Page:Henry V (1918) Yale.djvu/17

Henry the Fifth, I. i

Cant.He seems indifferent,

Or rather swaying more upon our part

Than cherishing the exhibiters against us;

For I have made an offer to his majesty,

Upon our spiritual convocation,

And in regard of causes now in hand,

Which I have open'd to his Grace at large,

As touching France, to give a greater sum

Than ever at one time the clergy yet

Did to his predecessors part withal.

Ely. How did this offer seem receiv'd, my lord?

Cant. With good acceptance of his majesty;

Save that there was not time enough to hear,—

As I perceiv'd his Grace would fain have done,—

The severals and unhidden passages

Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms,

And generally to the crown and seat of France,

Deriv'd from Edward, his great-grandfather.

Ely. What was the impediment that broke this off?

Cant. The French ambassador upon that instant

Crav'd audience; and the hour I think is come

To give him hearing: is it four o'clock?

Ely. It is.

Cant. Then go we in to know his embassy;

Which I could with a ready guess declare

Before the Frenchman speak a word of it.

Ely. I'll wait upon you, and I long to hear it. Exeunt.

 73 upon our part: to our side

74 exhibiters: i.e., those who presented the bill in Parliament

76 Upon: upon the authority of

81 withal: with

86 severals: details

passages: lines of succession

89 Edward; cf. n.

95 embassy: message 