Troilus and Cressida, Act III, Scene 2

Troilus and Cressida, Act III, Scene 2

TROILUS:

Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?

CRESSIDA:

Hard to seem won, but I was won, my lord,

With the first glance that ever — pardon me,

If I confess much you will play the tyrant.

I love you now, but till now not so much

But I might master it. In faith, I lie.

My thoughts were like unbridled children, grown

Too headstrong for their mother. See, we fools!

Why have I blabbed? Who shall be true to us,

When we are so unsecret to ourselves?

But though I loved you well I wooed you not.

And yet, good faith, I wished myself a man,

Or that we women had men's privilege

Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue,

For in this rapture I shall surely speak

The thing I shall repent. See, see, your silence,

Cunning in dumbness, in my weakness draws

My soul of counsel from me. Stop my mouth.

TROILUS:

And shall, albeit sweet music issues thence.

He kisses her.