In the first scene of Act IV, Paris sends Aeneas to accompany Diomedes to PandarusÂ’ house where Cressida would be given to him in exchange for Antenor. He tells him to rush there ahead of the rest of the party to warn Troilus who is spending the night there and to tell him about the circumstances.

Then, Paris turns to Diomedes and asks him who deserves Helen - Menelaus or himself. Diomedes unleashes a bitter speech about the worthlessness of the prize for which so many had died. The scene ends with Paris saying that though the Greeks ‘Dispraise the thing that they desire to buy’, but still practice the buyer’s art, they, the Trojans, would not fall into the seller’s role and part with Helen.

Scene 2 begins with Troilus and Cressida alone together after their night of passion, lamenting that the night had been too brief. Pandarus enters and begins teasing Cressida until there is a knock on the door. Troilus and Cressida then retire to her bedchamber. When Troilus reenters, Aeneas tells him about the exchange of Cressida for Antenor. When Cressida hears of the latest events from her uncle, she is distressed, refuses to go and exits wailing.

In the next link scene Paris asks Troilus to tell Cressida to make haste. After he exits, Paris commiserates and wishes he could help.

Troilus tells Diomedes who has just entered to treat Cressida well and that if ever he finds himself standing at the mercy of his sword, he only had to name her and he would be spared. Diomedes ignores the request, and tells Cressida that her looks ensure that she will be treated well. An irritated Troilus tells Diomedes that he was unworthy to be called Cressida’s, and threatens to cut his throat if he did not treat her well. Diomedes reminds Troilus of his diplomatic immunity. He then begins to exploit that privilege by saying that he will respond to Troilus’ threat on the battlefield exactly as he chose. Before Troilus walks Cressida to the door, he tells Diomedes that his boasts would one day make him hide his head. The signal for Hector to ride out into battle is sounded, and Paris and Aeneas rush out to ‘tend on Hector’s heels.’

At the beginning of Scene 5, while the Greeks are waiting for the start of the fighting, Cressida and Diomedes enter. Each of the Greeks, Agamemnon, Nestor, and Achilles kisses Cressida in welcome. This scene is precursor of things to come, of CressidaÂ’s flippancy and her oncoming disposition. Diomedes and Cressida exit and when Nestor expresses his approval of her Ulysses expresses contempt and disgust. He says that she is blatantly open to encouragement and likens her to a prostitute.

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