Did Shakespeare write "Heavy lies the head that wears the crown."?

Not exactly. The full line is "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." — from Henry IV, Part 2, Act III.i.

Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·Henry IV, Part 2, Act III.i ·King Henry IV

"Heavy lies the head that wears the crown."

Not quite the line.

How it's usually quoted

"Heavy lies the head that wears the crown."

What Shakespeare actually wrote

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." King Henry IV — Henry IV, Part 2, Act III.i

"Heavy" is the common modern paraphrase; Shakespeare wrote "uneasy." One is physical, the other emotional — small word, different argument.

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