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France; and thus in Latin, Præclarissimus filius
noster Henricus, Rex Angliæ, et Hæres Franciæ.
Fr. King. Nor this I have not, brother, so denied,
But your request shall make me let it pass.

K. Hen. I pray you then, in love and dear
alliance,

Let that one article rank with the rest;

And thereupon give me your daughter.

Fr. King. Take her, fair son, and from her blood raise up

Issue to me; that the contending kingdoms

Of France and England, whose very shores look pale

With envy of each other's happiness,

370

May cease their hatred, and this dear conjunction 380
Plant neighbourhood and Christian-like accord

In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance
His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair France.
All. Amen!

K. Hen. Now, welcome, Kate: and bear me

witness all,

That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.

[Flourish. Q. Isa. God, the best maker of all marriages, Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one! As man and wife, being two, are one in love, So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal, That never may ill office, or fell jealousy, Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage, Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms, To make divorce of their incorporate league; That English may as French, French Englishmen, Receive each other. God speak this Amen!

369. Præclarissimus. Shakespeare took this word from Holinshed, the original treaty

390

naturally having
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præcaris

393. paction, compact.

All. Amen!

K. Hen. Prepare we for our marriage on which day,

My Lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath,
And all the peers', for surety of our leagues.
Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me;
And may our oaths well kept and prosperous be!
[Sennet. Exeunt.

400

EPILOGUE.

Enter Chorus

Chor. Thus far, with rough and all-unable pen,
Our bending author hath pursued the story,
In little room confining mighty men,

Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
Small time, but in that small most greatly lived

This star of England: Fortune made his sword; By which the world's best garden he achieved, And of it left his son imperial lord.

Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King

Of France and England, did this king succeed; 10 Whose state so many had the managing,

That they lost France and made his England bleed:

Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their

sake,

In your fair minds let this acceptance take.

2. bending, i.e. under the weight of his task.

4. by starts, i.e. by breaks of

[Exit.

continuity, involved in the scenic method of drama.

THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF

KING HENRY THE EIGHTH

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