Chor. Now entertain conjecture of a time From camp to camp through the foul womb of The hum of either army stilly sounds, That the fix'd sentinels almost receive The secret whispers of each other's watch: 10 Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents 1. "conjecture"; imagination.-C. H. H. 2. "poring"; purblind.-C. H. H. 9. "umber'd"; I suspect that nothing more is meant than shadow'd face. The epithet paly flames is against the other interpretation. Umbre for shadow is common in our elder writers. Thus Cavendish, in his Metrical Visions, Prologue: "Under the umber of an oke with bowes pendant" (Singer).-H. N. H. 13. "closing rivets up"; this does not solely refer to the riveting the plate armor before it was put on, but as to a part when it was on. 1 Give dreadful note of preparation: The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll, Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires 20 The morning's danger, and their gesture sad So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will be- The royal captain of this ruin'd band Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent, 30 The top of the cuirass had a little projecting bit of iron that passed through a hole pierced through the bottom of the casque. When both were put on, the smith or armorer presented himself, with his riveting hammer, to close the rivet up; so that the party's head should remain steady, notwithstanding the force of any blow that might be given on the cuirass or helmet.-H. N. H. 16. "name"; Tyrwhitt's conj.; Ff., "nam'd."—I. G. 19. The Poet took this from Holinshed: "The Frenchmen in the meane while, as though they had beene sure of victorie, made great triumph; for the capteins had determined how to divide the spoile, and the soldiers the night before had plaid the Englishmen at dice.” -H. N. H. 20. "cripple tardy-gaited"; Ff., "creeple-tardy-gated.”—I. G. 26. "Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats"; Capell, “And war-worn coats, investing lank-lean cheeks"; Hanmer, "In wasted"; Warburton, "Invest in"; Beckett conj. “Infesting," &c.-I. G. Let him cry 'Praise and glory on his head!' Bids them good morrow with a modest smile, men. Upon his royal face there is no note How dread an army hath enrounded him; His liberal eye doth give to every one, The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see, 46. “as may unworthiness define”; as far as their unworthy natures permit.-C. H. H. SCENE I The English camp at Agincourt. Enter King Henry, Bedford, and Gloucester. K. Hen. Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be. There is some soul of goodness in things evil, For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers, Enter Erpingham. 10 Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham: A good soft pillow for that good white head Were better than a churlish turf of France. Erp. Not so, my liege: this lodging likes me better, Since I may say 'Now lie I like a king.' K. Hen. 'Tis good for men to love their present pains Upon example; so the spirit is eased: Sc. 1. "Bedford"; the historical duke of Bedford, left as "Custos" in England, was not at Agincourt.—C. H. H. And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt, Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers Commend me to the princes in our camp; Do my good morrow to them, and anon Glou. We shall, my liege. Erp. Shall I attend your grace? K. Hen. No, my good knight; 31 Erp. The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry! [Exeunt all but King. K. Hen. God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully. Pist. Qui va là? K. Hen. A friend. Enter Pistol. Pist. Discuss unto me; art thou officer? Or art thou base, common, and popular? K. Hen. I am a gentleman of a company. Pist. Trail'st thou the puissant pike? K. Hen. Even so. What are you? 40 23. "with casted slough"; the allusion is to the casting of the slough or skin of the snake annually, by which act he is supposed to regain new vigor and fresh youth. Legerity is lightness, nimbleness. Légèreté, French.-H. N. H. 35. "Qui va là"; Rowe's emendation of Ff. "che vous la?"-I. G. |