If I be false or swerve a hair from truth, 186 When time is old ⟨and⟩ hath forgot itself, 187 When water drops have worn the stones of Troy 188 And blind oblivion swallowed cities up, 189 And mighty states characterless are grated 190 To dusty nothing, yet let memory, 191 From false to false, among false maids in love, 192 Upbraid my falsehood!
CRESSIDA
Prophet may you be! 185
If I be false or swerve a hair from truth, 186
When time is old ⟨and⟩ hath forgot itself, 187
When water drops have worn the stones of Troy 188
And blind oblivion swallowed cities up, 189
And mighty states characterless are grated 190
To dusty nothing, yet let memory, 191
From false to false, among false maids in love, 192
Upbraid my falsehood! When they’ve said “as false 193
As air, as water, wind or sandy earth, 194
As fox to lamb, or wolf to heifer’s calf, 195
Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son,” 196
Yea, let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood, 197
“As false as Cressid.”
