The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

Act 5 — THE EPILOGUE.

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NOTES.Transcriber's Notes:

'Tis ten to one this play can never please All that are here: some come to take their ease,[918] And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,[919] We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,[920] They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city[921] 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[922] For this play at this time, is only in[923] The merciful construction of good women;[923] 10 For such a one we show'd '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.

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Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · ease] case F2.Note 2 · sleep] sleep out F3 F4.Note 3 · We have] W' have Ff. We've Rowe (ed. 2).Note 4 · 'tis] F1. it's F2 F3 F4.Note 5 · we're] w'are Ff. we are Capell.Note 6 · is only in The] we shall not owe men, But Collier conj.