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Henry V - Act 3, Chorus
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Last updated: Tue, Jun 02, 2020
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Henry V - Act 3, ChorusAct 3, Chorus
Synopsis:
The Chorus describes the embarkation of Henry’s fleet for France, Henry’s preparations to besiege the town of Harfleur, and the breakdown of talks between the French (who have offered Henry some land, and their princess in marriage) and the English, who now begin the siege.
Enter Chorus.
⌜CHORUS⌝
1049 Thus with imagined wing our swift scene flies
1050 In motion of no less celerity
1051 Than that of thought. Suppose that you have seen
1052 The well-appointed king at Dover pier
1053 5 Embark his royalty, and his brave fleet
1054 With silken streamers the young Phoebus
1055 ⌜fanning.⌝
1056 Play with your fancies and in them behold,
1057 Upon the hempen tackle, shipboys climbing.
1058 10 Hear the shrill whistle, which doth order give
1059 To sounds confused. Behold the threaden sails,
1060 Borne with th’ invisible and creeping wind,
1061 Draw the huge bottoms through the furrowed sea,
1062 Breasting the lofty surge. O, do but think
1063 15 You stand upon the rivage and behold
1064 A city on th’ inconstant billows dancing,
1065 For so appears this fleet majestical,
1066 Holding due course to Harfleur. Follow, follow!
1067 Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy,
1068 20 And leave your England, as dead midnight still,
1069 Guarded with grandsires, babies, and old women,
1070 Either past or not arrived to pith and puissance,
1071 For who is he whose chin is but enriched
1072 With one appearing hair that will not follow
p.
85
1073
25 These culled and choice-drawn cavaliers to France?1074 Work, work your thoughts, and therein see a siege;
1075 Behold the ordnance on their carriages,
1076 With fatal mouths gaping on girded Harfleur.
1077 Suppose th’ Ambassador from the French comes
1078 30 back,
1079 Tells Harry that the King doth offer him
1080 Katherine his daughter and with her, to dowry,
1081 Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.
1082 The offer likes not, and the nimble gunner
1083 35 With linstock now the devilish cannon touches,
Alarum, and chambers go off.
1084 And down goes all before them. Still be kind,
1085 And eke out our performance with your mind.
He exits.