Troilus and Cressida — Act 5, Scene 4: Plains between Troy and the Grecian camp.

On the battlefield, Thersites watches the fighting and mocks the whole war, sneering at Diomedes for taking Cressida’s sleeve and calling Troilus foolish for pursuing her. He also insults Nestor, Ulysses, Ajax, and Achilles, saying Greek policy has become confused and corrupt. Troilus and Diomedes then enter and immediately quarrel over Cressida, with Troilus chasing Diomedes into combat and Thersites jeering at both of them. Hector arrives and asks a Greek whether he is worthy to face him. When Thersites answers that he is only a low fellow, Hector lets him go. Left alone, Thersites reflects bitterly on lust and leaves to find the fighters.