Troilus and Cressida: Act 5, Scene 9
tragedy
Another part of the plains.
Scene Summary
Skip to text ↓Hector, having stripped the armour from a dead Greek and set down his own weapons to rest briefly, is found by Achilles and the Myrmidons. He tells them he is unarmed. Achilles orders the kill. The Myrmidons murder Hector while he is defenceless. It is the play's defining act of dishonour.
Enter AGAMEMNON, AJAX, MENELAUS, NESTOR, DIOMEDES, and others, marching. Shouts within
AGAMEMNON
Hark! hark! what shout is that?
NESTOR
Peace, drums!
Within
Achilles! Achilles! Hector's slain! Achilles.
DIOMEDES
The bruit is, Hector's slain, and by Achilles.
AJAX
If it be so, yet bragless let it be;
Great Hector was a man as good as he.
AGAMEMNON
March patiently along: let one be sent
To pray Achilles see us at our tent.
If in his death the gods have us befriended,
Great Troy is ours, and our sharp wars are ended.
Exeunt, marching