Imatges de pàgina
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IRST, my Feare: then, my Curtsie: last, my
Speech. My Feare, is your Displeasure:
My Curtsie, my Dutie: And my speech, to
Begge your Pardons. If you looke for a
good speech now, you undoe me: For what
I have to say, is of mine owne making: and
what (indeed) I should say, will (I doubt)
But to the Purpose, and so to the Ven-

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proove mine owne marring.

ture.

Be it knowne to you (as it is very well) I was lately heere in the end of a displeasing Play, to pray your Patience for it, and to promise you a Better: I did meane (indeede) to pay you with this, which if (like an ill Venture) it come unluckily home, I breake; and you, my gentle Creditors lose. Heere I promist you I would be, and heere I commit my Bodie to your Mercies: Bate me some, and I will pay you some, and (as most Debtors do) promise you infinitely.

If my Tongue cannot entreate you to acquit me: will you command me to use my Legges? And yet that were but light payment, to Dance out of your debt: But a good Conscience, will make any possible satisfaction, and so will I. All the gentlewomen heere, have forgiven me, if the Gentlemen will not, then the Gentlemen do not agree with the Gentlewomen, which was never seene before, in such an Assembly.

One word more, I beseech you if you be not too much cloid with Fat Meate, our humble Author will continue the Story (with Sir

John in it) aud make you merry, with faire Katherine of France: where (for any thing I know) Falstaffe shall dye of a sweat, unlesse already he be kill'd with your hard Opinions: For Old-Castle dyed a Martyr, and this is not the man. My Tongue is wearie, when my Legs are too, I will bid you good night; and so kneele downe before you: But (indeed) to pray for the Queene.

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THE

ACTORS

NAMES.

UMOUR the Presentor.

King Henry the Fourth.

Prince Henry, afterwards Crowned King Henrie the Fift.

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The Life of Henry the Fift.

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Enter Prologue.

For a Muse of Fire, that would ascend
The brightest Heaven of Invention:

A Kingdome for a Stage, Princes to A,
And Monarchs to behold the swelling Scene.
Then should the Warlike Harry, like himselfe,
Assume the Port of Mars, and at his heeles
(Leasht in, like Hounds) should Famine, Sword, and Fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, Gentles all:
The flat unraysed Spirits, that hath dar'd,
On this unworthy Scaffold, to bring forth
So great an Object. Can this Cock-pit hold
The vastie fields of France ?

Within this Woodden O, the

Or
may we cramme
very Caskes

That did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?
O pardon: since a crooked Figure may
Attest in little place a Million,

And let us, Cyphers to this great Accompt,
On your imaginarie Forces worke.
Suppose within the Girdle of these Walls
Are now confin'd two mightie Monarchies,
Whose high, up-reared, and abutting Fronts,
The perillous narrow Ocean parts asunder.
Peece out our imperfections with your thoughts:
Into a thousand parts divide one Man,
And make imaginarie Puissance.

Thinke when we talke of Horses, that you see them,
Printing their prowd Hoofes i'th' receiving Earth:
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings,
Carry them here and there: Jumping o're Times;
Turning th'accomplishment of many yeeres

Into an Howre-glasse: for the which supplie,
Admit me Chorus to this Historie;

Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray,
Gently to heare, kindly to judge our Play.

Actus Primus. Scana Prima.

Enter the two Bishops of Canterbury and Ely.
Bish. Cant.

Exit.

Y Lord, Ile tell you, that selfe Bill is urg'd,
Which in th' 'eleventh yere of that last Kings reign
Was like, and had indeed against us past,

But that the scambling and unquiet time
Did push it out of farther question.

Bish. Ely. But how my Lord shall we resist it now?
Bish. Cant. It must be thought on: if it passe against us,

We loose the better halfe of our Possession:

For all the Temporall Lands, which men devout

By Testament have given to the Church,

Would they strip from us; being valu'd thus,

As much as would maintaine, to the Kings honor,
Full fifteene Earles, and fifteene hundred Knights,
Six thousand and two hundred good Esquires :
And to reliefe of Lazars, and weake age
Of indigent faint Soules, past corporall toyle,
A hundred Almes-houses, right well supply'd:
And to the Coffers of the King beside,

A thousand pounds by th'yeere. Thus runs the Bill.

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