Friend, you—pray you, a word. Do you not follow the young Lord Paris?
Friend, you—pray you, a word. Do you not follow the young Lord Paris?
friend, you—pray you, a word. do you not follow the young lord paris?
friend, you—pray you, a word. do you not follow the young
Ay, sir, when he goes before me.
Ay, sir, when he goes before me.
ay, sir, when he goes before me.
ay, sir, when he goes before me.
You depend upon him, I mean?
You depend upon him, I mean?
you depend upon him, i mean?
you depend upon him, i mean?
Sir, I do depend upon the Lord.
Sir, I do depend upon the Lord.
sir, i do depend upon the lord.
sir, i do depend upon the lord.
You depend upon a notable gentleman; I must needs praise him.
You depend upon a notable gentleman; I must needs praise him.
you depend upon a notable gentleman; i must needs praise him.
you depend upon a notable gentleman; i must needs praise
The Lord be praised!
The Lord be praised!
the lord be praised!
the lord be praised!
You know me, do you not?
You know me, do you not?
you know me, do you not?
you know me, do you not?
Faith, sir, superficially.
Faith, sir, superficially.
faith, sir, superficially.
faith, sir, superficially.
Friend, know me better: I am the Lord Pandarus.
Friend, know me better: I am the Lord Pandarus.
friend, know me better: i'm the lord pandarus.
friend, know me better: i'm the lord pandarus.
I hope I shall know your honour better.
I hope I shall know your honour better.
i hope i shall know your honour better.
i hope i shall know your honour better.
I do desire it.
I do desire it.
i do desire it.
i do desire it.
You are in the state of grace?
You are in the state of grace?
you're in the state of grace?
you're in the state of grace?
Grace? Not so, friend; honour and lordship are my titles. What music is
this?
Grace? Not so, friend; honour and lordship are my titles. What music is this?
grace? not so, friend; honour and lordship are my titles. what music is this?
grace? not so, friend; honour and lordship are my titles.
I do but partly know, sir; it is music in parts.
I do but partly know, sir; it is music in parts.
i do but partly know, sir; it is music in parts.
i do but partly know, sir; it is music in parts.
Know you the musicians?
Know you the musicians?
know you the musicians?
know you the musicians?
Wholly, sir.
Wholly, sir.
wholly, sir.
wholly, sir.
Who play they to?
Who play they to?
who play they to?
who play they to?
To the hearers, sir.
To the hearers, sir.
to the hearers, sir.
to the hearers, sir.
At whose pleasure, friend?
At whose pleasure, friend?
at whose pleasure, friend?
at whose pleasure, friend?
At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
at mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
at mine, sir, and theirs that love music.
Command, I mean, friend.
Command, I mean, friend.
command, i mean, friend.
command, i mean, friend.
Who shall I command, sir?
Who shall I command, sir?
who shall i command, sir?
who shall i command, sir?
Friend, we understand not one another: I am too courtly, and thou art
too cunning. At whose request do these men play?
Friend, we understand not one another: I am too courtly, and you art too cunning. At whose request do these men play?
friend, we understand not one another: i'm too courtly, and you art too cunning. at whose request do these men play?
friend, we understand not one another: i'm too courtly, and
That’s to’t, indeed, sir. Marry, sir, at the request of Paris my lord,
who is there in person; with him the mortal Venus, the heart-blood of
beauty, love’s invisible soul—
That’s to’t, indeed, sir. Marry, sir, at the request of Paris my lord, who is there in person; with him the mortal Venus, the heart-blood of beauty, love’s invisible soul—
that’s to’t, indeed, sir. marry, sir, at the request of paris my lord, who is there in person; with him the mortal venus, the heart-blood of beauty, love’s invisible soul—
that’s to’t, indeed, sir. marry, sir, at the request of
Who, my cousin, Cressida?
Who, my cousin, Cressida?
who, my cousin, cressida?
who, my cousin, cressida?
No, sir, Helen. Could not you find out that by her attributes?
No, sir, Helen. Could not you find out that by her attributes?
no, sir, helen. could not you find out that by her attributes?
no, sir, helen. could not you find out that by her
It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not seen the Lady Cressida. I
come to speak with Paris from the Prince Troilus; I will make a
complimental assault upon him, for my business seethes.
It should seem, fellow, that you hast not seen the Lady Cressida. I come to speak with Paris from the Prince Troilus; I will make a complimental assault upon him, for my business seethes.
it should seem, fellow, that you hast not seen the lady cressida. i come to speak with paris from the prince troilus; i will make a complimental assault upon him, for my business seethes.
it should seem, fellow, that you hast not seen the lady
Sodden business! There’s a stew’d phrase indeed!
Sodden business! There’s a stew’d phrase indeed!
sodden business! there’s a stew’d phrase indeed!
sodden business! there’s a stew’d phrase indeed!
Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! Fair desires, in
all fair measure, fairly guide them—especially to you, fair queen! Fair
thoughts be your fair pillow.
Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! Fair desires, in all fair measure, fairly guide them—especially to you, fair queen! Fair thoughts be your fair pillow.
fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! fair desires, in all fair measure, fairly guide them—especially to you, fair queen! fair thoughts be your fair pillow.
fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! fair
Helen speaks in short, playful assertions — she's charming, superficial, and completely unaware of (or unbothered by) her function as the war's justification. Watch for how little she actually says about anything that matters.
Dear lord, you are full of fair words.
Dear lord, you are full of fair words.
dear lord, you're full of fair words.
dear lord, you're full of fair words.
You speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. Fair prince, here is good
broken music.
You speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. Fair prince, here is good broken music.
you speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. fair prince, here is good broken music.
you speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. fair prince,
Helen of Troy is the ostensible cause of the greatest war in antiquity, the most beautiful woman in the world, the face that launched a thousand ships. In Shakespeare's play she appears in exactly one scene, says very little, makes a bawdy joke, asks for a song, and leaves. This is brilliant and deliberate. Shakespeare gives us Helen as the war sees her: a pretty, charming, unserious woman whose beauty is real but whose significance is entirely constructed by others. Every 'worth' of Helen is assigned to her — by Paris, by Pandarus, by Troilus's rhetoric in 2-2. The real Helen, insofar as we see her, is just a woman enjoying an afternoon. The gap between her and the war fought in her name is the play's cruelest joke.
You have broke it, cousin; and by my life, you shall make it whole
again; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance.
You have broke it, cousin; and by my life, you shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance.
you've broke it, cousin; and by my life, you shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance.
you've broke it, cousin; and by my life, you shall make it
He is full of harmony.
He is full of harmony.
he is full of harmony.
he is full of harmony.
Truly, lady, no.
Truly, lady, no.
truly, lady, no.
truly, lady, no.
O, sir—
O, sir—
o, sir—
o, sir—
Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.
Well said, my lord. Well, you say so in fits.
Well said, my lord. Well, you say so in fits.
well said, my lord. well, you say so in fits.
well said, my lord. well, you say so in fits.
I have business to my lord, dear queen. My lord, will you vouchsafe me
a word?
I have business to my lord, dear queen. My lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?
i've business to my lord, dear queen. my lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?
i've business to my lord, dear queen. my lord, will you
Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you sing, certainly—
Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you sing, certainly—
nay, this shall not hedge us out. we’ll hear you sing, certainly—
nay, this shall not hedge us out. we’ll hear you sing,
Well sweet queen, you are pleasant with me. But, marry, thus, my lord:
my dear lord and most esteemed friend, your brother Troilus—
Well sweet queen, you are pleasant with me. But, marry, thus, my lord: my dear lord and most esteemed friend, your brother Troilus—
well sweet queen, you're pleasant with me. but, marry, thus, my lord: my dear lord and most esteemed friend, your brother troilus—
well sweet queen, you're pleasant with me. but, marry,
My Lord Pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
My Lord Pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
my lord pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
my lord pandarus, honey-sweet lord—
Go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself most affectionately to you—
Go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself most affectionately to you—
go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself most affectionately to you—
go to, sweet queen, go to—commends himself most
You shall not bob us out of our melody. If you do, our melancholy upon
your head!
You shall not bob us out of our melody. If you do, our melancholy upon your head!
you shall not bob us out of our melody. if you do, our melancholy upon your head!
you shall not bob us out of our melody. if you do, our
Sweet queen, sweet queen; that’s a sweet queen, i’ faith.
Sweet queen, sweet queen; that’s a sweet queen, i’ faith.
sweet queen, sweet queen; that’s a sweet queen, i’ faith.
sweet queen, sweet queen; that’s a sweet queen, i’ faith.
And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
and to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
and to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence.
Nay, that shall not serve your turn; that shall it not, in truth, la.
Nay, I care not for such words; no, no.—And, my lord, he desires you
that, if the King call for him at supper, you will make his excuse.
Nay, that shall not serve your turn; that shall it not, in truth, la. Nay, I care not for such words; no, no.—And, my lord, he desires you that, if the King call for him at supper, you will make his excuse.
nay, that shall not serve your turn; that shall it not, in truth, la. nay, i care not for such words; no, no.—and, my lord, he desires you that, if the king call for him at supper, you will make his excuse.
nay, that shall not serve your turn; that shall it not, in
My Lord Pandarus!
My Lord Pandarus!
my lord pandarus!
my lord pandarus!
What says my sweet queen, my very very sweet queen?
What says my sweet queen, my very very sweet queen?
what says my sweet queen, my very very sweet queen?
what says my sweet queen, my very very sweet queen?
What exploit’s in hand? Where sups he tonight?
What exploit’s in hand? Where sups he tonight?
what exploit’s in hand? where sups he tonight?
what exploit’s in hand? where sups he tonight?
Nay, but, my lord—
Nay, but, my lord—
nay, but, my lord—
nay, but, my lord—
What says my sweet queen?—My cousin will fall out with you.
What says my sweet queen?—My cousin will fall out with you.
what says my sweet queen?—my cousin will fall out with you.
what says my sweet queen?—my cousin will fall out with you.
You must not know where he sups.
You must not know where he sups.
you must not know where he sups.
you must not know where he sups.
I’ll lay my life, with my disposer Cressida.
I’ll lay my life, with my disposer Cressida.
i’ll lay my life, with my disposer cressida.
i’ll lay my life, with my disposer cressida.
No, no, no such matter; you are wide. Come, your disposer is sick.
No, no, no such matter; you are wide. Come, your disposer is sick.
no, no, no such matter; you're wide. come, your disposer is sick.
no, no, no such matter; you're wide. come, your disposer is
Well, I’ll make’s excuse.
Well, I’ll make’s excuse.
well, i’ll make’s excuse.
well, i’ll make’s excuse.
Ay, good my lord. Why should you say Cressida?
No, your poor disposer’s sick.
Ay, good my lord. Why should you say Cressida? No, your poor disposer’s sick.
ay, good my lord. why should you say cressida? no, your poor disposer’s sick.
ay, good my lord. why should you say cressida? no, your
I spy.
I spy.
i spy.
i spy.
You spy! What do you spy?—Come, give me an instrument. Now, sweet
queen.
You spy! What do you spy?—Come, give me an instrument. Now, sweet queen.
you spy! what do you spy?—come, give me an instrument. now, sweet queen.
you spy! what do you spy?—come, give me an instrument. now,
Why, this is kindly done.
Why, this is kindly done.
why, this is kindly done.
why, this is kindly done.
My niece is horribly in love with a thing you have, sweet queen.
My niece is horribly in love with a thing you have, sweet queen.
my niece is horribly in love with a thing you've, sweet queen.
my niece is horribly in love with a thing you've, sweet
She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my Lord Paris.
She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my Lord Paris.
she shall have it, my lord, if it be not my lord paris.
she shall have it, my lord, if it be not my lord paris.
He? No, she’ll none of him; they two are twain.
He? No, she’ll none of him; they two are twain.
he? no, she’ll none of him; they two are twain.
he? no, she’ll none of him; they two are twain.
Falling in, after falling out, may make them three.
Falling in, after falling out, may make them three.
falling in, after falling out, may make them three.
falling in, after falling out, may make them three.
Come, come. I’ll hear no more of this; I’ll sing you a song now.
Come, come. I’ll hear no more of this; I’ll sing you a song now.
come, come. i’ll hear no more of this; i’ll sing you a song now.
come, come. i’ll hear no more of this; i’ll sing you a song
Pandarus's song — 'Love, love, nothing but love' — is cheerful and bawdy. The imagery is all of Cupid's arrows creating wounds that 'tickle still the sore,' lovers who 'die' (Elizabethan slang for orgasm) and yet live on. It's the play's most explicit commentary on desire: love is wounding, the wound doesn't kill but keeps hurting pleasurably, and the dying lover revives to die again. Shakespeare has his pimp character sing a song about exactly what he's doing — arranging a liaison whose pleasures will turn to wounds, whose deaths will not quite kill. The song is funny and uncomfortable in equal measure.
Ay, ay, prithee now. By my troth, sweet lord, thou hast a fine
forehead.
Ay, ay, prithee now. By my troth, sweet lord, you hast a fine forehead.
ay, ay, prithee now. by my troth, sweet lord, you hast a fine forehead.
ay, ay, prithee now. by my troth, sweet lord, you hast a
Ay, you may, you may.
Ay, you may, you may.
ay, you may, you may.
ay, you may, you may.
Let thy song be love. This love will undo us all. O Cupid, Cupid,
Cupid!
Let your song be love. This love will undo us all. O Cupid, Cupid, Cupid!
let your song be love. this love will undo us all. o cupid, cupid, cupid!
let your song be love. this love will undo us all. o cupid,
Love! Ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
Love! Ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
love! ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
love! ay, that it shall, i’ faith.
Ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love.
Ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love.
ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love.
ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love.
In good troth, it begins so.
In good troth, it begins so.
in good troth, it begins so.
in good troth, it begins so.
In love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
In love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
in love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
in love, i’ faith, to the very tip of the nose.
He eats nothing but doves, love; and that breeds hot blood, and hot
blood begets hot thoughts, and hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot
deeds is love.
He eats nothing but doves, love; and that breeds hot blood, and hot blood begets hot thoughts, and hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot deeds is love.
he eats nothing but doves, love; and that breeds hot blood, and hot blood begets hot thoughts, and hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot deeds is love.
he eats nothing but doves, love; and that breeds hot blood,
Is this the generation of love: hot blood, hot thoughts, and hot deeds?
Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers? Sweet lord, who’s
a-field today?
Is this the generation of love: hot blood, hot thoughts, and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers? Sweet lord, who’s a-field today?
is this the generation of love: hot blood, hot thoughts, and hot deeds? why, they are vipers. is love a generation of vipers? sweet lord, who’s a-field today?
is this the generation of love: hot blood, hot thoughts,
Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the gallantry of Troy. I
would fain have arm’d today, but my Nell would not have it so. How
chance my brother Troilus went not?
Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the gallantry of Troy. I would fain have arm’d today, but my Nell would not have it so. How chance my brother Troilus went not?
hector, deiphobus, helenus, antenor, and all the gallantry of troy. i would fain have arm’d today, but my nell would not have it so. how chance my brother troilus went not?
hector, deiphobus, helenus, antenor, and all the gallantry
He hangs the lip at something. You know all, Lord Pandarus.
He hangs the lip at something. You know all, Lord Pandarus.
he hangs the lip at something. you know all, lord pandarus.
he hangs the lip at something. you know all, lord pandarus.
Not I, honey-sweet queen. I long to hear how they spend today. You’ll
remember your brother’s excuse?
Not I, honey-sweet queen. I long to hear how they spend today. You’ll remember your brother’s excuse?
not i, honey-sweet queen. i long to hear how they spend today. you’ll remember your brother’s excuse?
not i, honey-sweet queen. i long to hear how they spend
To a hair.
To a hair.
to a hair.
to a hair.
Farewell, sweet queen.
Farewell, sweet queen.
farewell, sweet queen.
farewell, sweet queen.
Commend me to your niece.
Commend me to your niece.
commend me to your niece.
commend me to your niece.
I will, sweet queen.
I will, sweet queen.
i will, sweet queen.
i will, sweet queen.
They’re come from the field. Let us to Priam’s hall
To greet the warriors. Sweet Helen, I must woo you
To help unarm our Hector. His stubborn buckles,
With these your white enchanting fingers touch’d,
Shall more obey than to the edge of steel
Or force of Greekish sinews; you shall do more
Than all the island kings—disarm great Hector.
They’re come from the field. Let us to Priam’s hall To greet the warriors. Sweet Helen, I must woo you To help unarm our Hector. His stubborn buckles, With these your white enchanting fingers touch’d, Shall more obey than to the edge of steel Or force of Greekish sinews; you shall do more Than all the island kings—disarm great Hector.
they’re come from the field. let us to priam’s hall to greet the warriors. sweet helen, i must woo you to help unarm our hector. his stubborn buckles, with these your white enchanting fingers touch’d, shall more obey than to the edge of steel or force of greekish sinews; you shall do more than all the island kings—disarm great hector.
they’re come from the field. let us to priam’s hall to
’Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris;
Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty
Gives us more palm in beauty than we have,
Yea, overshines ourself.
’Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris; Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty Gives us more palm in beauty than we have, Yea, overshines ourself.
’twill make us proud to be his servant, paris; yea, what he shall receive of us in duty gives us more palm in beauty than we have, yea, overshines ourself.
’twill make us proud to be his servant, paris; yea, what he
Sweet, above thought I love thee.
Sweet, above thought I love you.
sweet, above thought i love you.
sweet, above thought i love you.
The Reckoning
This is the comic relief scene that surrounds itself in rot. Paris and Helen seem playful, carefree — but they're the reason Troy is burning. Pandarus's love song is funny and lewd. Helen's laughter is genuine. Everything is charming and hollow. The scene shows us the couple at the center of the war: not scheming, not tragic, just shallow. The whole world is dying for their afternoon.
If this happened today…
A celebrity influencer couple laze around their penthouse while their PR crisis plays out — a fire they started. Their manager drops by with a favor to ask (cover for someone tonight), they flirt and laugh and ask him to sing, and they agree to everything without really tracking what's happening. Their content is gorgeous. Their city is on fire. They'll post about it later.