Henry V – Act 2 Prologue

CHORUS

Now all the youth of England are on fire,

The youth of England now all burn with passion;

And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:

They’ve packed away their courting leisure clothes.

Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought

Those making armour thrive, and thoughts of honour

Reigns solely in the breast of every man:

Preoccupy the mind of every man.

They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,

They sell their field so they can buy a horse

Following the mirror of all Christian kings,

To follow model Christian king, King Henry,

With winged heels, as English Mercuries.

Like Mercury, who flew on shoes with wings.

For now sits Expectation in the air,

The air’s now filled with tense anticipation,

And hides a sword from hilts unto the point

A sword obscured from handle to its tip

With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,

With crowns for kings and coronets for nobles,

Promised to Harry and his followers.

All owed to Harry and his followers.

The French, advised by good intelligence

The French, forewarned by sound intelligence

Of this most dreadful preparation,

About the fearsome preparations made,

Shake in their fear and with pale policy

Are terrified, and timidly attempt

Seek to divert the English purposes.

To thwart the English plans the best they can.

O England! Model to thy inward greatness,

Oh England! You are small, but great inside,

Like little body with a mighty heart,

A little body with a massive heart,

What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,

What things could you achieve, given the chance,

Were all thy children kind and natural!

If every Englishman was true and loyal!

But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out

But here’s your weakness! France has found in you

A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills

A group of empty-hearted men, whom he pays

With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,

Blood-money to; and three disloyal men –

One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,

One, Richard, Earl of Cambridge; and the second,

Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,

Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham; and the third,

Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,

Sir Thomas Grey, knight, from Northumberland –

Have, for the gilt of France, – O guilt indeed!

Have, for gilt-gold of France – Oh, guilt indeed! –

Confirmed conspiracy with fearful France;

Agreed a traitorous plot with frightened France

And by their hands this grace of kings must die,

Whereby they’ll kill this greatest of all kings,

If hell and treason hold their promises,

If evil and betrayal get their way,

Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.

Before he boards the docked ship in Southampton.

Linger your patience on; and we'll digest

Be patient with us, and we’ll overcome

The abuse of distance; force a play:

The distances involved, and act the play out.

The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;

The blood-money is paid; the traitors, ready;

The king is set from London; and the scene

The king’s departed London, and this next scene

Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;

Has moved on, gentle people, to Southampton.

There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:

Imagine that the theatre is there now,

And thence to France shall we convey you safe,

Then, after that, we’ll take you on to France,

And bring you back, charming the narrow seas

Then bring you back, across the English Channel

To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,

A journey safe and calm; and, if we may

We'll not offend one stomach with our play.

Nobody will get seasick from our play.

But, till the king come forth, and not till then,

Until the king appears, not in between,

Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

We’ll travel to Southampton for our scene.