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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 dialogue

Troilus, thou coward Troilus, show thy head.

Troilus, you coward Troilus, show your head.

troilus, you coward troilus, show your head.

troilus, you coward troilus, show your head.

Enter Diomedes.
DIOMEDES dialogue

Troilus, I say! Where’s Troilus?

Troilus, I say! Where’s Troilus?

troilus, i say! where’s troilus?

troilus, i say! where’s troilus?

AJAX dialogue

What wouldst thou?

What wouldst thou?

what wouldst thou?

what wouldst thou?

DIOMEDES dialogue

I would correct him.

I would correct him.

i would correct him.

i would correct him.

AJAX ≋ verse dialogue

Were I the general, thou shouldst have my office

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

Were I the general, you shouldst have my office Ere that correction. Troilus, I say! What, Troilus!

were i the general, you shouldst have my office ere that correction. troilus, i say! what, troilus!

were i the general, you shouldst have my office ere that

Enter Troilus.
TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

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

And pay thy life thou owest me for my horse.

O traitor Diomed! Turn your false face, you traitor, And pay your life you owest me for my horse.

o traitor diomed! turn your false face, you traitor, and pay your life you owest me for my horse.

o traitor diomed! turn your false face, you traitor, and

DIOMEDES dialogue

Ha! art thou there?

Ha! art you there?

ha! art you there?

ha! art you there?

AJAX dialogue

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

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

i’ll fight with him alone. stand, diomed.

i’ll fight with him alone. stand, diomed.

DIOMEDES dialogue

He is my prize. I will not look upon.

He is my prize. I will not look upon.

he is my prize. i will not look upon.

he is my prize. i will not look upon.

TROILUS dialogue

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

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

come, both, you cogging greeks; have at you both!

come, both, you cogging greeks; have at you both!

[_Exeunt fighting_.]
Enter Hector.
HECTOR dialogue

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

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

yea, troilus? o, well fought, my youngest brother!

yea, troilus? o, well fought, my youngest brother!

Enter Achilles.
ACHILLES dialogue

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

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

now do i see you. ha! have at you, hector!

now do i see you. ha! have at you, hector!

HECTOR dialogue

Pause, if thou wilt.

Pause, if you will.

pause, if you will.

pause, if you will.

ACHILLES ≋ verse dialogue

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 do disdain your courtesy, proud Trojan. Be happy that my arms are out of use; My rest and negligence befriend you now, But you anon shall hear of me again; Till when, go seek your fortune.

i do disdain your courtesy, proud trojan. be happy that my arms are out of use; my rest and negligence befriend you now, but you anon shall hear of me again; till when, go seek your fortune.

i do disdain your courtesy, proud trojan. be happy that my

[_Exit_.]
HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

Fare thee well.

I would have been much more a fresher man,

Had I expected thee.

Fare you well. I would have been much more a fresher man, Had I expected you.

fare you well. i would have been much more a fresher man, had i expected you.

fare you well. i would have been much more a fresher man,

Re-enter Troilus.
How now, my brother!
TROILUS ≋ verse dialogue

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 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 you end my life today.

ajax has 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 you end my life today.

ajax has ta’en aeneas. shall it be? no, by the flame of

[_Exit_.]
Enter one in armour.
HECTOR ≋ verse dialogue

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 art a goodly mark. No? will you not? I like your armour well; I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all But I’ll be master of it. will you not, beast, abide? Why then, fly on; I’ll hunt you for your hide.

stand, stand, you greek; you art a goodly mark. no? will you not? i like your armour well; i’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all but i’ll be master of it. will you not, beast, abide? why then, fly on; i’ll hunt you for your hide.

stand, stand, you greek; you art a goodly mark. no? will

[_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.

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