Henry V – Act 5 Prologue

CHORUS

Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story,

Permit me, those who do not know the story,

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

To state what’s happening here: and those who’ve heard it,

I humbly pray them to admit the excuse

I beg that you forgive the lapses stated

Of time, of numbers and due course of things,

In time past, numbers dead and everything

Which cannot in their huge and proper life

Which can’t reflect the scale of the action

Be here presented. Now we bear the king

That we’re presenting here. We bring the king now

Toward Calais: grant him there; there seen,

To Calais: think of him as being there;

Heave him away upon your winged thoughts

Then, with imagination, see him carried

Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach

Across the sea. We see the English beach

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

Awash with men, with wives and boys at high tide,

Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep mouthed sea,

Whose shouts and claps drown out the roaring sea,

Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king

Who, like a marshal leading out the king,

Seems to prepare his way: so let him land,

Seems to prepare his path. Let him make landfall,

And solemnly see him set on to London.

Then, with solemnity, depart for London.

So swift a pace hath thought that even now

As thoughts can pass so quickly, you might just

You may imagine him upon Blackheath;

Imagine him arriving on Blackheath now,

Where that his lords desire him to have borne

Where there his lords request that he will carry

His bruised helmet and his bended sword

His damaged helmet and his twisted sword

Before him through the city: he forbids it,

With him towards the city: he forbids it,

Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride;

For he’s devoid of vanity and pride,

Giving full trophy, signal and ostent

Declaring that the victory and emblems

Quite from himself to God. But now behold,

Aren’t his but come from God. And now observe,

In the quick forge and working-house of thought,

By forging out a vision in your thoughts,

How London doth pour out her citizens!

How London’s citizens all swarm the streets!

The mayor and all his brethren in best sort,

The mayor and his colleagues in their finest,

Like to the senators of the antique Rome,

Like senators adorned in ancient Rome,

With the plebeians swarming at their heels,

With commoners amassing all around them,

Go forth and fetch their conquering Caesar in:

Go out and carry home the conquering Caesar.

As, by a lower but loving likelihood,

It would be similar, though he’s lower ranked,

Were now the general of our gracious empress,

If the commanding general of our queen –

As in good time he may, from Ireland coming,

One day he might – come back from Ireland

Bringing rebellion broached on his sword,

Announcing he’s defeated their rebellion,

How many would the peaceful city quit,

How many city people would emerge

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

To welcome him! Far more, with far more reason,

Did they this Harry. Now in London place him;

Did this for Harry. Now, see him in London;

As yet the lamentation of the French

And for a while, the French remain in mourning,

Invites the King of England's stay at home;

And so the King of England stays at home.

The emperor's coming in behalf of France,

The emperor comes here, representing France

To order peace between them; and omit

Negotiating peace. But now, move on from

All the occurrences, whatever chanced,

What happened next and all occurrences

Till Harry's back-return again to France:

Till Harry has returned again to France.

There must we bring him; and myself have played

Let’s all imagine that he’s there; and I

The interim, by remembering you 'tis past.

Have been the interval, explaining history.

Then brook abridgment, and your eyes advance,

Forgive this summary, and now advance

After your thoughts, straight back again to France.

Beyond your thoughts, and journey back to France.