Dead March. Enter the Funeral of KING HENRY the Fifth, attended on by Dukes of BEDFORD, Regent of France; GLOUCESTER, Protector; and EXETER, Earl of WARWICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, & c
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Funeral procession. The funeral of KING HENRY V takes place. The Duke of BEDFORD (acting as ruler of France), the Duke of GLOUCESTER (Protector), the Duke of EXETER, Earl of WARWICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, messengers and others enter with the funeral procession.
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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! King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long! England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.
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BEDFORD The skies are covered with darkness, day has passed into night now! Comets, which announce change, you should move frantically through the sky and punish those that are responsible for Henry's death! King Henry V was too famous to grow old. Never has England lost a better king.
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GLOUCESTER England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command: His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams: His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; His sparking eyes, replete with wrathful fire, More dazzled and drove back his enemies Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.
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GLOUCESTER England has never had such a king before him. He was virtuous and good, a born leader. His sword shined, its light could blind men around him. His arms were wider than a dragon's wings. His bright eyes were so full of angry fire that his glare blinded and drove away his enemies. The fire in his eyes was brighter than the sun shining in his enemies' faces at noon. What else can I say? Words don't do his actions justice. He succeeded every time he set out to do something.
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EXETER 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 We with our stately presence glorify, Like captives bound to a triumphant car. What! shall we curse the planets of mishap That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? Or shall we think the subtle-witted French Conjurers and sorcerers, that afraid of him By magic verses have contrived his end?
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EXETER We mourn dressed in black, but shouldn't we mourn by shedding blood? Henry is dead and will never live again. We are here around a wooden coffin, honoring the dishonest victory of death over our king. We are attached to the coffin like slaves bound to a chariot processing through the streets in triumph. What!? Should we curse the planets that bring bad luck, because they planned to ruin our triumph? Or should we think that it was the crafty and clever French magicians and wizards that cast magic spells on him to end his life, because they were so afraid of him?
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WINCHESTER He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. Unto the French the dreadful judgement-day So dreadful will not be as was his sight. The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought: The church's prayers made him so prosperous.
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WINCHESTER He was lucky because he was the best of kings. For the French, he was worse than the end of the world, they were so terrified to see him. He fought battles in the name of God and the prayers of the church made him successful.
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GLOUCESTER The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: None do you like but an effeminate prince, Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe.
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GLOUCESTER The church! Where is the church? Wasn't it the churchmen who prayed for his death? Men of the church only like a weak prince who they can control as if he were a school boy.
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WINCHESTER Gloucester, whate'er we like, thou art protector And lookest to command the prince and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, More than God or religious churchmen may.
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WINCHESTER Gloucester, let's consider you for a moment. You are the new king's protector and so you must guide the prince and rule the realm. Your wife is proud, she admires you more than God or churchmen might.
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GLOUCESTER Name not religion, for thou lovest the flesh,And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'stExcept it be to pray against thy foes.
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GLOUCESTER Do not call on religion. You love only objects and money and sex and you only go to church during the year to pray against your enemies.
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BEDFORD Cease, cease these jars and rest your minds in peace: Let's to the altar: heralds, wait on us: Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms: Since arms avail not now that Henry's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, And none but women left to wail the dead. Henry the Fifth, thy ghost I invocate: Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils, Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! A far more glorious star thy soul will make Than Julius Caesar or bright—
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BEDFORD Stop, stop these arguments, you two and relax a little. Let's get on with the funeral, messengers are waiting for us. We will offer our weapons to the altar instead of gold, since there is no use for weapons now that Henry is dead. Future generations, years of misery await you, when babies will only be fed by their mothers' tears. Our island will feed on salty tears, and only women will be left to mourn the dead. I call on your ghost, Henry the Fifth. Make this country rich and keep it free of conflict. Fight with the planets in the sky that try to prevent this! After all, your soul will transform into a more famous star than Julius Caesar or shining—
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Enter a Messenger
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A Messenger enters.
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MESSENGER My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, Of loss, of slaughter and discomfiture: Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.
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MESSENGER Honorable lords, I wish you all well! I bring bad news to you from France; news of loss, killings and absolute defeat. We have lost Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans, Paris, Guysors, and Poictiers.
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