University of Virginia Library

Simple in Show, may be Subtle in Conceit.

VVhen Englands fift King Henry of that name
At Agincourt did winne immortall fame:
And Fortune with her smiles auspicious,
Grac'd English with the day victorious:
A funerall Oration one did make,
And of dead French-mens valours highly spake:
Which a blunt Souldier hearing, seru'd our King,
Pray sir (quoth he) let me demand one thing:
You doe extoll them wondrously, are slaine;
And said, their honour endlesse shall remaine,
Tho they are dead, you say, their fame doth liue,
And yeeld them all good words a tongue can giue;
But if they merit this being dead: pray then
What deserue we, haue slaine those valiant men?