Prologue

1 - 31

1. In Troy, there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
2. The princes orgulous, their high blood chaf’d,
3. Have to the port of Athens sent their ships
4. Fraught with the ministers and instruments
5. Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
6. Their crownets regal, from th’ Athenian bay
7. Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
8. To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures
9. The ravish’d Helen, Menelaus’ queen,
10. With wanton Paris sleeps—and that’s the quarrel.
11. To Tenedos they come,
12. And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
13. Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains
14. The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
15. Their brave pavilions. Priam’s six-gated city,
16. Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,
17. And Antenorides, with massy staples
18. And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts
19. Sperr up the sons of Troy.
20. Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits,
21. On one and other side, Troyan and Greek,
22. Sets all on hazard—and hither am I come,
23. A prologue arm’d, but not in confidence
24. Of author’s pen or actor’s voice, but suited
25. In like conditions as our argument,
26. To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
27. Leaps o’er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
28. Beginning in the middle; starting thence away
29. To what may be digested in a play.
30. Like or find fault, do as your pleasures are,
31. Now good or bad, ’tis but the chance of war.