Henry VIII: Epilogue Translation

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

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Epilogue. 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, They’ll say ’tis naught—others, to hear the city 5 Abused 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 For this play at this time is only in The merciful construction of good women, 10 For such a one we showed ’em. If they smile And say ’twill do, I know within a while All the best men are ours; for ’tis ill hap If they hold when their ladies bid ’em clap. He exits.	We're back where we started, with one figure coming out on stage, talking to us. Let's call this one the Epilogue. The character tells us that the play probably didn't please everyone. A couple people dozed off and were only woken up when the trumpets sounded. Even though the Epilogue is happy to bag on the play, the women are to be left alone: the figure tells us that the women in the play are good. So, as long as the ladies in the audience clap for the women in the play, the men will join in, too. That's it. No, really.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Epilogue.

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,
They’ll say ’tis naught—others, to hear the city 5
Abused 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
For this play at this time is only in
The merciful construction of good women, 10
For such a one we showed ’em. If they smile
And say ’twill do, I know within a while
All the best men are ours; for ’tis ill hap
If they hold when their ladies bid ’em clap.

He exits.

We're back where we started, with one figure coming out on stage, talking to us. Let's call this one the Epilogue.

The character tells us that the play probably didn't please everyone. A couple people dozed off and were only woken up when the trumpets sounded.

Even though the Epilogue is happy to bag on the play, the women are to be left alone: the figure tells us that the women in the play are good.

So, as long as the ladies in the audience clap for the women in the play, the men will join in, too.

That's it.

No, really.

Henry VIII: Epilogue Translation

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

Original Text

Translated Text

Tired of ads?