Text — Prologue

O! for a Muse of fire, that would ascendThe brightest heaven of invention;A kingdom for a stage, princes to actAnd monarchs to behold the swelling scene. 4Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fireCrouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,The flat unraised spirits that hath dar'd 9On this unworthy scaffold to bring forthSo great an object: can this cockpit holdThe vasty fields of France? or may we cram 12Within this wooden O the very casquesThat did affright the air at Agincourt?O, pardon! since a crooked figure mayAttest in little place a million; 16And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,On your imaginary forces work.Suppose within the girdle of these wallsAre now confin'd two mighty monarchies, 20Whose high upreared and abutting frontsThe perilous narrow ocean parts asunder:Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts:Into a thousand parts divide one man, 24And make imaginary puissance;Think when we talk of horses that you see them

6 port: bearing9 unraised: unaspiring10 scaffold: stage11 cockpit; cf. n.12 vasty: vast13 the very casques: even the helmets16 Attest: stand for; cf. n.17 accompt: account18 imaginary: imaginative21 abutting: adjacent29 jumping o'er times; cf. n.31 for . . . supply: for which service32 Chorus; cf. n.