AboutWorksGlossaryThesaurusStarting PointsWord familiesSubscriptionsLogin | 
New account
Henry VI Part 3
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Richard, Edward, and Mountague.Enter Richard, Edward, and Montague 3H6 I.ii.1
Richard. RICHARD 
Brother, though I bee youngest, giue mee leaue.Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. 3H6 I.ii.1
Edward. EDWARD 
No, I can better play the Orator.No, I can better play the orator. 3H6 I.ii.2
Mount. MONTAGUE 
But I haue reasons strong and forceable.But I have reasons strong and forcible. 3H6 I.ii.3
Enter the Duke of Yorke.Enter the Duke of York 3H6 I.ii.4
Yorke. YORK 
Why how now Sonnes, and Brother, at a strife?Why, how now, sons and brother! At a strife? 3H6 I.ii.4
What is your Quarrell? how began it first?What is your quarrel? How began it first? 3H6 I.ii.5
Edward. EDWARD 
No Quarrell, but a slight Contention.No quarrel, but a slight contention.contention (n.)
quarrel, dispute, strife		3H6 I.ii.6
Yorke. YORK 
About what?About what? 3H6 I.ii.7
Rich. RICHARD 
About that which concernes your Grace and vs,About that which concerns your grace and us –  3H6 I.ii.8
The Crowne of England, Father, which is yours.The crown of England, father, which is yours. 3H6 I.ii.9
Yorke. YORK 
Mine Boy? not till King Henry be dead.Mine, boy? Not till King Henry be dead. 3H6 I.ii.10
Richard. RICHARD 
Your Right depends not on his life, or death.Your right depends not on his life or death.right (n.)
just claim, rights, title		3H6 I.ii.11
Edward. EDWARD 
Now you are Heire, therefore enioy it now:Now you are heir; therefore enjoy it now. 3H6 I.ii.12
By giuing the House of Lancaster leaue to breathe,By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,breathe (v.)
catch breath, pause, rest		3H6 I.ii.13
It will out-runne you, Father, in the end.It will outrun you, father, in the end.outrun (v.)

old form: out-runne
escape, avoid, elude		3H6 I.ii.14
Yorke. YORK 
I tooke an Oath, that hee should quietly reigne.I took an oath that he should quietly reign.quietly (adv.)
in peace, undisturbed		3H6 I.ii.15
Edward. EDWARD 
But for a Kingdome any Oath may be broken:But for a kingdom any oath may be broken; 3H6 I.ii.16
I would breake a thousand Oathes, to reigne one yeere.I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. 3H6 I.ii.17
Richard. RICHARD 
No: God forbid your Grace should be forsworne. No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.forswear (v), past forms forsworn, forswore

old form: forsworne
swear falsely, perjure [oneself], break one's word		3H6 I.ii.18
Yorke. YORK 
I shall be, if I clayme by open Warre.I shall be, if I claim by open war. 3H6 I.ii.19
Richard. RICHARD 
Ile proue the contrary, if you'le heare mee speake.I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. 3H6 I.ii.20
Yorke. YORK 
Thou canst not, Sonne: it is impossible.Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. 3H6 I.ii.21
Richard. RICHARD 
An Oath is of no moment, being not tookeAn oath is of no moment, being not tookmoment (n.)
importance, weight, consequence		3H6 I.ii.22
Before a true and lawfull Magistrate,Before a true and lawful magistrate 3H6 I.ii.23
That hath authoritie ouer him that sweares.That hath authority over him that swears: 3H6 I.ii.24
Henry had none, but did vsurpe the place.Henry had none, but did usurp the place.place (n.)
position, post, office, rank		3H6 I.ii.25
Then seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,depose (v.)
swear, take an oath [from]		3H6 I.ii.26
Your Oath, my Lord, is vaine and friuolous.Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.vain (adj.)

old form: vaine
worthless, idle, useless, empty		3H6 I.ii.27
frivolous (adj.)

old form: friuolous
groundless, insufficient, paltry
Therefore to Armes: and Father doe but thinke,Therefore to arms! And, father, do but think 3H6 I.ii.28
How sweet a thing it is to weare a Crowne,How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; 3H6 I.ii.29
Within whose Circuit is Elizium,Within whose circuit is ElysiumElysium
mythological location of heaven		3H6 I.ii.30
circuit (n.)
enclosed space, ambit, compass
And all that Poets faine of Blisse and Ioy.And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.feign (v.)

old form: faine
depict, imagine, conjure up		3H6 I.ii.31
Why doe we linger thus? I cannot rest,Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest 3H6 I.ii.32
Vntill the White Rose that I weare, be dy'deUntil the white rose that I wear be dyed 3H6 I.ii.33
Euen in the luke-warme blood of Henries heart.Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. 3H6 I.ii.34
Yorke. YORK 
Richard ynough: I will be King, or dye.Richard, enough! I will be king or die. 3H6 I.ii.35
Brother, thou shalt to London presently,Brother, thou shalt to London presently,presently (adv.)
immediately, instantly, at once		3H6 I.ii.36
And whet on Warwick to this Enterprise.And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.whet on (v.)
encourage, incite, egg on		3H6 I.ii.37
Thou Richard shalt to the Duke of Norfolke,Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk 3H6 I.ii.38
And tell him priuily of our intent.And tell him privily of our intent.intent (n.)
intention, purpose, aim		3H6 I.ii.39
privily (adv.)

old form: priuily
secretly, privately, stealthily
You Edward shall vnto my Lord Cobham,You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, 3H6 I.ii.40
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise.With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise; 3H6 I.ii.41
In them I trust: for they are Souldiors,In them I trust, for they are soldiers, 3H6 I.ii.42
Wittie, courteous, liberall, full of spirit.Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.liberal (adj.)

old form: liberall
noble, tasteful, refined		3H6 I.ii.43
witty (adj.)

old form: Wittie
clever, quick, intelligent
While you are thus imploy'd, what resteth more?While you are thus employed, what resteth morerest (v.)
remain [to be done], be left		3H6 I.ii.44
But that I seeke occasion how to rise,But that I seek occasion how to rise,occasion (n.)
circumstance, opportunity		3H6 I.ii.45
And yet the King not priuie to my Drift,And yet the King not privy to my drift,privy (adj.)

old form: priuie
informed [of], made aware [of]		3H6 I.ii.46
drift (n.)
plan, intention, aim
Nor any of the House of Lancaster.Nor any of the house of Lancaster? 3H6 I.ii.47
Enter Gabriel.Enter a Messenger 3H6 I.ii.48.1
But stay, what Newes? Why comm'st thou in such poste?But stay; what news? Why comest thou in such post?stay (v.)
linger, tarry, delay		3H6 I.ii.48
post, in
in haste, at top speed
Gabriel. MESSENGER 
The Queene, With all the Northerne Earles and Lords,The Queen with all the northern earls and lords 3H6 I.ii.49
Intend here to besiege you in your Castle.Intend here to besiege you in your castle. 3H6 I.ii.50
She is hard by, with twentie thousand men:She is hard by with twenty thousand men;hard (adv.)
close, near		3H6 I.ii.51
And therefore fortifie your Hold, my Lord.And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.hold (n.)
stronghold, castle, fortress		3H6 I.ii.52
Yorke. YORK 
I, with my Sword. What? think'st thou, that we feare them?Ay, with my sword. What! Thinkest thou that we fear them? 3H6 I.ii.53
Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me,Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; 3H6 I.ii.54
My Brother Mountague shall poste to London.My brother Montague shall post to London.post (v.)

old form: poste
hasten, speed, ride fast		3H6 I.ii.55
Let Noble Warwicke, Cobham, and the rest,Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, 3H6 I.ii.56
Whom we haue left Protectors of the King,Whom we have left protectors of the King, 3H6 I.ii.57
With powrefull Pollicie strengthen themselues,With powerful policy strengthen themselves,policy (n.)

old form: Pollicie
stratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft		3H6 I.ii.58
And trust not simple Henry, nor his Oathes.And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.simple (adj.)
foolish, silly, stupid		3H6 I.ii.59
Mount. MONTAGUE 
Brother, I goe: Ile winne them, feare it not.Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not;fear (v.)

old form: feare
doubt, mistrust		3H6 I.ii.60
And thus most humbly I doe take my leaue.And thus most humbly I do take my leave. 3H6 I.ii.61
Exit Mountague.Exit 3H6 I.ii.61
Enter Mortimer, and Enter Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer, 3H6 I.ii.62.1
his Brother.his brother 3H6 I.ii.62.2
York. YORK 
Sir Iohn, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine Vnckles,Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, 3H6 I.ii.62
You are come to Sandall in a happie houre.You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;happy (adj.)

old form: happie
opportune, appropriate, propitious, favourable		3H6 I.ii.63
The Armie of the Queene meane to besiege vs.The army of the Queen mean to besiege us. 3H6 I.ii.64
Iohn. SIR JOHN 
Shee shall not neede, wee'le meete her in the field.She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field.field (n.)
field of battle, battleground, field of combat		3H6 I.ii.65
Yorke. YORK 
What, with fiue thousand men?What, with five thousand men? 3H6 I.ii.66
Richard. RICHARD 
I, with fiue hundred, Father, for a neede.Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need.need, for a

old form: neede
if necessary, if need be, at a pinch		3H6 I.ii.67
A Woman's generall: what should we feare?A woman's general; what should we fear? 3H6 I.ii.68
A March afarre off.A march afar off 3H6 I.ii.69
Edward. EDWARD 
I heare their Drummes: / Let's set our men in order,I hear their drums; let's set our men in order, 3H6 I.ii.69
And issue forth, and bid them Battaile straight.And issue forth and bid them battle straight.straight (adv.)
straightaway, immediately, at once		3H6 I.ii.70
Yorke. YORK 
Fiue men to twentie: though the oddes be great,Five men to twenty! Though the odds be great, 3H6 I.ii.71
I doubt not, Vnckle, of our Victorie.I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. 3H6 I.ii.72
Many a Battaile haue I wonne in France,Many a battle have I won in France, 3H6 I.ii.73
When as the Enemie hath beene tenne to one:When as the enemy hath been ten to one; 3H6 I.ii.74
Why should I not now haue the like successe?Why should I not now have the like success?like (adj.)
same, similar, alike, equal		3H6 I.ii.75
Alarum. Exit.Exeunt 3H6 I.ii.75
 Previous Act I, Scene II Next  
SHAKESPEARE'S WORDS © 2022 DAVID CRYSTAL & BEN CRYSTAL