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The singing masons building roofs of gold； The civil citizens kneading up
the honey； The poor mechanic porters crowding in Their heavy burdens at
his narrow gate； The sad…ey'd justice； with his surly hum； Delivering o'er
to executors pale The lazy yawning drone。 I this infer； That many things；
having full reference To one consent； may work contrariously； As many
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
arrows loosed several ways Come to one mark； as many ways meet in one
town； As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea； As many lines close in
the dial's centre； So many a thousand actions； once afoot； End in one
purpose； and be all well home Without defeat。 Therefore to France； my
liege。 Divide your happy England into four； Whereof take you one quarter
into France； And you withal shall make all Gallia shake。 If we； with thrice
such powers left at home； Cannot defend our own doors from the dog； Let
us be worried； and our nation lose The name of hardiness and policy。
KING HENRY。 Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin。 Exeunt
some attendants Now are we well resolv'd； and； by God's help And yours；
the noble sinews of our power； France being ours； we'll bend it to our awe；
Or break it all to pieces； or there we'll sit； Ruling in large and ample
empery O'er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms； Or lay these
bones in an unworthy urn； Tombless； with no remembrance over them。
Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts； or else
our grave； Like Turkish mute； shall have a tongueless mouth； Not
worshipp'd with a waxen epitaph。
Enter AMBASSADORS of France
Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleasure Of our fair cousin
Dauphin； for we hear Your greeting is from him； not from the King。
AMBASSADOR。 May't please your Majesty to give us leave Freely to
render what we have in charge； Or shall we sparingly show you far of The
Dauphin's meaning and our embassy？ KING HENRY。 We are no tyrant；
but a Christian king； Unto whose grace our passion is as subject As are our
wretches fett'red in our prisons； Therefore with frank and with uncurbed
plainness Tell us the Dauphin's mind。 AMBASSADOR。 Thus then； in few。
Your Highness； lately sending into France； Did claim some certain
dukedoms in the right Of your great predecessor； King Edward the Third。
In answer of which claim； the Prince our master Says that you savour too
much of your youth； And bids you be advis'd 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。 KING HENRY。 What treasure； uncle？
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EXETER。 Tennis…balls； my liege。 KING HENRY。 We are glad the
Dauphin is so pleasant with us； His present and your pains we thank you
for。 When we have match'd our rackets to these balls； We will in France；
by God's grace； play a set Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard。
Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler That all the courts of
France will be disturb'd With chaces。 And we understand him well； How
he comes o'er us with our wilder days； Not measuring what use we made
of them。 We never valu'd this poor seat of England； And therefore； living
hence； did give ourself To barbarous licence； as 'tis ever common That
men are merriest when they are from home。 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 that I have laid by my majesty And
plodded like a man for working…days； But 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 this mock of his Hath
turn'd his balls to gun…stones； and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the
wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them； for many a thousand widows
Shall this his mock mock 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 God； To whom I do appeal； and in whose name； Tell you the
Dauphin； I am coming on； To venge me as I may and to put forth My
rightful hand in a well…hallow'd cause。 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。
Exeunt AMBASSADORS EXETER。 This was a merry message。 KING
HENRY。 We hope to make the sender blush at it。 Therefore； my lords；
omit no happy hour That may give furth'rance to our expedition； For we
have now no thought in us but France； Save those to God； that run before
our business。 Therefore let our proportions for these wars Be soon
collected； and all things thought upon That may with reasonable swiftness
ad More feathers to our wings； for； God before； We'll chide this Dauphin
at his father's door。 Therefore let every man now task his thought That this
fair action may on foot be brought。 Exeunt
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
ACT II。
PROLOGUE。
Flourish。 Enter CHORUS
CHORUS。 Now all the youth of England are on fire； And silken
dalliance in the wardrobe lies； Now thrive the armourers； and honour's
thought Reigns solely in the breast of every man； They sell the pasture
now to buy the horse； Following the mirror of all Christian kings With
winged heels； as English Mercuries。 For now sits Expectation in the air；
And hides a sword from hilts unto the point With crowns imperial； crowns；
and coronets； Promis'd to Harry and his followers。 The French； advis'd by
good intelligence Of this most dreadful preparation； Shake in their fear
and with pale policy Seek to divert the English purposes。 O England！
model to thy inward greatness； Like little body with a mighty heart； What
mightst thou do that honour would thee do； Were all thy children kind and
natural！ But see thy fault！ France hath in thee found out A nest of hollow
bosoms； which he fills With treacherous crowns； and three corrupted men…
One； Richard Earl of Cambridge； and the second； Henry Lord Scroop of
Masham； and the third； Sir Thomas Grey； knight； of Northumberland；
Have； for the gilt of France… O guilt indeed！… Confirm'd conspiracy with
fearful France； And by their hands this grace of kings must die… If hell and
treason hold their promises； Ere he take ship for France… and in
Southampton。 Linger your patience on； and we'll digest Th' abuse of
distance； force a play。 The sum is paid； the traitors are agreed； The King is
set from London； and the scene Is now transported； gentles； to
Southampton； There is the play…house now； there must you sit； And thence
to France shall we convey you