 First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Flourish. March. Enter the Queene, young Edward, | Flourish. March. Enter the Queen, Prince Edward, | | 3H6 V.iv.1.1 |
| Somerset, Oxford, and Souldiers. | Somerset, Oxford, and soldiers | | 3H6 V.iv.1.2 |
| Qu. | QUEEN | | |
| Great Lords, wise men ne'r sit and waile their losse, | Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, | wail (v.)
old form: waile bewail, lament, grieve [for] | 3H6 V.iv.1 |
| But chearely seeke how to redresse their harmes. | But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. | cheerly (adv.)
old form: chearely cheerfully, brightly, animatedly | 3H6 V.iv.2 |
| | redress (v.)
old form: redresse repair, remedy, put right | |
| | harm (n.)
old form: harmesmisfortune, affliction, trouble | |
| What though the Mast be now blowne ouer-boord, | What though the mast be now blown overboard, | | 3H6 V.iv.3 |
| The Cable broke, the holding-Anchor lost, | The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost, | holding-anchor (n.)[nautical] largest anchor; most stabilizing factor | 3H6 V.iv.4 |
| And halfe our Saylors swallow'd in the flood? | And half our sailors swallowed in the flood? | | 3H6 V.iv.5 |
| Yet liues our Pilot still. Is't meet, that hee | Yet lives our pilot still. Is't meet that he | meet (adj.)fit, suitable, right, proper | 3H6 V.iv.6 |
| | still (adv.)ever, now [as before] | |
| Should leaue the Helme, and like a fearefull Lad, | Should leave the helm and, like a fearful lad, | fearful (adj.)
old form: fearefull timid, timorous, frightened, full of fear | 3H6 V.iv.7 |
| With tearefull Eyes adde Water to the Sea, | With tearful eyes add water to the sea, | | 3H6 V.iv.8 |
| And giue more strength to that which hath too much, | And give more strength to that which hath too much, | | 3H6 V.iv.9 |
| Whiles in his moane, the Ship splits on the Rock, | Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, | moan (n.)
old form: moanegrief, lamentation, sorrow, complaint | 3H6 V.iv.10 |
| | split (v.)break up, split in two | |
| Which Industrie and Courage might haue sau'd? | Which industry and courage might have saved? | industry (n.)
old form: Industrie toil, labour, exertion | 3H6 V.iv.11 |
| | save (v.)
old form: sau'dprevent, avoid, avert | |
| Ah what a shame, ah what a fault were this. | Ah, what a shame! Ah, what a fault were this! | fault (n.)sin, offence, crime | 3H6 V.iv.12 |
| Say Warwicke was our Anchor: what of that? | Say Warwick was our anchor; what of that? | | 3H6 V.iv.13 |
| And Mountague our Top-Mast: what of him? | And Montague our topmast; what of him? | | 3H6 V.iv.14 |
| Our slaught'red friends, the Tackles: what of these? | Our slaughtered friends the tackles; what of these? | tackle (n.)[of a ship] rigging and sails | 3H6 V.iv.15 |
| Why is not Oxford here, another Anchor? | Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? | | 3H6 V.iv.16 |
| And Somerset, another goodly Mast? | And Somerset another goodly mast? | | 3H6 V.iv.17 |
| The friends of France our Shrowds and Tacklings? | The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? | tackling (n.)rigging [of a ship], tackle | 3H6 V.iv.18 |
| | shroud (n.)
old form: Shrowds sail-rope | |
| And though vnskilfull, why not Ned and I, | And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I | | 3H6 V.iv.19 |
| For once allow'd the skilfull Pilots Charge? | For once allowed the skilful pilot's charge? | charge (n.)task, responsibility, duty | 3H6 V.iv.20 |
| We will not from the Helme, to sit and weepe, | We will not from the helm to sit and weep, | | 3H6 V.iv.21 |
| But keepe our Course (though the rough Winde say no) | But keep our course, though the rough wind say no, | | 3H6 V.iv.22 |
| From Shelues and Rocks, that threaten vs with Wrack. | From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wrack. | wrack (v.)wreck, shipwreck, lose at sea | 3H6 V.iv.23 |
| | shelf (n.)
old form: Shelues sandbank, shoal | |
| As good to chide the Waues, as speake them faire. | As good to chide the waves as speak them fair. | chide (v.), past form chidscold, rebuke, reprove | 3H6 V.iv.24 |
| | speak (v.)
old form: speake address, talk to, call upon | |
| | fair (adv.)
old form: fairekindly, encouragingly, courteously | |
| And what is Edward, but a ruthlesse Sea? | And what is Edward but a ruthless sea? | | 3H6 V.iv.25 |
| What Clarence, but a Quick-sand of Deceit? | What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit? | | 3H6 V.iv.26 |
| And Richard, but a raged fatall Rocke? | And Richard but a ragged fatal rock? | ragged (adj.)broken, jagged, fragmented | 3H6 V.iv.27 |
| All these, the Enemies to our poore Barke. | All these the enemies to our poor bark. | bark, barque (n.)
old form: Barkeship, vessel | 3H6 V.iv.28 |
| Say you can swim, alas 'tis but a while: | Say you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while! | | 3H6 V.iv.29 |
| Tread on the Sand, why there you quickly sinke, | Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink. | | 3H6 V.iv.30 |
| Bestride the Rock, the Tyde will wash you off, | Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, | | 3H6 V.iv.31 |
| Or else you famish, that's a three-fold Death. | Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. | | 3H6 V.iv.32 |
| This speake I (Lords) to let you vnderstand, | This speak I, lords, to let you understand, | | 3H6 V.iv.33 |
| If case some one of you would flye from vs, | If case some one of you would fly from us, | | 3H6 V.iv.34 |
| That there's no hop'd-for Mercy with the Brothers, | That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers | | 3H6 V.iv.35 |
| More then with ruthlesse Waues, with Sands and Rocks. | More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. | | 3H6 V.iv.36 |
| Why courage then, what cannot be auoided, | Why, courage then! What cannot be avoided | | 3H6 V.iv.37 |
| 'Twere childish weakenesse to lament, or feare. | 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear. | | 3H6 V.iv.38 |
| Prince. | PRINCE | | |
| Me thinkes a Woman of this valiant Spirit, | Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)
old form: Me thinkes it seems / seemed to me | 3H6 V.iv.39 |
| Should, if a Coward heard her speake these words, | Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, | | 3H6 V.iv.40 |
| Infuse his Breast with Magnanimitie, | Infuse his breast with magnanimity, | magnanimity (n.)
old form: Magnanimitiegreatness of spirit, nobleness of heart | 3H6 V.iv.41 |
| And make him, naked, foyle a man at Armes. | And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. | man at arms, man-at-arms (n.)
old form: Armesfully equipped soldier, heavily armed warrior | 3H6 V.iv.42 |
| | naked (adj.)defenceless, undefended, unarmed | |
| | foil (v.)
old form: foyle defeat, overcome; throw [in wrestling] | |
| I speake not this, as doubting any here: | I speak not this as doubting any here; | | 3H6 V.iv.43 |
| For did I but suspect a fearefull man, | For did I but suspect a fearful man, | fearful (adj.)
old form: fearefull timid, timorous, frightened, full of fear | 3H6 V.iv.44 |
| He should haue leaue to goe away betimes, | He should have leave to go away betimes, | betimes (adv.)at once, forthwith, right now | 3H6 V.iv.45 |
| Least in our need he might infect another, | Lest in our need he might infect another | | 3H6 V.iv.46 |
| And make him of like spirit to himselfe. | And make him of like spirit to himself. | spirit (n.)disposition, temperament, frame of mind | 3H6 V.iv.47 |
| | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | |
| If any such be here, as God forbid, | If any such be here – as God forbid! – | | 3H6 V.iv.48 |
| Let him depart, before we neede his helpe. | Let him depart before we need his help. | | 3H6 V.iv.49 |
| Oxf. | OXFORD | | |
| Women and Children of so high a courage, | Women and children of so high a courage, | | 3H6 V.iv.50 |
| And Warriors faint, why 'twere perpetuall shame. | And warriors faint! Why, 'twere perpetual shame. | faint (adj.)faint-hearted, timorous, fearful | 3H6 V.iv.51 |
| Oh braue young Prince: thy famous Grandfather | O brave young Prince! Thy famous grandfather | brave (adj.)
old form: braue noble, worthy, excellent | 3H6 V.iv.52 |
| Doth liue againe in thee; long may'st thou liue, | Doth live again in thee; long mayst thou live | | 3H6 V.iv.53 |
| To beare his Image, and renew his Glories. | To bear his image and renew his glories! | image (n.)personal likeness, semblance | 3H6 V.iv.54 |
| Som. | SOMERSET | | |
| And he that will not fight for such a hope, | And he that will not fight for such a hope, | | 3H6 V.iv.55 |
| Goe home to Bed, and like the Owle by day, | Go home to bed, and like the owl by day, | | 3H6 V.iv.56 |
| If he arise, be mock'd and wondred at. | If he arise, be mocked and wondered at. | | 3H6 V.iv.57 |
| Qu. | QUEEN | | |
| Thankes gentle Somerset, sweet Oxford thankes. | Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks. | | 3H6 V.iv.58 |
| Prince. | PRINCE | | |
| And take his thankes, that yet hath nothing else. | And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else. | | 3H6 V.iv.59 |
| Enter a Messenger. | Enter a Messenger | | 3H6 V.iv.60 |
| Mess. | MESSENGER | | |
| Prepare you Lords, for Edward is at hand, | Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, | | 3H6 V.iv.60 |
| Readie to fight: therefore be resolute. | Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. | | 3H6 V.iv.61 |
| Oxf. | OXFORD | | |
| I thought no lesse: it is his Policie, | I thought no less; it is his policy | policy (n.)
old form: Policiestratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft | 3H6 V.iv.62 |
| To haste thus fast, to finde vs vnprouided. | To haste thus fast to find us unprovided. | unprovided (adj.)
old form: vnprouidedunprepared, unprotected, undefended | 3H6 V.iv.63 |
| Som. | SOMERSET | | |
| But hee's deceiu'd, we are in readinesse. | But he's deceived; we are in readiness. | | 3H6 V.iv.64 |
| Qu. | QUEEN | | |
| This cheares my heart, to see your forwardnesse. | This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. | forwardness (n.)
old form: forwardnessestate of readiness, preparedness, zeal | 3H6 V.iv.65 |
| Oxf. | OXFORD | | |
| Here pitch our Battaile, hence we will not budge. | Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge. | battle (n.)
old form: Battailebattle array, war formation, ranks of soldiers | 3H6 V.iv.66 |
| Flourish, and march. Enter Edward, Richard, Clarence, | Flourish and march. Enter Edward, Richard, George, | | 3H6 V.iv.67.1 |
| and Souldiers. | and soldiers | | 3H6 V.iv.67.2 |
| Edw. | EDWARD | | |
| Braue followers, yonder stands the thornie Wood, | Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, | brave (adj.)
old form: Braue noble, worthy, excellent | 3H6 V.iv.67 |
| Which by the Heauens assistance, and your strength, | Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength, | | 3H6 V.iv.68 |
| Must by the Roots be hew'ne vp yet ere Night. | Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. | | 3H6 V.iv.69 |
| I need not adde more fuell to your fire, | I need not add more fuel to your fire, | | 3H6 V.iv.70 |
| For well I wot, ye blaze, to burne them out: | For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out. | wot (v.)learn, know, be told | 3H6 V.iv.71 |
| Giue signall to the fight, and to it Lords. | Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords! | | 3H6 V.iv.72 |
| Qu. | QUEEN | | |
| Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, what I should say, | Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say | | 3H6 V.iv.73 |
| My teares gaine-say: for euery word I speake, | My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, | gainsay (v.)
old form: gaine-saycontradict, say the contrary, forbid | 3H6 V.iv.74 |
| Ye see I drinke the water of my eye. | Ye see I drink the water of my eye. | water (n.)tears | 3H6 V.iv.75 |
| Therefore no more but this: Henry your Soueraigne | Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, | | 3H6 V.iv.76 |
| Is Prisoner to the Foe, his State vsurp'd, | Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurped, | state (n.)kingship, majesty, sovereignty | 3H6 V.iv.77 |
| His Realme a slaughter-house, his Subiects slaine, | His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, | | 3H6 V.iv.78 |
| His Statutes cancell'd, and his Treasure spent: | His statutes cancelled, and his treasure spent; | | 3H6 V.iv.79 |
| And yonder is the Wolfe, that makes this spoyle. | And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. | spoil (n.)
old form: spoyleslaughter, destruction, ruination | 3H6 V.iv.80 |
| You fight in Iustice: then in Gods Name, Lords, | You fight in justice; then in God's name, lords, | | 3H6 V.iv.81 |
| Be valiant, and giue signall to the fight. | Be valiant, and give signal to the fight. | excursion (n.)sortie, sally, bout of fighting | 3H6 V.iv.82 |
| Alarum, Retreat, Excursions. Exeunt. | Alarums, retreat, excursions. Exeunt | | 3H6 V.iv.82 |