First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
| Enter Time, the Chorus. | Enter Time, the Chorus | chorus (n.) character in a play who speaks the prologue and comments on the course of events | WT IV.i.1.1 | |
| Time. | TIME | | | |
| I that please some, try all: both ioy and terror | I that please some, try all; both joy and terror | try (v.)put to the test, test the goodness [of] | WT IV.i.1 | |
| Of good, and bad: that makes, and vnfolds error, | Of good and bad; that makes and unfolds error, | unfold (v.)display, reveal, show | WT IV.i.2 | |
| Now take vpon me (in the name of Time) | Now take upon me, in the name of Time, | | WT IV.i.3 | |
| To vse my wings: Impute it not a crime | To use my wings. Impute it not a crime | | WT IV.i.4 | |
| To me, or my swift passage, that I slide | To me or my swift passage that I slide | | WT IV.i.5 | |
| Ore sixteene yeeres, and leaue the growth vntride | O'er sixteen years, and leave the growth untried | untried (adj.)unexamined, unexplored, not ascertained | WT IV.i.6 | |
| Of that wide gap, since it is in my powre | Of that wide gap, since it is in my power | | WT IV.i.7 | |
| To orethrow Law, and in one selfe-borne howre | To o'erthrow law, and in one self-born hour | self-born (adj.)selfsame, identical | WT IV.i.8 | |
| To plant, and ore-whelme Custome. Let me passe | To plant and o'erwhelm custom. Let me pass | | WT IV.i.9 | |
| The same I am, ere ancient'st Order was, | The same I am ere ancient'st order was | order (n.)injunction, command, dictate | WT IV.i.10 | |
| Or what is now receiu'd. I witnesse to | Or what is now received. I witness to | received (adj.)fashionable, accepted as a norm, generally adopted | WT IV.i.11 | |
| The times that brought them in, so shall I do | The times that brought them in; so shall I do | | WT IV.i.12 | |
| To th' freshest things now reigning, and make stale | To th' freshest things now reigning, and make stale | stale (adj.)worn-out, hackneyed, faded | WT IV.i.13 | |
| The glistering of this present, as my Tale | The glistering of this present, as my tale | present (n.)present time, immediate moment, matter in hand | WT IV.i.14 | |
| | glistering (n.)brilliance, sparkle, shining nature | | |
| Now seemes to it: your patience this allowing, | Now seems to it. Your patience this allowing, | | WT IV.i.15 | |
| I turne my glasse, and giue my Scene such growing | I turn my glass, and give my scene such growing | scene (n.)play, drama, performance | WT IV.i.16 | |
| | glass (n.)[sand of the] hourglass | | |
| As you had slept betweene: Leontes leauing | As you had slept between. Leontes leaving – | | WT IV.i.17 | |
| Th' effects of his fond iealousies, so greeuing | Th' effects of his fond jealousies so grieving | fond (adj.)foolish, stupid, mad | WT IV.i.18 | |
| That he shuts vp himselfe. Imagine me | That he shuts up himself – imagine me, | | WT IV.i.19 | |
| (Gentle Spectators) that I now may be | Gentle spectators, that I now may be | gentle (adj.)courteous, friendly, kind | WT IV.i.20 | |
| In faire Bohemia, and remember well, | In fair Bohemia; and remember well, | | WT IV.i.21 | |
| I mentioned a sonne o'th' Kings, which Florizell | I mentioned a son o'th' King's, which Florizel | | WT IV.i.22 | |
| I now name to you: and with speed so pace | I now name to you; and with speed so pace | pace (v.)move on, proceed, pass on | WT IV.i.23 | |
| To speake of Perdita, now growne in grace | To speak of Perdita, now grown in grace | | WT IV.i.24 | |
| Equall with wond'ring. What of her insues | Equal with wond'ring. What of her ensues | ensue (v.)befall, happen, become | WT IV.i.25 | |
| I list not prophesie: but let Times newes | I list not prophesy; but let Time's news | list (v.)care, choose, desire | WT IV.i.26 | |
| Be knowne when 'tis brought forth. A shepherds daughter | Be known when 'tis brought forth. A shepherd's daughter, | | WT IV.i.27 | |
| And what to her adheres, which followes after, | And what to her adheres, which follows after, | adhere (v.)belong, be relevant, relate | WT IV.i.28 | |
| Is th' argument of Time: of this allow, | Is th' argument of Time. Of this allow, | argument (n.)story, subject, plot | WT IV.i.29 | |
| If euer you haue spent time worse, ere now: | If ever you have spent time worse ere now; | | WT IV.i.30 | |
| If neuer, yet that Time himselfe doth say, | If never, yet that Time himself doth say | | WT IV.i.31 | |
| He wishes earnestly, you neuer may. | He wishes earnestly you never may. | | WT IV.i.32 | |
| Exit. | Exit | | WT IV.i.32 | |