No Fear Shakespeare: Henry VI, Part 2: Act 2 Scene 3

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Henry VI, Part 2

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY and STATE (QUEEN MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, YORK, SALISBURY, SUFFOLK, and OTHERS) with GUARD, to banish the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, who is accompanied by MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, all guarded.	Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY and STATE (QUEEN MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, YORK, SALISBURY, SUFFOLK, and OTHERS) with GUARD, to banish the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, who is accompanied by MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, all guarded.
KING HENRY Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester’s wife. In sight of God and us, your guilt is great. Receive the sentence of the law for sins 5 Such as by God’s book are adjudged to death. To JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE. You four, from hence to prison back again; From thence unto the place of execution: The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes, And you three shall be strangled on the gallows. 10 To DUCHESS You, madam, for you are more nobly born, Despoilèd of your honor in your life, Shall, after three days’ open penance done, Live in your country here in banishment 15 With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man.	KING HENRY Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester’s wife. In sight of God and us, your guilt is great. Receive the sentence of the law for sins 5 Such as by God’s book are adjudged to death. To JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE. You four, from hence to prison back again; From thence unto the place of execution: The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes, And you three shall be strangled on the gallows. 10 To DUCHESS You, madam, for you are more nobly born, Despoilèd of your honor in your life, Shall, after three days’ open penance done, Live in your country here in banishment 15 With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man.
DUCHESS Welcome is banishment. Welcome were my death.	DUCHESS Welcome is banishment. Welcome were my death.
GLOUCESTER Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee. I cannot justify whom the law condemns. DUCHESS and the other prisoners exit under guard. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. 20 Ah, Humphrey, this dishonor in thine age Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.— I beseech your Majesty give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.	GLOUCESTER Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee. I cannot justify whom the law condemns. DUCHESS and the other prisoners exit under guard. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. 20 Ah, Humphrey, this dishonor in thine age Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.— I beseech your Majesty give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.
KING HENRY Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Ere thou go, 25 Give up thy staff. Henry will to himself Protector be; and God shall be my hope, My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet. And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.	KING HENRY Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Ere thou go, 25 Give up thy staff. Henry will to himself Protector be; and God shall be my hope, My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet. And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.
QUEEN MARGARET 30 I see no reason why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child. God and King Henry govern England’s realm!— Give up your staff, sir, and the King his realm.	QUEEN MARGARET 30 I see no reason why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child. God and King Henry govern England’s realm!— Give up your staff, sir, and the King his realm.
GLOUCESTER My staff?—Here, noble Henry, is my staff. He puts down his staff before HENRY. 35 As willingly do I the same resign As e’er thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king. When I am dead and gone, 40 May honorable peace attend thy throne.	GLOUCESTER My staff?—Here, noble Henry, is my staff. He puts down his staff before HENRY. 35 As willingly do I the same resign As e’er thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king. When I am dead and gone, 40 May honorable peace attend thy throne.
GLOUCESTER exits.	GLOUCESTER exits.
HENRY picks up the staff.	HENRY picks up the staff.
QUEEN MARGARET Why, now is Henry king and Margaret queen, And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim. Two pulls at once: His lady banished and a limb lopped off. 45 This staff of honor raught, there let it stand Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.	QUEEN MARGARET Why, now is Henry king and Margaret queen, And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim. Two pulls at once: His lady banished and a limb lopped off. 45 This staff of honor raught, there let it stand Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.
SUFFOLK Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.	SUFFOLK Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.
YORK Lords, let him go.—Please it your Majesty, 50 This is the day appointed for the combat, And ready are the appellant and defendant— The armorer and his man—to enter the lists, So please your Highness to behold the fight.	YORK Lords, let him go.—Please it your Majesty, 50 This is the day appointed for the combat, And ready are the appellant and defendant— The armorer and his man—to enter the lists, So please your Highness to behold the fight.
QUEEN MARGARET Ay, good my lord, for purposely therefor 55 Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.	QUEEN MARGARET Ay, good my lord, for purposely therefor 55 Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.
KING HENRY I’ God’s name, see the lists and all things fit. Here let them end it, and God defend the right!	KING HENRY I’ God’s name, see the lists and all things fit. Here let them end it, and God defend the right!
YORK I never saw a fellow worse bestead Or more afraid to fight than is the appellant, 60 The servant of this armorer, my lords.	YORK I never saw a fellow worse bestead Or more afraid to fight than is the appellant, 60 The servant of this armorer, my lords.
Enter at one door the ARMORER HORNER and his NEIGHBORS, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a DRUM before him and his staff with a sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door his man PETER, with a DRUM and sandbag, and PRENTICES drinking to him.	Enter at one door the ARMORER HORNER and his NEIGHBORS, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a DRUM before him and his staff with a sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door his man PETER, with a DRUM and sandbag, and PRENTICES drinking to him.
FIRST NEIGHBOR Here, neighbor Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbor, you shall do well enough.	FIRST NEIGHBOR Here, neighbor Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbor, you shall do well enough.
SECOND NEIGHBOR And here, neighbor, here’s a cup of 65 charneco.	SECOND NEIGHBOR And here, neighbor, here’s a cup of 65 charneco.
THIRD NEIGHBOR And here’s a pot of good double beer, neighbor. Drink, and fear not your man.	THIRD NEIGHBOR And here’s a pot of good double beer, neighbor. Drink, and fear not your man.
HORNER Let it come, i’ faith, and I’ll pledge you all. And a fig for Peter! They drink.	HORNER Let it come, i’ faith, and I’ll pledge you all. And a fig for Peter! They drink.
FIRST PRENTICE 70 Here, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not afraid.	FIRST PRENTICE 70 Here, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not afraid.
SECOND PRENTICE Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master. Fight for credit of the prentices.	SECOND PRENTICE Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master. Fight for credit of the prentices.
PETER I thank you all. Drink, and pray for me, I pray 75 you, for I think I have taken my last draft in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron.—And, Will, thou shalt have my hammer.— And here, Tom, take all the money that I have. He distributes his possessions. O Lord, bless me, I 80 pray God, for I am never able to deal with my master. He hath learnt so much fence already.	PETER I thank you all. Drink, and pray for me, I pray 75 you, for I think I have taken my last draft in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron.—And, Will, thou shalt have my hammer.— And here, Tom, take all the money that I have. He distributes his possessions. O Lord, bless me, I 80 pray God, for I am never able to deal with my master. He hath learnt so much fence already.
SALISBURY Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what’s thy name?	SALISBURY Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what’s thy name?
PETER Peter, forsooth.	PETER Peter, forsooth.
SALISBURY 85 Peter? What more?	SALISBURY 85 Peter? What more?
PETER Thump.	PETER Thump.
SALISBURY Thump? Then see thou thump thy master well.	SALISBURY Thump? Then see thou thump thy master well.
HORNER Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon 90 my man’s instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man; and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never meant him any ill, nor the King, nor the Queen.—And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!	HORNER Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon 90 my man’s instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man; and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never meant him any ill, nor the King, nor the Queen.—And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!
YORK 95 Dispatch. This knave’s tongue begins to double. Sound, trumpets. Alarum to the combatants!	YORK 95 Dispatch. This knave’s tongue begins to double. Sound, trumpets. Alarum to the combatants!
Trumpet sounds.	Trumpet sounds.
They fight, and PETER strikes him down.	They fight, and PETER strikes him down.
HORNER Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.	HORNER Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
He dies.	He dies.
YORK Take away his weapon.—Fellow, thank God and the good wine in thy master’s way.	YORK Take away his weapon.—Fellow, thank God and the good wine in thy master’s way.
PETER 100 O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!	PETER 100 O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!
KING HENRY Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For by his death we do perceive his guilt. And God in justice hath revealed to us 105 The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murdered wrongfully.— Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.	KING HENRY Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For by his death we do perceive his guilt. And God in justice hath revealed to us 105 The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murdered wrongfully.— Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. They exit, bearing HORNER’s body.	Sound a flourish. They exit, bearing HORNER’s body.