselves on
both sides of their Captains._

_Troil._ Did I not hear the voice of perjured Cressida?
Com'st thou to give the last stab to my heart?
As if the proofs of all thy former falsehood
Were not enough convincing, com'st thou now
To beg my rival's life?
Whom, oh, if any spark of truth remained,
Thou couldst not thus, even to my face, prefer.

_Cres._ What shall I say!--that you suspect me false,
Has struck me dumb! but let him live, my Troilus;
By all our loves, by all our past endearments,
I do adjure thee, spare him.

_Troil._ Hell and death!

_Cres._ If ever I had power to bend your mind,
Believe me still your faithful Cressida;
And though my innocence appear like guilt,
Because I make his forfeit life my suit,
'Tis but for this, that my return to you
Would be cut off for ever by his death;
My father, treated like a slave, and scorned;
Myself in hated bonds a captive held.

_Troil._ Could I believe thee, could I think thee true,
In triumph would I bear thee back to Troy,
Though Greece could rally all her shattered troops,
And stand embattled to oppose my way.
But, oh, thou syren, I will stop my ears
To thy enchanting notes; the winds shall bear
Upon their wings thy words, more light than they.

_Cres._ Alas! I but dissembled love to him.
If ever he had any proof, beyond
What modesty might give--

_Diom._ No! witness this.-- [_The Ring shewn._
There, take her, Trojan, thou deserv'st her best;
You good, kind-natured, well-believing fools,
Are treasures to a woman.
I was a jealous, hard, vexatious lover,
And doubted even this pledge,--till full possession;
But she was honourable to her word,
And I have no just reason to complain.

_Cres._ O unexampled, frontless impudence!

_Troil._ Hell, show me such another tortured wretch as Troilus!

_Diom._ Nay, grieve not; I resign her freely up;
I'm satisfied; and dare engage for Cressida,
That, if you have a promise of her person,
She shall be willing to come out of debt.

_Cres._ [_Kneeling._]
My only lord, by all those holy vows,
Which, if there be a Power above, are binding,
Or, if there be a hell below, are fearful,
May every imprecation, which your rage
Can wish on me,