That every wretch, pining and pale before,
Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks.
A largess universal like the sun

His liberal eye doth give to every one,
Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all,
Behold, as may unworthiness define,

A little touch of Harry in the night-
And so our scene must to the battle fly.

THE BATTLE

FAIR stood the wind for France,

When we our sails advance,

Nor now to prove our chance
Longer will tarry;

But putting to the main,

At Caux, the mouth of Seine,
With all his martial train,
Landed King Harry.

And taking many a fort,
Furnished in warlike sort,
Marched towards Agincourt
In happy hour,

Skirmishing day by day

Shakespeare.

With those that stopped his way,
Where the French gen'ral lay

With all his power:

Which, in his height of pride,

King Henry to deride,
His ransom to provide

To the king sending;

Which he neglects the while
As from a nation vile,

Yet with an angry smile

Their fall portending.

And turning to his men,
Quoth our brave Henry then,
Though they to one be ten,
Be not amazed.

Yet have we well begun,
Battles so bravely won

Have ever to the sun

By fame been raised.

And for myself, quoth he,
This my full rest shall be:
England ne'er mourn for me,
Nor more esteem me;

Victor I will remain

Or on this earth lie slain;

Never shall she sustain

Loss to redeem me.

Poitiers and Cressy tell,

When most their pride did swell,

Under our swords they fell;

No less our skill is.

Than when our grandsire great, Claiming the regal seat,

By many a warlike feat

Lopped the French lilies.'

The Duke of York so dread
The eager vaward led;

With the main Henry sped,

Amongst his henchmen;

Excester had the rear,

A braver man not there:

O Lord, how hot they were On the false Frenchmen!

They now to fight are gone, Armour on armour shone, Drum now to drum did groan, To hear was wonder; That with the cries they make The very earth did shake, Trumpet to trumpet spake, Thunder to thunder.

Well it thine age became,
O noble Erpingham,
Which did the signal aim
To our hid forces!

When from the meadow by,

Like a storm suddenly,

The English archery

Struck the French horses.

With Spanish yew so strong,
Arrows a cloth-yard long,
That like to serpents stung,
Piercing the weather;

None from his fellow starts,
But playing manly parts,
And like true English hearts
Stuck close together.

When down their bows they threw,

And forth their bilbos drew,
And on the French they flew,
Not one was tardy;

Arms were from shoulders sent,
Scalps to the teeth were rent,
Down the French peasants went;
Our men were hardy.

This while our noble king,
His broadsword brandishing,
Down the French host did ding
As to o'erwhelm it,

And many a deep wound lent,
His arms with blood besprent,

And many a cruel dent
Bruised his helmet.

Glo'ster, that duke so good,
Next of the royal blood,
For famous England stood,

With his brave brother;
Clarence, in steel so bright,
Though but a maiden knight,
Yet in that furious fight

Scarce such another!

Warwick in blood did wade,
Oxford the foe invade,
And cruel slaughter made,
Still as they ran up;

Suffolk his axe did ply,
Beaumont and Willoughby
Bare them right doughtily,
Ferrers and Fanhope.

Upon Saint Crispin's Day
Fought was this noble fray,
Which fame did not delay,
To England to carry.
O, when shall Englishmen
With such acts fill a pen,
Or England breed again
Such a King Harry?

Drayton.

AFTER

Now we bear the king

Toward Calais: grant him there; there seen,
Heave him away upon your wingèd thoughts
Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach
Pales in the flood with men, with wives and boys,
Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep-mouthed

sea,

Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king
Seems to prepare his way: so let him land,
And solemnly see him set on to London.
So swift a pace hath thought that even now