The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight.

I come no more to make you laugh. Things now

23That bear a weighty and a serious brow;

34Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe.

45Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,

56We now present. Those that can pity here

67May, if they think it well, let fall a tear:

78The subject will deserve it. Such as give

89Their money out of hope they may believe,

910May here find truth, too. Those that come to see

1011Only a show or two, and so agree

1112The play may pass, if they be still and willing,

1213I'll undertake may see away their shilling

1314Richly in two short hours. Only they

1415That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,

1516A noise of targets, or to see a fellow

1617In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,

1718Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know

1819To rank our chosen truth with such a show

1920As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting

2021Our own brains and the opinion that we bring

2122To make that only true we now intend,

2223Will leave us never an understanding friend.

2324Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known

2425The first and happiest hearers of the town,

2526Be sad, as we would make ye. Think ye see

2627The very persons of our noble story

2728As they were living; think you see them great,

2829And followed with the general throng and sweat

2930Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see

3031How soon this mightiness meets misery;

3132And if you can be merry then, I'll say

3233A man may weep upon his wedding day.