ACT 2 PROLOGUE

"Now all the youth of England are on fire, and silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies."  Now all the young English men are inspired and want to fight. All their non-army/party clothes are in the wardrobe stored away. "Now thrive the armorers, and honour's thought reigns solely in the breast of every man."  The armorers are thriving and every man in honoured to be fighting. "They sell the pasture now to buy the horse, following the mirror of all Christian kings with winged heels, as English Mercury" Men are selling their cows for horses so that they can follow the king into battle as if they had winged heels like Mercury. "For now sits expectation in the air, and hides a sword, from hilts unto the point, with crowns imperial, crowns and coronets, promised to Harry and his followers." There's a sense of anticipation in the air - everyone's ready to fight. The images of the glory they'll win eclipse the actual thought of fighting. "The French, advised by good intelligence of this most dreadful preparation, shake in their fear, with pale policy, seek to diver the English purposes." The French have been forewarned and are quaking with fear. They seek to divert the English plans with tricks. "O England, model to thy inward greatness. Like little body with a mighty heart." Oh England, you may be small physically, but your inward greatness outshines everything. You're like a little body with a huge and mighty heart. "What might'st thou do, that honour would thee do, were all thy children kind and natural!" There's nothing you couldn't do if all your people were loyal. "But see thy fault, The French hath in thee found out, a nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills with treacherous crowns and three corrupted men."  But France have found your weak spot, 3 corrupted men whom have been bought with gold. "Have for the gilt of France - O guilt indeed!, confirmed conspiracy with fearful France and by their hands this grace of kings must die." They have agreed to conspire with France in exchange for money. "If hell and treason hold their promises, ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton." They will kill him before he even sets foot in France - if hell and treason allow. "Linger your patience on, and we'll digest, th'abuse of distance, force a play." Stay with us audience, we'll create a play that conquerors space and time. "The sum is paid, traitors are agreed." The traitors have been paid and agree to the act. "The king is set from London, and the scene is now transported, gentles to Southampton." The king travels from London to Southampton. "There is the playhouse now, there must you sir, and thence to France we convey you safe and bring you back, charming the narrow seas, to give you gentle pass."  You must imagine that is where the theatre is and that is where you must sit. We will take you to France and back again, giving you a gentle voyage. "For, if we may. We'll not offend one stomach with our play." We don't want to make anyone sick with our play. "But, till the king come forth, and not till then, unto Southampton do we shift our scene." The scene won't shift straight to Southampton until Henry appears.