Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare
Act 5 - Scene 8
Another part of the plains.
Hector : Most putrefied core, so fair without,
[p]Thy goodly armour thus hath
cost thy life.
[p]Now is my day's work done; I'll take good
breath:
[p]Rest, sword; thou hast thy fill of blood and
death.
[p][Puts off his helmet and hangs his shield]
[p]behind him]
Achilles : Look, Hector, how the sun begins to set;
[p]How ugly night comes
breathing at his heels:
[p]Even with the vail and darking of the
sun,
[p]To close the day up, Hector's life is done.
Hector : I am unarm'd; forego this vantage, Greek.
Achilles : Strike, fellows, strike; this is the man I seek.
[p][HECTOR
falls]
[p]So, Ilion, fall thou next! now, Troy, sink down!
[p]Here
lies thy heart, thy sinews, and thy bone.
[p]On, Myrmidons, and cry
you all amain,
[p]'Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.'
[p][A
retreat sounded]
[p]Hark! a retire upon our Grecian part.
Myrmidons : The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord.
Achilles : The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth,
[p]And, stickler-like,
the armies separates.
[p]My half-supp'd sword, that frankly would have
fed,
[p]Pleased with this dainty bait, thus goes to bed.
[p][Sheathes
his sword]
[p]Come, tie his body to my horse's tail;
[p]Along the
field I will the Trojan trail.
Previous: Act 5 - Scene 7
Next: Act 5 - Scene 9



