Page 183 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT I IT

Scene I IT

Dead march. Enter the funeral of King Henry the Fifth, attended on by
the Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, the Duke of Gloucester, Protector,
the Duke of Exeter, [the Earl of] Warwick, the Bishop of Winchester, and

the Duke of Somerset; [Heralds, etc.].

BEDFORD

Hung be the heavens with black! Yield, day, to night!
Comets, importing change of times and states,
Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky,
And with them scourge the bad revolting stars
That have consented unto Henry’s death: [5]
King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!
England ne’er lost a king of so much worth.

GLOUCEST ER

England ne’er had a king until his time:
Virtue he had, deserving to command;
His brandished sword did blind men with his beams, [10]
His arms spread wider than a dragon’s wings;
His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies
Than midday sun fierce bent against their faces.
What should I say? His deeds exceed all speech: [15]
He ne’er lift up his hand but conquerèd.

EXET ER

We mourn in black; why mourn we not in blood?
Henry is dead, and never shall revive;
Upon a wooden coffin we attend,
And Death’s dishonourable victory [20]
We with our stately presence glorify
Like captives bound to a triumphant car.