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

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Previous page Act 2, Scene 5 Next page Act 3, Scene 2

Your password reset email should arrive shortly.

Something went wrong

Henry VI, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Popular pages: Henry VI, Part 1

Full Book Analysis SUMMARY

Character List CHARACTERS

Full Book QUIZZES

Take a Study Break

The 7 Most Messed-Up Short Stories We All Had to Read in School

QUIZ: Which Pride and Prejudice Character Matches Your Personality?

QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe?

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

Original Text	Modern Text
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, and WINCHESTER; RICHARD PLANTAGENET and WARWICK, with white roses; SOMERSET and SUFFOLK, with red roses; and OTHERS. GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill. WINCHESTER snatches it, tears it.	Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, and WINCHESTER; RICHARD PLANTAGENET and WARWICK, with white roses; SOMERSET and SUFFOLK, with red roses; and OTHERS. GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill. WINCHESTER snatches it, tears it.
WINCHESTER Com’st thou with deep premeditated lines, With written pamphlets studiously devised? Humphrey of Gloucester, if thou canst accuse Or aught intend’st to lay unto my charge, 5 Do it without invention, suddenly, As I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to answer what thou canst object.	WINCHESTER Com’st thou with deep premeditated lines, With written pamphlets studiously devised? Humphrey of Gloucester, if thou canst accuse Or aught intend’st to lay unto my charge, 5 Do it without invention, suddenly, As I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to answer what thou canst object.
GLOUCESTER Presumptuous priest, this place commands my patience, 10 Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonored me. Think not, although in writing I preferred The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes, That therefore I have forged or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen. 15 No, prelate, such is thy audacious wickedness, Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks, As very infants prattle of thy pride. Thou art a most pernicious usurer, Froward by nature, enemy to peace, 20 Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems A man of thy profession and degree. And for thy treachery, what’s more manifest, In that thou laid’st a trap to take my life As well at London Bridge as at the Tower? 25 Besides, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted, The King, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt From envious malice of thy swelling heart.	GLOUCESTER Presumptuous priest, this place commands my patience, 10 Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonored me. Think not, although in writing I preferred The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes, That therefore I have forged or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen. 15 No, prelate, such is thy audacious wickedness, Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks, As very infants prattle of thy pride. Thou art a most pernicious usurer, Froward by nature, enemy to peace, 20 Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems A man of thy profession and degree. And for thy treachery, what’s more manifest, In that thou laid’st a trap to take my life As well at London Bridge as at the Tower? 25 Besides, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted, The King, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt From envious malice of thy swelling heart.
WINCHESTER Gloucester, I do defy thee.—Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. 30 If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse, As he will have me, how am I so poor? Or how haps it I seek not to advance Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling? And for dissension, who preferreth peace 35 More than I do, except I be provoked? No, my good lords, it is not that offends; It is not that that hath incensed the Duke. It is because no one should sway but he, No one but he should be about the King; 40 And that engenders thunder in his breast And makes him roar these accusations forth. But he shall know I am as good—	WINCHESTER Gloucester, I do defy thee.—Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. 30 If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse, As he will have me, how am I so poor? Or how haps it I seek not to advance Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling? And for dissension, who preferreth peace 35 More than I do, except I be provoked? No, my good lords, it is not that offends; It is not that that hath incensed the Duke. It is because no one should sway but he, No one but he should be about the King; 40 And that engenders thunder in his breast And makes him roar these accusations forth. But he shall know I am as good—
GLOUCESTER As good! Thou bastard of my grandfather!	GLOUCESTER As good! Thou bastard of my grandfather!
WINCHESTER 45 Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray, But one imperious in another’s throne?	WINCHESTER 45 Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray, But one imperious in another’s throne?
GLOUCESTER Am I not Protector, saucy priest?	GLOUCESTER Am I not Protector, saucy priest?
WINCHESTER And am not I a prelate of the Church?	WINCHESTER And am not I a prelate of the Church?
GLOUCESTER Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, 50 And useth it to patronage his theft.	GLOUCESTER Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, 50 And useth it to patronage his theft.
WINCHESTER Unreverent Gloucester!	WINCHESTER Unreverent Gloucester!
GLOUCESTER Thou art reverend Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.	GLOUCESTER Thou art reverend Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
WINCHESTER Rome shall remedy this.	WINCHESTER Rome shall remedy this.
GLOUCESTER 55 Roam thither then.	GLOUCESTER 55 Roam thither then.
WARWICK , to WINCHESTER My lord, it were your duty to forbear.	WARWICK , to WINCHESTER My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
SOMERSET Ay, so the Bishop be not overborne. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such.	SOMERSET Ay, so the Bishop be not overborne. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such.
WARWICK 60 Methinks his Lordship should be humbler. It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.	WARWICK 60 Methinks his Lordship should be humbler. It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.
SOMERSET Yes, when his holy state is touched so near.	SOMERSET Yes, when his holy state is touched so near.
WARWICK State holy, or unhallowed, what of that? Is not his Grace Protector to the King?	WARWICK State holy, or unhallowed, what of that? Is not his Grace Protector to the King?
PLANTAGENET , aside 65 Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, Lest it be said “Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?” Else would I have a fling at Winchester.	PLANTAGENET , aside 65 Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, Lest it be said “Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?” Else would I have a fling at Winchester.
KING HENRY Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester, 70 The special watchmen of our English weal, I would prevail, if prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity. O, what a scandal is it to our crown That two such noble peers as you should jar! 75 Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth. A noise within: “Down with the tawny coats!” What tumult ’s this?	KING HENRY Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester, 70 The special watchmen of our English weal, I would prevail, if prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity. O, what a scandal is it to our crown That two such noble peers as you should jar! 75 Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth. A noise within: “Down with the tawny coats!” What tumult ’s this?
WARWICK An uproar, I dare warrant, 80 Begun through malice of the Bishop’s men.	WARWICK An uproar, I dare warrant, 80 Begun through malice of the Bishop’s men.
A noise again: “Stones! Stones!”	A noise again: “Stones! Stones!”
Enter MAYOR.	Enter MAYOR.
MAYOR O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry, Pity the city of London, pity us! The Bishop and the Duke of Gloucester’s men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, 85 Have filled their pockets full of pebble stones And, banding themselves in contrary parts, Do pelt so fast at one another’s pate That many have their giddy brains knocked out; Our windows are broke down in every street, 90 And we, for fear, compelled to shut our shops.	MAYOR O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry, Pity the city of London, pity us! The Bishop and the Duke of Gloucester’s men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, 85 Have filled their pockets full of pebble stones And, banding themselves in contrary parts, Do pelt so fast at one another’s pate That many have their giddy brains knocked out; Our windows are broke down in every street, 90 And we, for fear, compelled to shut our shops.
Enter SERVINGMEN in skirmish with bloody pates.	Enter SERVINGMEN in skirmish with bloody pates.
KING HENRY We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaught’ring hands and keep the peace.— Pray, Uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.	KING HENRY We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaught’ring hands and keep the peace.— Pray, Uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, if we be forbidden stones, we’ll 95 fall to it with our teeth.	FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, if we be forbidden stones, we’ll 95 fall to it with our teeth.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Do what you dare, we are as resolute.	SECOND SERVINGMAN Do what you dare, we are as resolute.
Skirmish again.	Skirmish again.
GLOUCESTER You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustomed fight aside.	GLOUCESTER You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustomed fight aside.
THIRD SERVINGMAN 100 My lord, we know your Grace to be a man Just and upright, and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but to his Majesty; And ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, 105 To be disgracèd by an inkhorn mate, We and our wives and children all will fight And have our bodies slaughtered by thy foes.	THIRD SERVINGMAN 100 My lord, we know your Grace to be a man Just and upright, and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but to his Majesty; And ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, 105 To be disgracèd by an inkhorn mate, We and our wives and children all will fight And have our bodies slaughtered by thy foes.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field when we are dead.	FIRST SERVINGMAN Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field when we are dead.
Begin again.	Begin again.
GLOUCESTER 110 Stay, stay, I say! And if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.	GLOUCESTER 110 Stay, stay, I say! And if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.
KING HENRY O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold 115 My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a peace If holy churchmen take delight in broils?	KING HENRY O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold 115 My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a peace If holy churchmen take delight in broils?
WARWICK Yield, my Lord Protector—yield, Winchester— 120 Except you mean with obstinate repulse To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm. You see what mischief, and what murder too, Hath been enacted through your enmity. Then be at peace, except you thirst for blood.	WARWICK Yield, my Lord Protector—yield, Winchester— 120 Except you mean with obstinate repulse To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm. You see what mischief, and what murder too, Hath been enacted through your enmity. Then be at peace, except you thirst for blood.
WINCHESTER 125 He shall submit, or I will never yield.	WINCHESTER 125 He shall submit, or I will never yield.
GLOUCESTER Compassion on the King commands me stoop, Or I would see his heart out ere the priest Should ever get that privilege of me.	GLOUCESTER Compassion on the King commands me stoop, Or I would see his heart out ere the priest Should ever get that privilege of me.
WARWICK Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the Duke 130 Hath banished moody discontented fury, As by his smoothèd brows it doth appear. Why look you still so stern and tragical?	WARWICK Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the Duke 130 Hath banished moody discontented fury, As by his smoothèd brows it doth appear. Why look you still so stern and tragical?

Original Text	Modern Text
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, and WINCHESTER; RICHARD PLANTAGENET and WARWICK, with white roses; SOMERSET and SUFFOLK, with red roses; and OTHERS. GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill. WINCHESTER snatches it, tears it.	Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, and WINCHESTER; RICHARD PLANTAGENET and WARWICK, with white roses; SOMERSET and SUFFOLK, with red roses; and OTHERS. GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill. WINCHESTER snatches it, tears it.
WINCHESTER Com’st thou with deep premeditated lines, With written pamphlets studiously devised? Humphrey of Gloucester, if thou canst accuse Or aught intend’st to lay unto my charge, 5 Do it without invention, suddenly, As I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to answer what thou canst object.	WINCHESTER Com’st thou with deep premeditated lines, With written pamphlets studiously devised? Humphrey of Gloucester, if thou canst accuse Or aught intend’st to lay unto my charge, 5 Do it without invention, suddenly, As I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to answer what thou canst object.
GLOUCESTER Presumptuous priest, this place commands my patience, 10 Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonored me. Think not, although in writing I preferred The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes, That therefore I have forged or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen. 15 No, prelate, such is thy audacious wickedness, Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks, As very infants prattle of thy pride. Thou art a most pernicious usurer, Froward by nature, enemy to peace, 20 Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems A man of thy profession and degree. And for thy treachery, what’s more manifest, In that thou laid’st a trap to take my life As well at London Bridge as at the Tower? 25 Besides, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted, The King, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt From envious malice of thy swelling heart.	GLOUCESTER Presumptuous priest, this place commands my patience, 10 Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonored me. Think not, although in writing I preferred The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes, That therefore I have forged or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen. 15 No, prelate, such is thy audacious wickedness, Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks, As very infants prattle of thy pride. Thou art a most pernicious usurer, Froward by nature, enemy to peace, 20 Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems A man of thy profession and degree. And for thy treachery, what’s more manifest, In that thou laid’st a trap to take my life As well at London Bridge as at the Tower? 25 Besides, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted, The King, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt From envious malice of thy swelling heart.
WINCHESTER Gloucester, I do defy thee.—Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. 30 If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse, As he will have me, how am I so poor? Or how haps it I seek not to advance Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling? And for dissension, who preferreth peace 35 More than I do, except I be provoked? No, my good lords, it is not that offends; It is not that that hath incensed the Duke. It is because no one should sway but he, No one but he should be about the King; 40 And that engenders thunder in his breast And makes him roar these accusations forth. But he shall know I am as good—	WINCHESTER Gloucester, I do defy thee.—Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. 30 If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse, As he will have me, how am I so poor? Or how haps it I seek not to advance Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling? And for dissension, who preferreth peace 35 More than I do, except I be provoked? No, my good lords, it is not that offends; It is not that that hath incensed the Duke. It is because no one should sway but he, No one but he should be about the King; 40 And that engenders thunder in his breast And makes him roar these accusations forth. But he shall know I am as good—
GLOUCESTER As good! Thou bastard of my grandfather!	GLOUCESTER As good! Thou bastard of my grandfather!
WINCHESTER 45 Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray, But one imperious in another’s throne?	WINCHESTER 45 Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray, But one imperious in another’s throne?
GLOUCESTER Am I not Protector, saucy priest?	GLOUCESTER Am I not Protector, saucy priest?
WINCHESTER And am not I a prelate of the Church?	WINCHESTER And am not I a prelate of the Church?
GLOUCESTER Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, 50 And useth it to patronage his theft.	GLOUCESTER Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, 50 And useth it to patronage his theft.
WINCHESTER Unreverent Gloucester!	WINCHESTER Unreverent Gloucester!
GLOUCESTER Thou art reverend Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.	GLOUCESTER Thou art reverend Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
WINCHESTER Rome shall remedy this.	WINCHESTER Rome shall remedy this.
GLOUCESTER 55 Roam thither then.	GLOUCESTER 55 Roam thither then.
WARWICK , to WINCHESTER My lord, it were your duty to forbear.	WARWICK , to WINCHESTER My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
SOMERSET Ay, so the Bishop be not overborne. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such.	SOMERSET Ay, so the Bishop be not overborne. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such.
WARWICK 60 Methinks his Lordship should be humbler. It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.	WARWICK 60 Methinks his Lordship should be humbler. It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.
SOMERSET Yes, when his holy state is touched so near.	SOMERSET Yes, when his holy state is touched so near.
WARWICK State holy, or unhallowed, what of that? Is not his Grace Protector to the King?	WARWICK State holy, or unhallowed, what of that? Is not his Grace Protector to the King?
PLANTAGENET , aside 65 Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, Lest it be said “Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?” Else would I have a fling at Winchester.	PLANTAGENET , aside 65 Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, Lest it be said “Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?” Else would I have a fling at Winchester.
KING HENRY Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester, 70 The special watchmen of our English weal, I would prevail, if prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity. O, what a scandal is it to our crown That two such noble peers as you should jar! 75 Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth. A noise within: “Down with the tawny coats!” What tumult ’s this?	KING HENRY Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester, 70 The special watchmen of our English weal, I would prevail, if prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity. O, what a scandal is it to our crown That two such noble peers as you should jar! 75 Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth. A noise within: “Down with the tawny coats!” What tumult ’s this?
WARWICK An uproar, I dare warrant, 80 Begun through malice of the Bishop’s men.	WARWICK An uproar, I dare warrant, 80 Begun through malice of the Bishop’s men.
A noise again: “Stones! Stones!”	A noise again: “Stones! Stones!”
Enter MAYOR.	Enter MAYOR.
MAYOR O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry, Pity the city of London, pity us! The Bishop and the Duke of Gloucester’s men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, 85 Have filled their pockets full of pebble stones And, banding themselves in contrary parts, Do pelt so fast at one another’s pate That many have their giddy brains knocked out; Our windows are broke down in every street, 90 And we, for fear, compelled to shut our shops.	MAYOR O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry, Pity the city of London, pity us! The Bishop and the Duke of Gloucester’s men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, 85 Have filled their pockets full of pebble stones And, banding themselves in contrary parts, Do pelt so fast at one another’s pate That many have their giddy brains knocked out; Our windows are broke down in every street, 90 And we, for fear, compelled to shut our shops.
Enter SERVINGMEN in skirmish with bloody pates.	Enter SERVINGMEN in skirmish with bloody pates.
KING HENRY We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaught’ring hands and keep the peace.— Pray, Uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.	KING HENRY We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaught’ring hands and keep the peace.— Pray, Uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, if we be forbidden stones, we’ll 95 fall to it with our teeth.	FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, if we be forbidden stones, we’ll 95 fall to it with our teeth.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Do what you dare, we are as resolute.	SECOND SERVINGMAN Do what you dare, we are as resolute.
Skirmish again.	Skirmish again.
GLOUCESTER You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustomed fight aside.	GLOUCESTER You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustomed fight aside.
THIRD SERVINGMAN 100 My lord, we know your Grace to be a man Just and upright, and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but to his Majesty; And ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, 105 To be disgracèd by an inkhorn mate, We and our wives and children all will fight And have our bodies slaughtered by thy foes.	THIRD SERVINGMAN 100 My lord, we know your Grace to be a man Just and upright, and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but to his Majesty; And ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, 105 To be disgracèd by an inkhorn mate, We and our wives and children all will fight And have our bodies slaughtered by thy foes.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field when we are dead.	FIRST SERVINGMAN Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field when we are dead.
Begin again.	Begin again.
GLOUCESTER 110 Stay, stay, I say! And if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.	GLOUCESTER 110 Stay, stay, I say! And if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.
KING HENRY O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold 115 My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a peace If holy churchmen take delight in broils?	KING HENRY O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold 115 My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a peace If holy churchmen take delight in broils?
WARWICK Yield, my Lord Protector—yield, Winchester— 120 Except you mean with obstinate repulse To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm. You see what mischief, and what murder too, Hath been enacted through your enmity. Then be at peace, except you thirst for blood.	WARWICK Yield, my Lord Protector—yield, Winchester— 120 Except you mean with obstinate repulse To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm. You see what mischief, and what murder too, Hath been enacted through your enmity. Then be at peace, except you thirst for blood.
WINCHESTER 125 He shall submit, or I will never yield.	WINCHESTER 125 He shall submit, or I will never yield.
GLOUCESTER Compassion on the King commands me stoop, Or I would see his heart out ere the priest Should ever get that privilege of me.	GLOUCESTER Compassion on the King commands me stoop, Or I would see his heart out ere the priest Should ever get that privilege of me.
WARWICK Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the Duke 130 Hath banished moody discontented fury, As by his smoothèd brows it doth appear. Why look you still so stern and tragical?	WARWICK Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the Duke 130 Hath banished moody discontented fury, As by his smoothèd brows it doth appear. Why look you still so stern and tragical?