Back to main page
Henry V - Act 2, Chorus
Cite
Download Henry V
Last updated: Tue, Jun 02, 2020
- PDF Download as PDF
- DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers
- DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers
- HTML Download as HTML
- TXT Download as TXT
- XML Download as XML
- TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis) Download as TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis)
Navigate this work
Henry V - Act 2, ChorusAct 2, Chorus
Synopsis:
The Chorus announces the enthusiastic support of English youth for Henry’s French campaign, but also advises that the French have bribed three noblemen to attempt Henry’s assassination.
Enter Chorus.
⌜CHORUS⌝
0463 Now all the youth of England are on fire,
0464 And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies;
0465 Now thrive the armorers, and honor’s thought
0466 Reigns solely in the breast of every man.
0467 5 They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,
0468 Following the mirror of all Christian kings
0469 With wingèd heels, as English Mercurys.
0470 For now sits Expectation in the air
0471 And hides a sword, from hilts unto the point,
0472 10 With crowns imperial, crowns, and coronets
0473 Promised to Harry and his followers.
0474 The French, advised by good intelligence
0475 Of this most dreadful preparation,
0476 Shake in their fear, and with pale policy
0477 15 Seek to divert the English purposes.
0478 O England, model to thy inward greatness,
0479 Like little body with a mighty heart,
0480 What might’st thou do, that honor would thee do,
0481 Were all thy children kind and natural!
0482 20 But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out,
0483 A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills
0484 With treacherous crowns, and three corrupted men—
0485 One, Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
p.
43
0486
Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,0487 25 Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland—
0488 Have, for the gilt of France (O guilt indeed!),
0489 Confirmed conspiracy with fearful France,
0490 And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
0491 If hell and treason hold their promises,
0492 30 Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
0493 Linger your patience on, and we’ll digest
0494 Th’ abuse of distance, force a play.
0495 The sum is paid, the traitors are agreed,
0496 The King is set from London, and the scene
0497 35 Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton.
0498 There is the playhouse now, there must you sit,
0499 And thence to France shall we convey you safe
0500 And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
0501 To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
0502 40 We’ll not offend one stomach with our play.
0503 But, till the King come forth, and not till then,
0504 Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.
He exits.