 First folio
| Modern text
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| A lowd alarum. Enter Clifford Wounded. | A loud alarum. Enter Clifford, wounded | | 3H6 II.vi.1 |
| Clif. | CLIFFORD | | |
| Heere burnes my Candle out; I, heere it dies, | Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, | | 3H6 II.vi.1 |
| Which whiles it lasted, gaue King Henry light. | Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. | | 3H6 II.vi.2 |
| O Lancaster! I feare thy ouerthrow, | O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow | | 3H6 II.vi.3 |
| More then my Bodies parting with my Soule: | More than my body's parting with my soul! | | 3H6 II.vi.4 |
| My Loue and Feare, glew'd many Friends to thee, | My love and fear glued many friends to thee; | glue (v.)
old form: glew'd attach, join, bring together | 3H6 II.vi.5 |
| | fear (n.)
old form: Feareformidableness, ability to inspire fear | |
| And now I fall. Thy tough Commixtures melts, | And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts, | commixture (n.)composition, compound, union | 3H6 II.vi.6 |
| Impairing Henry, strength'ning misproud Yorke; | Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York. | misproud (adj.)wrongly proud, arrogant, high and mighty | 3H6 II.vi.7 |
| The common people swarm like summer flies; | | 3H6 II.vi.8 |
| And whether flye the Gnats, but to the Sunne? | And whither fly the gnats but to the sun? | | 3H6 II.vi.9 |
| And who shines now, but Henries Enemies? | And who shines now but Henry's enemies? | | 3H6 II.vi.10 |
| O Phoebus! had'st thou neuer giuen consent, | O Phoebus, hadst thou never given consent | Phoebus (n.)[pron: 'feebus] Latin name for Apollo as the sun-god; also called Phoebus Apollo | 3H6 II.vi.11 |
| That Phaeton should checke thy fiery Steeds, | That Phaethon should check thy fiery steeds, | check (v.)
old form: checke take the reins of, control, manage | 3H6 II.vi.12 |
| | Phaethon, Phaeton (n.)[pron: 'fayton] son of Helios, the Greek sun-god, who tried to drive his chariot but was destroyed when he drove it too near Earth | |
| Thy burning Carre neuer had scorch'd the earth. | Thy burning car never had scorched the earth! | car (n.)
old form: Carre carriage, cart, chariot [often of the sun god] | 3H6 II.vi.13 |
| And Henry, had'st thou sway'd as Kings should do, | And, Henry, hadst thou swayed as kings should do, | sway (v.)
old form: sway'd control, rule, direct, govern | 3H6 II.vi.14 |
| Or as thy Father, and his Father did, | Or as thy father and his father did, | | 3H6 II.vi.15 |
| Giuing no ground vnto the house of Yorke, | Giving no ground unto the house of York, | | 3H6 II.vi.16 |
| They neuer then had sprung like Sommer Flyes: | They never then had sprung like summer flies; | spring (v.)spring up, rise up, multiply | 3H6 II.vi.17 |
| I, and ten thousand in this lucklesse Realme, | I and ten thousand in this luckless realm | | 3H6 II.vi.18 |
| Hed left no mourning Widdowes for our death, | Had left no mourning widows for our death; | | 3H6 II.vi.19 |
| And thou this day, had'st kept thy Chaire in peace. | And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. | chair (n.)
old form: Chaire throne | 3H6 II.vi.20 |
| For what doth cherrish Weeds, but gentle ayre? | For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? | cherish (v.)
old form: cherrish nourish, cause to grow | 3H6 II.vi.21 |
| | gentle (adj.)soft, tender, kind | |
| And what makes Robbers bold, but too much lenity? | And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity? | lenity (n.)mildness, gentleness, mercifulness | 3H6 II.vi.22 |
| Bootlesse are Plaints, and Curelesse are my Wounds: | Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds; | plaint (n.)lamentation, expression of sorrow | 3H6 II.vi.23 |
| | bootless (adj.)
old form: Bootlesse useless, worthless, fruitless, unavailing | |
| | cureless (adj.)
old form: Curelesse incurable, fatal, without remedy | |
| No way to flye, nor strength to hold out flight: | No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight; | hold out (v.)sustain, maintain, keep up | 3H6 II.vi.24 |
| The Foe is mercilesse, and will not pitty: | The foe is merciless and will not pity, | | 3H6 II.vi.25 |
| For at their hands I haue deseru'd no pitty. | For at their hands I have deserved no pity. | | 3H6 II.vi.26 |
| The ayre hath got into my deadly Wounds, | The air hath got into my deadly wounds, | | 3H6 II.vi.27 |
| And much effuse of blood, doth make me faint: | And much effuse of blood doth make me faint. | effuse (n.)effusion, outflow, pouring out | 3H6 II.vi.28 |
| | faint (adj.)weak, fatigued, lacking in strength | |
| Come Yorke, and Richard, Warwicke, and the rest, | Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest; | | 3H6 II.vi.29 |
| I stab'd your Fathers bosomes; Split my brest. | I stabbed your fathers' bosoms; split my breast. | | 3H6 II.vi.30 |
| He faints | | 3H6 II.vi.31.1 |
| Alarum & Retreat. Enter Edward, Warwicke, Richard, | Alarum and retreat. Enter Edward, Richard, George, | | 3H6 II.vi.31.2 |
| and Soldiers, Montague, & Clarence. | Warwick, Montague, and soldiers | | 3H6 II.vi.31.3 |
| Ed. | EDWARD | | |
| Now breath we Lords, good fortune bids vs pause, | Now breathe we, lords; good fortune bids us pause, | breathe (v.)
old form: breath catch breath, pause, rest | 3H6 II.vi.31 |
| And smooth the frownes of War, with peacefull lookes: | And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. | | 3H6 II.vi.32 |
| Some Troopes pursue the bloody-minded Queene, | Some troops pursue the bloody-minded Queen, | bloody-minded (adj.)bloodthirsty, ready to shed someone's blood | 3H6 II.vi.33 |
| That led calme Henry, though he were a King, | That led calm Henry, though he were a king, | lead (v.)govern, dominate, direct | 3H6 II.vi.34 |
| As doth a Saile, fill'd with a fretting Gust | As doth a sail, filled with a fretting gust, | fretting (adj.)intermittently blowing, squalling | 3H6 II.vi.35 |
| Command an Argosie to stemme the Waues. | Command an argosy to stem the waves. | stem (v.)
old form: stemme cut through, make headway against | 3H6 II.vi.36 |
| | argosy (n.)
old form: Argosie large merchant ship | |
| | command (v.)force, control, drive | |
| But thinke you (Lords) that Clifford fled with them? | But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them? | | 3H6 II.vi.37 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| No, 'tis impossible he should escape: | No, 'tis impossible he should escape; | | 3H6 II.vi.38 |
| (For though before his face I speake the words) | For, though before his face I speak the words, | | 3H6 II.vi.39 |
| Your Brother Richard markt him for the Graue. | Your brother Richard marked him for the grave; | mark (v.)
old form: markt destine, brand, designate | 3H6 II.vi.40 |
| And wheresoere he is, hee's surely dead. | And wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. | | 3H6 II.vi.41 |
| Clifford grones | Clifford groans and then dies | | 3H6 II.vi.41 |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| Whose soule is that which takes hir heauy leaue? | Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? | heavy (adj.)
old form: heauy sorrowful, sad, gloomy | 3H6 II.vi.42 |
| A deadly grone, like life and deaths departing. | A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. | departing (n.)separation, parting, division | 3H6 II.vi.43 |
| Ed. | EDWARD | | |
| See who it is. / And now the Battailes ended, | See who it is; and, now the battle's ended, | | 3H6 II.vi.44 |
| If Friend or Foe, let him be gently vsed. | If friend or foe, let him be gently used. | gently (adv.)like a gentleman, honourably, with dignity | 3H6 II.vi.45 |
| | use (v.)
old form: vsedtreat, deal with, manage | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| Reuoke that doome of mercy, for 'tis Clifford, | Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Clifford; | doom (n.)
old form: doome judgement, sentence, decision | 3H6 II.vi.46 |
| Who not contented that he lopp'd the Branch | Who not contented that he lopped the branch | | 3H6 II.vi.47 |
| In hewing Rutland, when his leaues put forth, | In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, | | 3H6 II.vi.48 |
| But set his murth'ring knife vnto the Roote, | But set his murdering knife unto the root | | 3H6 II.vi.49 |
| From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, | From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring: | spray (n.)branch, limb, offshoot | 3H6 II.vi.50 |
| I meane our Princely Father, Duke of Yorke. | I mean our princely father, Duke of York. | | 3H6 II.vi.51 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| From off the gates of Yorke, fetch down ye head, | From off the gates of York fetch down the head, | | 3H6 II.vi.52 |
| Your Fathers head, which Clifford placed there: | Your father's head, which Clifford placed there; | | 3H6 II.vi.53 |
| In stead whereof, let this supply the roome, | Instead whereof let this supply the room: | room (n.)
old form: roomeplace, space | 3H6 II.vi.54 |
| Measure for measure, must be answered. | Measure for measure must be answered. | answer (v.)give in return, repay, requite | 3H6 II.vi.55 |
| Ed. | EDWARD | | |
| Bring forth that fatall Schreechowle to our house, | Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, | screech-owl (n.)
old form: Schreechowle barn-owl [thought to be a bird of ill omen] | 3H6 II.vi.56 |
| | fatal (adj.)
old form: fatall ominous, full of foreboding, doom-laden | |
| That nothing sung but death, to vs and ours: | That nothing sung but death to us and ours; | | 3H6 II.vi.57 |
| Now death shall stop his dismall threatning sound, | Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound | dismal (adj.)
old form: dismall sinister, ominous, malign | 3H6 II.vi.58 |
| And his ill-boading tongue, no more shall speake. | And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. | ill-boding (adj.)
old form: ill-boading inauspicious, predicting evil, prophesying doom | 3H6 II.vi.59 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| I thinke is vnderstanding is bereft: | I think his understanding is bereft. | bereave (v.)take away [from], deprive, deny, rob | 3H6 II.vi.60 |
| Speake Clifford, dost thou know who speakes to thee? | Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee? | | 3H6 II.vi.61 |
| Darke cloudy death ore-shades his beames of life, | Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life, | overshade (v.)
old form: ore-shades overshadow, cast a gloom over | 3H6 II.vi.62 |
| And he nor sees, nor heares vs, what we say. | And he nor sees nor hears us what we say. | | 3H6 II.vi.63 |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| O would he did, and so (perhaps) he doth, | O, would he did! And so perhaps he doth; | | 3H6 II.vi.64 |
| 'Tis but his policy to counterfet, | 'Tis but his policy to counterfeit, | policy (n.)stratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft | 3H6 II.vi.65 |
| | counterfeit (v.)
old form: counterfetpretend, feign, make believe | |
| Because he would auoid such bitter taunts | Because he would avoid such bitter taunts | | 3H6 II.vi.66 |
| Which in the time of death he gaue our Father. | Which in the time of death he gave our father. | | 3H6 II.vi.67 |
| Cla. | GEORGE | | |
| If so thou think'st, / Vex him with eager Words. | If so thou thinkest, vex him with eager words. | eager (adj.)sharp, cutting | 3H6 II.vi.68 |
| | vex (v.)afflict, trouble, torment | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| Clifford, aske mercy, and obtaine no grace. | Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace. | | 3H6 II.vi.69 |
| Ed. | EDWARD | | |
| Clifford, repent in bootlesse penitence. | Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. | bootless (adj.)
old form: bootlesse useless, worthless, fruitless, unavailing | 3H6 II.vi.70 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| Clifford, deuise excuses for thy faults. | Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults. | fault (n.)sin, offence, crime | 3H6 II.vi.71 |
| Cla. | GEORGE | | |
| While we deuise fell Tortures for thy faults. | While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. | fell (adj.)cruel, fierce, savage | 3H6 II.vi.72 |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| Thou didd'st loue Yorke, and I am son to Yorke. | Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. | | 3H6 II.vi.73 |
| Edw. | EDWARD | | |
| Thou pittied'st Rutland, I will pitty thee. | Thou pitied'st Rutland; I will pity thee. | | 3H6 II.vi.74 |
| Cla. | GEORGE | | |
| Where's Captaine Margaret, to fence you now? | Where's Captain Margaret to fence you now? | fence (n.)protect, shield, defend | 3H6 II.vi.75 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| They mocke thee Clifford, / Sweare as thou was't wont. | They mock thee, Clifford; swear as thou wast wont. | wont (v.)be accustomed, used [to], be in the habit of | 3H6 II.vi.76 |
| Ric. | RICHARD | | |
| What, not an Oath? Nay then the world go's hard | What! Not an oath? Nay, then the world goes hard | | 3H6 II.vi.77 |
| When Clifford cannot spare his Friends an oath: | When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath. | | 3H6 II.vi.78 |
| I know by that he's dead, and by my Soule, | I know by that he's dead; and, by my soul, | | 3H6 II.vi.79 |
| If this right hand would buy two houres life, | If this right hand would buy two hour's life, | | 3H6 II.vi.80 |
| That I (in all despight) might rayle at him, | That I in all despite might rail at him, | rail (v.)
old form: rayle rant, rave, be abusive [about] | 3H6 II.vi.81 |
| | despite (n.)
old form: despightcontempt, scorn, disdain | |
| This hand should chop it off: & with the issuing Blood | This hand should chop it off, and with the issuing blood | | 3H6 II.vi.82 |
| Stifle the Villaine, whose vnstanched thirst | Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst | unstanched (adj.)
old form: vnstanched unquenchable, insatiable, unable to be satisfied | 3H6 II.vi.83 |
| Yorke, and yong Rutland could not satisfie | York and young Rutland could not satisfy. | | 3H6 II.vi.84 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| I, but he's dead. Of with the Traitors head, | Ay, but he's dead. Off with the traitor's head, | | 3H6 II.vi.85 |
| And reare it in the place your Fathers stands. | And rear it in the place your father's stands. | rear (v.)
old form: reare raise, lift up | 3H6 II.vi.86 |
| And now to London with Triumphant march, | And now to London with triumphant march, | | 3H6 II.vi.87 |
| There to be crowned Englands Royall King: | There to be crowned England's royal king; | | 3H6 II.vi.88 |
| From whence, shall Warwicke cut the Sea to France, | From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France, | | 3H6 II.vi.89 |
| And aske the Ladie Bona for thy Queene: | And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen. | | 3H6 II.vi.90 |
| So shalt thou sinow both these Lands together, | So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; | sinew (v.)
old form: sinow join strongly, knit, bind | 3H6 II.vi.91 |
| And hauing France thy Friend, thou shalt not dread | And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread | dread (v.)fear, anticipate in fear, be anxious about | 3H6 II.vi.92 |
| The scattred Foe, that hopes to rise againe: | The scattered foe that hopes to rise again; | scattered (adj.)
old form: scattred dispersed, defeated, disunited | 3H6 II.vi.93 |
| For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, | For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, | | 3H6 II.vi.94 |
| Yet looke to haue them buz to offend thine eares: | Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears. | look (v.)
old form: looke be prepared, expect, count on | 3H6 II.vi.95 |
| | buzz (v.)
old form: buz spread false rumours | |
| First, will I see the Coronation, | First will I see the coronation, | | 3H6 II.vi.96 |
| And then to Britanny Ile crosse the Sea, | And then to Brittany I'll cross the sea | | 3H6 II.vi.97 |
| To effect this marriage, so it please my Lord. | To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. | | 3H6 II.vi.98 |
| Ed. | EDWARD | | |
| Euen as thou wilt sweet Warwicke, let it bee: | Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be; | | 3H6 II.vi.99 |
| For in thy shoulder do I builde my Seate; | For in thy shoulder do I build my seat, | seat (n.)
old form: Seatethrone | 3H6 II.vi.100 |
| And neuer will I vndertake the thing | And never will I undertake the thing | | 3H6 II.vi.101 |
| Wherein thy counsaile and consent is wanting: | Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. | want (v.)lack, need, be without | 3H6 II.vi.102 |
| Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, | Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, | | 3H6 II.vi.103 |
| And George of Clarence; Warwicke as our Selfe, | And George, of Clarence; Warwick, as ourself, | | 3H6 II.vi.104 |
| Shall do, and vndo as him pleaseth best. | Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best. | | 3H6 II.vi.105 |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | |
| Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloster, | Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester; | | 3H6 II.vi.106 |
| For Glosters Dukedome is too ominous. | For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous. | | 3H6 II.vi.107 |
| War. | WARWICK | | |
| Tut, that's a foolish obseruation: | Tut, that's a foolish observation; | | 3H6 II.vi.108 |
| Richard, be Duke of Gloster: Now to London, | Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London, | | 3H6 II.vi.109 |
| To see these Honors in possession. | To see these honours in possession. | possession (n.)actual holding, real ownership, immediate possession | 3H6 II.vi.110 |
| Exeunt | Exeunt | | 3H6 II.vi.110 |