No Fear Shakespeare: Henry VI, Part 3: Act 1 Scene 2

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Henry VI, Part 3

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE, all wearing the white rose.	Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE, all wearing the white rose.
RICHARD Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.	RICHARD Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
EDWARD No, I can better play the orator.	EDWARD No, I can better play the orator.
MONTAGUE But I have reasons strong and forcible.	MONTAGUE But I have reasons strong and forcible.
Enter the DUKE OF YORK.	Enter the DUKE OF YORK.
YORK Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife? 5 What is your quarrel? How began it first?	YORK Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife? 5 What is your quarrel? How began it first?
EDWARD No quarrel, but a slight contention.	EDWARD No quarrel, but a slight contention.
YORK About what?	YORK About what?
RICHARD About that which concerns your Grace and us: The crown of England, father, which is yours.	RICHARD About that which concerns your Grace and us: The crown of England, father, which is yours.
YORK 10 Mine, boy? Not till King Henry be dead.	YORK 10 Mine, boy? Not till King Henry be dead.
RICHARD Your right depends not on his life or death.	RICHARD Your right depends not on his life or death.
EDWARD Now you are heir; therefore enjoy it now. By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.	EDWARD Now you are heir; therefore enjoy it now. By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.
YORK 15 I took an oath that he should quietly reign.	YORK 15 I took an oath that he should quietly reign.
EDWARD But for a kingdom any oath may be broken. I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.	EDWARD But for a kingdom any oath may be broken. I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.
RICHARD No, God forbid your Grace should be forsworn.	RICHARD No, God forbid your Grace should be forsworn.
YORK I shall be, if I claim by open war.	YORK I shall be, if I claim by open war.
RICHARD 20 I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak.	RICHARD 20 I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak.
YORK Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.	YORK Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
RICHARD An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate That hath authority over him that swears. 25 Henry had none, but did usurp the place. Then, seeing ’twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown, 30 Within whose circuit is Elysium And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry’s heart.	RICHARD An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate That hath authority over him that swears. 25 Henry had none, but did usurp the place. Then, seeing ’twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown, 30 Within whose circuit is Elysium And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry’s heart.
YORK 35 Richard, enough. I will be king or die.— Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.— Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk And tell him privily of our intent.— 40 You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise; In them I trust, for they are soldiers Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. While you are thus employed, what resteth more 45 But that I seek occasion how to rise, And yet the King not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster. Enter a MESSENGER. But stay, what news? Why com’st thou in such post?	YORK 35 Richard, enough. I will be king or die.— Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.— Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk And tell him privily of our intent.— 40 You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise; In them I trust, for they are soldiers Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. While you are thus employed, what resteth more 45 But that I seek occasion how to rise, And yet the King not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster. Enter a MESSENGER. But stay, what news? Why com’st thou in such post?
MESSENGER The Queen with all the northern earls and lords 50 Intend here to besiege you in your castle. She is hard by with twenty thousand men. And therefore fortify your hold, my lord. He exits.	MESSENGER The Queen with all the northern earls and lords 50 Intend here to besiege you in your castle. She is hard by with twenty thousand men. And therefore fortify your hold, my lord. He exits.
YORK Ay, with my sword. What, think’st thou that we fear them?— 55 Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; My brother Montague shall post to London. Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Whom we have left Protectors of the King, With powerful policy strengthen themselves 60 And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.	YORK Ay, with my sword. What, think’st thou that we fear them?— 55 Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; My brother Montague shall post to London. Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Whom we have left Protectors of the King, With powerful policy strengthen themselves 60 And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.
MONTAGUE Brother, I go. I’ll win them, fear it not. And thus most humbly I do take my leave. MONTAGUE exits.	MONTAGUE Brother, I go. I’ll win them, fear it not. And thus most humbly I do take my leave. MONTAGUE exits.
Enter SIR JOHN MORTIMER, and HIS BROTHER, SIR HUGH MORTIMER.	Enter SIR JOHN MORTIMER, and HIS BROTHER, SIR HUGH MORTIMER.
YORK Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, You are come to Sandal in a happy hour. 65 The army of the Queen mean to besiege us.	YORK Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, You are come to Sandal in a happy hour. 65 The army of the Queen mean to besiege us.
SIR JOHN She shall not need; we’ll meet her in the field.	SIR JOHN She shall not need; we’ll meet her in the field.
YORK What, with five thousand men?	YORK What, with five thousand men?
RICHARD Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. A woman’s general; what should we fear? A march afar off.	RICHARD Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. A woman’s general; what should we fear? A march afar off.
EDWARD 70 I hear their drums. Let’s set our men in order, And issue forth and bid them battle straight.	EDWARD 70 I hear their drums. Let’s set our men in order, And issue forth and bid them battle straight.
YORK Five men to twenty: though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. Many a battle have I won in France 75 Whenas the enemy hath been ten to one. Why should I not now have the like success? Alarum. They exit.	YORK Five men to twenty: though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. Many a battle have I won in France 75 Whenas the enemy hath been ten to one. Why should I not now have the like success? Alarum. They exit.