Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Flourish. Enter King Henry the Sixth, Clarence,
Warwick, Somerset, young Henry Earl of Richmond,
Oxford, Montague, all wearing the red rose,
and Lieutenant of the Tower. KING HENRY
Master lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat
And turned my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees? 5 LIEUTENANT
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sov’reigns,
But, if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your Majesty. KING HENRY
For what, lieutenant? For well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I’ll well requite thy kindness, 10
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure,
Ay, such a pleasure as encagèd birds
Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,
At last by notes of household harmony
They quite forget their loss of liberty.— 15
But, Warwick, after God thou sett’st me free,
And chiefly, therefore, I thank God and thee.
He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer Fortune’s spite
By living low where Fortune cannot hurt me, 20
And that the people of this blessèd land
May not be punished with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
I here resign my government to thee,
For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. 25 | George, Warwick and crew gather at the Tower with Henry. They free him, and Henry thanks the lieutenant there for a pleasant stay—under the circumstances. Yeah, he's that kind of guy. Then Henry thanks Warwick for setting him free. Now that the thank yous have been passed around, Henry makes an
announcement: he doesn't want to be famous anymore, and he'd like
Warwick to take over. |
WARWICK
Your Grace hath still been famed for virtuous
And now may seem as wise as virtuous
By spying and avoiding Fortune’s malice,
For few men rightly temper with the stars.
Yet, in this one thing let me blame your Grace: 30
For choosing me when Clarence is in place. CLARENCE
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown
As likely to be blest in peace and war; 35
And therefore I yield thee my free consent. WARWICK
And I choose Clarence only for Protector. | There's only one problem: Warwick says he wants George to rule instead. And George wants Warwick to govern. |
KING HENRY
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.
Now join your hands, and with your hands your
hearts, 40
That no dissension hinder government. He joins their hands. I make you both Protectors of this land,
While I myself will lead a private life
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise. 45 WARWICK
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will? CLARENCE
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,
For on thy fortune I repose myself. WARWICK
Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content.
We’ll yoke together like a double shadow 50
To Henry’s body, and supply his place—
I mean, in bearing weight of government—
While he enjoys the honor and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor 55
And all his lands and goods be confiscate. CLARENCE
What else? And that succession be determinèd. WARWICK
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. | So Henry makes Warwick and Clarence both protectors of England.
They will rule until Prince Edward can take over as king. Everyone's
happy. (Except for Edward and his supporters, but we'll get to that
later.) |
KING HENRY
But with the first of all your chief affairs
Let me entreat—for I command no more— 60
That Margaret your queen and my son Edward
Be sent for, to return from France with speed,
For till I see them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. CLARENCE
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. 65 KING HENRY
My lord of Somerset, what youth is that
Of whom you seem to have so tender care? SOMERSET
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond. KING HENRY, to Richmond
Come hither, England’s hope. Lays his hand on Richmond’s head. If secret powers 70
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a scepter, and himself 75
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
Must help you more than you are hurt by me. | All Warwick and George have to do is reunite Henry with Margaret and Prince Edward so that he can be happy and live in private. George promises. Then Henry notices Somerset and his nephew, Henry, Earl of Richmond. We guess that Henry's really impressed with the boy, because what happens next is a little weird. He puts his hands on young Henry's head and prophesizes that the kid will reign one day. Henry says he is "England's hope." Seeing as this kid is neither Henry's son nor Edward's son, it's all a bit strange, but Henry is overcome with the need to do this. (Hint, hint: read the end of Richard III to find out if this comes true.) |
Enter a Post. WARWICK What news, my friend? POST
That Edward is escapèd from your brother 80
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. WARWICK
Unsavory news! But how made he escape? POST
He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester,
And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side 85
And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him,
For hunting was his daily exercise. | This little episode is interrupted when a messenger comes in with the news that Edward has escaped and fled to Burgundy. Uh-oh. |
WARWICK
My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide. 90 All but Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford exit. SOMERSET, to Oxford
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
And we shall have more wars before ’t be long.
As Henry’s late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart with hope of this young 95
Richmond,
So doth my heart misgive me in these conflicts
What may befall him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany 100
Till storms be past of civil enmity. OXFORD
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
’Tis like that Richmond, with the rest, shall down. SOMERSET
It shall be so. He shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. 105 They exit. | As everyone leaves to deal with this news, Oxford and Somerset lag behind. Somerset thinks there will be more war because of this, so he sends young Henry—the boy Henry thinks will be king—off to Brittany for safe keeping until the wars are over. |