Quarto
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
| Florish. | Flourish | | | |
| PROLOGVE. | PROLOGUE | | | |
New Playes, and Maydenheads, are neare a kin,
| New plays and maidenheads are near akin, | | TNK prologue.1 | |
Much follow'd both, for both much mony g'yn,
| Much followed both, for both much money gi'en, | follow (v.) seek after, pursue, strive for, court | TNK prologue.2 | |
If they stand sound, and well: And a good Play
| If they stand sound and well. And a good play – | | TNK prologue.3 | |
(Whose modest Sceanes blush on his marriage day,
| Whose modest scenes blush on his marriage day, | | TNK prologue.4 | |
And shake to loose his honour) is like hir
| And shake to lose his honour – is like her | shake (v.)tremble, quake, shiver | TNK prologue.5 | |
That after holy Tye, and first nights stir
| That after holy tie and first night's stir | holy tiemarriage | TNK prologue.6 | |
Yet still is Modestie, and still retaines
| Yet still is modesty, and still retains | | TNK prologue.7 | |
More of the maid to sight, than Husbands paines;
| More of the maid to sight than husband's pains. | pain (n.)effort, endeavour, exertion, labour | TNK prologue.8 | |
We pray our Play may be so; For I am sure
| We pray our play may be so; for I am sure | | TNK prologue.9 | |
It has a noble Breeder, and a pure,
| It has a noble breeder, and a pure, | breeder (n.)father, source, originator, author | TNK prologue.10 | |
A learned, and a Poet never went
| A learned, and a poet never went | go (v.)live, exist, breathe | TNK prologue.11 | |
More famous yet twixt Po and silver Trent.
| More famous yet 'twixt Po and silver Trent. | Trent (n.)river flowing south and then north-east in the English Midlands | TNK prologue.12 | |
Chaucer (of all admir'd) the Story gives,
| Chaucer, of all admired, the story gives; | | TNK prologue.13 | |
There constant to Eternity it lives;
| There constant to eternity it lives. | | TNK prologue.14 | |
If we let fall the Noblenesse of this,
| If we let fall the nobleness of this, | let fall (v.)lower, debase, fail to live up to | TNK prologue.15 | |
And the first sound this child heare, be a hisse,
| And the first sound this child hear be a hiss, | | TNK prologue.16 | |
How will it shake the bones of that good man,
| How will it shake the bones of that good man, | | TNK prologue.17 | |
And make him cry from under ground, O fan
| And make him cry from under ground, ‘ O, fan | | TNK prologue.18 | |
From me the witles chaffe of such a wrighter
| From me the witless chaff of such a writer | | TNK prologue.19 | |
That blastes my Bayes, and my fam'd workes makes lighter
| That blasts my bays and my famed works makes lighter | bay (n.)fame, renown [i.e. laurel wreath] | TNK prologue.20 | |
| | blast (v.)blight, wither, destroy | | |
Then Robin Hood? This is the feare we bring;
| Than Robin Hood!’ This is the fear we bring; | | TNK prologue.21 | |
For to say Truth, it were an endlesse thing,
| For, to say truth, it were an endless thing, | endless (adj.)never-ending, impossible, unattainable | TNK prologue.22 | |
And too ambitious to aspire to him;
| And too ambitious, to aspire to him. | | TNK prologue.23 | |
Weake as we are, and almost breathlesse swim
| Weak as we are, and almost breathless swim | | TNK prologue.24 | |
In this deepe water. Do but you hold out
| In this deep water, do but you hold out | | TNK prologue.25 | |
Your helping hands, and we shall take about,
| Your helping hands, and we shall tack about, | | TNK prologue.26 | |
And something doe to save us: You shall heare
| And something do to save us; you shall hear | | TNK prologue.27 | |
Sceanes though below his Art, may yet appeare
| Scenes, though below his art, may yet appear | | TNK prologue.28 | |
Worth two houres travell. To his bones sweet sleepe:
| Worth two hours' travail. To his bones sweet sleep; | travail, travel (n.)journeying, travel [often overlapping with the sense of 'labour'] | TNK prologue.29 | |
Content to you. If this play doe not keepe,
| Content to you. If this play do not keep | content (n.)pleasure, satisfaction, happiness | TNK prologue.30 | |
A little dull time from us, we perceave
| A little dull time from us, we perceive | | TNK prologue.31 | |
Our losses fall so thicke, we must needs leave.
| Our losses fall so thick we must needs leave. | leave (v.)cease, stop, give up | TNK prologue.32 | |
Florish.
| Flourish. Exit | | | |