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| <title>PROLOGUE | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">The Life of King Henry the Fifth | |
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| | <A href="/Shakespeare/henryv/">Henry V</A> | |
| | Act 2, Prologue | |
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| <H3>PROLOGUE</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter Chorus</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>Chorus</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Now all the youth of England are on fire,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>Reigns solely in the breast of every man:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Following the mirror of all Christian kings,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>With winged heels, as English Mercuries.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>For now sits Expectation in the air,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>And hides a sword from hilts unto the point</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Promised to Harry and his followers.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>The French, advised by good intelligence</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>Of this most dreadful preparation,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Shake in their fear and with pale policy</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>Seek to divert the English purposes.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>O England! model to thy inward greatness,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Like little body with a mighty heart,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>Were all thy children kind and natural!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>Have, for the gilt of France,--O guilt indeed!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>And by their hands this grace of kings must die,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>If hell and treason hold their promises,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Linger your patience on; and we'll digest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>The abuse of distance; force a play:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>The king is set from London; and the scene</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>And thence to France shall we convey you safe,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>And bring you back, charming the narrow seas</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>We'll not offend one stomach with our play.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>But, till the king come forth, and not till then,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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| | Act 2, Prologue | |
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