First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Alarum. Enter King Henry alone. | Alarum. Enter King Henry alone | | 3H6 II.v.1.1 | |
Hen. | KING | | | |
This battell fares like to the mornings Warre, | This battle fares like to the morning's war, | like to / unto (conj./prep.)similar to, comparable with | 3H6 II.v.1 | |
| | fare (v.)go, happen, turn out | | |
When dying clouds contend, with growing light, | When dying clouds contend with growing light, | contend (v.)compete, vie, rival | 3H6 II.v.2 | |
What time the Shepheard blowing of his nailes, | What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, | blow (v.)breathe hot breath [on] | 3H6 II.v.3 | |
Can neither call it perfect day, nor night. | Can neither call it perfect day nor night. | | 3H6 II.v.4 | |
Now swayes it this way, like a Mighty Sea, | Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea | | 3H6 II.v.5 | |
Forc'd by the Tide, to combat with the Winde: | Forced by the tide to combat with the wind; | | 3H6 II.v.6 | |
Now swayes it that way, like the selfe-same Sea, | Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea | | 3H6 II.v.7 | |
Forc'd to retyre by furie of the Winde. | Forced to retire by fury of the wind. | | 3H6 II.v.8 | |
Sometime, the Flood preuailes; and than the Winde: | Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind; | sometime (adv.)sometimes, now and then | 3H6 II.v.9 | |
| | flood (n.)sea, deep, waves, rushing water | | |
Now, one the better: then, another best; | Now one the better, then another best; | | 3H6 II.v.10 | |
Both tugging to be Victors, brest to brest: | Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast, | tug (v.)contend, vie, strive in opposition | 3H6 II.v.11 | |
Yet neither Conqueror, nor Conquered. | Yet neither conqueror nor conquered; | | 3H6 II.v.12 | |
So is the equall poise of this fell Warre. | So is the equal poise of this fell war. | poise (n.)balance of weight, equipoise | 3H6 II.v.13 | |
| | fell (adj.)cruel, fierce, savage | | |
Heere on this Mole-hill will I sit me downe, | Here on this molehill will I sit me down. | | 3H6 II.v.14 | |
To whom God will, there be the Victorie: | To whom God will, there be the victory! | | 3H6 II.v.15 | |
For Margaret my Queene, and Clifford too | For Margaret my Queen, and Clifford too, | | 3H6 II.v.16 | |
Haue chid me from the Battell: Swearing both, | Have chid me from the battle, swearing both | chide (v.), past form chidbrusquely command, drive [away] with harsh words | 3H6 II.v.17 | |
They prosper best of all when I am thence. | They prosper best of all when I am thence. | | 3H6 II.v.18 | |
Would I were dead, if Gods good will were so; | Would I were dead, if God's good will were so! | | 3H6 II.v.19 | |
For what is in this world, but Greefe and Woe. | For what is in this world but grief and woe? | | 3H6 II.v.20 | |
Oh God! me thinkes it were a happy life, | O God! Methinks it were a happy life | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | 3H6 II.v.21 | |
To be no better then a homely Swaine, | To be no better than a homely swain; | homely (adj.)plain, simple, ordinary | 3H6 II.v.22 | |
| | swain (n.)rustic, country person, shepherd | | |
To sit vpon a hill, as I do now, | To sit upon a hill, as I do now; | | 3H6 II.v.23 | |
To carue out Dialls queintly, point by point, | To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, | quaintly (adv.)elaborately, artistically, with skill | 3H6 II.v.24 | |
| | dial (n.)watch, timepiece, pocket sundial | | |
Thereby to see the Minutes how they runne: | Thereby to see the minutes how they run: | | 3H6 II.v.25 | |
How many makes the Houre full compleate, | How many make the hour full complete, | | 3H6 II.v.26 | |
How many Houres brings about the Day, | How many hours bring about the day, | bring about (v.)complete, bring the end to [a period of time] | 3H6 II.v.27 | |
How many Dayes will finish vp the Yeare, | How many days will finish up the year, | | 3H6 II.v.28 | |
How many Yeares, a Mortall man may liue. | How many years a mortal man may live. | | 3H6 II.v.29 | |
When this is knowne, then to diuide the Times: | When this is known, then to divide the times: | | 3H6 II.v.30 | |
So many Houres, must I tend my Flocke; | So many hours must I tend my flock, | | 3H6 II.v.31 | |
So many Houres, must I take my Rest: | So many hours must I take my rest, | | 3H6 II.v.32 | |
So many Houres, must I Contemplate: | So many hours must I contemplate, | contemplate (v.)pray, meditate, engage in contemplation | 3H6 II.v.33 | |
So many Houres, must I Sport my selfe: | So many hours must I sport myself, | sport (v.)amuse, entertain, divert | 3H6 II.v.34 | |
So many Dayes, my Ewes haue bene with yong: | So many days my ewes have been with young, | | 3H6 II.v.35 | |
So many weekes, ere the poore Fooles will Eane: | So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean, | ean (v.)bring forth lambs | 3H6 II.v.36 | |
| | fool (n.)[term of endearment or pity] dear, darling, innocent creature | | |
So many yeares, ere I shall sheere the Fleece: | So many years ere I shall shear the fleece. | | 3H6 II.v.37 | |
So Minutes, Houres, Dayes, Monthes, and Yeares, | So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, | | 3H6 II.v.38 | |
Past ouer to the end they were created, | Passed over to the end they were created, | end (n.)purpose, aim, design | 3H6 II.v.39 | |
Would bring white haires, vnto a Quiet graue. | Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. | | 3H6 II.v.40 | |
Ah! what a life were this? How sweet? how louely? | Ah, what a life were this! How sweet! How lovely! | | 3H6 II.v.41 | |
Giues not the Hawthorne bush a sweeter shade | Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade | | 3H6 II.v.42 | |
To Shepheards, looking on their silly Sheepe, | To shepherds looking on their silly sheep | silly (adj.)helpless, defenceless, vulnerable | 3H6 II.v.43 | |
Then doth a rich Imbroider'd Canopie | Than doth a rich embroidered canopy | | 3H6 II.v.44 | |
To Kings, that feare their Subiects treacherie? | To kings that fear their subjects' treachery? | | 3H6 II.v.45 | |
Oh yes, it doth; a thousand fold it doth. | O yes, it doth; a thousandfold it doth. | | 3H6 II.v.46 | |
And to conclude, the Shepherds homely Curds, | And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds, | curd (n.)type of foodstuff derived from milk | 3H6 II.v.47 | |
His cold thinne drinke out of his Leather Bottle, | His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle, | | 3H6 II.v.48 | |
His wonted sleepe, vnder a fresh trees shade, | His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade, | wonted (adj.)accustomed, usual, customary | 3H6 II.v.49 | |
All which secure, and sweetly he enioyes, | All which secure and sweetly he enjoys, | secure (adv.)safely, free from anxiety | 3H6 II.v.50 | |
Is farre beyond a Princes Delicates: | Is far beyond a prince's delicates, | delicate (n.)delicacy, luxury, delight | 3H6 II.v.51 | |
His Viands sparkling in a Golden Cup, | His viands sparkling in a golden cup, | viand (n.)(usually plural) food, victuals, foodstuff | 3H6 II.v.52 | |
His bodie couched in a curious bed, | His body couched in a curious bed, | curious (adj.)finely made, skilfully wrought, elaborate | 3H6 II.v.53 | |
When Care, Mistrust, and Treason waits on him. | When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him. | wait on / upon (v.)accompany, attend | 3H6 II.v.54 | |
Alarum. Enter a Sonne that hath kill'd his Father, at one doore: | Alarum. Enter at one door a Son that hath killed his | | 3H6 II.v.55.1 | |
and a Father that hath kill'd his Sonne at another doore. | father, with the dead body in his arms | | 3H6 II.v.55.2 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Ill blowes the winde that profits no body, | Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. | ill (adv.)badly, adversely, unfavourably | 3H6 II.v.55 | |
This man whom hand to hand I slew in fight, | This man whom hand to hand I slew in fight | | 3H6 II.v.56 | |
May be possessed with some store of Crownes, | May be possessed with some store of crowns; | possess (v.)put in possession, endow | 3H6 II.v.57 | |
| | store (n.)abundance, plenty, surplus, quantity | | |
| | crown (n.)coin [usually showing a monarch's crown], English value: 5 shilllings | | |
And I that (haply) take them from him now, | And I, that haply take them from him now, | haply (adv.)perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck | 3H6 II.v.58 | |
May yet (ere night) yeeld both my Life and them | May yet ere night yield both my life and them | | 3H6 II.v.59 | |
To some man else, as this dead man doth me. | To some man else, as this dead man doth me. – | | 3H6 II.v.60 | |
Who's this? Oh God! It is my Fathers face, | Who's this? O God! It is my father's face, | | 3H6 II.v.61 | |
Whom in this Conflict, I (vnwares) haue kill'd: | Whom in this conflict I, unwares, have killed. | unwares (adv.)unawares, unknowingly, unintentionally | 3H6 II.v.62 | |
Oh heauy times! begetting such Euents. | O, heavy times, begetting such events! | heavy (adj.)sorrowful, sad, gloomy | 3H6 II.v.63 | |
From London, by the King was I prest forth, | From London by the King was I pressed forth; | press (v.)levy, raise, conscript | 3H6 II.v.64 | |
My Father being the Earle of Warwickes man, | My father, being the Earl of Warwick's man, | | 3H6 II.v.65 | |
Came on the part of Yorke, prest by his Master: | Came on the part of York, pressed by his master; | part (n.)side, camp, party | 3H6 II.v.66 | |
And I, who at his hands receiu'd my life, | And I, who at his hands received my life, | | 3H6 II.v.67 | |
Haue by my hands, of Life bereaued him. | Have by my hands of life bereaved him. | bereave (v.)take away [from], deprive, deny, rob | 3H6 II.v.68 | |
Pardon me God, I knew not what I did: | Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! | | 3H6 II.v.69 | |
And pardon Father, for I knew not thee. | And pardon, father, for I knew not thee! | know (v.)recognize | 3H6 II.v.70 | |
My Teares shall wipe away these bloody markes: | My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; | | 3H6 II.v.71 | |
And no more words, till they haue flow'd their fill. | And no more words till they have flowed their fill. | | 3H6 II.v.72 | |
King. | KING | | | |
O pitteous spectacle! O bloody Times! | O, piteous spectacle! O, bloody times! | | 3H6 II.v.73 | |
Whiles Lyons Warre, and battaile for their Dennes, | Whiles lions war and battle for their dens, | | 3H6 II.v.74 | |
Poore harmlesse Lambes abide their enmity. | Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity. | abide (v.)endure, undergo, face | 3H6 II.v.75 | |
Weepe wretched man: Ile ayde thee Teare for Teare, | Weep, wretched man; I'll aid thee tear for tear; | | 3H6 II.v.76 | |
And let our hearts and eyes, like Ciuill Warre, | And let our hearts and eyes, like civil war, | | 3H6 II.v.77 | |
Be blinde with teares, and break ore-charg'd with griefe | Be blind with tears, and break o'ercharged with grief. | overcharged (adj.)overburdened, overtaxed, overwrought | 3H6 II.v.78 | |
Enter Father, bearing of his Sonne. | Enter at another door a Father that hath killed his | | 3H6 II.v.79.1 | |
| son, with the dead body in his arms | | 3H6 II.v.79.2 | |
Fa. | FATHER | | | |
Thou that so stoutly hath resisted me, | Thou that so stoutly hath resisted me, | | 3H6 II.v.79 | |
Giue me thy Gold, if thou hast any Gold: | Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; | | 3H6 II.v.80 | |
For I haue bought it with an hundred blowes. | For I have bought it with an hundred blows. | | 3H6 II.v.81 | |
But let me see: Is this our Foe-mans face? | But let me see: is this our foeman's face? | | 3H6 II.v.82 | |
Ah, no, no, no, it is mine onely Sonne. | Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son! | | 3H6 II.v.83 | |
Ah Boy, if any life be left in thee, | Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, | | 3H6 II.v.84 | |
Throw vp thine eye: see, see, what showres arise, | Throw up thine eye! See, see what showers arise, | | 3H6 II.v.85 | |
Blowne with the windie Tempest of my heart, | Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, | | 3H6 II.v.86 | |
Vpon thy wounds, that killes mine Eye, and Heart. | Upon thy wounds, that kills mine eye and heart! | | 3H6 II.v.87 | |
O pitty God, this miserable Age! | O, pity, God, this miserable age! | | 3H6 II.v.88 | |
What Stragems? how fell? how Butcherly? | What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, | stratagem (n.)deed of violence, bloody act | 3H6 II.v.89 | |
| | fell (adj.)cruel, fierce, savage | | |
| | butcherly (adv.)brutally, cruelly, savagely | | |
Erreoneous, mutinous, and vnnaturall, | Erroneous, mutinous, and unnatural, | erroneous (adj.)criminal, wicked, evil | 3H6 II.v.90 | |
| | unnatural (adj.)abnormal, monstrous, aberrant | | |
This deadly quarrell daily doth beget? | This deadly quarrel daily doth beget! | beget (v.), past form begotproduce, engender, give rise to | 3H6 II.v.91 | |
O Boy! thy Father gaue thee life too soone, | O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, | | 3H6 II.v.92 | |
And hath bereft thee of thy life too late. | And hath bereft thee of thy life too late! | late (adv.)recently, a little while ago / before | 3H6 II.v.93 | |
| | bereave (v.)take away [from], deprive, deny, rob | | |
King. | KING | | | |
Wo aboue wo: greefe, more thẽ common greefe | Woe above woe! Grief more than common grief! | | 3H6 II.v.94 | |
O that my death would stay these ruthfull deeds: | O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! | stay (v.)stop, prevent, end | 3H6 II.v.95 | |
| | ruthful (adj.)piteous, lamentable, woeful | | |
O pitty, pitty, gentle heauen pitty: | O, pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity! | | 3H6 II.v.96 | |
The Red Rose and the White are on his face, | The red rose and the white are on his face, | | 3H6 II.v.97 | |
The fatall Colours of our striuing Houses: | The fatal colours of our striving houses; | fatal (adj.)ominous, full of foreboding, doom-laden | 3H6 II.v.98 | |
The one, his purple Blood right well resembles, | The one his purple blood right well resembles; | purple (adj.)bright-red, blood-coloured, bloody | 3H6 II.v.99 | |
The other his pale Cheekes (me thinkes) presenteth: | The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth. | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | 3H6 II.v.100 | |
| | present (v.)symbolize, represent, suggest | | |
Wither one Rose, and let the other flourish: | Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; | | 3H6 II.v.101 | |
If you contend, a thousand liues must wither. | If you contend, a thousand lives must wither. | contend (v.)fight, engage in combat, struggle | 3H6 II.v.102 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
How will my Mother, for a Fathers death | How will my mother for a father's death | | 3H6 II.v.103 | |
Take on with me, and ne're be satisfi'd? | Take on with me and ne'er be satisfied! | satisfy (v.)appease, content, comfort | 3H6 II.v.104 | |
| | take on (v.)behave, act; or: rage, rant | | |
Fa. | FATHER | | | |
How will my Wife, for slaughter of my Sonne, | How will my wife for slaughter of my son | | 3H6 II.v.105 | |
Shed seas of Teares, and ne're be satisfi'd? | Shed seas of tears and ne'er be satisfied! | | 3H6 II.v.106 | |
King. | KING | | | |
How will the Country, for these woful chances, | How will the country for these woeful chances | chance (n.)event, occurrence, situation [especially, bad] | 3H6 II.v.107 | |
Mis-thinke the King, and not be satisfied? | Misthink the King and not be satisfied! | misthink (v.)think ill of, have a bad opinion about | 3H6 II.v.108 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Was euer sonne, so rew'd a Fathers death? | Was ever son so rued a father's death? | | 3H6 II.v.109 | |
Fath. | FATHER | | | |
Was euer Father so bemoan'd his Sonne? | Was ever father so bemoaned his son? | | 3H6 II.v.110 | |
Hen. | KING | | | |
Was euer King so greeu'd for Subiects woe? | Was ever king so grieved for subjects' woe? | | 3H6 II.v.111 | |
Much is your sorrow; Mine, ten times so much. | Much is your sorrow; mine ten times so much. | | 3H6 II.v.112 | |
Son. | SON | | | |
Ile beare thee hence, where I may weepe my fill. | I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. | | 3H6 II.v.113 | |
| Exit with the body of his father | | 3H6 II.v.113 | |
Fath. | FATHER | | | |
These armes of mine shall be thy winding sheet: | These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet; | winding-sheet (n.)burial cloth, shroud | 3H6 II.v.114 | |
My heart (sweet Boy) shall be thy Sepulcher, | My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre, | | 3H6 II.v.115 | |
For from my heart, thine Image ne're shall go. | For from my heart thine image ne'er shall go; | | 3H6 II.v.116 | |
My sighing brest, shall be thy Funerall bell; | My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell; | | 3H6 II.v.117 | |
And so obsequious will thy Father be, | And so obsequious will thy father be, | obsequious (adj.)dutiful [without suggesting servility]; appropriate after a death | 3H6 II.v.118 | |
Men for the losse of thee, hauing no more, | Even for the loss of thee, having no more, | | 3H6 II.v.119 | |
As Priam was for all his Valiant Sonnes, | As Priam was for all his valiant sons. | | 3H6 II.v.120 | |
Ile beare thee hence, and let them fight that will, | I'll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will, | | 3H6 II.v.121 | |
For I haue murthered where I should not kill. | For I have murdered where I should not kill. | | 3H6 II.v.122 | |
Exit | Exit with the body of his son | | 3H6 II.v.122 | |
Hen. | KING | | | |
Sad-hearted-men, much ouergone with Care; | Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, | overgone (adj.)worn out, overcome, exhausted | 3H6 II.v.123 | |
Heere sits a King, more wofull then you are. | Here sits a king more woeful than you are. | | 3H6 II.v.124 | |
Alarums. Excursions. Enter the Queen, the Prince, and | Alarums. Excursions. Enter the Queen, Prince, and | | 3H6 II.v.125.1 | |
Exeter. | Exeter | | 3H6 II.v.125.2 | |
Prin. | PRINCE | | | |
Fly Father, flye: for all your Friends are fled. | Fly, father, fly! For all your friends are fled, | | 3H6 II.v.125 | |
And Warwicke rages like a chafed Bull: | And Warwick rages like a chafed bull. | chafed (adj.)enraged, irritated, angered | 3H6 II.v.126 | |
Away, for death doth hold vs in pursuite. | Away! For death doth hold us in pursuit. | | 3H6 II.v.127 | |
Qu. | QUEEN | | | |
Mount you my Lord, towards Barwicke post amaine: | Mount you, my lord; towards Berwick post amain. | post (v.)hasten, speed, ride fast | 3H6 II.v.128 | |
| | amain (adv.)in all haste, at full speed | | |
Edward and Richard like a brace of Grey-hounds, | Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds | brace (n.)group of two, couple, pair | 3H6 II.v.129 | |
Hauing the fearfull flying Hare in sight, | Having the fearful flying hare in sight, | | 3H6 II.v.130 | |
With fiery eyes, sparkling for very wrath, | With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath, | very (adj.)[intensifying] thoroughgoing, absolute | 3H6 II.v.131 | |
And bloody steele graspt in their yrefull hands | And bloody steel grasped in their ireful hands, | ireful (adj.)wrathful, angry, furious | 3H6 II.v.132 | |
| | steel (n.)weapon of steel, sword | | |
Are at our backes, and therefore hence amaine. | Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain. | | 3H6 II.v.133 | |
Exet. | EXETER | | | |
Away: for vengeance comes along with them. | Away! For vengeance comes along with them; | | 3H6 II.v.134 | |
Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed, | Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; | expostulate (v.)expound, debate, discourse | 3H6 II.v.135 | |
| | stay (v.)linger, tarry, delay | | |
Or else come after, Ile away before. | Or else come after; I'll away before. | | 3H6 II.v.136 | |
Hen. | KING | | | |
Nay take me with thee, good sweet Exeter: | Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter; | | 3H6 II.v.137 | |
Not that I feare to stay, but loue to go | Not that I fear to stay, but love to go | | 3H6 II.v.138 | |
Whether the Queene intends. Forward, away. | Whither the Queen intends. Forward! Away! | intend (v.)plan to go, direct one's course | 3H6 II.v.139 | |
Exeunt | Exeunt | | 3H6 II.v.139 | |