More would I, but my lungs are wasted so You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me; (Enter Prince John of Lancaster.) King. Look, look, here comes my John of Lan caster. Lancaster. Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father! King. Thou bring'st me happiness and peace, son But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown Where is my Lord of Warwick? Prince. My Lord of Warwick! (Reënter Warwick, and others.) King. Doth any name particular belong Unto the lodging where I first did swoon? Warwick. 'Tis call'd Jerusalem, my noble lord. King. Laud be to God! even there my life must end. It hath been prophesied to me many years I should not die but in Jerusalem, Which vainly I suppos'd the Holy Land. — [Exeunt. KING HENRY THE FIFTH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE brave and self-confident young king undertook to recover the French provinces. He even renewed Edward III.'s claim to the French crown. The brilliant victories won by the English were due in part to their enthusiasm and excellent discipline, but even more to the utter incapacity of France. The French king, Charles VI., was an imbecile, and the land was torn by the strife of rival factions. Famine and disease had reduced the people to a state of abject despair. Henry V. regarded his mission as a crusade against the vices of a demoralized nation. ACT III SCENE I. FRANCE. FRANCE. Before Harfleur. (Alarum. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Gloucester, and Soldiers with scaling-ladders.) King Henry. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead! In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Let it pry through the portage1 of the head Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it O'erhang and jutty 2 his confounded base, That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. 7 And teach them how to war!—And you, good yeo men, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,8 Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry "God for Harry, England, and Saint George!" [Exeunt. Alarum, and chambers1 go off. ACT IV SCENE I. The English Camp at Agincourt. (Enter King Henry, Bedford, and Gloucester.) King Henry. Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be. Good morrow, brother Bedford. — God Almighty! For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers, That we should dress3 us fairly for our end. (Enter Erpingham.) Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham: me better, Since I may say, now lie I like a king. King Henry. 'Tis good for men to love their present pains Upon example; so the spirit is eas'd: And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt, Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. - Brothers both, Do my good morrow to them, and anon Erringham. Shall I attend your grace? King Henry. No, my good knight; Go with my brothers to my lords of England: I and my bosom must debate awhile, And then I would no other company. Erpingham. The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry! [Exeunt all but King. King Henry. God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st King Henry. O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts; Possess them not with fear; take from them now The sense of reckoning, if the opposèd numbers Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord, O, not to-day, think not upon the fault 1 alacrity. |