Act 3, Scene I

SCENE I. Troy. Priam's palace.

Enter a Servant and PANDARUS
PANDARUS
Friend, you! pray you, a word: do not you follow
the young Lord Paris?

Servant
Ay, sir, when he goes before me.

PANDARUS
You depend upon him, I mean?

Servant
Sir, I do depend upon the lord.

PANDARUS
You depend upon a noble gentleman; I must needs
praise him.

Servant
The lord be praised!

PANDARUS
You know me, do you not?

Servant
Faith, sir, superficially.

PANDARUS
Friend, know me better; I am the Lord Pandarus.

Servant
I hope I shall know your honour better.

PANDARUS
I do desire it.

Servant
You are in the state of grace.

PANDARUS
Grace! not so, friend: honour and lordship are my titles.

Music within

What music is this?

Servant
I do but partly know, sir: it is music in parts.

PANDARUS
Know you the musicians?

Servant
Wholly, sir.

PANDARUS
Who play they to?

Servant
To the hearers, sir.

PANDARUS
At whose pleasure, friend

Servant
At mine, sir, and theirs that love music.

PANDARUS
Command, I mean, friend.

Servant
Who shall I command, sir?

PANDARUS
Friend, we understand not one another: I am too
courtly and thou art too cunning. At whose request
do these men play?

Servant
That's to 't indeed, sir: marry, sir, at the request
of Paris my lord, who's there in person; with him,
the mortal Venus, the heart-blood of beauty, love's
invisible soul,--

PANDARUS
Who, my cousin Cressida?

Servant
No, sir, Helen: could you not find out that by her
attributes?

PANDARUS
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.

Servant
Sodden business! there's a stewed phrase indeed!

Enter PARIS and HELEN, attended

PANDARUS
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!

HELEN
Dear lord, you are full of fair words.

PANDARUS
You speak your fair pleasure, sweet queen. Fair
prince, here is good broken music.

PARIS
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. Nell, he is full
of harmony.

PANDARUS
Truly, lady, no.

HELEN
O, sir,--

PANDARUS