PROLOGUE The Life of King Henry the Fifth  Shakespeare homepage  |  Henry V  | Act 5, Prologue 

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 Enter Chorus  Chorus  Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story, 

 That I may prompt them: and of such as have, 

 I humbly pray them to admit the excuse 

 Of time, of numbers and due course of things, 

 Which cannot in their huge and proper life 

 Be here presented. Now we bear the king 

 Toward Calais: grant him there; there seen, 

 Heave him away upon your winged thoughts 

 Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach 

 Pales in the flood with men, with wives and boys, 

 Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep mouth'd sea, 

 Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king 

 Seems to prepare his way: so let him land, 

 And solemnly see him set on to London. 

 So swift a pace hath thought that even now 

 You may imagine him upon Blackheath; 

 Where that his lords desire him to have borne 

 His bruised helmet and his bended sword 

 Before him through the city: he forbids it, 

 Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride; 

 Giving full trophy, signal and ostent 

 Quite from himself to God. But now behold, 

 In the quick forge and working-house of thought, 

 How London doth pour out her citizens! 

 The mayor and all his brethren in best sort, 

 Like to the senators of the antique Rome, 

 With the plebeians swarming at their heels, 

 Go forth and fetch their conquering Caesar in: 

 As, by a lower but loving likelihood, 

 Were now the general of our gracious empress, 

 As in good time he may, from Ireland coming, 

 Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, 

 How many would the peaceful city quit, 

 To welcome him! much more, and much more cause, 

 Did they this Harry. Now in London place him; 

 As yet the lamentation of the French 

 Invites the King of England's stay at home; 

 The emperor's coming in behalf of France, 

 To order peace between them; and omit 

 All the occurrences, whatever chanced, 

 Till Harry's back-return again to France: 

 There must we bring him; and myself have play'd 

 The interim, by remembering you 'tis past. 

 Then brook abridgment, and your eyes advance, 

 After your thoughts, straight back again to France. 



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