Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Henry V (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • Editor: James D. Mardock
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-409-7

    Copyright James D. Mardock. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: James D. Mardock
    Peer Reviewed

    Henry V (Quarto 1, 1600)

    of Henry the fift.
    To bar your highnesse claiming from the female,
    240And rather choose to hide them in a net,
    Then amply to imbace their crooked causes,
    Vsurpt from you and your progenitors.
    K. May we with right & conscience make this (claime?
    Bi. The sin vpon my head dread soueraigne.
    245For in the booke of Numbers is it writ,
    When the sonne dies, let the inheritance
    Descend vnto the daughter.
    Noble Lord stand for your owne,
    Vnwinde your bloody flagge,
    250Go my dread Lord to your great graunsirs graue,
    From whom you clayme:
    And your great Vncle Edward the blacke Prince,
    Who on the French ground playd a Tragedy
    Making defeat on the full power of France,
    255Whilest his most mighty father on a hill,
    Stood smiling to behold his Lyons whelpe,
    Foraging blood of French Nobilitie.
    O Noble English that could entertaine
    With halfe their Forces the full power of France:
    260And let an other halfe stand laughing by,
    All out of worke, and cold for action.
    King. We must not onely arme vs against the French,
    But lay downe our proportion for the Scot,
    285Who will make rode vpon vs with all aduantgages.
    Bi. The Marches gracious soueraigne, shalbe sufficient
    To guard your England from the pilfering borderers.
    290King. We do not meane the coursing sneakers onely,
    But feare the mayne entendement of the Scot,
    For you shall read, neuer my great grandfather
    Vnmaskt his power for France,
    295But that the Scot on his vnfurnisht Kingdome,
    Came pouring like the Tide into a breach,
    300That England being empty of defences,
    Hath shooke and trembled at the brute hereof.
    Bi. She hath bin then more feared then hurt my Lord:
    A 3 For