Henry V, Modern text based on the Folio
Not Peer Reviewed
[Prologue]
1
Enter [Chorus as] Prologue.
¶Chorus O for a muse of fire, that would ascend
¶The brightest heaven of invention,
¶A kingdom for a stage, princes to act,
5And monarchs to behold the swelling scene.
¶Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
¶Assume the port of Mars, and at his heels,
¶Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire
¶Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,
10The flat unraisèd spirits that hath dared,
¶On this unworthy scaffold, to bring forth
¶So great an object. Can this cockpit hold
¶The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram
¶Within this wooden O the very casques
15That did affright the air at Agincourt?
¶O pardon, since a crooked figure may
¶Attest in little place a million,
¶And let us, ciphers to this great account,
¶On your imaginary forces work.
20Suppose within the girdle of these walls
¶Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
¶Whose high, uprearèd, and abutting fronts
¶The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder.
¶Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts:
25Into a thousand parts divide one man,
¶And make imaginary puissance.
¶Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them
¶Printing their proud hooves i'th'receiving earth.
¶For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,
30Carry them here and there, jumping o'er times,
¶Turning th'accomplishment of many years
¶Into an hourglass: for the which supply,
¶Admit me Chorus to this history,
¶Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray
35Gently to hear, kindly to judge our play.
Exit.