Page:Henry V (1918) Yale.djvu/29

Henry the Fifth, II. Chorus

Therefore let every man now task his thought,

That this fair action may on foot be brought.

Exeunt.

 

Now all the youth of England are on fire,

And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies;

Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought

Reigns solely in the breast of every man:

They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,

Following the mirror of all Christian kings,

With winged heels, as English Mercuries.

For now sits Expectation in the air

And hides a sword from hilts unto the point

With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,

Promis'd to Harry and his followers.

The French, advis'd by good intelligence

Of this most dreadful preparation,

Shake in their fear, and with pale policy

Seek to divert the English purposes.

O England! model to thy inward greatness,

Like little body with a mighty heart,

What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,

Were all thy children kind and natural!

But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out

A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills

With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,

One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,

 Act Second S. d. Flourish: music of trumpets

12 intelligence: reconnaissance

14 policy: trickery

18 would: would have

19 kind: true to their kinship

20 France: the king of France

22 crowns: crown-pieces, gold 