Thoughts in a Garden by Andrew Marvell

Mythological Allusions in Troilus and Cressida

Act I, Scene I

Tro. Peace, you ungracious clamours! peace, rude sounds!

Fools on both side! Helen must needs be fair,

When with your blood you daily paint her thus.

I cannot fight upon this argument;

It is too starved a subject for my sword.

But Pandarus-O gods! how do you plague me.

I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar;

And he's as tetchy to be woo'd to woo

As she is stubborn-chaste against all suit.

Tell me, Apollo, for thy Daphne's love,

What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we?

Her bed is India; there she lies, a pearl:

Between out Ilium and where she resides,

Let it be call'd the wild and wandering flood;

Ourself the merchant, and this sailing Pandar

Our doubtful hope, our convoy and our bark.