[Prologue]
0.1[Enter Speaker of the Prologue in armor.] 11Speaker of the Prologue 2In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece,
23The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,
34Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
45Fraught with the ministers and instruments
56Of cruel war. Sixty and nine that wore
67Their crownets regal, from th'Athenian bay
78Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
89To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
910The ravished Helen, Menelaus' queen,
1011With wanton Paris sleeps, and that's the quarrel.
1112To Tenedos they come,
1213And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
1314Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains
1415The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
1516Their brave pavilions. Priam's six-gated city --
1617Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
1718And Antenonidus -- with massy staples
1819And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
1920Stir up the sons of Troy.
2021Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits
2122On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
2223Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come,
2324A prologue armed, but not in confidence
2425Of author's pen, or actor's voice, but suited
2526In like conditions as our argument,
2627To tell you (fair beholders) that our play
2728Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
2829Beginning in the middle, starting thence away
2930To what may be digested in a play.
3031Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are.
3132Now good or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.