...Shakespeare. In the chorus at the beginning of the fifth act of Henry I' we hear the followmg lines: Were now the General of our gracious Empress As in...many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him' 5.1 30-34) Any audience member at the Globe theatre with the remotest knowledge of contemporary affairs...

...audience to imagine the citizens of London flocking to "their conqu'ring Caesar," As, by a lower but loving likelihood, Were now the General of our gracious...many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him! (5.prologuc.iJ8-34) Most critics read this passage as praise of Essex, although it states only that...

...Rome, and can be read, in fact, as a rough draft of the opening scene of Shakespeare's Roman play: But now behold, In the quick forge and working-house...many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him! Henry V, V. Chorus, 22-34 Imagining Essex's arrival in London, Shakespeare evokes Caesar's successful...

...departure in a manner which recalls Daniel's earlier attempts to link Essex with the conqueror of France: As, by a lower but by loving likelihood, Were now...sword, How many would the peaceful city quit To welcome himl But by September he had failed in his mission and returned to London, where he was examined by...

...first to Caesar's return as conqueror to Rome and then to Essex's anticipated return from Ireland: As, by a lower but by loving likelihood, Were now...him! much more, and much more cause, Did they this Harry.28 Notice the prudent qualification that this is "a lower . . . likelihood" insofar as Essex...

...out her citizens. The Mayor and all his brethren, in best sort, Like to the senators of th'antique Rome With the plebeians swarming at their heels, Go...Empress, As in good time he may, from Ireland coming, xxvi Henry V Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit To welcome...

...sudden change of rhythm and line.length when Shakespeare inserts a contemporary allusion: the citizens Go forth and fetch their conquering Caesar in —...empress, (As in good time he may) from Ireland coming . . . Much of Henry V is written in prose, which is the proper medium for comic scenes and those involving...

...plebeians swarming at their heels, — Go forth, and fetch their conquering Caesar in: As, by a lower but oney-heavy dew of slumber: Thou hast Did they this Harry. Now in London place him; — As yet the lamentation of the French Invites the...

...swarming at their heels, Go forth and fetch their conqu'ring Caesar in As, by a lower but high-loving likelihood, Were now the General of our gracious Empress...many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him! (5.0.22—34) Essex was to return to London, disgraced, in September. Shakespeare's patron, the Earl...

...of th' antique Rome, With the plebeians swarming at their heels, Go forth and fetch their conqu'ring Caesar in; As by a lower but by loving likelihood,...many would the peaceful city quit, To welcome him! (lines 22-34) The "general" described as "from Ireland coming" is Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who...