The prose outweighs the cons.
Explanation: This joke is a clever wordplay on “prose” (referring to written works, like Shakespeare’s) and “cons” (a slang term for convicts or prisoners). The punchline, “the prose outweighs the cons,” creates a pun by comparing literature (prose) to criminals (cons), humorously suggesting that Shakespeare’s collected works are heavier in a figurative or literal sense. The joke combines literary and legal terms for a witty twist.