Enter Chorus. CHORUS
Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story
That I may prompt them; and of such as have,
I humbly pray them to admit th’ excuse
Of time, of numbers, and due course of things,
Which cannot in their huge and proper life 5
Be here presented. Now we bear the King
Toward Calais. Grant him there. There seen,
Heave him away upon your wingèd thoughts
Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach
Pales in the flood with men, wives, and boys, 10
Whose shouts and claps outvoice the deep-mouthed
sea,
Which, like a mighty whiffler ’fore the King
Seems to prepare his way. So let him land,
And solemnly see him set on to London. 15
So swift a pace hath thought that even now
You may imagine him upon Blackheath,
Where that his lords desire him to have borne
His bruisèd helmet and his bended sword
Before him through the city. He forbids it, 20
Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride,
Giving full trophy, signal, and ostent
Quite from himself, to God. But now behold,
In the quick forge and workinghouse of thought,
How London doth pour out her citizens. 25
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 forth and fetch their conqu’ring Caesar in—
As, by a lower but by loving likelihood 30
Were now the general of our gracious empress,
As in good time he may, from Ireland coming,
Bringing rebellion broachèd on his sword,
How many would the peaceful city quit
To welcome him! Much more, and much more 35
cause,
Did they this Harry. Now in London place him
(As yet the lamentation of the French
Invites the King of England’s stay at home;
The Emperor’s coming in behalf of France 40
To order peace between them) and omit
All the occurrences, whatever chanced,
Till Harry’s back return again to France.
There must we bring him, and myself have played
The interim, by remembering you ’tis past. 45
Then brook abridgment, and your eyes advance
After your thoughts, straight back again to France. He exits. | The Chorus comes out on stage and tells us about Henry's trip to Calais and his victorious return to London, which we'll just have to imagine because it's impossible to portray such a journey on stage. The Chorus tells us that the Holy Roman Emperor made a trip to England to try to negotiate peace between England and France and that Henry has returned to France. |