Shakespeare: First Lines

Most of these will never get asked, but enough of them are asked regularly (and enough of the others occasionally) to make it worth making note of them.

The ones that are most likely to come up are in bold font.

Master. Boatswain.	Boatswain! Here, master: what cheer?	The Tempest
Valentine.	Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus	The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Shallow.	Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a star–chamber matter of it:	The Merry Wives of Windsor
Duke. Escalus.	Escalus. My Lord.	Measure for Measure
Aegeon.	Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall	The Comedy of Errors
Leonato.	I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.	Much Ado about Nothing
King (Ferdinand of Navarre).	Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives	Love's Labours Lost
Theseus.	Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour / Draws on apace;	A Midsummer Night's Dream
Antonio.	In sooth, I know not why I am so sad: It wearies me;	The Merchant of Venice
Orlando.	As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion …	As You Like It
Sly. Hostess.	I'll pheeze you, in faith. A pair of stocks, you rogue!	The Taming of the Shrew
Countess (of Rousillon).	In delivering my second son from me, I bury a second husband.	All's Well that Ends Well
(Orsino), Duke (of Illyria).	If music be the food of love, play on …	Twelfth Night
Archidamus.	If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia …	The Winter's Tale
(The King).	Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us?	King John
(The King).	Old John of Gaunt, time–honoured Lancashire …	King Richard II
(The King).	So shaken are we, so wan with care …	King Henry IV, Part One
Rumour.	Open your ears; for which of you will stop / The vent of hearing when old Rumour speaks?	King Henry IV, Part Two
Chorus.	O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend / The brightest heaven of invention, …	King Henry V
(Duke of) Bedford.	Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night!	King Henry VI, Part One
(Duke of) Suffolk.	As by your imperial majesty / I had in charge at my depart for France, …	King Henry VI, Part Two
(Earl of) Warwick.	I wonder how the king escaped our hands.	King Henry VI, Part Three
(Richard, Duke of) Gloucester.	Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York;	King Richard III
THE PROLOGUE. (Duke of) Buckingham.	I come no more to make you laugh: … Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done since last we saw in France?	King Henry VIII
THE PROLOGUE. Troilus.	In Troy there lies the scene … Call here my varlet; I'll unarm again: …	Troilus and Cressida
First Citizen.	Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.	Coriolanus
Saturninus.	Noble patricians, patrons of my right, …	Titus Andronicus
THE PROLOGUE. Chorus.	Two households, both alike in dignity, / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene … Sampson. Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.	Romeo and Juliet
Poet. Painter.	Good day, sir. I am glad you're well.	Timon of Athens
Flavius.	Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home!	Julius Caesar
First Witch.	When shall we three meet again / In thunder, lightning or in rain?	Macbeth
Bernardo ('officer').	Who's there?	Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
(Earl of) Kent.	I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.	King Lear
Roderigo.	Tush, never tell me; I take it much unkindly / That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse …	Othello, the Moor of Venice
Philo.	Nay, but this dotage of our general's / O'erflows the measure: …	Antony and Cleopatra
(Gower). Antiochus.	To sing a song that old was sung / From ashes ancient Gower is come … Young prince of Tyre, you have at large received / The danger of the task you undertake.	Pericles, Prince of Tyre
First Gentleman.	You do not meet a man but frowns …	Cymbeline

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Shakespeare: First Lines