Now are we well resolv'd; and, by God's help, O'er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms, Enter Ambassadors of France. Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleasure Your greeting is from him, not from the King. 230 First Amb. May 't please your majesty to give us leave Freely to render what we have in charge; Or shall we sparingly show you far off The Dolphin's meaning and our embassy? 240 K. Hen. We are no tyrant, but a Christian king; Unto whose grace our passion is as subject 227. In the middle ages France was more of a combination of powerful dukedoms than a kingdom. The dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, Brittany, and others were practically independent rulers, and were obedient to the King of France only as he could compel obedience. 232. mute = a servant whose tongue has been cut out. 233. waxen = soft, perishable; suggested by waxen tablets for writing. W. Thus, then, in few. 250 First Amb. Your highness, lately sending into France, Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third. In answer of which claim, the prince our master Says that you savour too much of your youth, And bids you be advis'd there's nought in France That can be with a nimble galliard won; You cannot revel into dukedoms there. He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim Hear no more of you. This the Dolphin speaks. K. Hen. What treasure, uncle? Exe. Tennis-balls, my liege. K. Hen. We are glad the Dolphin is so pleasant with us; 260 His present and your pains we thank you for : 270 247. certain dukedoms: Normandy, Brittany, Touraine, and the earldoms of Anjou and Maine. 259. pleasant = full of jest. 261. rackets, set, hazard, chaces: technical terms in the game of court tennis. 267. The Dauphin was thinking that Henry was still his younger self. To barbarous license; as 't is ever common That shall have cause to curse the Dolphin's scorn. To whom I do appeal; and in whose name When thousands weep more than did laugh at it. Exe. This was a merry message. 280 290 [Exeunt Ambassadors. K. Hen. We hope to make the sender blush at it. Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour That may give furth'rance to our expedition; 300 282. gun-stones cannon balls, made at first of stone. W. 300. happy fortunate. = For we have now no thought in us but France, ACT II PROLOGUE Enter Chorus. 310 [Exeunt. Flourish., Chor. Now all the youth of England are on fire, Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought 10 307. God before: = God going before, Deo juvante. W. Prologue. This exemplifies one of the great functions of the Chorus; it tells us about things instead of showing them to us; it is narrative and not dramatic. Shakespeare uses it for matters that could not easily be presented in action. 9. And hides a sword, etc. Swords with crowns thus spitted on them may be seen in some old engraved royal portraits. W. Of this most dreadful preparation, Shake in their fear and with pale policy O England! model to thy inward greatness What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do, But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out 20 With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men, And by their hands this grace of kings must die, Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton. 30 The abuse of distance; force a play: The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed; 16. model to thy inward greatness = proportioned to thy inward greatness. W. 19. kind and natural. The meaning of the two words is here much the same. 20. France = the King of France. So England in II, iv, 75. 23. Cambridge: cousin to Henry IV. Scroop: third husband of Joan, widow of Edmund, Duke of York. W. 32. force a play. Either this phrase is hopelessly corrupt, or something before it has been lost. W. 34. scene = place of action. |