[Prologue]
Enter Prologue.OFor a Muse of Fire, that would ascendThe brightest Heauen of Inuention:A Kingdome for a Stage, Princes to Act,And Monarchs to behold the swelling Scene.
[5]
Then should the Warlike Harry,
like himselfe,Assume the Port of Mars
, and at his heeles(Leasht in, like Hounds) should Famine, Sword, and FireCrouch for employment. But pardon, Gentles all:The flat vnraysed Spirits, that hath dar'd,
[10]
On this vnworthy Scaffold, to bring forthSo great an Obiect Can this Cock-Pit holdThe vastie fields of France? Or may we crammeWithin this Woodden O. the very CaskesThat did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?
[15]
O pardon: since a crooked Figure mayAttest in little place a Million,And let vs, Cyphers to this great Accompt,
On your imaginarie Forces worke.Suppose within the Girdle of these Walls
[20]
Are now confin'd two mightie Monarchies,Whose high, vp-reared, and abutting Fronts,The perillous narrow Ocean parts asunder.Peece out our imperfections with your thoughts:Into a thousand parts diuide one Man,
[25]
And make imaginarie Puissance.Thinke when we talke of Horses, that you see themPrinting their prowd Hoofes i'th' receiuing Earth:For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings,Carry them here and there: Iumping o're Times;
[30]
Turning th'accomplishment of many yeeresInto an Howre-glasse: for the which supplieAdmit me Chorus
to this Historie;Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray,Gently to heare, kindly to iudge our Play.Exit.
Actus Primus. Scœna Prima
[Act 1, Scene 1]
Enter the two Bishops of
Canterbury and Ely.
Bish. Cant.
[35]
MY Lord, Ile tell you, that selfe Bill is vrg'd,
Which in
th'eleuēth
th'eleuenth yere of y
e last Kings reign
Was like, and had indeed against vs past,But that the scambling and vnquiet timeDid push it out of farther question.Bish. Ely.
[40]
But how my Lord shall we resist it now?Bish. Cant.It must be thought on: if it passe against vs,We loose the better halfe of our Possession:For all the Temporall Lands, which men deuoutBy Testament haue giuen to the Church,
[45]
Would they strip from vs; being valu'd thus,As much as would maintaine, to the Kings honor,Full fifteene Earles, and fifteene hundred Knights,Six thousand and two hundred good Esquires:And to reliefe of Lazars, and weake age
[50]
Of indigent faint Soules, past corporall toyle,A hundred Almes-houses, right well supply'd:And to the Coffers of the King beside,A thousand pounds by th'yeere
Thus runs the Bill.
Bish. Ely.This would drinke deepe.Bish. Cant.
[55]
'Twould drinke the Cup and all.Bish. Ely.But what preuention?Bish. Cant.The King is full of grace, and faire re-
gard.
Bish. Ely.And a true louer of the holy Church.Bish. Cant.The courses of his youth promis'd it not.
[60]
The breath no sooner left his Fathers body,But that his wildnesse, mortify'd in him,Seem'd to dye too: yea, at that very moment,Consideration like an Angell came,And whipt th'offending
Adam
out of him;
[65]
Leauing his body as a Paradise,T'inuelop and containe Celestiall Spirits.Neuer was such a sodaine Scholler made:Neuer came Reformation in a Flood,With such a heady currance scowring faults:
[70]
Nor neuer
Hidra-headed Wilfulnesse
So soone did loose his Seat; and all at once;As in this King.Bish. Ely.We are blessed in the Change.Bish. Cant. Heare him but reason in Diuinitie;
[75]
And all-admiring, with an inward wishYou would desire the King were made a Prelate:Heare him debate of Common-wealth Affaires;You would say, it hath been all in all his study:List his discourse of Warre; and you shall heare
[Prologue]
Enter Prologue.OFor a Muse of Fire, that would ascendThe brightest Heauen of Inuention:A Kingdome for a Stage, Princes to Act,And Monarchs to behold the swelling Scene.
[5]
Then should the Warlike Harry,
like himselfe,Assume the Port of Mars
, and at his heeles(Leasht in, like Hounds) should Famine, Sword, and FireCrouch for employment. But pardon, Gentles all:The flat vnraysed Spirits, that hath dar'd,
[10]
On this vnworthy Scaffold, to bring forthSo great an Obiect Can this Cock-Pit holdThe vastie fields of France? Or may we crammeWithin this Woodden O. the very CaskesThat did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?
[15]
O pardon: since a crooked Figure mayAttest in little place a Million,And let vs, Cyphers to this great Accompt,On your imaginarie Forces worke.Suppose within the Girdle of these Walls
[20]
Are now confin'd two mightie Monarchies,Whose high, vp-reared, and abutting Fronts,The perillous narrow Ocean parts asunder.Peece out our imperfections with your thoughts:Into a thousand parts diuide one Man,
[25]
And make imaginarie Puissance.Thinke when we talke of Horses, that you see themPrinting their prowd Hoofes i'th' receiuing Earth:For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings,Carry them here and there: Iumping o're Times;
[30]
Turning th'accomplishment of many yeeresInto an Howre-glasse: for the which supplieAdmit me Chorus
to this Historie;Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray,Gently to heare, kindly to iudge our Play.Exit.
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