First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter the Witch, the two Priests, | Enter the witch, Margery Jourdain, the two priests, | | 2H6 I.iv.1.1 | |
| and Bullingbrooke. | Hume and Southwell, and Bolingbroke | | 2H6 I.iv.1.2 | |
| Hume. | HUME | | | |
| Come my Masters, the Duchesse I tell you expects | Come, my masters, the Duchess, I tell you, expects | | 2H6 I.iv.1 | |
| performance of your promises. | performance of your promises. | | 2H6 I.iv.2 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| Master Hume, we are therefore prouided: | Master Hume, we are therefore provided. | provided (adj.) prepared, ready, provided with necessities | 2H6 I.iv.3 | |
| will her Ladyship behold and heare our Exorcismes? | Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms? | exorcism (n.)calling up of spirits, conjuration | 2H6 I.iv.4 | |
| Hume. | HUME | | | |
| I, what else? feare you not her courage. | Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage. | fear (v.)doubt, mistrust | 2H6 I.iv.5 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| I haue heard her reported to be a Woman of | I have heard her reported to be a woman of | | 2H6 I.iv.6 | |
| an inuincible spirit: but it shall be conuenient, Master | an invincible spirit; but it shall be convenient, Master | | 2H6 I.iv.7 | |
| Hume, that you be by her aloft, while wee be busie below; | Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be busy below; | | 2H6 I.iv.8 | |
| and so I pray you goe in Gods Name, and leaue vs. | and so I pray you go in God's name, and leave us. | | 2H6 I.iv.9 | |
| Exit Hume. | Exit Hume | | 2H6 I.iv.9 | |
| Mother Iordan, be you prostrate, and grouell on the | Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on the | | 2H6 I.iv.10 | |
| Earth; Iohn Southwell reade you, and let vs to our worke. | earth. John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work. | | 2H6 I.iv.11 | |
| Enter Elianor aloft. | Enter the Duchess of Gloucester aloft, Hume following | | 2H6 I.iv.12 | |
| Elianor. | DUCHESS | | | |
| Well said my Masters, and welcome all: To this | Well said, my masters, and welcome all. To this | | 2H6 I.iv.12 | |
| geere, the sooner the better. | gear the sooner the better. | gear (n.)business, affair, matter | 2H6 I.iv.13 | |
| Bullin. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| Patience, good Lady, Wizards know their times: | Patience, good lady; wizards know their times. | | 2H6 I.iv.14 | |
| Deepe Night, darke Night, the silent of the Night, | Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, | silent (n.)time of silence | 2H6 I.iv.15 | |
| The time of Night when Troy was set on fire, | The time of night when Troy was set on fire, | Troy (n.)ancient city of W Turkey, besieged for 10 years during the Trojan Wars; also called Ilium, Ilion | 2H6 I.iv.16 | |
| The time when Screech-owles cry, and Bandogs howle, | The time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl, | screech-owl (n.)barn-owl [thought to be a bird of ill omen] | 2H6 I.iv.17 | |
| | ban-dog (n.)chained dog, tethered hound | | |
| And Spirits walke, and Ghosts breake vp their Graues; | And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, | break up (v.)break out of, rise up from | 2H6 I.iv.18 | |
| That time best fits the worke we haue in hand. | That time best fits the work we have in hand. | | 2H6 I.iv.19 | |
| Madame, sit you, and feare not: whom wee rayse, | Madam, sit you and fear not. Whom we raise | | 2H6 I.iv.20 | |
| Wee will make fast within a hallow'd Verge. | We will make fast within a hallowed verge. | hallowed vergemagic circle, charmed ring | 2H6 I.iv.21 | |
| Here doe the Ceremonies belonging, and make the | Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the | | 2H6 I.iv.22.1 | |
| Circle, Bullingbrooke or Southwell reades, Coniuro | circle. Bolingbroke or Southwell reads ‘Conjuro | | 2H6 I.iv.22.2 | |
| te, &c. It Thunders and Lightens terribly: then the | te' etc. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the | | 2H6 I.iv.22.3 | |
| Spirit riseth. | Spirit riseth | | 2H6 I.iv.22.4 | |
| Spirit. | SPIRIT | | | |
| Ad sum. | Adsum. | | 2H6 I.iv.22 | |
| Witch. | JOURDAIN | | | |
| Asmath, | Asmath! | | 2H6 I.iv.23 | |
| by the eternall God, / Whose name and power | By the eternal God, whose name and power | power (n.)authority, government | 2H6 I.iv.24 | |
| thou tremblest at, / Answere that I shall aske: | Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; | | 2H6 I.iv.25 | |
| for till thou speake, / Thou shalt not passe from hence. | For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. | | 2H6 I.iv.26 | |
| Spirit. | SPIRIT | | | |
| Aske what thou wilt; that I had sayd, and done. | Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done! | | 2H6 I.iv.27 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| (reads) | | 2H6 I.iv.28 | |
| First of the King: What shall of him become? | First, of the King: what shall of him become? | | 2H6 I.iv.28 | |
| Spirit. | SPIRIT | | | |
| The Duke yet liues, that Henry shall depose: | The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose; | | 2H6 I.iv.29 | |
| But him out-liue, and dye a violent death. | But him outlive, and die a violent death. | | 2H6 I.iv.30 | |
| As the Spirit speaks, Bolingbroke writes the answer | | 2H6 I.iv.31 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| (reads) | | 2H6 I.iv.31 | |
| What fates await the Duke of Suffolke? | What fates await the Duke of Suffolk? | | 2H6 I.iv.31 | |
| Spirit. | SPIRIT | | | |
| By Water shall he dye, and take his end. | By water shall he die, and take his end. | end (n.)death, ending [of life] | 2H6 I.iv.32 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| (reads) | | 2H6 I.iv.33.1 | |
| What shall befall the Duke of Somerset? | What shall befall the Duke of Somerset? | befall (v.), past forms befallen, befellhappen to, come to | 2H6 I.iv.33 | |
| Spirit. | SPIRIT | | | |
| Let him shun Castles, | Let him shun castles; | | 2H6 I.iv.34 | |
| Safer shall he be vpon the sandie Plaines, | Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains | | 2H6 I.iv.35 | |
| Then where Castles mounted stand. | Than where castles mounted stand. | | 2H6 I.iv.36 | |
| Haue done, for more I hardly can endure. | Have done, for more I hardly can endure. | | 2H6 I.iv.37 | |
| Bulling. | BOLINGBROKE | | | |
| Discend to Darknesse, and the burning Lake: | Descend to darkness and the burning lake! | | 2H6 I.iv.38 | |
| False Fiend auoide. | False fiend, avoid! | false (adj.)treacherous, traitorous, perfidious | 2H6 I.iv.39 | |
| | avoid (v.)be off, be gone, go away | | |
| Thunder and Lightning. Exit Spirit. | Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit | | 2H6 I.iv.40.1 | |
| Enter the Duke of Yorke and the Duke of Buckingham | Enter the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham | | 2H6 I.iv.40.2 | |
| with their Guard, | with their guard, Sir Humphrey Stafford as captain, | | 2H6 I.iv.40.3 | |
| and breake in. | and break in | break in (v.)burst in, enter abruptly | 2H6 I.iv.40.4 | |
| Yorke. | YORK | | | |
| Lay hands vpon these Traytors, and their trash: | Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash. | trash (n.)rubbish, stuff, paraphernalia | 2H6 I.iv.40 | |
| Beldam I thinke we watcht you at an ynch. | Beldam, I think we watched you at an inch. | inch, at anvery closely, instantly ready [to act] | 2H6 I.iv.41 | |
| | watch (v.)keep in view, catch in the act | | |
| | beldam, beldame (n.)hag, witch, loathsome old woman | | |
| What Madame, are you there? the King & Commonweale | What, madam, are you there? The King and commonweal | commonweal, commonwealth (n.)state, nation, community, body politic | 2H6 I.iv.42 | |
| Are deepely indebted for this peece of paines; | Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains. | pain (n.)effort, endeavour, exertion, labour | 2H6 I.iv.43 | |
| My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not, | My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not, | | 2H6 I.iv.44 | |
| See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts. | See you well guerdoned for these good deserts. | guerdon (v.)reward, recompense | 2H6 I.iv.45 | |
| | desert, desart (n.)worthy deed, meritorious action | | |
| Elianor. | DUCHESS | | | |
| Not halfe so bad as thine to Englands King, | Not half so bad as thine to England's king, | | 2H6 I.iv.46 | |
| Iniurious Duke, that threatest where's no cause. | Injurious duke, that threatest where's no cause. | injurious (adj.)insulting, slanderous, offensive | 2H6 I.iv.47 | |
| | threat (v.)threaten | | |
| Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| True Madame, none at all: what call you this? | True, madam, none at all. What call you this? | | 2H6 I.iv.48 | |
| Away with them, let them be clapt vp close, | Away with them, let them be clapped up close, | clap up (v.)shut up, imprison | 2H6 I.iv.49 | |
| | close (adv.)securely, in strict confinement | | |
| And kept asunder: you Madame shall with vs. | And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us. | asunder (adv.)separated, apart from each other | 2H6 I.iv.50 | |
| Stafford take her to thee. | Stafford, take her to thee. | | 2H6 I.iv.51 | |
| Exeunt above the Duchess and Hume, guarded | | 2H6 I.iv.51 | |
| Wee'le see your Trinkets here all forth-comming. | We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming. | forthcoming (adj.)producable in court, available as evidence / as a witness | 2H6 I.iv.52 | |
| | trinkets (n.)bits and pieces, paraphernalia | | |
| All away. | All away! | | 2H6 I.iv.53 | |
| Exit. | Exeunt Jourdain, Southwell, | | 2H6 I.iv.53.1 | |
| Bolingbroke, escorted by Stafford | | 2H6 I.iv.53.2 | |
| and the guard | | 2H6 I.iv.53.3 | |
| Yorke. | YORK | | | |
| Lord Buckingham, me thinks you watcht her well: | Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well. | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | 2H6 I.iv.54 | |
| | watch (v.)keep in view, catch in the act | | |
| A pretty Plot, well chosen to build vpon. | A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! | | 2H6 I.iv.55 | |
| Now pray my Lord, let's see the Deuils Writ. | Now pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ. | writ (n.)writing, text | 2H6 I.iv.56 | |
| What haue we here? | What have we here? | | 2H6 I.iv.57 | |
| Reades. The Duke yet liues, that Henry shall depose: | (Reads) The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose; | | 2H6 I.iv.58 | |
| But him out-liue, and dye a violent death. | But him outlive and die a violent death. | | 2H6 I.iv.59 | |
| Why this is iust, | Why, this is just | just (adv.)exactly, precisely | 2H6 I.iv.60 | |
| Aio Aeacida Romanos vincere posso. | Aio te Aeacida, Romanos vincere posse. | aio te...I proclaim that you, the descendant of Aeacus, can conquer the Romans; or: I proclaim that the Romans can conquer you, the descendant of Aeacus | 2H6 I.iv.61 | |
| | Aeacus (n.)[pron: 'eeakus] son of Zeus and Aegina, an ancestor of Achilles | | |
| Well, to the rest: | Well, to the rest: | | 2H6 I.iv.62 | |
| Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolke? | Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? | | 2H6 I.iv.63 | |
| By Water shall he dye, and take his end. | By water shall he die, and take his end. | | 2H6 I.iv.64 | |
| What shall betide the Duke of Somerset? | What shall befall the Duke of Somerset? | | 2H6 I.iv.65 | |
| Let him shunne Castles, | Let him shun castles; | | 2H6 I.iv.66 | |
| Safer shall he be vpon the sandie Plaines, | Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains | | 2H6 I.iv.67 | |
| Then where Castles mounted stand. | Than where castles mounted stand. | | 2H6 I.iv.68 | |
| Come, come, my Lords, / These Oracles | Come, come, my lords, these oracles | | 2H6 I.iv.69 | |
| are hardly attain'd, / And hardly vnderstood. | Are hardly attained and hardly understood. | hardly (adv.)with great difficulty, only with difficulty | 2H6 I.iv.70 | |
| | attain (v.)obtain, acquire, gain | | |
| The King is now in progresse towards Saint Albones, | The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans; | progress (n.)state passage, royal journey | 2H6 I.iv.71 | |
| With him, the Husband of this louely Lady: | With him the husband of this lovely lady. | | 2H6 I.iv.72 | |
| Thither goes these Newes, / As fast as Horse can carry them: | Thither goes these news, as fast as horse can carry them – | | 2H6 I.iv.73 | |
| A sorry Breakfast for my Lord Protector. | A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector. | | 2H6 I.iv.74 | |
| Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| Your Grace shal giue me leaue, my Lord of York, | Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of York, | | 2H6 I.iv.75 | |
| To be the Poste, in hope of his reward. | To be the post, in hope of his reward. | post (n.)express messenger, courier | 2H6 I.iv.76 | |
| Yorke. | YORK | | | |
| At your pleasure, my good Lord. / Who's within there, hoe? | At your pleasure, my good lord. Who's within there, ho? | | 2H6 I.iv.77 | |
| Enter a Seruingman. | Enter a servingman | | 2H6 I.iv.78 | |
| Inuite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick | Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick | | 2H6 I.iv.78 | |
| To suppe with me to morrow Night. Away. | To sup with me tomorrow night. Away! | sup (v.)have supper | 2H6 I.iv.79 | |
| Exeunt | | 2H6 I.iv.79 | |