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Henry V - Act 5, EpilogueAct 5, Epilogue
Synopsis:
The Chorus reminds the audience that Henry died very young, leaving the kingdom to his infant son, during whose reign France was lost and England did “bleed.”
Enter Chorus ⌜as Epilogue.⌝⌜CHORUS⌝
3359 Thus far with rough and all-unable pen
3360 Our bending author hath pursued the story,
3361 In little room confining mighty men,
3362 Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
3363 5 Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
3364 This star of England. Fortune made his sword,
3365 By which the world’s best garden he achieved
3366 And of it left his son imperial lord.
3367 Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crowned King
3368 10 Of France and England, did this king succeed,
3369 Whose state so many had the managing
3370 That they lost France and made his England bleed,
3371 Which oft our stage hath shown. And for their sake,
3372 In your fair minds let this acceptance take.
⌜He exits.⌝