Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Famous Victories of Henry V
Famous Victories of Henry V (Modern)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
8.0.2Enter the King with his Lords [Exeter and Oxford].
Come, my lords, I see it boots me not to take 673any physic, for all the physicians in the world cannot cure 674me, no not one. But good my lords, remember my last 675will and testament concerning my son, for truly, my 676lords, I do not think but he will prove as valiant and 677victorious a king as ever reigned in England.
Let heaven and earth be witness between us, if 679we accomplish not thy will to the uttermost.
I give you most unfeigned thanks, good my lords. 681Draw the curtains and depart my chamber awhile 682and cause some music to rock me asleep.
8.3.1Exeunt Lords [Exeter and Oxford].
Ah Harry, thrice-unhappy, that hath neglect so 686long from visiting of thy sick father. I will go. Nay, but 687why do I not go to the chamber of my sick father to com688fort the melancholy soul of his body? "His soul," said I? Here 689is his body indeed, but his soul is whereas it needs no bo690dy. Now thrice-accursed Harry, that hath offended thy fa691ther so much, and could not I crave pardon for all! O my 692dying father, cursed be the day wherein I was born, and ac693cursed be the hour wherein I was begotten! But what shall 694I do? If weeping tears which come too late may suffice the 695negligence neglected to some, I will weep day and night 696until the fountain be dry with weeping.
Come easily, my lord, for waking of the king.
Now, my lords.
How doth your grace feel yourself?
Somewhat better after my sleep. 703But, good my lords, take off my crown, 704remove my chair a little back, and set me right.
An please your grace, the crown is taken away.
The crown taken away! 707Good my lord of Oxford, go see who hath done this deed. [Exit Oxford]708 No doubt 'tis some vile traitor that hath done it 709to deprive my son. They that would do it now 710would seek to scrape and scrawl for it after my death.
Here, an please your grace, 713is my lord the young prince with the crown.
Why, how now, my son? 715I had thought the last time I had you in schooling 716I had given you a lesson for all, 717and do you now begin again? 718Why tell me, my son, 719dost thou think the time so long 720that thou wouldst have it before the 721breath be out of my mouth?
Most sovereign lord and well-beloved father, 723I came into your chamber to comfort the melancholy 724soul of your body, and finding you at that time 725past all recovery and dead, to my thinking, 726God is my witness, and what should I do 727but with weeping tears lament the death of you, my father? 728 And after that, seeing the crown, I took it. 729And tell me, my father, who might better take it than I 730after your death? But, seeing you live, 731I most humbly render it into your majesty's hands, 732and the happiest man alive that my father live. 733And live, my lord and father, forever.
8.13.1[Prince Henry gives Henry IV the crown and kneels before him.]
Stand up, my son. 735Thine answer hath sounded well in mine ears, 736for I must needs confess that I was in a very sound sleep 737and altogether unmindful of thy coming. 738But come near, my son, 739and let me put thee in possession whilst I live, 740that none deprive thee of it after my death.
Well may I take it at your majesty's hands, 742but it shall never touch my head so long as my father lives.
God give thee joy, my son. 745God bless thee and make thee His servant 746and send thee a prosperous reign, 747for God knows, my son, how hardly I came by it 748and how hardly I have maintained it.
Howsoever you came by it, I know not, 750but now I have it from you, and from you I will keep it. 751And he that seeks to take the crown from my head, 752let him look that his armor be thicker than mine, 753or I will pierce him to the heart, 754were it harder than brass or bullion.
Nobly spoken, and like a king. 756Now trust me, my lords, I fear not but my son 757will be as warlike and victorious a prince 758as ever reigned in England.
His former life shows no less.
Well, my lords, I know not whether it be for sleep 761or drawing near of drowsy summer of death, 762but I am very much given to sleep. 763Therefore, good my lords and my son, 764draw the curtains, depart my chamber, 765and cause some music to rock me asleep.
8.20.1[Exeter, Oxford, and Prince Henry draw the curtains.]
8.20.2[Music plays.]