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× Print Henry VI Part 3 Select what you want to print Current play Modern text Current act Folio text Current scene Definitions   Key line show Original text show Modern text show Definitions show Key line show Hyperlinks  print Modern text Original text Modern text with Definitions Original text with Definitions Modern text with Key line Hyperlinks Act 1 > Scene 1 Act 1 > Scene 2 Act 1 > Scene 3 Act 1 > Scene 4 Act 2 > Scene 1 Act 2 > Scene 2 Act 2 > Scene 3 Act 2 > Scene 4 Act 2 > Scene 5 Act 2 > Scene 6 Act 3 > Scene 1 Act 3 > Scene 2 Act 3 > Scene 3 Act 4 > Scene 1 Act 4 > Scene 2 Act 4 > Scene 3 Act 4 > Scene 4 Act 4 > Scene 5 Act 4 > Scene 6 Act 4 > Scene 7 Act 4 > Scene 8 Act 5 > Scene 1 Act 5 > Scene 2 Act 5 > Scene 3 Act 5 > Scene 4 Act 5 > Scene 5 Act 5 > Scene 6 Act 5 > Scene 7 All text Act I scene IIIIIIIV Act II scene IIIIIIIVVVI Act III scene IIIIII Act IV scene IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIII Act V scene IIIIIIIVVVIVII 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 tooke An oath is of no moment, being not took moment (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 Elysium Elysium 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'de Until 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 more rest (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 ACT I. Act I. > scene I. Act I. > scene II. Act I. > scene III. Act I. > scene IV. ACT II. Act II. > scene I. Act II. > scene II. Act II. > scene III. Act II. > scene IV. Act II. > scene V. Act II. > scene VI. ACT III. Act III. > scene I. Act III. > scene II. Act III. > scene III. ACT IV. Act IV. > scene I. Act IV. > scene II. Act IV. > scene III. Act IV. > scene IV. Act IV. > scene V. Act IV. > scene VI. Act IV. > scene VII. Act IV. > scene VIII. ACT V. Act V. > scene I. Act V. > scene II. Act V. > scene III. Act V. > scene IV. Act V. > scene V. Act V. > scene VI. Act V. > scene VII.  Previous Act I, Scene II Next