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Act 1, Prologue
Troilus and Cressida Translation Table of Contents
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.”
Act 1, Prologue
The Prologue sets the scene in the middle of the Trojan War.
Act 1, Scene 1
Troilus explains to Pandarus why he isn't fighting. They discuss Cressida.
Act 1, Scene 2
Pandarus and Cressida watch the Trojan army return from battle: he praises Troilus and she wittily puts him down.
Act 1, Scene 3
Agamemnon addresses the frustrated Greek leaders. Aeneas arrives with a challenge and Ulysses develops a plan.
Act 2, Scene 1
Ajax fights with his fool, Thersites, until Achilles and Patroclus interrupt. The challenge is then revealed to the men.
Act 2, Scene 2
The Trojans consider returning Helen to the Greeks.
Act 2, Scene 3
Achilles is refusing to fight, and the Greek generals try to stir him up to go to war.
Act 3, Scene 1
Pandarus asks Paris to cover for Troilus, so that he can meet Cressida privately. Helen persuades Pandarus to sing.
Act 3, Scene 2
Pandarus brings Troilus to Cressida, and the two confess their love for each other.
Act 3, Scene 3
Cressida's father asks the Greeks to have her taken from Troy. The Greeks persuade Achilles to fight.
Act 4, Scene 1
Diomedes and his prisoner Antenor meet the Trojans to enact the prisoner exchange.
Act 4, Scene 2
After spending the night together, Troilus and Cressida learn that she must leave Troy.
Act 4, Scene 3
Troilus promises to carry out the prisoner exchange.
Act 4, Scene 4
Before she departs, Troilus and Cressida promise to be faithful to each other, Diomedes takes a fancy to Cressida.
Act 4, Scene 5
Cressida arrives at the Greek camp. Ajax and Hector duel without bloodshed. Hector is invited to the Greek camp.
Act 5, Scene 1
Thersites and Patroclus fight. Achilles decides not to fight Hector. Thersites follows Diomedes to Calchas's tent.
Act 5, Scene 2
Troilus sees Cressida becoming Diomedes's mistress. Diomedes plans to goad Troilus on the battlefield.
Act 5, Scene 3
The women of Troy, having seen bad omens, try to convince the men not to fight.
Act 5, Scene 4
The battle begins. Diomedes and Troilus meet.
Act 5, Scene 5
Diomedes captures Troilus's horse. The Greeks are losing, but are spurred to fight by the death of their friends.
Act 5, Scene 6
Achilles finds Hector, but cannot defeat him. Hector allows him to retreat and pursues a well-dressed knight.
Act 5, Scene 7
Achilles plans to dishonorably ambush Hector. Margarelon tries to fight Thersites.
Act 5, Scene 8
Hector rests and disarms but is ambushed by Achilles and his soldiers. Hector is killed.
Act 5, Scene 9
The Greeks hear that Hector is dead. Agamemnon predicts that the war will end.
Act 5, Scene 10
The Trojans hear the Hector is dead, and they despair. Troilus threatens bloody revenge. Pandarus gives an epilogue.
About the Translator: Tom Hill
Tom Hill lives in his native London where he has just finished studying for an MA in Shakespeare Studies at King's College London and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. He has worked in education both in the UK and in Asia. His favorite Shakespeare play is The Merchant of Venice.
