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VI. KING HENRY THE FIFTH

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

SCENE I. THE WEARING OF A CROWN.

King Henry the Fourth is struck down with illness just at the moment when a rebellion against him is crushed and he is free to lead an army to the Holy Land, as he had vowed in order to recover the Sepulchre of Christ from the Turks.

Enter King Henry the Fourth, the Princes Thomas of Clarence and Humphrey of Gloucester, the Earl of Warwick, and Courtiers.

King Henry. Now, lords, if God doth give successful end

To this debate that bleedeth at our doors,
We will our youth lead on to higher fields,
And draw no swords but what are sanctified.
Our navy is addressed, our power collected,
And everything lies level to our wish:

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[He sinks into a chair.

Only, we want a little personal strength;
And pause us, till these rebels, now afoot,
Come underneath the yoke of government.
Warwick. Both which, we doubt not but your majesty
Shall soon enjoy.

King.

Humphrey, my son of Gloucester, 11

Where is the Prince your brother?

Prince Humphrey. I think he's gone to hunt, my lord,

at Windsor.

King. And how accompanied ?

Prince Humphrey.

him?

I do not know, my lord.

King. Is not his brother, Thomas of Clarence, with [Clarence comes forward. 15 Prince Humphrey. No, my good lord; he is in presence

here.

Clarence. What would my lord and father?

King. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence. How chance thou art not with the Prince thy brother?

He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas; 20
Thou hast a better place in his affection,
Than all thy brothers: cherish it, my boy,
And noble offices thou mayst effect
Of mediation, after I am dead,

Between his greatness and thy other brethren :
Therefore omit him not; blunt not his love,
Nor lose the good advantage of his grace,
By seeming cold, or careless of his will;
For he is gracious, if he be observed:
He hath a tear for pity, and a hand

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Open as day for melting charity :

Yet, notwithstanding, being incensed, he 's flint;
As humorous as winter, and as sudden

As flaws congealèd in the spring of day.

His temper, therefore, must be well observed.

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Clarence. I shall observe him with all care and love. King. Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas ? Clarence. He is not there to-day; he dines in London. King. And how accompanied? canst thou tell that? Clarence. With Poins, and other his continual followers. King. Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds; 41 And he, the noble image of my youth,

Is overspread with them: therefore my grief
Stretches itself beyond the hour of death;

The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape, 45
In forms imaginary, the unguided days

And rotten times that you shall look upon,

When I am sleeping with my ancestors.

Warwick. My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite :

The Prince will, in the perfectness of time,

Cast off his followers; and their memory

Shall as a pattern or a measure live,

By which his grace must mete the lives of others,
Turning past evils to advantages.

Enter the Earl of Westmoreland.

King. Who's here? Westmoreland ?

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Westmoreland. Health to my sovereign, and new happiness

Added to that that I am to deliver!

[He kneels.

Mowbray, the bishop Scroop, Hastings, and all,

Are brought to the correction of your law;
There is not now a rebel's sword unsheathed,
But peace puts forth her olive everywhere:
The manner how this action hath been borne,
Here at more leisure may your highness read,

With every course in his particular.

бо

[He gives a packet.

King. O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird, 65 Which ever in the haunch of winter sings

The lifting up of day. Look, here's more news.

Enter Harcourt.

Harcourt. From enemies heaven keep your majesty;
And, when they stand against you, may they fall
As those that I am come to tell you of!

The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph,
With a great power of English and of Scots,
Are by the sheriff of Yorkshire overthrown:
The manner and true order of the fight,
This packet, please it you, contains at large.

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[He kneels and delivers it.

King. And wherefore should these good news make me

sick?

Will Fortune never come with both hands full ?
She either gives a stomach and no food,-
Such are the poor, in health; or else a feast,
And takes away the stomach,—such are the rich,
That have abundance, and enjoy it not.
I should rejoice now at this happy news;
And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy:
O me! come near me; now I am much ill.

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[He swoons. Prince Humphrey. Comfort, your majesty! Clarence [taking the crown off]. O my royal father! Westmoreland. My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.

Warwick. Be patient, princes; you do know these fits Are with his highness very ordinary.

Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well.
Clarence. No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs:
The incessant care and labour of his mind
Hath wrought the mure, that should confine it in,
So thin that life looks through and will break out.

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Clarence. The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between ; And the old folk, time's doting chronicles, Say it did so a little time before

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That our great grandsire, Edward, sicked and died. Warwick. Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers. Prince Humphrey. This apoplexy will, certain, be his end. King. I pray you take me up, and bear me hence Into some other chamber: softly, pray.

ΙΟΙ

[The King is moved to another chamber (that is, to the 'Shadow' at the back of the stage) and placed upon a bed. Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends; Unless some dull and favourable hand

Will whisper music to my weary spirit.

Warwick. Call for the music in the other room. 105 [Exit one of the Courtiers.

King. Set me the crown upon my pillow here. [Clarence puts the crown on the pillow. Clarence. His eye is hollow, and he changes much. [Music plays without.

Warwick. Less noise, less noise!

Enter Prince Henry, hurriedly.

Prince Henry. Who saw the Duke of Clarence ? Clarence. I am here, brother, full of heaviness. Prince Henry. How now! rain within doors, and none abroad!

How doth the King? Heard he the good news yet? Prince Humphrey. He altered much upon the hearing it.

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Prince Henry. If he be sick with joy, he will recover Without physic. Warwick. Not so much noise, my lords :-sweet prince, speak low; [Points to the King: the Prince is startled at the change.

The King your father is disposed to sleep.
Clarence. Let us withdraw into the other room.
Warwick. Will't please your grace to go along with us?
Prince Henry. No; I will sit and watch here by the
King. [Exeunt all except Prince Henry. The Music
ceases. He sits by the bedside.
Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
Being so troublesome a bedfellow ?
O polished perturbation! golden care!

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That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide
To many a watchful night! Sleep with it now!
Yet not so sound and half so deeply sweet,
As he whose brow with homely biggin bound
Snores out the watch of night. [He suddenly leans forward
watching the King closely.] By his gates of breath
There lies a downy feather, which stirs not:
Did he suspire, that light and weightless down
Perforce must move. My gracious lord! my father!
This sleep is sound indeed; this is a sleep
That from this golden rigol hath divorced
So many English kings. Thy due from me
Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood,
Which nature, love, and filial tenderness
Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously:

My due from thee is

Which, as immediate
Derives itself to me.

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[He kneels and kisses him. this imperial crown,

[He takes it from the pillow. from thy place and blood, Lo, here it sits,

[Putting it on his head.

Which God shall guard: and put the world's whole

strength

Into one giant arm, it shall not force

This lineal honour from me: this from thee
Will I to mine leave, as 'tis left to me.

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[Exit.

King [waking]. Warwick! Gloucester! Clarence !

Re-enter Warwick and the rest hurriedly.

Clarence.

Doth the King call?

Warwick. What would your majesty? How fares your grace ?

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King. Why did you leave me here alone, my lords? Clarence. We left the Prince my brother here, my liege,

Who undertook to sit and watch by you.

King. The Prince of Wales! Where is he? let me see him:

He is not here.

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Warwick. This door is open; he is gone this way. Prince Humphrey. He came not through the chamber where we stayed.