ACT 5
Henry V Epilogue: Retold in Modern English Verse
The story ends where Henry VI began
In a closing sonnet, the Chorus asks pardon for the play’s confinements: a small stage has held mighty men and cut short the full course of their glory. Henry lived greatly in a small time, this star of England; his infant son was crowned King of France and England, but so many managed his state that France was lost and England left to bleed – the story of the Henry VI plays, which Shakespeare’s stage had already told.
Characters appearing: Chorus
Key themes: Kingship and Leadership | Patriotism and Nationalism
[ENTER CHORUS]
CHORUS
Thus far, with rough and all-unable pen,
And so, with poor and insufficient pen,
Our bending author hath pursued the story,
Our bowing author bent to tell this story,
In little room confining mighty men,
Within this little room, of mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
By breaking into pieces all their glory.
Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
The time was short, but greatness lived within it,
This star of England: Fortune made his sword;
An English star, where Fortune made his sword,
By which the world's best garden be achieved,
And conquered fields of France and all things in it,
And of it left his son imperial lord.
Then left it to his son, imperial lord.
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crowned King
Henry the Sixth, in swaddling clothes, was crowned
Of France and England, did this king succeed;
The King of France and England, this king’s heir;
Whose state so many had the managing,
But, running both, so many ran around
That they lost France and made his England bleed:
That they lost France, and England did despair.
Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their sake,
You’ve seen that play before; and for their parts,
In your fair minds let this acceptance take.
Accept this play within your gracious hearts.
[EXIT]
