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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 5, 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>Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>That I may prompt them: and of such as have,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>I humbly pray them to admit the excuse</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>Of time, of numbers and due course of things,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>Which cannot in their huge and proper life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Be here presented. Now we bear the king</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>Toward Calais: grant him there; there seen,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>Heave him away upon your winged thoughts</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>Pales in the flood with men, with wives and boys,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep mouth'd sea,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>Seems to prepare his way: so let him land,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>And solemnly see him set on to London.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>So swift a pace hath thought that even now</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>You may imagine him upon Blackheath;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Where that his lords desire him to have borne</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>His bruised helmet and his bended sword</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>Before him through the city: he forbids it,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>Giving full trophy, signal and ostent</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>Quite from himself to God. But now behold,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>In the quick forge and working-house of thought,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>How London doth pour out her citizens!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>The mayor and all his brethren in best sort,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>Like to the senators of the antique Rome,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>With the plebeians swarming at their heels,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>Go forth and fetch their conquering Caesar in:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>As, by a lower but loving likelihood,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>Were now the general of our gracious empress,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>As in good time he may, from Ireland coming,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>Bringing rebellion broached on his sword,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>How many would the peaceful city quit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>To welcome him! much more, and much more cause,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Did they this Harry. Now in London place him;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>As yet the lamentation of the French</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>Invites the King of England's stay at home;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>The emperor's coming in behalf of France,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>To order peace between them; and omit</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>All the occurrences, whatever chanced,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>Till Harry's back-return again to France:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>There must we bring him; and myself have play'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>The interim, by remembering you 'tis past.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>Then brook abridgment, and your eyes advance,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>After your thoughts, straight back again to France.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
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