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,[1] Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow, We now present. Those that can pity, here[2] 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[3] 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, beside forfeiting[4] Our own brains and the opinion that we bring 20 To make that only true we now intend,[5] Will leave us never an understanding friend.[6] Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known[7] The first and happiest hearers of the town, Be sad, as we would make ye: think ye see[8] 25 The very persons of our noble story[9] As they were living; think you see them great And follow'd 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. FOOTNOTES: [1] _high and working_] _and high-working_ Staunton. _full_] F₁ F₄. _fall_ F₂ F₃. [2] _now_] _shall_ Pope. [3] _agree_] Pope, _a gree_, F₁. _agree,_ F₂ F₃ F₄. [4] _beside_] _besides_ Pope (ed. 2). [5] _To make_] _That make_ Rowe. _To make ... intend_] _Or make; that only truth we now intend_ Johnson conj. _That only true to make we now intend_ Tyrwhitt conj. [6] _never] ne'er_ S. Walker conj. [7] _and as_] _as_ Pope. [8] _ye see_] _before ye_ Theobald. _you see_ Delius. [9] _noble story_] _history_ Capell (Heath conj.) ACT I. SCENE I. _London. An ante-chamber in the palace._ _Enter the_ DUKE OF NORFOLK _at one door: at the other, the_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM _and the_ LORD ABERGAVENNY.[9a] _Buck._ Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done Since last we saw in France?[10] _Nor._ I thank your grace, Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer Of what I saw there. _Buck._ An untimely ague Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber when 5 Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,[11] Met in the vale of Andren.[12]