Chapter XXIV: Prologue: Enter Chorus.4511

_Chor._ O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, 5
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,[4512]
The flat unraised spirits that have dared[4513]
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth 10
So great an object: can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram[4514]
Within this wooden O the very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt?
O, pardon! since a crooked figure may 15
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,[4515] 20
Whose high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder:[4516]
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide one man,
And make imaginary puissance; 25
Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth;[4517]
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,[4518]
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times,
Turning the accomplishment of many years 30
Into an hour-glass: for the which supply,
Admit me Chorus to this history;
Who prologue-like your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[4511] PROLOGUE. Enter Chorus.] Enter Prologue. Ff.

[4512] _employment_] _employments_ Rowe.

_But_] om. Pope.

_all,_] F₄. _all:_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[4513] _spirits that have_] Staunton. _Spirits, that hath_ Ff. _spirit, that hath_ Rowe.

[4514] _fields_] F₁. _field_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4515] _monarchies_] F₁. _monarches_ F₂. _monarchs_ F₃ F₄.

[4516] _The perilous narrow_] _Perilous, the narrow_ Warburton.

[4517] _receiving_] _receding_ Capell conj.

[4518] _kings_] _king_ Johnson conj.