Henry V: Act 5, Epilogue
history
Scene Summary
Skip to text ↓The Chorus closes the play. The bending author has mangled mighty men in little room; Henry lived a short time, but in that small most greatly lived. Then the sting: his infant son Henry the Sixth would be crowned king of France and England, and his managers lost France and made his England bleed — events Shakespeare's audiences had already watched on his stage in the Henry VI plays.
Enter Chorus
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 be 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;
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.
Exit