| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| Open your Eares: For which of you will stop | Open your ears, for which of you will stop | 2H4 induction.1 |
| The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor speakes? | The vent of hearing when loud Rumour speaks? | 2H4 induction.2 |
| I, from the Orient, to the drooping West | I, from the orient to the drooping west, | 2H4 induction.3 |
| (Making the winde my Post-horse) still vnfold | Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold | 2H4 induction.4 |
| The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth. | The acts commenced on this ball of earth. | 2H4 induction.5 |
| Vpon my Tongue, continuall Slanders ride, | Upon my tongues continual slanders ride, | 2H4 induction.6 |
| The which, in euery Language, I pronounce, | The which in every language I pronounce, | 2H4 induction.7 |
| Stuffing the Eares of them with false Reports: | Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. | 2H4 induction.8 |
| I speake of Peace, while couert Enmitie | I speak of peace while covert enmity, | 2H4 induction.9 |
| (Vnder the smile of Safety) wounds the World: | Under the smile of safety, wounds the world; | 2H4 induction.10 |
| And who but Rumour, who but onely I | And who but Rumour, who but only I, | 2H4 induction.11 |
| Make fearfull Musters, and prepar'd Defence, | Make fearful musters, and prepared defence, | 2H4 induction.12 |
| Whil'st the bigge yeare, swolne with some other griefes, | Whiles the big year, swollen with some other grief, | 2H4 induction.13 |
| Is thought with childe, by the sterne Tyrant, Warre, | Is thought with child by the stern tyrant War, | 2H4 induction.14 |
| And no such matter? Rumour, is a Pipe | And no such matter? Rumour is a pipe | 2H4 induction.15 |
| Blowne by Surmises, Ielousies, Coniectures; | Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures, | 2H4 induction.16 |
| And of so easie, and so plaine a stop, | And of so easy and so plain a stop | 2H4 induction.17 |
| That the blunt Monster, with vncounted heads, | That the blunt monster with uncounted heads, | 2H4 induction.18 |
| The still discordant, wauering Multitude, | The still-discordant wavering multitude, | 2H4 induction.19 |
| Can play vpon it. But what neede I thus | Can play upon it. But what need I thus | 2H4 induction.20 |
| My well-knowne Body to Anathomize | My well-known body to anatomize | 2H4 induction.21 |
| Among my houshold? Why is Rumour heere? | Among my household? Why is Rumour here? | 2H4 induction.22 |
| I run before King Harries victory, | I run before King Harry's victory, | 2H4 induction.23 |
| Who in a bloodie field by Shrewsburie | Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury | 2H4 induction.24 |
| Hath beaten downe yong Hotspurre, and his Troopes, | Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops, | 2H4 induction.25 |
| Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion, | Quenching the flame of bold rebellion | 2H4 induction.26 |
| Euen with the Rebels blood. But what meane I | Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I | 2H4 induction.27 |
| To speake so true at first? My Office is | To speak so true at first? My office is | 2H4 induction.28 |
| To noyse abroad, that Harry Monmouth fell | To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell | 2H4 induction.29 |
| Vnder the Wrath of Noble Hotspurres Sword: | Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword, | 2H4 induction.30 |
| And that the King, before the Dowglas Rage | And that the King before the Douglas' rage | 2H4 induction.31 |
| Stoop'd his Annointed head, as low as death. | Stooped his anointed head as low as death. | 2H4 induction.32 |
| This haue I rumour'd through the peasant-Townes, | This have I rumoured through the peasant towns | 2H4 induction.33 |
| Betweene the Royall Field of Shrewsburie, | Between that royal field of Shrewsbury | 2H4 induction.34 |
| And this Worme-eaten-Hole of ragged Stone, | And this worm-eaten hold of ragged stone, | 2H4 induction.35 |
| Where Hotspurres Father, old Northumberland, | Where Hotspur's father, old Northumberland, | 2H4 induction.36 |
| Lyes crafty sicke. The Postes come tyring on, | Lies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on, | 2H4 induction.37 |
| And not a man of them brings other newes | And not a man of them brings other news | 2H4 induction.38 |
| Then they haue learn'd of Me. From Rumours Tongues, | Than they have learnt of me. From Rumour's tongues | 2H4 induction.39 |
| They bring smooth-Comforts-false, worse then True-wrongs. | They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs. | 2H4 induction.40 |