Trojan War, year seven: Priam’s son Troilus falls in love with Cressida, whose father Calchas has defected to the Achaeans.  Cressida’s uncle, Pandarus, assists Troilus in his wooing efforts, convincing Cressida of the prince’s greatness despite her (non-strenuous) objections. [I.i, I.ii]  Switching to the Greeks’ camp, Agamemnon is wondering what’s wrong with his army; Ulysses (that is, Odysseus) declaims that their soldiers are taking a poor example from Achilles, who refuses to fight and instead spends all his time sitting in his tent with his comrade (lover) Patroclus. Hector, via Aeneas,  challenges the “greatest” Greek to one-on-one combat.  Nestor suggests Achilles, but Ulysses argues to have Ajax fight the Trojan in Achilles’ place, hoping that this will hurt Achilles’ delicate pride and return him to the frontlines. [I.iii]

For exposition’s sake, Achilles and Ajax—servants Patroclus and Thersites in tow— run into each other and exchange barbs and macho postures.  [II.i]  Meanwhile in Ilium, an argument erupts among Priam’s brood: should they just give Helen back to Menelaus, or continue the increasingly costly war?  Hector feebly champions backing out, “supported” by Cassandra’s doom-filled prophetic interruptions, but Troilus rallies for the war’s continuance and, with Paris’ help especially, wins the quarrel.  [II.ii]  The Greek commanders, outside Achilles’ tent, tell Ajax that since Achilles is not ceasing his noncompliance, he’s their pony for taking Hector down… despite Nestor’s aside mockery of the dimwitted warrior. [II.iii]

In Troy, Pandarus encounters Helen and Paris, and they have a lovely conversation, basically just displaying the pleasantness of the Trojan lifestyle. [III.i]  Pandarus then meets with Trolius and Cressida, they “wed,” or at least make vows to each other, and then go into Cressida’s house to consummate the pact.  [III.ii]   Calchas, meeting with Agamemnon, Ulysses, and the other top Greeks, suggests the trade of a prisoner (Antenor) for Cressida, and they agree.  Achilles falls right into Ulysses’ plan, becoming wounded over the honor accorded Ajax, and arranges for a pacific feast with Hector in order to survey the enemy.  [III.iii]

Antenor is returned to Troy by Diomedes, who exchanges barbs with Paris over Helen while Aeneas is sent to fetch Cressida. [IV.i]  Pandarus, Troilus, and Cressida learn of the swap only when Aeneas arrives and abruptly reveals the scheme; Cressida refuses to be shipped off. [IV.ii]  Paris phrases the deal as a command to his brother [IV.iii], and the lustfully triumphant Diomedes leads Cressida away from Ilium and a very, very bitter Troilus. [IV.iv]   Cressida arrives with Diomedes and a Trojan contingent, Ajax and Hector fight to a draw, and Achilles and Hector exchange insults over dinner.  Ulysses agrees to bring Troilus by Calchas’ tent, and the prince of Troy laments his fate further.  [IV.v]

The Trojans, save Troilus, depart, and Troilus, Ulysses, and Thersites pursue the roguish Diomedes towards Calchas and Cressida. [V.i]  Cressida sells out, basically, and Troilus, watching, descends quite a ways into madness, swearing to cleave Diomedes’ head. [V.ii]  The next morning, Andromache, Cassandra, and Priam warn Hector agains fighting, but once again Troilus plays the hawk and the inevitability of battle overshadows a decietful love letter from Cressida. [V.iii]  Diomedes and Troilus duel while Thersites provides comment, and a passing Hector spares Thersites’ “knavish” life. [V.iv]  Diomedes takes Troilus’ horse, and sends it to Cressida as proof of his victory.  Agamemnon, Nestor, and Ulysses provide a picture of the Greeks in disarray, revealing that Patroclus has been slain by Hector and Ajax has lost a friend (not Thersites) to Troilus’ sword.  The appropriate Achaeans set out for vengeance and honor. [V.v]  Troilus fights Diomedes and Ajax at once; Hector and Achilles meet, draw arms, and hold off for proper readiness. [V.vi]  Achilles rouses his Myrmidons, and Margarelon (another of Priam’s sons) almost fights the slippery Thersites. [V.vii]  Achilles then comes upon a disarmed Hector and ignominiously cuts him down, gloating and tying him to the back of his horse for a proper corpse dragging. [V.viii]  The Greeks celebrate the death of the mightiest Trojan [V.ix] and Troilus must bear the bad news to his comrades, pausing along the way to rebuke Pandarus one last time.  [V.x]

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