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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
KING HENRY THE
FIFTH
William Shakespeare
1599
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
PROLOGUE
Enter CHORUS
CHORUS。 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； Leash'd in like hounds； should
famine； sword； and fire； Crouch for employment。 But pardon； gentles all；
The flat unraised spirits that hath dar'd On this unworthy scaffold to bring
forth So great an object。 Can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France？
Or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright
the air at Agincourt？ O； pardon！ since a crooked figure may Attest in little
place a million； And let us； ciphers to this great accompt； On your
imaginary forces work。 Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now
confin'd two mighty monarchies； Whose high upreared 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' th' receiving earth； For 'tis your thoughts that now must
deck our kings； Carry them here and there； jumping o'er times； Turning th'
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
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
ACT I。
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
SCENE I。 London。
An ante…chamber in the KING'S palace
Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY and the BISHOP OF
ELY
CANTERBURY。 My lord； I'll tell you： that self bill is urg'd Which in
th' eleventh year of the last king's reign Was like； and had indeed against
us pass'd But that the scambling and unquiet time Did push it out of
farther question。 ELY。 But how； my lord； shall we resist it now？
CANTERBURY。 It must be thought on。 If it pass against us； We lose the
better half of our possession； For all the temporal lands which men devout
By testament have given to the church Would they strip from us； being
valu'd thus… As much as would maintain； to the King's honour； Full fifteen
earls and fifteen hundred knights； Six thousand and two hundred good
esquires； And； to relief of lazars and weak age； Of indigent faint souls；
past corporal toil； A hundred alms…houses right well supplied； And to the
coffers of the King； beside； A thousand pounds by th' year： thus runs the
bill。 ELY。 This would drink deep。 CANTERBURY。 'T would drink the cup
and all。 ELY。 But what prevention？ CANTERBURY。 The King is full of
grace and fair regard。 ELY。 And a true lover of the holy Church。
CANTERBURY。 The courses of his youth promis'd it not。 The breath no
sooner left his father's body But that his wildness； mortified in him；
Seem'd to die too； yea； at that very moment； Consideration like an angel
came And whipp'd th' offending Adam out of him； Leaving his body as a
paradise T'envelop and contain celestial spirits。 Never was such a sudden
scholar made； Never came reformation in a flood； With such a heady
currance； scouring faults； Nor never Hydra…headed wilfulnes So soon did
lose his seat； and all at once； As in this king。 ELY。 We are blessed in the
change。 CANTERBURY。 Hear him but reason in divinity； And； all…
admiring； with an inward wish You would desire the King were made a
prelate； Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs； You would say it hath
been all in all his study； List his discourse of war； and you shall hear A
fearful battle rend'red you in music。 Turn him to any cause of policy； The
Gordian knot of it he will unloose； Familiar as his garter； that； when he
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
speaks； The air； a charter'd libertine； is still； And the mute wonder lurketh
in men's ears To steal his sweet and honey'd sentences； So that the art and
practic part of life Must be the mistress to this theoric； Which is a wonder
how his Grace should glean it； Since his addiction was to courses vain； His
companies unletter'd； rude； and shallow； His hours fill'd up with riots；
banquets； sports； And never noted in him any study； Any retirement； any
sequestration From open haunts and popularity。 ELY。 The strawberry
grows underneath the nettle； And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best
Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality； And so the Prince obscur'd his
contemplation Under the veil of wildness； which； no doubt； Grew like the
summer grass； fastest by night； Unseen； yet crescive in his faculty。
CANTERBURY。 It must be so； for miracles are ceas'd； And therefore we
must needs admit the means How things are perfected。 ELY。 But； my good
lord； How now for mitigation of this bill Urg'd by the Commons？ Doth his
Majesty Incline to it； or no？ CANTERBURY。 He seems indifferent Or
rather swaying more upon our part Than cherishing th' exhibiters against
us； For I have made an offer to his Majesty… Upon our spiritual
convocation And in regard of causes now in hand； Which I have open'd to
his Grace at large； As touching France… to give a greater sum Than ever at
one time the clergy yet Did to his predecessors part withal。 ELY。 How did
this offer seem receiv'd； my lord？ CANTERBURY。 With good acceptance
of his Majesty； Save that there was not time enough to hear； As I perceiv'd
his Grace would fain have done； The severals and unhidden passages Of
his true tides to some certain dukedoms； And generally to the crown and
seat of France； Deriv'd from Edward； his great…grandfather。 ELY。 What
was th' impediment that broke this off？ CANTERBURY。 The French
ambassador upon that instant Crav'd audience； and the hour； I think； is
come To give him hearing： is it four o'clock？ ELY。 It is。 CANTERBURY。
Then go we in； to know his embassy； Which I could with a ready guess
declare； Before the Frenchman speak a word of it。 ELY。 I'll wait upon you；
and I long to hear it。 Exeunt
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
SCENE II。 London。 The Presence Chamber in the
KING'S palace
Enter the KING； GLOUCESTER； BEDFORD； EXETER； WARWICK；
WESTMORELAND； and attendants
KING HENRY。 Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury？ EXETER。
Not here in presence。 KING HENRY。 Send for him； good uncle。
WESTMORELAND。 Shall we call in th' ambassador； my liege？ KING
HENRY。 Not yet； my cousin； we would be resolv'd； Before we hear him；
of some things of weight That task our thoughts； concerning us and
France。
Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY and the BISHOP OF
ELY
CANTERBURY。 God and his angels guard your sacred throne； And
make you long become it！ KING HENRY。 Sure； we thank you。 My
learned lord； we pray you to 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； And God forbid； my dear and faithful lord； That you
should fashion； wrest； or bow your reading； Or nicely charge your
understanding soul With opening titles miscreate whose right Suits not in
native colours with the truth； For God doth know how many； now in health；
Shall drop their blood in approbation Of what your reverence shall incite
us to。 Therefore take heed how you impawn our person； How you awake
our sleeping sword of war… We charge you； in the name of God； take heed；
For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood；
wh