ABSTRACT
Shakespeare's Henry V offers us opportunity for reviewing an action of piety and patriotism which to many readers has seemed ideal. The king and the clergy, in this play, are seen working together in friendly collaboration. United around a common interest, they forge a common purpose. In the name of God and country they undertake a war with France whereby the English people are rallied to high heroism and achieve, almost miraculously, a famous victory and a new international status. To the portrait of Henry in the chronicles, Traversi believes Shakespeare added his own reading of the 'tragedy' implicit in the kingly office. Shakespeare sees also, as Holinshed apparently does not, the ironic connection between Henry's murdering of the prisoners and his pious eagerness, immediately afterwards, to give God's "arm" the whole credit for the victory. The words Katherine asks about have an order suggestive of a progress in love-making, though devoid of any words for heart or soul.
