Short Ballade of Henry V
(esse quam videri)
(esse quam videri)
Although my youth
was rough, I may defend
It. By its terms, one's immaturity
Is that imperfect
era one must spend
Developing, that
time when logically
The mind and morals
both are raw and we
Are all
inferior. I would not scheme
Like lesser youths
and falsely polish me--
Hypocrisy's a
sin. I'd be, not seem.
When I was crowned,
my youth was at its end.
Therefore, I ended
my frivolity
Lest I live on a
lie, lest I pretend
I somehow kept that
younger quality
That I had
lost. I acted honestly
Instead when
grown. I battled till supreme
At Agincourt without
distorting me--
Hypocrisy's a sin.
I'd be, not seem.
Lord, now I'm but a
spirit, I should be
In Heaven with the
bodiless. I’d dream
Of nothing
else. I’d feign no firmer me--
Hypocrisy's a
sin. I'd be, not seem.
