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Act 1, Prologue
During the Trojan War, the Trojan Prince Troilus falls in love with Cressida. She is the daughter of a Trojan priest who switched sides, and now aligns with the Greeks. However, with their families on opposing sides and due to rife miscommunication, Troilus and Cressida are separated, and Cressida finds herself in the clutches of the Greek Diomedes. Meanwhile, the familiar story of the famous warriors Achilles, Hector, Ajax, and Ulysses fills in the lovers’ tragic narrative. The Shakescleare version of Troilus and Cressida includes the original play alongside a modern English translation, which will help you better understand its most important quotes, such as “To be wise and love / Exceeds man’s might.”