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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 4, 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 entertain conjecture of a time</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>When creeping murmur and the poring dark</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>Fills the wide vessel of the universe.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>From camp to camp through the foul womb of night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>The hum of either army stilly sounds,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>That the fixed sentinels almost receive</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>The secret whispers of each other's watch:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Each battle sees the other's umber'd face;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>The armourers, accomplishing the knights,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>With busy hammers closing rivets up,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Give dreadful note of preparation:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>And the third hour of drowsy morning name.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>The confident and over-lusty French</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>Do the low-rated English play at dice;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>And chide the cripple tardy-gaited night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>So tediously away. The poor condemned English,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>Sit patiently and inly ruminate</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>The morning's danger, and their gesture sad</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>Investing lank-lean; cheeks and war-worn coats</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Presenteth them unto the gazing moon</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>The royal captain of this ruin'd band</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Let him cry 'Praise and glory on his head!'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>For forth he goes and visits all his host.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>Bids them good morrow with a modest smile</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>And calls them brothers, friends and countrymen.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Upon his royal face there is no note</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>How dread an army hath enrounded him;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>Nor doth he dedicate one jot of colour</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>Unto the weary and all-watched night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>But freshly looks and over-bears attaint</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>That every wretch, pining and pale before,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>A largess universal like the sun</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>His liberal eye doth give to every one,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>Behold, as may unworthiness define,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=47>A little touch of Harry in the night.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>And so our scene must to the battle fly;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>Where--O for pity!--we shall much disgrace</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>With four or five most vile and ragged foils,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>Right ill-disposed in brawl ridiculous,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>Minding true things by what their mockeries be.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
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