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That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his
Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones; and his soul
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows
Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands;
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down;
And some are yet ungotten and unborn

That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of God,
To whom I do appeal; and in whose name
Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on,
To venge me as I may and to put forth
My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause.

So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin
His jest will savour but of shallow wit,

When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.
Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well.
[Exeunt Ambassadors.

EXE. This was a merry message.
K. HEN. We hope to make the sender blush at it.
Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour
That may give furtherance to our expedition;
For we have now no thought in us but France,
Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected, and all things thought upon

282 gun-stones] cannon-balls; which were originally made of stone.
304 proportions] numbers.
Cf. line 137, supra.

280

290

300

That may with reasonable swiftness add
More feathers to our wings; for, God before,
We'll chide this Dauphin at his father's door.
Therefore let every man now task his thought,
That this fair action may on foot be brought.

[Exeunt. Flourish.

307 God before] God guiding us. Cf. III, vi, 151, infra.

310

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

Enter Chorus

[graphic]

ROW ALL THE YOUTH OF
England are on fire,

And silken dalliance in the ward-
robe lies:

Now thrive the armorers, and honour's thought

Reigns solely in the breast of every man:

They sell the pasture now to
buy the horse,

Following the mirror of all
Christian kings,

With winged heels, as English
Mercuries.

For now sits Expectation in the air,

And hides a sword from hilts unto the point
With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,
Promised to Harry and his followers.
The French, advised by good intelligence

2 silken dalliance] effeminacy of silken attire.

10

Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear and with pale policy
Seek to divert the English purposes.

O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,

What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!

But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills
With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,
One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,
Sir Thomas Gray, knight, of Northumberland,
Have, for the gilt of France, O guilt indeed! -
Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;
And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
If hell and treason hold their promises,

Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
Linger your patience on; and we'll digest
The abuse of distance; force a play:
The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;

16 model] model in miniature, pattern.

19 kind] filial.

20-21 France . he] The King of France... he.

26 gilt... guilt] a favourite quibble with Shakespeare; cf. 2 Hen. IV, IV, v, 129, "England shall double gild his treble guilt."

31-32 Linger... on... force a play] Thus the Folios. There is probably some corruption. The passage seems a needless interpolation. The meaning may be, "Prolong your patience, and we 'll set right the awkwardness of the distance between the different places where the incidents of the play occur, and compel the sequence of events into the necessary limits of dramatic action."

20

30

The king is set from London; and the scene
Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;
There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
We'll not offend one stomach with our play.
But, till the king come forth, and not till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

[Exit.

40

SCENE I-LONDON

A STREET

Enter Corporal NYм and Lieutenant BARDOLPH

BARD. Well met, Corporal Nym.

NYM. Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.

BARD. What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet? NYм. For my part, I care not: I say little; but when time shall serve, there shall be smiles; but that shall be as it may. I dare not fight; but I will wink and hold

40 We'll not offend one stomach] We'll make nobody seasick. 41-42 But, till the king ... scene] The words very crudely explain that the scene will not be shifted from London to Southampton until the king comes on the stage again.

1 Nym] In thieves' language the word is a verb meaning "to steal.” 3 Ancient] Ensign. Cf. 1 Hen. IV, IV, ii, 23.

5 when time

[ocr errors]

smiles] probably Nym means that one of them will have the laugh on his side, when the time comes for him and Pistol to square accounts.

6 wink] shut my eyes.

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