Delightsome Lily of every lustiness,

Richest in bounty, and in beauty clear,

And every virtue that is held most dear,

Except, only, that you are merciless. […]--William Dunbar

By yielding to the needs of England, Henry is left alone to woo Princess Katharine. Paradoxically, failing to accomplish the desires of his people transforms a king into an incompetent ruler. Can a sovereign who combines strength of character with a joyous humor, dignity with simplicity, justice with bravery, piety with martial enthusiasm command a marriage with Princess Katharine? If a king can command, can he, being Henry not woo? Is a princess, still a daughter not bound to duty? William Shakespeare’s Henry V considers this romantic interlude to be a stepping-stone to

The text of Henry V. is told mostly in blank verse; without the Elizabethan High-Renaissance manner the character Henry is mortalized as being seen as a “common soldier.” His speech heightens the resonance of his confession, “If I could win a lady at leap frog/ I should quickly leap into a wife” (5.2.136-139). By admitting to his

Henry declares his speaking French to Katharine and her speaking to him in English,” must needs be granted to be much at one.” (5.2.190-191). By implying he and

political game; yet by doing so reveals Henry’s pretensions of courtliness or eloquence. Henry’s “the princess is the better Englishwoman” (5.2.121-130) captures the essence of his humanity in being a man with no power over love or the speech to project such affections. King Henry states he is a “plain king,” in that he lacks the language and eloquence to win her.

Some topics in this essay:
Henry England’s, Elizabethan High-Renaissance, French Katharine, Shakespeare’s Henry, Katharine Paradoxically, King Henry, Delightsome Lily, Princess Katharine, England Katharine, Sweet Rose, woo princess, “if thou, princess katharine,