neither the vivacity of Hal, nor the grandeur of Henry. The humour of Pistol is very happily continued: his character has perhaps been the model of all the bullies that have yet appeared on the English ftage.

The lines given to the Chorus have many admirers; but the truth is, that in them a little may be praised, and much must be forgiven; nor can it be eafily difcovered why the intelligence given by the Chorus is more neceffary in this play than in many others where it is omitted. The great defect of this play is the emptinefs and narrowness of the laft act, which a very little diligence might have easily avoided. JOHNSON.

CHORUS.

O, for a mufe of fire, that would afcend
The brighteft heaven of invention!
A kingdom for a ftage, princes to act,
And monarchs to behold the fwelling feene!
Then Should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Afume the port of Mars; and, at his heels,
Leafl'd in like hounds, fhould famine, fword and. fire,
Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,
The flat unraifed fpirit, that hath dar3d,
On this unworthy Scaffold to bring forth
So great an object: Can this cock pit hold
The vafty field of France? or may we cram,
Within this wooden O, the very cafques
That did affright the air at Agincourt ?
O, pardon! fince a crooked figure may
Atteft in little place, a million;
And let us, cyphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work:
Suppofe, within the girdle of thefe walls
Are now confin'd too mighty monarchies,
Whofe high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts afunder.
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide one man,
And make an imaginary puiffance:

Think, when we talk of horses, that you fee them
Printing their proud hoofs i the receiving earth:
For 'tis your thoughts that now muft deck our kings,
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times:
Turning the accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass; For the which fupply,
Admit me chorus to this hiftory;

Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

KING HENRY V.

King HENRY the Fifth.

MEN.

Dukes of Glofter, and Bedford, Brothers to the King. Dukes of York, and Exeter, Uncles to the King. Earls of Salisbury, Weftmoreland, and Warwick. Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop of Ely.

Earl of Cambridge, Lord Scroop, and Sir THOMAS GREY, Confpirators against the King.

Sir THOMAS ERPINGHAM, GOWER, FLUELLEN,
MACKMORRIS, JAMY, Officers in the King's Army.
NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, Boy, formerly Servants to
Falstaff, now Soldiers in the King's Army.

BATES, COURT, WILLIAMS, Soldiers.
CHARLES the Sixth, King of France.

The DAUPHIN.

Duke of Burgundy.

CONSTABLE, ORLEANS, RAMBURES, BOURBON,

GRANDPRE E, French Lords.

Governor of Harfleur.

MONTJOY, a Herald.

Ambaffadors to the King of England.

WOMEN.

ISABEL, Queen of France.

KATHARINE, Daughter to the King of France. ALICE, a Lady attending on the Princess Katharine, QUICKLY, Piflol's Wife, an Hoflefs.

Chorus.

Lords, Meffengers, French and English Soldiers, with other Attendants.

The SCENE, at the beginning of the Play, lies in England; but afterwards, wholly in France.