Henry VI Part 2: Act 3, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 1 of Henry VI Part 2 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick, and Others to the Parliament. KING HENRY I muse my lord of Gloucester is not come. ’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now.	Henry, Margaret, and the nobles are kicking it at parliament hall. Henry wonders why Gloucester hasn't shown.
QUEEN MARGARET Can you not see, or will you not observe, The strangeness of his altered countenance? 5 With what a majesty he bears himself, How insolent of late he is become, How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time since he was mild and affable; And if we did but glance a far-off look, 10 Immediately he was upon his knee, That all the court admired him for submission. But meet him now, and, be it in the morn When everyone will give the time of day, He knits his brow and shows an angry eye 15 And passeth by with stiff unbowèd knee, Disdaining duty that to us belongs. Small curs are not regarded when they grin, But great men tremble when the lion roars— And Humphrey is no little man in England. 20 First, note that he is near you in descent, And, should you fall, he is the next will mount. Meseemeth then it is no policy, Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears And his advantage following your decease, 25 That he should come about your royal person Or be admitted to your Highness’ Council. By flattery hath he won the Commons’ hearts; And when he please to make commotion, ’Tis to be feared they all will follow him. 30 Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden And choke the herbs for want of husbandry. The reverent care I bear unto my lord Made me collect these dangers in the Duke. 35 If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear, Which fear, if better reasons can supplant, I will subscribe and say I wronged the Duke. My lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York, Reprove my allegation if you can, 40 Or else conclude my words effectual.	Margaret points out that Gloucester's a changed man: he's so down in the dumps now. Plus, she's heard around the water cooler that Gloucester could plan a revolt—he's always had a way with the people and could easily sway them against Henry.
SUFFOLK Well hath your Highness seen into this duke, And, had I first been put to speak my mind, I think I should have told your Grace’s tale. The Duchess by his subornation, 45 Upon my life, began her devilish practices; Or if he were not privy to those faults, Yet, by reputing of his high descent— As next the King he was successive heir, And such high vaunts of his nobility— 50 Did instigate the bedlam brainsick duchess By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall. Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep, And in his simple show he harbors treason. The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb. 55 No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit. CARDINAL Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devise strange deaths for small offenses done? YORK And did he not, in his protectorship, 60 Levy great sums of money through the realm For soldiers’ pay in France, and never sent it, By means whereof the towns each day revolted? BUCKINGHAM Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown, Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke 65 Humphrey.	Suffolk, Buckingham, and York all support this gossip by bringing up Gloucester's suspicious behavior in the past. Remember when he got huge taxes in the wars, or punished people really severely? All that stuff seems to confirm that he's bad news.
KING HENRY My lords, at once: the care you have of us To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot Is worthy praise; but, shall I speak my conscience, Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent 70 From meaning treason to our royal person As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove. The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given To dream on evil or to work my downfall. QUEEN MARGARET Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance? 75 Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrowed, For he’s disposèd as the hateful raven. Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him, For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolves. Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit? 80 Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.	Henry refuses to believe it; he thinks Gloucester is harmless and virtuous. That makes Gloucester all the more dangerous, Margaret claims. She thinks Gloucester's innocence is just an act—and that it wins others over to his side.
Enter Somerset. SOMERSET All health unto my gracious sovereign! KING HENRY Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France? SOMERSET That all your interest in those territories 85 Is utterly bereft you. All is lost. KING HENRY Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God’s will be done. YORK, aside Cold news for me, for I had hope of France As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, 90 And caterpillars eat my leaves away. But I will remedy this gear ere long, Or sell my title for a glorious grave.	Things get a whole lot worse when Somerset enters with the news that the French lands are lost. Oops. In an aside, York tells us that's bad news for him since those lands are supposed to be his one day.
Enter Gloucester. GLOUCESTER All happiness unto my lord the King! Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed so long. 95 SUFFOLK Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art. I do arrest thee of high treason here. GLOUCESTER Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush Nor change my countenance for this arrest. 100 A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. The purest spring is not so free from mud As I am clear from treason to my sovereign. Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?	That's when Gloucester enters, completely unaware of what's going on. Suffolk arrests him for treason, but Gloucester doesn't care. He says that since he hasn't done anything wrong, nothing will happen to him. Sure, it won't.
YORK ’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France 105 And, being Protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay, By means whereof his Highness hath lost France. GLOUCESTER Is it but thought so? What are they that think it? I never robbed the soldiers of their pay Nor ever had one penny bribe from France. 110 So help me God as I have watched the night— Ay, night by night—in studying good for England! That doit that e’er I wrested from the King, Or any groat I hoarded to my use, Be brought against me at my trial day! 115 No, many a pound of mine own proper store, Because I would not tax the needy Commons, Have I dispursèd to the garrisons And never asked for restitution. CARDINAL It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. 120 GLOUCESTER I say no more than truth, so help me God.	What's the reason for the treason? York claims Gloucester didn't send money to the English troops to fight, and that's why they lost the lands in France. That's one big accusation. Actually, Gloucester explains, he used his own money to pay the soldiers since he didn't want to burden the poor taxpayers. Boo-ya.
YORK In your protectorship, you did devise Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, That England was defamed by tyranny. GLOUCESTER Why, ’tis well known that whiles I was Protector, 125 Pity was all the fault that was in me; For I should melt at an offender’s tears, And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Unless it were a bloody murderer Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers, 130 I never gave them condign punishment. Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured Above the felon or what trespass else.	Okay, okay. York says that maybe Gloucester didn't do that, but he did "devise strange tortures" for criminals. Gloucester knocks this one down, too, explaining he only did that to the worst criminals, like murderers or felons.
SUFFOLK My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered; But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge 135 Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. I do arrest you in his Highness’ name, And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal To keep until your further time of trial. KING HENRY My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope 140 That you will clear yourself from all suspense. My conscience tells me you are innocent.	It's clear that the men are grasping at straws with their charges against Gloucester, but nevertheless, Suffolk tells Gloucester he remains under arrest because there are bigger crimes he has to answer for. Sounds a lot like Suffolk's making up charges, but that's just us. Henry hopes this whole thing will be cleared up soon because he still thinks Gloucester is innocent.
GLOUCESTER Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous. Virtue is choked with foul ambition, And charity chased hence by rancor’s hand; 145 Foul subornation is predominant, And equity exiled your Highness’ land. I know their complot is to have my life; And if my death might make this island happy And prove the period of their tyranny, 150 I would expend it with all willingness. But mine is made the prologue to their play; For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril, Will not conclude their plotted tragedy. Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice, 155 And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate; Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue The envious load that lies upon his heart; And dogged York, that reaches at the moon, Whose overweening arm I have plucked back, 160 By false accuse doth level at my life.— And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest, Causeless have laid disgraces on my head And with your best endeavor have stirred up My liefest liege to be mine enemy. 165 Ay, all of you have laid your heads together— Myself had notice of your conventicles— And all to make away my guiltless life. I shall not want false witness to condemn me Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt. 170 The ancient proverb will be well effected: “A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.”	Then Gloucester delivers one of those speeches where he spells it out really clearly for everyone, even if they're not really listening. He says he'd gladly die if it meant the end of the tyranny, but he doesn't think his death will solve anything. In fact, he thinks the greedy and ambitious nobles will keep on fighting even with him out of the way.
CARDINAL My liege, his railing is intolerable. If those that care to keep your royal person From treason’s secret knife and traitor’s rage 175 Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at, And the offender granted scope of speech, ’Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace. SUFFOLK Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here With ignominious words, though clerkly couched, 180 As if she had subornèd some to swear False allegations to o’erthrow his state? QUEEN MARGARET But I can give the loser leave to chide. GLOUCESTER Far truer spoke than meant. I lose, indeed; Beshrew the winners, for they played me false! 185 And well such losers may have leave to speak. BUCKINGHAM He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day. Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner. CARDINAL, to his Men Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure. GLOUCESTER Ah, thus King Henry throws away his crutch 190 Before his legs be firm to bear his body.— Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side, And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first. Ah, that my fear were false; ah, that it were! For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. 195 Gloucester exits, guarded by Cardinal’s Men.	Predictably, Margaret, Suffolk, and Cardinal Beaufort all roll their eyes at Gloucester's little speech and say he's just ranting about nothing.
KING HENRY My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. QUEEN MARGARET What, will your Highness leave the Parliament? KING HENRY Ay, Margaret. My heart is drowned with grief, Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes, 200 My body round engirt with misery; For what’s more miserable than discontent? Ah, uncle Humphrey, in thy face I see The map of honor, truth, and loyalty; And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come 205 That e’er I proved thee false or feared thy faith. What louring star now envies thy estate That these great lords and Margaret our queen Do seek subversion of thy harmless life? Thou never didst them wrong nor no man wrong. 210 And as the butcher takes away the calf And binds the wretch and beats it when it strains, Bearing it to the bloody slaughterhouse, Even so remorseless have they borne him hence; And as the dam runs lowing up and down, 215 Looking the way her harmless young one went, And can do naught but wail her darling’s loss, Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimmed eyes Look after him and cannot do him good, 220 So mighty are his vowèd enemies. His fortunes I will weep and, ’twixt each groan, Say “Who’s a traitor, Gloucester he is none.” He exits, with Buckingham, Salisbury, Warwick, and Others. Somerset steps aside.	When Gloucester is led off, Henry tells Margaret he's grief-stricken. He knows Gloucester isn't a traitor, and he's worried about what Gloucester said before he left. Henry decides to hit the road, too—along with Salisbury, Warwick, and Buckingham.
QUEEN MARGARET, to Cardinal, Suffolk, and York Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot beams. 225 Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, Too full of foolish pity; and Gloucester’s show Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers, Or as the snake, rolled in a flow’ring bank, 230 With shining checkered slough, doth sting a child That for the beauty thinks it excellent. Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I— And yet herein I judge mine own wit good— This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world, 235 To rid us from the fear we have of him.	Once Henry is gone, Margaret takes the opportunity to talk smack behind her husband's back. He's like a child: so weak and full of pity. Yikes.
CARDINAL That he should die is worthy policy, But yet we want a color for his death. ’Tis meet he be condemned by course of law. SUFFOLK But, in my mind, that were no policy. 240 The King will labor still to save his life, The Commons haply rise to save his life, And yet we have but trivial argument, More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death. YORK So that, by this, you would not have him die. 245 SUFFOLK Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I! YORK ’Tis York that hath more reason for his death. But, my Lord Cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk, Say as you think, and speak it from your souls: Were ’t not all one an empty eagle were set 250 To guard the chicken from a hungry kite As place Duke Humphrey for the King’s Protector? QUEEN MARGARET So the poor chicken should be sure of death. SUFFOLK Madam, ’tis true; and were ’t not madness then To make the fox surveyor of the fold— 255 Who, being accused a crafty murderer, His guilt should be but idly posted over Because his purpose is not executed? No, let him die in that he is a fox, By nature proved an enemy to the flock, 260 Before his chaps be stained with crimson blood, As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege. And do not stand on quillets how to slay him— Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety, Sleeping or waking. ’Tis no matter how, 265 So he be dead; for that is good deceit Which mates him first that first intends deceit. QUEEN MARGARET Thrice noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke. SUFFOLK Not resolute, except so much were done, For things are often spoke and seldom meant; 270 But that my heart accordeth with my tongue, Seeing the deed is meritorious, And to preserve my sovereign from his foe, Say but the word and I will be his priest. CARDINAL But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk, 275 Ere you can take due orders for a priest. Say you consent and censure well the deed, And I’ll provide his executioner. I tender so the safety of my liege. SUFFOLK Here is my hand. The deed is worthy doing. 280 QUEEN MARGARET And so say I. YORK And I. And now we three have spoke it, It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.
POST Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain To signify that rebels there are up 285 And put the Englishmen unto the sword. Send succors, lords, and stop the rage betime, Before the wound do grow uncurable; For, being green, there is great hope of help. He exits.	Mail call. News arrives from Ireland that there's been an uprising there. Uhh... first France, and now Ireland?
CARDINAL A breach that craves a quick expedient stop! 290 What counsel give you in this weighty cause? YORK That Somerset be sent as regent thither. ’Tis meet that lucky ruler be employed— Witness the fortune he hath had in France. SOMERSET, advancing If York, with all his far-fet policy, 295 Had been the regent there instead of me, He never would have stayed in France so long. YORK No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done. I rather would have lost my life betimes Than bring a burden of dishonor home 300 By staying there so long till all were lost. Show me one scar charactered on thy skin. Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.	York suggests they send Somerset since he had a good time in France. That's his form of a joke, since Somerset lost lands in France. This is met with some snarky comments from Somerset.
QUEEN MARGARET Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with.— 305 No more, good York.—Sweet Somerset, be still.— Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there, Might happily have proved far worse than his. YORK What, worse than naught? Nay, then, a shame take all! 310 SOMERSET And, in the number, thee that wishest shame! CARDINAL My lord of York, try what your fortune is. Th’ uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms And temper clay with blood of Englishmen. To Ireland will you lead a band of men, 315 Collected choicely, from each county some, And try your hap against the Irishmen? YORK I will, my lord, so please his Majesty. SUFFOLK Why, our authority is his consent, And what we do establish he confirms. 320 Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.	The bickering ends when Margaret says things might have gone better for them if York had gone to France. Beaufort agrees and encourages York to take up the regent position in Ireland.
YORK I am content. Provide me soldiers, lords, Whiles I take order for mine own affairs. SUFFOLK A charge, Lord York, that I will see performed. But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey. 325 CARDINAL No more of him, for I will deal with him, That henceforth he shall trouble us no more. And so break off; the day is almost spent. Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event. YORK My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days 330 At Bristow I expect my soldiers, For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland. SUFFOLK I’ll see it truly done, my lord of York. All but York exit.	York will take the job, but he will require soldiers. Lots and lots of soldiers. Hmm… we wonder if York's desire for an army has anything to do with the fact that he wants to be king. Suffolk promises York soldiers, and everyone leaves except for York.
YORK Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts And change misdoubt to resolution. 335 Be that thou hop’st to be, or what thou art Resign to death; it is not worth th’ enjoying. Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man And find no harbor in a royal heart. Faster than springtime showers comes thought on 340 thought, And not a thought but thinks on dignity. My brain, more busy than the laboring spider, Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly done 345 To send me packing with an host of men. I fear me you but warm the starvèd snake, Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. ’Twas men I lacked, and you will give them me; 350 I take it kindly. Yet be well assured You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands. Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band, I will stir up in England some black storm Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell; 355 And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage Until the golden circuit on my head, Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams, Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw. And for a minister of my intent, 360 I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman, John Cade of Ashford, To make commotion, as full well he can, Under the title of John Mortimer. In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade 365 Oppose himself against a troop of kerns, And fought so long till that his thighs with darts Were almost like a sharp-quilled porpentine; And in the end being rescued, I have seen Him caper upright like a wild Morisco, 370 Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells. Full often, like a shag-haired crafty kern, Hath he conversèd with the enemy, And undiscovered come to me again And given me notice of their villainies. 375 This devil here shall be my substitute; For that John Mortimer, which now is dead, In face, in gait, in speech he doth resemble. By this, I shall perceive the Commons’ mind, How they affect the house and claim of York. 380 Say he be taken, racked, and torturèd, I know no pain they can inflict upon him Will make him say I moved him to those arms. Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will, Why then from Ireland come I with my strength 385 And reap the harvest which that rascal sowed. For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be, And Henry put apart, the next for me. He exits.	Alone on stage, York reveals a dark and twisty plot to us. He's hired a commoner named Jack Cade. The plan? While York's off in Ireland, Jack Cade will get in good with the common folk and stir up trouble in London. He'll pretend to be John Mortimer, who is now dead but had a claim to the throne. Once Cade forms an army of commoners, York will return from Ireland and take control of the army. If Cade fails, he'll be tortured, but he won't give up York's name. If Cade succeeds, York will have the force of the commoners behind him. With the plan in place, York leaves for Ireland.

Original Text

Translated Text

Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret,
Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury, and
Warwick, and Others to the Parliament.

KING HENRY
I muse my lord of Gloucester is not come.
’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,
Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now.

Henry, Margaret, and the nobles are kicking it at parliament hall. Henry wonders why Gloucester hasn't shown.

QUEEN MARGARET
Can you not see, or will you not observe,
The strangeness of his altered countenance? 5
With what a majesty he bears himself,
How insolent of late he is become,
How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself?
We know the time since he was mild and affable;
And if we did but glance a far-off look, 10
Immediately he was upon his knee,
That all the court admired him for submission.
But meet him now, and, be it in the morn
When everyone will give the time of day,
He knits his brow and shows an angry eye 15
And passeth by with stiff unbowèd knee,
Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
Small curs are not regarded when they grin,
But great men tremble when the lion roars—
And Humphrey is no little man in England. 20
First, note that he is near you in descent,
And, should you fall, he is the next will mount.
Meseemeth then it is no policy,
Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears
And his advantage following your decease, 25
That he should come about your royal person
Or be admitted to your Highness’ Council.
By flattery hath he won the Commons’ hearts;
And when he please to make commotion,
’Tis to be feared they all will follow him. 30
Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care I bear unto my lord
Made me collect these dangers in the Duke. 35
If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear,
Which fear, if better reasons can supplant,
I will subscribe and say I wronged the Duke.
My lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
Reprove my allegation if you can, 40
Or else conclude my words effectual.

Margaret points out that Gloucester's a changed man: he's so down in the dumps now. Plus, she's heard around the water cooler that Gloucester could plan a revolt—he's always had a way with the people and could easily sway them against Henry.

SUFFOLK
Well hath your Highness seen into this duke,
And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
I think I should have told your Grace’s tale.
The Duchess by his subornation, 45
Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
Or if he were not privy to those faults,
Yet, by reputing of his high descent—
As next the King he was successive heir,
And such high vaunts of his nobility— 50
Did instigate the bedlam brainsick duchess
By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall.
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
And in his simple show he harbors treason.
The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb. 55
No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit.

CARDINAL
Did he not, contrary to form of law,
Devise strange deaths for small offenses done?

YORK
And did he not, in his protectorship, 60
Levy great sums of money through the realm
For soldiers’ pay in France, and never sent it,
By means whereof the towns each day revolted?

BUCKINGHAM
Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown,
Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke 65
Humphrey.

Suffolk, Buckingham, and York all support this gossip by bringing up Gloucester's suspicious behavior in the past. Remember when he got huge taxes in the wars, or punished people really severely? All that stuff seems to confirm that he's bad news.

KING HENRY
My lords, at once: the care you have of us
To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot
Is worthy praise; but, shall I speak my conscience,
Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent 70
From meaning treason to our royal person
As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove.
The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
To dream on evil or to work my downfall.

QUEEN MARGARET
Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance? 75
Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrowed,
For he’s disposèd as the hateful raven.
Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him,
For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolves.
Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit? 80
Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.

Henry refuses to believe it; he thinks Gloucester is harmless and virtuous.

That makes Gloucester all the more dangerous, Margaret claims. She thinks Gloucester's innocence is just an act—and that it wins others over to his side.

Enter Somerset.

SOMERSET
All health unto my gracious sovereign!

KING HENRY
Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?

SOMERSET
That all your interest in those territories 85
Is utterly bereft you. All is lost.

KING HENRY
Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God’s will be done.

YORK, aside
Cold news for me, for I had hope of France
As firmly as I hope for fertile England.
Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, 90
And caterpillars eat my leaves away.
But I will remedy this gear ere long,
Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

Things get a whole lot worse when Somerset enters with the news that the French lands are lost. Oops.

In an aside, York tells us that's bad news for him since those lands are supposed to be his one day.

Enter Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER
All happiness unto my lord the King!
Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed so long. 95

SUFFOLK
Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,
Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
I do arrest thee of high treason here.

GLOUCESTER
Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
Nor change my countenance for this arrest. 100
A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.
The purest spring is not so free from mud
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign.
Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?

That's when Gloucester enters, completely unaware of what's going on. Suffolk arrests him for treason, but Gloucester doesn't care. He says that since he hasn't done anything wrong, nothing will happen to him.

Sure, it won't.

YORK
’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France 105
And, being Protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay,
By means whereof his Highness hath lost France.

GLOUCESTER
Is it but thought so? What are they that think it?
I never robbed the soldiers of their pay
Nor ever had one penny bribe from France. 110
So help me God as I have watched the night—
Ay, night by night—in studying good for England!
That doit that e’er I wrested from the King,
Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
Be brought against me at my trial day! 115
No, many a pound of mine own proper store,
Because I would not tax the needy Commons,
Have I dispursèd to the garrisons
And never asked for restitution.

CARDINAL
It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. 120

GLOUCESTER
I say no more than truth, so help me God.

What's the reason for the treason? York claims Gloucester didn't send money to the English troops to fight, and that's why they lost the lands in France. That's one big accusation.

Actually, Gloucester explains, he used his own money to pay the soldiers since he didn't want to burden the poor taxpayers. Boo-ya.

YORK
In your protectorship, you did devise
Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
That England was defamed by tyranny.

GLOUCESTER
Why, ’tis well known that whiles I was Protector, 125
Pity was all the fault that was in me;
For I should melt at an offender’s tears,
And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
Unless it were a bloody murderer
Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers, 130
I never gave them condign punishment.
Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured
Above the felon or what trespass else.

Okay, okay. York says that maybe Gloucester didn't do that, but he did "devise strange tortures" for criminals. Gloucester knocks this one down, too, explaining he only did that to the worst criminals, like murderers or felons.

SUFFOLK
My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered;
But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge 135
Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
I do arrest you in his Highness’ name,
And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal
To keep until your further time of trial.

KING HENRY
My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope 140
That you will clear yourself from all suspense.
My conscience tells me you are innocent.

It's clear that the men are grasping at straws with their charges against Gloucester, but nevertheless, Suffolk tells Gloucester he remains under arrest because there are bigger crimes he has to answer for. Sounds a lot like Suffolk's making up charges, but that's just us.

Henry hopes this whole thing will be cleared up soon because he still thinks Gloucester is innocent.

GLOUCESTER
Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous.
Virtue is choked with foul ambition,
And charity chased hence by rancor’s hand; 145
Foul subornation is predominant,
And equity exiled your Highness’ land.
I know their complot is to have my life;
And if my death might make this island happy
And prove the period of their tyranny, 150
I would expend it with all willingness.
But mine is made the prologue to their play;
For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice, 155
And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate;
Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
The envious load that lies upon his heart;
And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
Whose overweening arm I have plucked back, 160
By false accuse doth level at my life.—
And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
Causeless have laid disgraces on my head
And with your best endeavor have stirred up
My liefest liege to be mine enemy. 165
Ay, all of you have laid your heads together—
Myself had notice of your conventicles—
And all to make away my guiltless life.
I shall not want false witness to condemn me
Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt. 170
The ancient proverb will be well effected:
“A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.”

Then Gloucester delivers one of those speeches where he spells it out really clearly for everyone, even if they're not really listening. He says he'd gladly die if it meant the end of the tyranny, but he doesn't think his death will solve anything. In fact, he thinks the greedy and ambitious nobles will keep on fighting even with him out of the way.

CARDINAL
My liege, his railing is intolerable.
If those that care to keep your royal person
From treason’s secret knife and traitor’s rage 175
Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
And the offender granted scope of speech,
’Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace.

SUFFOLK
Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
With ignominious words, though clerkly couched, 180
As if she had subornèd some to swear
False allegations to o’erthrow his state?

QUEEN MARGARET
But I can give the loser leave to chide.

GLOUCESTER
Far truer spoke than meant. I lose, indeed;
Beshrew the winners, for they played me false! 185
And well such losers may have leave to speak.

BUCKINGHAM
He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day.
Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner.

CARDINAL, to his Men
Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure.

GLOUCESTER
Ah, thus King Henry throws away his crutch 190
Before his legs be firm to bear his body.—
Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
Ah, that my fear were false; ah, that it were!
For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. 195

Gloucester exits, guarded by Cardinal’s Men.

Predictably, Margaret, Suffolk, and Cardinal Beaufort all roll their eyes at Gloucester's little speech and say he's just ranting about nothing.

KING HENRY
My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best
Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.

QUEEN MARGARET
What, will your Highness leave the Parliament?

KING HENRY
Ay, Margaret. My heart is drowned with grief,
Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes, 200
My body round engirt with misery;
For what’s more miserable than discontent?
Ah, uncle Humphrey, in thy face I see
The map of honor, truth, and loyalty;
And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come 205
That e’er I proved thee false or feared thy faith.
What louring star now envies thy estate
That these great lords and Margaret our queen
Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
Thou never didst them wrong nor no man wrong. 210
And as the butcher takes away the calf
And binds the wretch and beats it when it strains,
Bearing it to the bloody slaughterhouse,
Even so remorseless have they borne him hence;
And as the dam runs lowing up and down, 215
Looking the way her harmless young one went,
And can do naught but wail her darling’s loss,
Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case
With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimmed eyes
Look after him and cannot do him good, 220
So mighty are his vowèd enemies.
His fortunes I will weep and, ’twixt each groan,
Say “Who’s a traitor, Gloucester he is none.”

He exits, with Buckingham, Salisbury, Warwick,
and Others. Somerset steps aside.

When Gloucester is led off, Henry tells Margaret he's grief-stricken. He knows Gloucester isn't a traitor, and he's worried about what Gloucester said before he left. Henry decides to hit the road, too—along with Salisbury, Warwick, and Buckingham.

QUEEN MARGARET, to Cardinal, Suffolk, and York
Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot
beams. 225
Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
Too full of foolish pity; and Gloucester’s show
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile
With sorrow snares relenting passengers,
Or as the snake, rolled in a flow’ring bank, 230
With shining checkered slough, doth sting a child
That for the beauty thinks it excellent.
Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I—
And yet herein I judge mine own wit good—
This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world, 235
To rid us from the fear we have of him.

Once Henry is gone, Margaret takes the opportunity to talk smack behind her husband's back. He's like a child: so weak and full of pity. Yikes.

CARDINAL
That he should die is worthy policy,
But yet we want a color for his death.
’Tis meet he be condemned by course of law.

SUFFOLK
But, in my mind, that were no policy. 240
The King will labor still to save his life,
The Commons haply rise to save his life,
And yet we have but trivial argument,
More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.

YORK
So that, by this, you would not have him die. 245

SUFFOLK
Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!

YORK
’Tis York that hath more reason for his death.
But, my Lord Cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,
Say as you think, and speak it from your souls:
Were ’t not all one an empty eagle were set 250
To guard the chicken from a hungry kite
As place Duke Humphrey for the King’s Protector?

QUEEN MARGARET
So the poor chicken should be sure of death.

SUFFOLK
Madam, ’tis true; and were ’t not madness then
To make the fox surveyor of the fold— 255
Who, being accused a crafty murderer,
His guilt should be but idly posted over
Because his purpose is not executed?
No, let him die in that he is a fox,
By nature proved an enemy to the flock, 260
Before his chaps be stained with crimson blood,
As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege.
And do not stand on quillets how to slay him—
Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety,
Sleeping or waking. ’Tis no matter how, 265
So he be dead; for that is good deceit
Which mates him first that first intends deceit.

QUEEN MARGARET
Thrice noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke.

SUFFOLK
Not resolute, except so much were done,
For things are often spoke and seldom meant; 270
But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
Seeing the deed is meritorious,
And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,
Say but the word and I will be his priest.

CARDINAL
But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk, 275
Ere you can take due orders for a priest.
Say you consent and censure well the deed,
And I’ll provide his executioner.
I tender so the safety of my liege.

SUFFOLK
Here is my hand. The deed is worthy doing. 280

QUEEN MARGARET And so say I.

YORK
And I. And now we three have spoke it,
It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

POST
Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain
To signify that rebels there are up 285
And put the Englishmen unto the sword.
Send succors, lords, and stop the rage betime,
Before the wound do grow uncurable;
For, being green, there is great hope of help.
He exits.

Mail call. News arrives from Ireland that there's been an uprising there. Uhh... first France, and now Ireland?

CARDINAL
A breach that craves a quick expedient stop! 290
What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

YORK
That Somerset be sent as regent thither.
’Tis meet that lucky ruler be employed—
Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

SOMERSET, advancing
If York, with all his far-fet policy, 295
Had been the regent there instead of me,
He never would have stayed in France so long.

YORK
No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done.
I rather would have lost my life betimes
Than bring a burden of dishonor home 300
By staying there so long till all were lost.
Show me one scar charactered on thy skin.
Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.

York suggests they send Somerset since he had a good time in France. That's his form of a joke, since Somerset lost lands in France. This is met with some snarky comments from Somerset.

QUEEN MARGARET
Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire
If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with.— 305
No more, good York.—Sweet Somerset, be still.—
Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
Might happily have proved far worse than his.

YORK
What, worse than naught? Nay, then, a shame take
all! 310

SOMERSET
And, in the number, thee that wishest shame!

CARDINAL
My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
Th’ uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms
And temper clay with blood of Englishmen.
To Ireland will you lead a band of men, 315
Collected choicely, from each county some,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?

YORK
I will, my lord, so please his Majesty.

SUFFOLK
Why, our authority is his consent,
And what we do establish he confirms. 320
Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.

The bickering ends when Margaret says things might have gone better for them if York had gone to France. Beaufort agrees and encourages York to take up the regent position in Ireland.

YORK
I am content. Provide me soldiers, lords,
Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

SUFFOLK
A charge, Lord York, that I will see performed.
But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey. 325

CARDINAL
No more of him, for I will deal with him,
That henceforth he shall trouble us no more.
And so break off; the day is almost spent.
Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.

YORK
My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days 330
At Bristow I expect my soldiers,
For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland.

SUFFOLK
I’ll see it truly done, my lord of York.
All but York exit.

York will take the job, but he will require soldiers. Lots and lots of soldiers. Hmm… we wonder if York's desire for an army has anything to do with the fact that he wants to be king.

Suffolk promises York soldiers, and everyone leaves except for York.

YORK
Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts
And change misdoubt to resolution. 335
Be that thou hop’st to be, or what thou art
Resign to death; it is not worth th’ enjoying.
Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man
And find no harbor in a royal heart.
Faster than springtime showers comes thought on 340
thought,
And not a thought but thinks on dignity.
My brain, more busy than the laboring spider,
Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly done 345
To send me packing with an host of men.
I fear me you but warm the starvèd snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your
hearts.
’Twas men I lacked, and you will give them me; 350
I take it kindly. Yet be well assured
You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will stir up in England some black storm
Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell; 355
And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
Until the golden circuit on my head,
Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams,
Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
And for a minister of my intent, 360
I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman,
John Cade of Ashford,
To make commotion, as full well he can,
Under the title of John Mortimer.
In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade 365
Oppose himself against a troop of kerns,
And fought so long till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp-quilled porpentine;
And in the end being rescued, I have seen
Him caper upright like a wild Morisco, 370
Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.
Full often, like a shag-haired crafty kern,
Hath he conversèd with the enemy,
And undiscovered come to me again
And given me notice of their villainies. 375
This devil here shall be my substitute;
For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gait, in speech he doth resemble.
By this, I shall perceive the Commons’ mind,
How they affect the house and claim of York. 380
Say he be taken, racked, and torturèd,
I know no pain they can inflict upon him
Will make him say I moved him to those arms.
Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will,
Why then from Ireland come I with my strength 385
And reap the harvest which that rascal sowed.
For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
And Henry put apart, the next for me.

He exits.

Alone on stage, York reveals a dark and twisty plot to us. He's hired a commoner named Jack Cade.

The plan? While York's off in Ireland, Jack Cade will get in good with the common folk and stir up trouble in London. He'll pretend to be John Mortimer, who is now dead but had a claim to the throne. Once Cade forms an army of commoners, York will return from Ireland and take control of the army.

If Cade fails, he'll be tortured, but he won't give up York's name. If Cade succeeds, York will have the force of the commoners behind him. With the plan in place, York leaves for Ireland.

Henry VI Part 2: Act 3, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 1 of Henry VI Part 2 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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