Henry VIII (1925) Yale/Text/Epilogue

by William Shakespeare

Layout 2

 

 

THE EPILOGUE.

'Tis ten to one, this play can never please
All that are here. Some come to take their ease
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
We've frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear 4
They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
Abus'd extremely, and to cry, 'That’s witty!'
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we're like to hear 8
For this play at this time is only in
The merciful construction of good women;
For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,
And say 'twill do, I know within a while 12
All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap
If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.

 

FINIS.

 

 

Footnotes to the Epilogue

Epilogue

7 that: so that