As great in admiration as herself:

So shall she leave her blessedness to one,

When Heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,

Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour,

Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,

And so stand fixed. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,

That were the servants to this chosen infant,
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:
Wherever the bright sun of Heaven shall shine,
His honour and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him. Our children's
children

Shall see this, and bless Heaven.

K. Hen.

Thou speakest wonders. Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England, An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it.

'Would I had known no more! but she must dieShe must, the saints must have her ;-yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily shall she pass

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. K. Hen. O lord Archbishop,

Thou hast made me now a man: never, before
This happy child, did I get anything.
This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,

That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire

To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.
I thank ye all. To you, my good Lord Mayor,
And your good brethren, I am much beholding:
I have received much honour by your presence,
And ye shall find me thankful.-Lead the way,

lords:

Ye must all see the Queen, and she must thank ye,
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
'Has business at his house, for all shall stay:
This little one shall make it holiday.

[Exeunt.

EPILOGUE

"T is ten to one, this play can never please All that are here. Some come to take their ease, And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear, We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 't is clear,

They'll say, 't is naught: others, to hear the city Abused extremely, and to cry,-'That's witty!'

Which we have not done neither; that, I fear,
All the expected good we 're like to hear
For this play, at this time, is only in
The merciful construction of good women;

For such a one we showed 'em. If they smile,
And say, 't will do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours; for 't is ill hap,
If they hold, when their ladies bid 'em clap.

NOTES

Prol. p. 26. Their shilling.-The usual price for a seat on the stage, the favourite place in the theatre of Shakspere's day.

Prol. p. 26. A long motley coat.-The regulation attire of the professional Fool included a long motley coat with yellow facings.

Prol. p. 26. To rank our chosen truth, &c.-' To place our truthful representation on a footing with such a pageant as comprises buffoons and mock battles,-besides belieing our own intelligence, and destroying our reputation for truthfulness in our representations, would leave us not one intelligent friend.'

I. i. p. 27. Those suns of glory.-The two kings, Henry VIII. of England and Francis I. of France.

I. i. p. 27. The vale of Andren.-The valley of Ardren, which lies between Guynes (then in possession of the English) and Arde in Picardy, was the scene of the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold.'

I. i. p. 28. Became the next day's master.-Transmitted its accumulated triumphs to the succeeding day. I. i. p. 28. Their very labour was to them as a painting. Their exertion served but to paint' their faces with a glow of colour.

་་

I. i. p. 29. Bevis.-Sir Bevis of Hampton, created a knight by William the Conqueror; a Saxon hero around whom legends of incredible exploits had been woven in the famous Middle-English romance named after him; his victory over the giant Ascapar is referred to in The Contention.

I. i. p. 29. Promises no element.-Gives no expectation of any concern.

must fetch him in

I. i. p. 31. His own letter. he papers.-The summons contained in his own letter, issued without the concurrence of the council, must suffice to call in the man whom he 'papers,' or sets down in his list.

I. i. p. 31. Minister communication of a most poor issue.-Bring about a conference that has served practically no purpose.

I. i. p. 31. The hideous storm.-Holinshed records this incident: "Mondaie the xviii of June was such a hideous storme of winde and weather, that many conjectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortlie after to follow betweene the princes."

I. i. p. 32. The sudden breach on 't.-The breach actually took place in March, 1522, nearly two years later, when all English goods at Bordeaux were seized by Francis' orders.

I. i. p. 32. The ambassador is silenced.-The French ambassador at the English Court was I commanded to keep his house [in silence]” (Hall's Chronicle).

I. i. p. 35.

Like a glass—i.e. beautiful and fragile.

I. i. p. 36. Charles the Emperor.-Charles V., Emperor of Germany. He was son to Joanna of Castille (who was the second daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain); therefore he was nephew to Henry VIII.'s queen, Catherine of Arragon, youngest daughter of the Spanish monarchs. According to Holinshed, the visit took place in May, 1520, a fortnight before the meeting of Henry and Francis.

I. i. p. 39. I am the shadow, &c.-Referring both to the shadow itself and to the darkness of the shadow's area as compared with the surrounding light. 'And even my shadowy figure this cloud of misfortune assumes by coming between me and my sun of prosperity.'