Troilus and Cressida Act 5, Scene 10 Summary

Read the full text of Troilus and Cressida Act 5 Scene 10 with a side-by-side translation HERE.


  • As Troilus tells Aeneas, Hector really is dead. Not only that, but a horse is dragging his body around the "shameful field."
  • Troilus prays to the gods and asks for them to "smile at Troy."
  • He says that when they go back home and tell Hector's family about his death, Priam will cry himself to "stone" and all of Troy will be devastated.
  • Troilus vows to get revenge on Achilles.
  • When Pandarus shows up, Troilus smacks him around and tells him to scram. He calls him a "broker, lackey" (pimp and a slave) and says Pandarus has to live with himself for what he's done.
  • Alone on stage, Pandarus delivers a bitter speech to the audience.
  • He complains about his diseased body, and how poorly he thinks he's been treated. Then he gives a shout-out to all the members of the audience involved in the sex industry.
  • Brain snack: playhouses were in the same neighborhoods as brothels so it's highly likely that Pandarus's speech didn't fall on deaf ears.
  • He tells us that he's dying and says he hopes there aren't any prostitutes in the audience that boo and "hiss" at him or the play.
  • Finally, he says that when he dies (which is going to be soon), he's going to leave us all his sexually transmitted diseases in his will.
  • The End.
  • Yeah. We know you want more. Head over to "What's Up With the Ending" for the dirt on Pandarus's speech.