Page:Henry VIII (1925) Yale.djvu/13

 

 

I come no more to make you laugh: things now,

That bear a weighty and a serious brow,

Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,

Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,

We now present. Those that can pity here

May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;

The subject will deserve it. Such as give

Their money out of hope they may believe,

May here find truth too. Those that come to see

Only a show or two, and so agree

The play may pass, if they be still and willing,

I'll undertake may see away their shilling

Richly in two short hours. Only they

That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,

A noise of targets, or to see a fellow

In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,

Will be deceiv'd; for, gentle hearers, know,

To rank our chosen truth with such a show

As fool and fight is, besides forfeiting

Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring,

To make that only true we now intend,

Will leave us never an understanding friend.

Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known

The first and happiest hearers of the town,

 The Prologue; cf. n.

3 Sad: serious

working: full of pathos

state: dignity

9 truth; cf. n.

12 shilling; cf. n.

16 In coat; cf. n.

guarded: trimmed

19 As fool and fight is; cf. n.

20 opinion: reputation, intention

21 intend: undertake

22 Will leave us; cf. n.

