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Act 5, Scene 6 — Another part of the plain.
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The argument Hector kills Thersites's Greek armor-bearer, then hunts for richly armored Grecian soldiers to plunder. Meanwhile, Achilles finds Patroclus's body and vows vengeance. Troilus and Hector cross paths; Hector, exhausted, removes his armor.
Enter Ajax.
AJAX [repeating his taunt]

Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head.

Troilus, you coward Troilus, show yourself.

Troilus! Come on, show your face, you coward!

troilus come out show yourself now

Enter Diomedes.
DIOMEDES [impatient searching]

Troilus, I say! Where’s Troilus?

Troilus, I say! Where is Troilus?

Where is Troilus? I'm calling him!

where's troilus?

AJAX [brusque, territorial question]

What wouldst thou?

What do you want?

What do you want?

what?

DIOMEDES [grim intent to punish him]

I would correct him.

I want to punish him.

I want to beat him up.

gonna destroy him

AJAX ≋ verse [jealous rivalry over the kill]

Were I the general, thou shouldst have my office

Ere that correction. Troilus, I say! What, Troilus!

If I were the general, you would have my position before I'd let you punish him. Troilus, I say! Where are you, Troilus!

If I were general, you'd get my job before you ever got to fight him. Troilus! Come here! Where are you?

i got dibs troulis show up

Enter Troilus.
TROILUS ≋ verse [furious vengeance at his betrayer]

O traitor Diomed! Turn thy false face, thou traitor,

And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse.

Oh traitor Diomed! Turn around, you traitor, and repay the debt you owe me with your life for my horse.

You traitor Diomed! Face me! You owe me your life for stealing my horse!

diomed you traitor stole my horse pay with your life

DIOMEDES [startled, readying to fight]

Ha! art thou there?

Ha! Are you there?

Ah! There you are!

there you are

AJAX [possessively claiming the fight]

I’ll fight with him alone. Stand, Diomed.

I'll fight him alone. Stay back, Diomed.

He's mine. Back off, Diomed.

i got this one stay out of it

DIOMEDES [stubborn possessiveness]

He is my prize. I will not look upon.

He is my prize. I will not leave.

He's mine. I'm not backing away.

he's mine i'm staying

TROILUS [reckless defiance against both]

Come, both, you cogging Greeks; have at you both!

Come on, both you cheating Greeks. I'll take you both!

Both of you! Come on! Let's fight!

both of you let's go

[_Exeunt fighting_.]
Enter Hector.
HECTOR [proud, brotherly admiration]

Yea, Troilus? O, well fought, my youngest brother!

Really, Troilus? Oh, well fought, my youngest brother!

Good, Troilus! Well done, my brother!

nice work brother

Enter Achilles.
ACHILLES [eager, aggressive challenge]

Now do I see thee. Ha! have at thee, Hector!

Now I see you. Ha! Take this, Hector!

There you are! Here I come, Hector!

found you hector let's fight

HECTOR [calm, confident restraint]

Pause, if thou wilt.

Wait, if you wish.

Hold on a moment, if you want.

wait

ACHILLES ≋ verse [disdainful, ominous threat]

I do disdain thy courtesy, proud Trojan.

Be happy that my arms are out of use;

My rest and negligence befriend thee now,

But thou anon shalt hear of me again;

Till when, go seek thy fortune.

I scorn your courtesy, proud Trojan. You should be glad my arms are tired right now. My rest and carelessness are helping you now, but you will hear from me again. Until then, go seek your fortune.

I won't accept that courtesy, Trojan. You're lucky my arms are tired right now, or you'd be dead. But this is just a temporary break. I'll be back for you. For now, consider yourself fortunate.

i refuse your courtesy i'm tired right now but i'll be back don't count on this luck later

[_Exit_.]
HECTOR ≋ verse [wry, unbothered courtesy]

Fare thee well.

I would have been much more a fresher man,

Had I expected thee.

Farewell. I would have been a much fresher and stronger man if I had expected you.

Goodbye. I wish I'd known you were coming—I'd be in better shape.

goodbye wish i was fresher for you

Re-enter Troilus.
HECTOR [alert, concerned greeting]

How now, my brother!

How are you doing, my brother!

How are you holding up, brother?

you ok bro?

TROILUS ≋ verse [desperate resolve to rescue him]

Ajax hath ta’en Aeneas. Shall it be?

No, by the flame of yonder glorious heaven,

He shall not carry him; I’ll be ta’en too,

Or bring him off. Fate, hear me what I say:

I reck not though thou end my life today.

Ajax has taken Aeneas prisoner. Will I allow it? No, by the bright heavens, he won't carry him away. I'll either be taken too or rescue him. Fate, listen to what I say: I don't care if you end my life today.

Ajax has captured Aeneas! I won't let him take him. I'll either rescue Aeneas or die trying. Fate, I'm ready to die if that's what it takes.

ajax captured aeneas i'm getting him back or dying trying i don't care

[_Exit_.]
Enter one in armour.
HECTOR ≋ verse [covetous battle-lust for the armor]

Stand, stand, thou Greek; thou art a goodly mark.

No? wilt thou not? I like thy armour well;

I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all

But I’ll be master of it. Wilt thou not, beast, abide?

Why then, fly on; I’ll hunt thee for thy hide.

Stand, stand, you Greek! You make a good target. No? Won't you stand? I admire your armor well. I'll crush it and unlock all its rivets, and I'll make it mine. Won't you stand, you beast? Then fly on. I'll hunt you for your skin.

Stop right there, Greek! Stand and fight like a man. I like your armor—I'm going to take it. Won't you face me? Fine then, run. I'll hunt you down and take it anyway.

stand and fight i want your armor run if you want i'll hunt you

[_Exeunt_.]

The Reckoning

Hector, victorious but tired, becomes distracted by plunder — the warrior's ultimate sin. He pursues a Greek in golden armor, stripping off his own protection in the process. Meanwhile, Achilles has found his reason for vengeance. The scene is a triptych of moral failure: Thersites witnesses brutality, Hector forgets he's mortal, Achilles forgets everything but rage.

If this happened today…

A general wins a battle. Distracted by spoils, he removes his armor. An avenger finds his murdered lover and picks up a sword. The machinery of doom turns.

Continue to 5.7 →