William Shakespeare: The History of Troilus and Cressida

ACT II.
SCENE 3. The Grecian camp. Before the tent of ACHILLES (continued)

PATROCLUS.
Thersites, my lord.

ACHILLES.
Where, where? O, where? Art thou come? Why, my cheese, my
digestion, why hast thou not served thyself in to my table so
many meals? Come, what's Agamemnon?

THERSITES.
Thy commander, Achilles. Then tell me, Patroclus, what's
Achilles?

PATROCLUS.
Thy lord, Thersites. Then tell me, I pray thee, what's
Thersites?

THERSITES.
Thy knower, Patroclus. Then tell me, Patroclus, what art
thou?

PATROCLUS.
Thou must tell that knowest.

ACHILLES.
O, tell, tell,

THERSITES.
I'll decline the whole question. Agamemnon commands
Achilles; Achilles is my lord; I am Patroclus' knower; and
Patroclus is a fool.

PATROCLUS.
You rascal!

THERSITES.
Peace, fool! I have not done.

ACHILLES.
He is a privileg'd man. Proceed, Thersites.

THERSITES.
Agamemnon is a fool; Achilles is a fool; Thersites is a
fool; and, as aforesaid, Patroclus is a fool.

ACHILLES.
Derive this; come.

THERSITES.
Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achilles; Achilles is a
fool to be commanded of Agamemnon; Thersites is a fool to serve
such a fool; and this Patroclus is a fool positive.

PATROCLUS.
Why am I a fool?

THERSITES.
Make that demand of the Creator. It suffices me thou
art. Look you, who comes here?

ACHILLES.
Come, Patroclus, I'll speak with nobody. Come in with me,
Thersites.

[Exit.]

THERSITES.
Here is such patchery, such juggling, and such knavery.
All the argument is a whore and a cuckold-a good quarrel to draw
emulous factions and bleed to death upon. Now the dry serpigo on
the subject, and war and lechery confound all! Exit

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