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But all are 'banished,-till their conversations
Appear more wise and modest to the world.
Meantime, the King hath called his Parliament.
I will lay odds,—that, ere this year expire,
We bear our 'civil swords, and native fire,
As far as 'France. I heard a 'bird so sing,
Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the King.
Come, will you hence?

EPILOGUE,

Spoken by a Dancer.

[Exeunt

First, my 'fear; then, my 'court'sy; last, my 'speech. My fear is, your displeasure; my court'sy, my duty; and my speech, to beg your pardons. If you look for a 'good speech 'now, you undo me: for what I 'have to say is of mine own 'making; and what indeed I 'should say, will, I doubt, prove mine own 'marring.

If my 'tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me, will you command me to use my 'legs? and yet that were but 'light payment, to 'dance out of your debt. But a good 'conscience will make any possible satisfaction; and so will 'I. All the 'gentlewomen here have forgiven me: if the 'gentlemen will not, then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentle-'women,—which was never seen before in such an

assembly.

One word more, I beseech you. If you be not too much cloyed with fat meat, our humble author will 'continue the story, with Sir John in it, and make you merry with fair Katharine of France: where, for anything I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless already he be killed with your hard opinions; for 'Oldcastle* died a 'martyr, and this is 'not the man. My tongue is weary; when my 'legs are too, I will bid you good night; and so kneel down before you; but, indeed, to pray for the Queen.†

[Exit.

END OF HENRY IV-PART II.

Alluding to Sir John Oldcastle, a character in the old play, and the supposed origi

nal of Sir John Falstaff. † Queen Elizabeth.

KING HENRY V.

It will be observed that the play of " The Life of Henry the Fift' is not included in Meres' list of 1598: it must have been written in 1599.

Shakespeare, in this play, makes very little use of the older drama known as "The Famous Victories of Henrye the Ffyft, conteyning the Honourable Battell of Agin Court," which was performed before 1588, but not printed until 1598. It was originally performed at the Globe Theatre-the "Wooden O" of the Prologue and first printed in 1600, with the following title: "The Cronicle History of Henry the Fift. With his battell fought at Agin Court in France. Togither with Auntient Pistoll. As it hath bene sundry times played by the right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his servants." This early edition wants the Chorus and several scenes. The play was afterwards rewritten by Shakespeare; so that, in the folio of 1623, it is almost doubled in size.

The character of Henry the Fifth was evidently a public favourite : he has a prominent place in three of these Historical plays: in which he figures successively as the affectionate, ardent Youththe gay licentious Prince-and the brave high-minded King, the greatest of England's Warrior Monarchs.

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This last-named personage is frequently introduced. To connect historical events, unfitted for dramatic representation, each Act is introduced by a kind of prologue-speaker or Chorus, who describes events necessary for the auditor to know. These prologues, says Schlegel, unite epic pomp and solemnity with lyrical simplicity: In them the Dramatist sings as a poetical herald what he could not represent to the eye; and by them the spectators are constantly reminded that the peculiar greatness of the actions cannot be developed on a narrow stage: and that they must supply, from their imaginations, the deficiencies of the representation. The reign of Henry the Fifth extended from 1413 till 1422. The Time, therefore, occupies more than eight years.

The Scene, at the beginning of the play, is in England; but, at the end, in France.

Dr. Johnson remarks that Shakespeare was evidently sensible of the absurdity of representing battles within the limits of a theatre; and, dilating chiefly on this point as an apology, the Chorus comes forward:

Chor. O for a Muse of 'fire, that would ascend

The brightest 'heaven of invention !

A 'kingdom for a stage, 'princes to 'act,
And 'monarchs to 'behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of 'Mars;* and at his heels,
Leashed-in like hounds, should Famine, Sword, and
Fire,

Crouch for employment. Pardon, gentles all,
The flat unraiséd spirit that hath dared,
On this unworthy scaffold,† to bring forth
So great an object: Can this cockpitt hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram,
Upon this little stage,s the very 'casques
That did affright the air at 'Agincourt?
O, pardon! Since a crookéd figure may
Attest, in little place, a million;

So let us, 'ciphers to this great account,
On your 'imaginary forces work.
'Suppose, within the girdle of these walls,
Are now confined two mighty Monarchies,
Whose high uprearéd and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow Ocean parts asunder:
Piece-out our imperfections with your 'thoughts:
Into a 'thousand parts divide one man,
And make 'imaginary puissance;

'Think, when we talk of horses, that you 'see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth :-

+ Stage.

* Demeanour of the God of War. The old Phoenix Theatre in Drury Lane had been a cockpit. This play was originally performed at the Globe, a circular wooden building. § O. R. within this Wooden O.

For 'tis your 'thoughts that now must deck our kings;
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times;
Turning the accomplishment of many 'years,
Into an hour-glass: For the which supply,
Admit me 'Chorus to this history;

Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray,
Gently to 'hear, kindly to 'judge, our play.

Exit.

The Scene opens on the Presence Chamber of the Royal Palace in London. King Henry has summoned a Council to receive and reply to the French Ambassador. The young King is attended by his brothers the Dukes of Gloucester and Bedford, and by his uncle the Duke of Exeter. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the first to address the King:

Cant. Heaven and the angels 'guard your sacred throne, And may you 'long become it!

K. Hen.

Sure, we thank you.
My lord Archbishop, pray you now proceed,
And justly and religiously unfold

'Why the law Salique,* that they have in France, Or should, or should 'not, 'bar us in our claim? Cant. Then hear me, gracious King: There is 'no bar To make against your highness' claim to France, But this, which they produce from Pharamond,†"No 'woman shall succeed in Salique land."

K. Hen. May I, with right and conscience, make this claim?
Cant. The sin upon 'my head, dread sovereign !

For in the Book of Numbers‡ is it writ,-
When the song dies, let the inheritance
Descend unto the 'daughter.

K. Hen. Call-in the Messengers sent from the Dauphin.

[Ex. Atten..

Now are we 'well resolved; and, by Heaven's help,
the noble sinews of our power,

And

yours,

France being ours, we 'll bend it to our awe,

Or break it all to pieces.

The Ambassador of France—with a train of Attendants bearing a heavily laden treasure-chest-enters the Council Chamber.

'Now are we 'well prepared to know the pleasure Of our fair cousin Dauphin: for, we hear, Your greeting is from 'him,—not from the King. Amb. May 't please your majesty to give us leave 'Freely to render what we have in charge?

K. Hen. We are no 'tyrant, but a 'Christian King;

The old law of the Salic or Salian Franks forbade succession through female descent. The semi-fabulous first King of France. Numbers 27: viii. O. R. man.

Amb.

Therefore, with frank and with uncurbéd plainness,
'Tell us the Dauphin's mind.

Thus, then, in few:*-
Your Highness, lately sending into France,
Did claim some certain 'dukedoms, in the right
Of your great predecessor, King Edward Third:
In 'answer of which claim, the Prince our master
Says, that you savour too much of your 'youth;
And bids you be advised, there's nought in France
That can be with a nimble 'galliard† won;

You cannot revel into dukedoms 'there.

He therefore sends you-meeter for your spirit,—
This 'tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this,
Desires you, let the dukedoms that you claim
Hear no more of you. This the 'Dauphin speaks.
K. Hen. 'What treasure, uncle Exeter?

Exe. Opening

the chest.]... Tennis-balls, my liege!

K. Hen.... We are glad the Dauphin is so 'pleasant with

us;

His 'present, and your 'pains, we thank you for:
When we have matched our 'rackets to these balls,
We will, in France, by Heaven's grace, play a set‡
Shall strike his father's 'crown into the hazard.
We never valued this poor seat of 'England;
But tell the Dauphin,-I will 'keep my state,
Be 'like a King, and show my sail of greatness,
When I do rouse me in 'my throne of France:
For I 'will rise there with so full a glory
That I will 'dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin 'blind to 'look on us.
And tell the pleasant Prince that many a widow

Shall this his mock mock out of their dear 'husbands;
Mock mothers from their 'sons; mock 'castles down;

And some are yet ungotten and unborn,

That shall have cause to 'curse the Dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of Heaven,

To whom I do 'appeal; and in whose name,
Tell you the Dauphin, I am coming on.

...

So get you 'hence in 'peace; and tell the Dauphin,
His jest will savour but of 'shallow wit,

When thousands 'weep, more than did 'laugh at it.
Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well.

The Duke of Exeter says to his royal nephew:
Exe. This was a 'merry message.

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Ex. Ambess.

*Brief-in few words.

† A courtly dance.

+ Game.

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