What on earth would one give as a gift to the king of England, who reigns over millions of people? Possibly gold? Or maybe jewels? Or land? Among the last things on the list would be a barrel full of tennis balls. But, in William Shakespeare's King Henry V, the French Dauphin finds this to be a very fitting gift for the young Henry. Through the presentation of this gift to Henry in Act I, scene ii, lines 245-258, the Dauphin of France shows that he sees Henry as young and immature, unworthy of any respect.
In this scene the Dauphin is not even present. He has sent the Ambassador of France to England to relay his message and present his "tun of treasure" (I.ii.255) to Henry.
Thus in few: / Your highness lately, sending into France, / Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right / Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third. (I.ii.245-248).
Henry has previously laid claims to parts of France through his French ancestry. These first few lines that the French Ambassador speaks is a restatement of this claim. King Edward III of England was Henry's great grandfather. Through Edward's mother, Isabella, is how Henry can make his claim to France, because Isabella was the daughter of King Philip IV of France.
The Dauphin's reply to Henry's claim of French land shows an obvious lack of respect for him. "In answer of which claim the prince our master / Says that you savour too much of your youth,…" (I.ii.249-250). The Dauphin does have a fair argument here, however, because at this time Henry would be in his mid or late twenties, which is still quite young. He sees Henry as too young and inexperienced to be a respectable ruler of the French lands that he claims. But the Dauphin either fails to consider or is unaware of Henry's development from a wild teenager to a respectable king, as well as his many triumphs on the battlefield. He still sees Henry as the fractious child that he remembers from the past.
This already would be enough for one to get the idea of the Dauphin's message, but it doesn't stop here. "…there's naught in France / That can be with a nimble galliard won;" (I.ii.251-252). The Dauphin is states that there is no royal position in France that can be obtained simply with a lively and youthful dance. Obviously he is taking King Henry's maturity for granted once again here, and is proposing that he has yet to grow out of the childish dances of youth.
"You cannot revel into dukedoms there." (I.ii.253). This comment is cold and disrespectful, and both the Dauphin and Henry know exactly what it refers to. It is warning Henry not to expect to be able to party or carouse his way to a French seat. This is referring back to Henry's wildly extravagant days before he obtained the English throne. The Dauphin knows about Henry's reputation as a reckless wanton, and he inappropriately brings it up here.
As if this were not enough so far, the Dauphin goes one step further, and sends Henry a gift so that he may lay his claims of France to rest. "He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, / This tun of treasure, and in lieu of this / Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim / Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks." (I.ii.254-257). What ever could the gift be? Exeter opens it. "Tennis balls, my liege." (I.ii.258). The Dauphin sees Henry as still a child, so it is only fitting that he makes a childish joke with him. There is an undoubted sense of sarcasm presented when the Dauphin calls his gift a "tun of treasure" (I.ii.255). Obviously these balls are of no use to Henry, and are anything but treasures. This gift is disrespecting toward Henry, implying that he is unworthy of an adult's gift.
The Dauphin has seriously mistaken Henry in lines 245-258 of Act I, scene ii, of King Henry V. His lack of respect for the king is revealed not only through his rude message, but to top it off, with the ridiculous gift of a barrel full of tennis balls. The Dauphin chooses to toy with Henry rather than respect him as the valiant king that would eventually fight his way into the French royal family, and in the end become his brother-in-law.
You may be saying to yourself, "Stan, what exactly is tennis?" Well,.....probably not. But if you are in doubt then click here.