Prologue

1 - 32

1. I come no more to make you laugh; things now
2. That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
3. Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe:
4. Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
5. We now present. Those that can pity, here
6. May (if they think it well) let fall a tear;
7. The subject will deserve it. Such as give
8. Their money out of hope they may believe,
9. May here find truth too. Those that come to see
10. Only a show or two, and so agree
11. The play may pass, if they be still and willing,
12. I’ll undertake may see away their shilling
13. Richly in two short hours. Only they
14. That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,
15. A noise of targets, or to see a fellow
16. In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,
17. Will be deceiv’d. For, gentle hearers, know,
18. To rank our chosen truth with such a show
19. As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting
20. Our own brains and the opinion that we bring
21. To make that only true we now intend,
22. Will leave us never an understanding friend.
23. Therefore, for goodness sake, and as you are known
24. The first and happiest hearers of the town,
25. Be sad, as we would make ye. Think ye see
26. The very persons of our noble story
27. As they were living. Think you see them great,
28. And follow’d with the general throng and sweat
29. Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see
30. How soon this mightiness meets misery;
31. And if you can be merry then, I’ll say
32. A man may weep upon his wedding-day.