MaximumEdge.com | | Search | | E-Mail | | News | | Weather | | Finance | | Directory | | Music | | Lottery Results | | Horoscopes | | Translation | | Games | | E-Cards | | Maps | | Jobs | | Magazines | | DVDs |

MaximumEdge.com
Shakespeare

Home > King Henry V > ACT II - PROLOGUE

Search: King Henry V


< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIACT II, I (Next) >

ACT II - PROLOGUE
Enter Chorus

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

< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIACT II, I (Next) >
Scene Index
ACT I
  • PROLOGUE
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II


  • ACT II
  • PROLOGUE
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT III
  • PROLOGUE
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT IV
  • PROLOGUE
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII
  • SCENE VIII


  • ACT V
  • PROLOGUE
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • EPILOGUE

  • ©1999-. All rights reserved.Contact
    Part of the MaximumEdge.com Network.Add Bookmark