Henry uses elision as his final address to sleep turns into command: “Then, [since you are] happy [to lie with the] low, lie down [with them]” (l. 27). Since sleep prefers to be with his subjects that with him, he order the “dull god” to leave his presence. Henry’s use of “Then” in l. 27 can carry either a temporal or conclusive meaning. Most likely it is used conclusively and affirms King Henry’s sense of resignation. With his final line “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” the King understands that it is not despite his status but because of his status that he is not able to sleep (l. 28). Henry’s thoughts seem to have come full circle: He begins fearing he has frightened sleep and ends in a similar mindset, along the lines that it is his own fault or position that causes his
Henry uses elision as his final address to sleep turns into command: “Then, [since you are] happy [to lie with the] low, lie down [with them]” (l. 27). Since sleep prefers to be with his subjects that with him, he order the “dull god” to leave his presence. Henry’s use of “Then” in l. 27 can carry either a temporal or conclusive meaning. Most likely it is used conclusively and affirms King Henry’s sense of resignation. With his final line “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” the King understands that it is not despite his status but because of his status that he is not able to sleep (l. 28). Henry’s thoughts seem to have come full circle: He begins fearing he has frightened sleep and ends in a similar mindset, along the lines that it is his own fault or position that causes his