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Henry V - Act 4, Chorus
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Last updated: Tue, Jun 02, 2020
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Henry V - Act 4, ChorusAct 4, Chorus
Synopsis:
The Chorus describes the confident French and anxious English armies on the night before the battle of Agincourt, and portrays Henry as passing among his troops cheering them up. Again the Chorus laments that the stage and actors are so inadequate to the presentation of the battle to come.
⌜Enter⌝ Chorus.⌜CHORUS⌝
1794 Now entertain conjecture of a time
1795 When creeping murmur and the poring dark
1796 Fills the wide vessel of the universe.
1797 From camp to camp, through the foul womb of
1798 5 night,
1799 The hum of either army stilly sounds,
1800 That the fixed sentinels almost receive
1801 The secret whispers of each other’s watch.
1802 Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames
1803 10 Each battle sees the other’s umbered face;
1804 Steed threatens steed in high and boastful neighs
1805 Piercing the night’s dull ear; and from the tents
1806 The armorers, accomplishing the knights,
1807 With busy hammers closing rivets up,
1808 15 Give dreadful note of preparation.
1809 The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,
1810 And, the third hour of drowsy morning named,
1811 Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,
1812 The confident and overlusty French
1813 20 Do the low-rated English play at dice
1814 And chide the cripple, tardy-gaited night,
1815 Who like a foul and ugly witch doth limp
1816 So tediously away. The poor condemnèd English,
p.
135
1817
Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires1818 25 Sit patiently and inly ruminate
1819 The morning’s danger; and their gesture sad,
1820 Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats,
1821 ⌜Presenteth⌝ them unto the gazing moon
1822 So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold
1823 30 The royal captain of this ruined band
1824 Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent,
1825 Let him cry, “Praise and glory on his head!”
1826 For forth he goes and visits all his host,
1827 Bids them good morrow with a modest smile,
1828 35 And calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen.
1829 Upon his royal face there is no note
1830 How dread an army hath enrounded him,
1831 Nor doth he dedicate one jot of color
1832 Unto the weary and all-watchèd night,
1833 40 But freshly looks and overbears attaint
1834 With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty,
1835 That every wretch, pining and pale before,
1836 Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks.
1837 A largesse universal, like the sun,
1838 45 His liberal eye doth give to everyone,
1839 Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all
1840 Behold, as may unworthiness define,
1841 A little touch of Harry in the night.
1842 And so our scene must to the battle fly,
1843 50 Where, O for pity, we shall much disgrace,
1844 With four or five most vile and ragged foils
1845 Right ill-disposed in brawl ridiculous,
1846 The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see,
1847 Minding true things by what their mock’ries be.
He exits.