Henry VIII

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

SPEAKER 
I Come no more to make you laugh, Things now,I come no more to make you laugh. Things now H8 prologue.1
That beare a Weighty, and a Serious Brow,That bear a weighty and a serious brow,brow (n.)
appearance, aspect, countenance
H8 prologue.2
Sad, high, and working, full of State and Woe:Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,sad (adj.)
serious, grave, solemn
H8 prologue.3
state (n.)
splendour, magnificence, stateliness, dignity
high (adj.)
lofty, elevated, grand
working (adj.)
moving, full of emotion
Such Noble Scoenes, as draw the Eye to flowSuch noble scenes as draw the eye to flow, H8 prologue.4
We now present. Those that can Pitty, heereWe now present. Those that can pity here H8 prologue.5
May (if they thinke it well) let fall a Teare,May, if they think it well, let fall a tear; H8 prologue.6
The Subiect will deserue it. Such as giueThe subject will deserve it. Such as give H8 prologue.7
Their Money out of hope they may beleeue,Their money out of hope they may believe H8 prologue.8
May heere finde Truth too. Those that come to seeMay here find truth too. Those that come to see H8 prologue.9
Onely a show or two, and so agree,Only a show or two, and so agreeshow (n.)
spectacle, display, ceremony
H8 prologue.10
The Play may passe: If they be still, and willing,The play may pass, if they be still, and willing,still (adj.)
quiet, calm, subdued
H8 prologue.11
Ile vndertake may see away their shillingI'll undertake may see away their shillingshilling (n.)
coin valued at twelve old pence or one twentieth of a pound
H8 prologue.12
Richly in two short houres. Onely theyRichly in two short hours. Only they H8 prologue.13
That come to heare a Merry, Bawdy Play,That come to hear a merry, bawdy play, H8 prologue.14
A noyse of Targets: Or to see a FellowA noise of targets, or to see a fellowtarget (n.)
light round shield
H8 prologue.15
In a long Motley Coate, garded with Yellow,In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,motley (adj.)
in the distinctive [multicoloured] dress of a fool
H8 prologue.16
guarded (adj.)

old form: garded
ornamented, trimmed, tricked out
Will be deceyu'd. For gentle Hearers, knowWill be deceived; for, gentle hearers, knowgentle (adj.)
courteous, friendly, kind
H8 prologue.17
deceive (v.)

old form: deceyu'd
disappoint, frustrate, let down
To ranke our chosen Truth with such a showTo rank our chosen truth with such a showshow (n.)
spectacle, display, ceremony
H8 prologue.18
As Foole, and Fight is, beside forfeytingAs fool and fight is, beside forfeiting H8 prologue.19
Our owne Braines, and the Opinion that we bringOur own brains, and the opinion that we bringopinion (n.)
reputation, character, honour
H8 prologue.20
To make that onely true, we now intend,To make that only true we now intend, H8 prologue.21
Will leaue vs neuer an vnderstanding FriendWill leave us never an understanding friend. H8 prologue.22
Therefore, for Goodnesse sake, and as you are knowneTherefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are knowngoodness (n.)

old form: Goodnesse
natural kindness, generosity, bounty
H8 prologue.23
The First and Happiest Hearers of the Towne,The first and happiest hearers of the town,happy (adj.)
accomplished, favoured, proficient
H8 prologue.24
hearer (n.)
playgoer, audience
Be sad, as we would make ye. Thinke ye seeBe sad, as we would make ye. Think ye seesad (adj.)
serious, grave, solemn
H8 prologue.25
The very Persons of our Noble Story,The very persons of our noble story H8 prologue.26
As they were Liuing: Thinke you see them Great,As they were living; think you see them great, H8 prologue.27
And follow'd with the generall throng, and sweatAnd followed with the general throng and sweat H8 prologue.28
Of thousand Friends: Then, in a moment, seeOf thousand friends: then, in a moment, see H8 prologue.29
How soone this Mightinesse, meets Misery:How soon this mightiness meets misery. H8 prologue.30
And if you can be merry then, Ile say,And if you can be merry then, I'll say H8 prologue.31
A Man may weepe vpon his Wedding day.A man may weep upon his wedding-day. H8 prologue.32
 Previous Prologue Next  
x

Jump directly to