| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| I that please some, try all: both ioy and terror | I that please some, try all; both joy and terror | WT IV.i.1 |
| Of good, and bad: that makes, and vnfolds error, | Of good and bad; that makes and unfolds error, | 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 | 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 | 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 | WT IV.i.10 |
| Or what is now receiu'd. I witnesse to | Or what is now received. I witness to | 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 | WT IV.i.13 |
| The glistering of this present, as my Tale | The glistering of this present, as my tale | WT IV.i.14 |
| 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 | WT IV.i.16 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | WT IV.i.25 |
| I list not prophesie: but let Times newes | I list not prophesy; but let Time's news | 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, | WT IV.i.28 |
| Is th' argument of Time: of this allow, | Is th' argument of Time. Of this allow, | 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 |