Henry VIII: Prologue Translation

A side-by-side translation of Prologue of Henry VIII from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Prologue. PROLOGUE I come no more to make you laugh. Things now That bear a weighty and a serious brow, Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe, Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow, We now present. Those that can pity here 5 May, if they think it well, let fall a tear; The subject will deserve it. Such as give Their money out of hope they may believe May here find truth too. Those that come to see Only a show or two, and so agree 10 The play may pass, if they be still and willing, I’ll undertake may see away their shilling Richly in two short hours. Only they That come to hear a merry, bawdy play, A noise of targets, or to see a fellow 15 In a long motley coat guarded with yellow, Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know To rank our chosen truth with such a show As fool and fight is, besides forfeiting Our own brains and the opinion that we bring 20 To make that only true we now intend, Will leave us never an understanding friend. Therefore, for goodness’ sake, and as you are known The first and happiest hearers of the town, Be sad, as we would make you. Think you see 25 The very persons of our noble story As they were living. Think you see them great, And followed with the general throng and sweat Of thousand friends. Then, in a moment, see How soon this mightiness meets misery. 30 And if you can be merry then, I’ll say A man may weep upon his wedding day. He exits.	Someone steps out on the stage and delivers a speech. Who is this mysterious figure? The truth is: we're not sure. Some scholars call him the "Chorus," while others stick with the super original name "Prologue" (since he reads the prologue). Whatever his name, he comes out on stage and gives us in the audience the 411 on what they're about to see. The Prologue mentions a couple of important themes in the play like pity and truth. He also sets the genre straight for us: it's not a comedy we're about to see, so there'll be no crude jokes ("merry bawdy") or slapstick ("noise of targets") anywhere to be found. If you're looking for laughter, this isn't the play for you; it's full of serious stuff. So what can we expect? Well, this play is part serious, part thriller, and all politics. And one last thing, the Prologue tells us: make sure to think of the characters as humans. Yes, yes, we know they're actors playing parts, but let's pretend that they're alive and real. That will make the whole play way more interesting.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Prologue.

PROLOGUE
I come no more to make you laugh. Things now
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity here 5
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe
May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a show or two, and so agree 10
The play may pass, if they be still and willing,
I’ll undertake may see away their shilling
Richly in two short hours. Only they
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,
A noise of targets, or to see a fellow 15
In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,
Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, besides forfeiting
Our own brains and the opinion that we bring 20
To make that only true we now intend,
Will leave us never an understanding friend.
Therefore, for goodness’ sake, and as you are known
The first and happiest hearers of the town,
Be sad, as we would make you. Think you see 25
The very persons of our noble story
As they were living. Think you see them great,
And followed with the general throng and sweat
Of thousand friends. Then, in a moment, see
How soon this mightiness meets misery. 30
And if you can be merry then, I’ll say
A man may weep upon his wedding day.

He exits.

Someone steps out on the stage and delivers a speech. Who is this mysterious figure? The truth is: we're not sure. Some scholars call him the "Chorus," while others stick with the super original name "Prologue" (since he reads the prologue).

Whatever his name, he comes out on stage and gives us in the audience the 411 on what they're about to see.

The Prologue mentions a couple of important themes in the play like pity and truth. He also sets the genre straight for us: it's not a comedy we're about to see, so there'll be no crude jokes ("merry bawdy") or slapstick ("noise of targets") anywhere to be found. If you're looking for laughter, this isn't the play for you; it's full of serious stuff.

So what can we expect? Well, this play is part serious, part thriller, and all politics.

And one last thing, the Prologue tells us: make sure to think of the characters as humans. Yes, yes, we know they're actors playing parts, but let's pretend that they're alive and real. That will make the whole play way more interesting.

Henry VIII: Prologue Translation

A side-by-side translation of Prologue of Henry VIII from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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