Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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Introductory matter
Dramatis Personæ.
KING Henry the Fifth.
Duke of Gloucester, Brother to the King.
Duke of Bedford, Brother to the King.
Duke of Clarence, Brother to the King.
Duke of York, Uncle to the King.
Duke of Exeter, Uncle to the King.
Earl of Salisbury.
Earl of Westmorland [Earl of Westmoreland].
Earl of Warwick.
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop of Ely.
Earl of Cambridge, Conspirator against the King.
Lord Scroop, Conspirator against the King.
Sir Thomas Grey, Conspirator against the King.
Sir Thomas Erpingham, Officer in King Henry's Army.
Gower, Officer in King Henry's Army.
Fluellen, Officer in King Henry's Army.
Mackmorris [Macmorris], Officer in King Henry's Army.
Jamy, Officer in King Henry's Army.
Nym, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the King's Army.
Bardolph, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the King's Army.
Pistol, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the King's Army.
Boy, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the King's Army.
Bates, Soldier.
Court, Soldier.
Williams, Soldier.
Charles [Charles the Sixth], King of France.
The Dauphin [Lewis].
Duke of Burgundy.
Constable [Constable of France], Orleans [Duke of Orleans], Rambures, Bourbon [Duke of Bourbon], Grandpree [Grandpre], French Lords.
Governor of Harfleur.
Mountjoy [Montjoy], a Herald.
Ambassadors to the King of England.
Isabel, Queen of France.
Catharine [Katharine], Daughter to the King of France.
Alice, a Lady attending on the Princess Catharine.
Quickly [Mrs. Quickly], Pistol's Wife, an Hostess.
CHORUS.
Lords, Messengers, French and English Soldiers, with other Attendants.
[Messenger], [French Soldier], [Herald]
The Scene, at the beginning of the Play, lies in England; but afterwards, wholly in France.
note
-- 361 --
1 note
The LIFE of King HENRY V.
PROLOGUE.
1 note
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention!
A kingdom for a stage, 2 note
Princes to act,
And Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and, at his heels,
Leasht in, like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,
The flat unraised spirit, that hath dar'd,
On this unworthy scaffold, to bring forth
So great an object. Can this Cock-pit hold
The vasty field of France? or may we cram,
3 noteWithin this wooden O, 4 notethe very caskes
That did affright the air, at Agincourt?
O, pardon; since a crooked figure may
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, cyphers to this great accompt,
5 noteOn your imaginary forces work.
Suppose, within the girdle of these walls
-- 362 --
Are now confin'd two mighty monarchies;
6 note
Whose high-up-reared and abutting fronts
The perillous narrow ocean parts asunder.
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts,
Into a thousand parts divide one man,
7 noteAnd make imaginary puissance.
Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' th' receiving earth.
8 note
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings,
Carry them here and there, jumping o'er times,
Turning th' accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass; for the which supply,
Admit me Chorus to this history;
Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our Play.
-- 363 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
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