The Story of English Kings, According to Shakespeare (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... camp to find you. King. Good old knight, Collect them all together at my tent: I'll be before thee. 0 God of battles steel my soldiers' hearts; Possess them not with fear take from them now The sense of reckoning, if th' opposed numbers Pluck their hearts from them Not to-day, 0 Lord, 0, not to-day Think not upon the fault My father made in compassing the crown The French Camp. "While this council of war is holding at King Henry's quarters we may pass over to where the Dauphin, Orleans, and other French officers are coming forth from their luxurious tents, full of ardor for the work of the day to begin, and not troubled with any fears as to how it may end. A messenger enters with word that the English are embattled, and the Lord Constable gives the order, To horse, you gallant princes straight to horso Do but behold yond poor and starved band. There is not work enough for all our hands; Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins To give each naked curtle-axe a stain. And he further declares that the mere camp followers of the French army could purge this field of the foe while the French knights but looked on. But as honor would not allow that: A very little little let us do, And all is done. This thundering in the index, to use Hamlet's metaphor, was echoed by another nobleman: Yond island carrion, desperate of their bones, Ill-favoredly become the morning field; Their ragged curtains colors poorly are let loose, And our air shakes them passing scornfully; and with some aid from his fancy he sees the knavish crows flying over the English horses, impatient for their time. Con. They've said their prayers, and they stay for death. Dau. Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits, And give their fasting horses provender, And after fight...