Nestor

Family: Greeks · Role: elder prince · First appears: Troilus and Cressida · Act I, Scene III

Life events

Nestor vows to answer Hector’s challenge on behalf of Greek honor if necessary.(Troilus and Cressida · Act I, Scene III · 📍 Troy)
- With: Hector
- “But if there be not In our Grecian host A noble man that hath one spark of fire To answer for his love, tell him from me I’ll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver, And in my vambrace put this wither’d brawns, And meeting him, will tell him that my lady Was fairer than his grandam, and as chaste As may be in the world.”
Ulysses proposes sending Ajax against Hector instead of Achilles, and Nestor approves the strategy.(Troilus and Cressida · Act I, Scene III)
- With: Ulysses Ajax Hector Achilles
- “No, make a lott’ry; And, by device, let blockish Ajax draw The sort to fight with Hector. Among ourselves Give him allowance for the better man; For that will physic the great Myrmidon, Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall His crest, that prouder than blue Iris bends. If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off, We’ll dress him up in voices; if he fail, Yet go we under our opinion still That we have better men.”
The Greek commanders resolve to assemble their forces and stand fast at Troy.(Troilus and Cressida · Act II, Scene III · 📍 Troy)
- With: Agamemnon Ulysses Diomedes Ajax
- “Tomorrow We must with all our main of power stand fast”

allies with Ulysses “Now, Ulysses, I begin to relish thy advice; / And I will give a taste thereof forthwith / To Agamemnon. Go we to him straight.”
allies with Agamemnon “With due observance of thy godlike seat, / Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply / Thy latest words.”
liege: Agamemnon “With due observance of thy godlike seat, / Great Agamemnon, Nestor shall apply / Thy latest words.”

with Achilles (Nestor is described as exercising controlling influence over Achilles.) “There’s Ulysses and old Nestor—whose wit was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes—yoke you like draught oxen, and make you plough up the wars.”
with Ajax (Nestor is described as exercising controlling influence over Ajax.) “There’s Ulysses and old Nestor—whose wit was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes—yoke you like draught oxen, and make you plough up the wars.”

younger kin: Ajax “AJAX. Shall I call you father? NESTOR. Ay, my good son.”
with Ajax (Nestor and Ajax use father-and-son forms of address.) “AJAX. Shall I call you father? NESTOR. Ay, my good son.”

Extracted from the original text of Shakespeare's Tragedies. Made with Rho MD.