| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| 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, | 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 | TNK prologue.5 |
That after holy Tye, and first nights stir
| That after holy tie and first night's stir | 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. | 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, | TNK prologue.10 |
A learned, and a Poet never went
| A learned, and a poet never went | TNK prologue.11 |
More famous yet twixt Po and silver Trent.
| More famous yet 'twixt Po and silver Trent. | 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, | 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 | TNK prologue.20 |
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, | 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; | TNK prologue.29 |
Content to you. If this play doe not keepe,
| Content to you. If this play do not keep | 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. | TNK prologue.32 |
| | | |
| EPILOGVE. | EPILOGUE | |
| | | |
| I would now aske ye how ye like the Play, | I would now ask ye how ye like the play, | TNK epilogue.1 |
| But as it is with Schoole Boyes, cannot say, | But, as it is with schoolboys, cannot say; | TNK epilogue.2 |
| I am cruell fearefull: pray yet stay a while, | I am cruel fearful. Pray yet stay awhile, | TNK epilogue.3 |
| And let me looke upon ye: No man smile? | And let me look upon ye. No man smile? | TNK epilogue.4 |
| Then it goes hard I see; He that has | Then it goes hard, I see. He that has | TNK epilogue.5 |
| Lov'd a yong hansome wench then, show his face: | Loved a young handsome wench, then, show his face – | TNK epilogue.6 |
| Tis strange if none be heere, and if he will | 'Tis strange if none be here – and if he will | TNK epilogue.7 |
| Against his Conscience let him hisse, and kill | Against his conscience, let him hiss, and kill | TNK epilogue.8 |
| Our Market: Tis in vaine, I see to stay yee, | Our market. 'Tis in vain, I see, to stay ye. | TNK epilogue.9 |
| Have at the worst can come, then; Now what say ye? | Have at the worst can come, then! Now, what say ye? | TNK epilogue.10 |
| And yet mistake me not: I am not bold | And yet mistake me not. I am not bold; | TNK epilogue.11 |
| We have no such cause. If the tale we have told | We have no such cause. If the tale we have told – | TNK epilogue.12 |
| (For tis no other) any way content ye) | For 'tis no other – any way content ye, | TNK epilogue.13 |
| (For to that honest purpose it was ment ye) | For to that honest purpose it was meant ye, | TNK epilogue.14 |
| We have our end; and ye shall have ere long | We have our end; and ye shall have ere long | TNK epilogue.15 |
| I dare say many a better, to prolong | I dare say many a better, to prolong | TNK epilogue.16 |
| Your old loves to us: we, and all our might, | Your old loves to us. We, and all our might, | TNK epilogue.17 |
| Rest at your service, Gentlemen, good night. | Rest at your service. Gentlemen, good night. | TNK epilogue.18 |