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Henry V - Act 5, Epilogue

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Henry V - Act 5, Epilogue
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Act 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.