| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| Before Angiers well met braue Austria, | Before Angiers well met, brave Austria. | KJ II.i.1 |
| Arthur that great fore-runner of thy bloud, | Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood, | KJ II.i.2 |
| Richard that rob'd the Lion of his heart, | Richard, that robbed the lion of his heart | KJ II.i.3 |
| And fought the holy Warres in Palestine, | And fought the holy wars in Palestine, | KJ II.i.4 |
| By this braue Duke came early to his graue: | By this brave duke came early to his grave. | KJ II.i.5 |
| And for amends to his posteritie, | And for amends to his posterity, | KJ II.i.6 |
| At our importance hether is he come, | At our importance hither is he come | KJ II.i.7 |
| To spread his colours boy, in thy behalfe, | To spread his colours, boy, in thy behalf, | KJ II.i.8 |
| And to rebuke the vsurpation | And to rebuke the usurpation | KJ II.i.9 |
| Of thy vnnaturall Vncle, English Iohn, | Of thy unnatural uncle, English John. | KJ II.i.10 |
| Embrace him, loue him, giue him welcome hether. | Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither. | KJ II.i.11 |
| | | |
| A noble boy, who would not doe thee right? | A noble boy! Who would not do thee right! | KJ II.i.18 |
| | | |
| Well, then to worke our Cannon shall be bent | Well then, to work! Our cannon shall be bent | KJ II.i.37 |
| Against the browes of this resisting towne, | Against the brows of this resisting town. | KJ II.i.38 |
| Call for our cheefest men of discipline, | Call for our chiefest men of discipline, | KJ II.i.39 |
| To cull the plots of best aduantages: | To cull the plots of best advantages. | KJ II.i.40 |
| Wee'll lay before this towne our Royal bones, | We'll lay before this town our royal bones, | KJ II.i.41 |
| Wade to the market-place in French-mens bloud, | Wade to the market-place in Frenchmen's blood, | KJ II.i.42 |
| But we will make it subiect to this boy. | But we will make it subject to this boy. | KJ II.i.43 |
| | | |
| A wonder Lady:lo vpon thy wish | A wonder, lady! Lo, upon thy wish, | KJ II.i.50 |
| Our Messenger Chattilion is arriu'd, | Our messenger Chatillon is arrived. | KJ II.i.51 |
| What England saies, say breefely gentle Lord, | What England says, say briefly, gentle lord; | KJ II.i.52 |
| We coldly pause for thee, Chatilion speake, | We coldly pause for thee. Chatillon, speak. | KJ II.i.53 |
| | | |
| How much vnlook'd for, is this expedition. | How much unlooked-for is this expedition! | KJ II.i.79 |
| | | |
| Peace be to England, if that warre returne | Peace be to England – if that war return | KJ II.i.89 |
| From France to England, there to liue in peace: | From France to England, there to live in peace. | KJ II.i.90 |
| England we loue, and for that Englands sake, | England we love, and for that England's sake | KJ II.i.91 |
| With burden of our armor heere we sweat: | With burden of our armour here we sweat. | KJ II.i.92 |
| This toyle of ours should be a worke of thine; | This toil of ours should be a work of thine; | KJ II.i.93 |
| But thou from louing England art so farre, | But thou from loving England art so far | KJ II.i.94 |
| That thou hast vnder-wrought his lawfull King, | That thou hast underwrought his lawful king, | KJ II.i.95 |
| Cut off the sequence of posterity, | Cut off the sequence of posterity, | KJ II.i.96 |
| Out-faced Infant State, and done a rape | Outfaced infant state, and done a rape | KJ II.i.97 |
| Vpon the maiden vertue of the Crowne: | Upon the maiden virtue of the crown. | KJ II.i.98 |
| Looke heere vpon thy brother Geffreyes face, | Look here upon thy brother Geoffrey's face. | KJ II.i.99 |
| These eyes, these browes, were moulded out of his; | These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his; | KJ II.i.100 |
| This little abstract doth containe that large, | This little abstract doth contain that large | KJ II.i.101 |
| Which died in Geffrey: and the hand of time, | Which died in Geoffrey; and the hand of time | KJ II.i.102 |
| Shall draw this breefe into as huge a volume: | Shall draw this brief into as huge a volume. | KJ II.i.103 |
| That Geffrey was thy elder brother borne, | That Geoffrey was thy elder brother born, | KJ II.i.104 |
| And this his sonne, England was Geffreys right, | And this his son. England was Geoffrey's right, | KJ II.i.105 |
| And this is Geffreyes in the name of God: | And this is Geoffrey's. In the name of God | KJ II.i.106 |
| How comes it then that thou art call'd a King, | How comes it then that thou art called a king, | KJ II.i.107 |
| When liuing blood doth in these temples beat | When living blood doth in these temples beat | KJ II.i.108 |
| Which owe the crowne, that thou ore-masterest? | Which owe the crown that thou o'ermasterest? | KJ II.i.109 |
| | | |
| Frõ that supernal Iudge that stirs good thoughts | From that supernal judge that stirs good thoughts | KJ II.i.112 |
| In any beast of strong authoritie, | In any breast of strong authority | KJ II.i.113 |
| To looke into the blots and staines of right, | To look into the blots and stains of right. | KJ II.i.114 |
| That Iudge hath made me guardian to this boy, | That judge hath made me guardian to this boy: | KJ II.i.115 |
| Vnder whose warrant I impeach thy wrong, | Under whose warrant I impeach thy wrong | KJ II.i.116 |
| And by whose helpe I meane to chastise it. | And by whose help I mean to chastise it. | KJ II.i.117 |
| | | |
| Excuse it is to beat vsurping downe. | Excuse it is to beat usurping down. | KJ II.i.119 |
| | | |
| Women & fooles, breake off your conference. | Women and fools, break off your conference! | KJ II.i.150 |
| King Iohn, this is the very summe of all: | King John, this is the very sum of all: | KJ II.i.151 |
| England and Ireland, Angiers, Toraine, Maine, | England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, | KJ II.i.152 |
| In right of Arthur doe I claime of thee: | In right of Arthur do I claim of thee. | KJ II.i.153 |
| Wilt thou resigne them, and lay downe thy Armes? | Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms? | KJ II.i.154 |
| | | |
| Peace Lady, pause, or be more temperate, | Peace, lady! Pause, or be more temperate. | KJ II.i.195 |
| It ill beseemes this presence to cry ayme | It ill beseems this presence to cry aim | KJ II.i.196 |
| To these ill-tuned repetitions: | To these ill-tuned repetitions. | KJ II.i.197 |
| Some Trumpet summon hither to the walles | Some trumpet summon hither to the walls | KJ II.i.198 |
| These men of Angiers, let vs heare them speake, | These men of Angiers. Let us hear them speak | KJ II.i.199 |
| Whose title they admit, Arthurs or Iohns. | Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's. | KJ II.i.200 |
| | | |
| 'Tis France, for England. | 'Tis France, for England. | KJ II.i.202.1 |
| | | |
| You louing men of Angiers, Arthurs subiects, | You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, | KJ II.i.204 |
| Our Trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. | Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle – | KJ II.i.205 |
| | | |
| When I haue saide, make answer to vs both. | When I have said, make answer to us both. | KJ II.i.235 |
| Loe in this right hand, whose protection | Lo, in this right hand, whose protection | KJ II.i.236 |
| Is most diuinely vow'd vpon the right | Is most divinely vowed upon the right | KJ II.i.237 |
| Of him it holds, stands yong Plantagenet, | Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet, | KJ II.i.238 |
| Sonne to the elder brother of this man, | Son to the elder brother of this man, | KJ II.i.239 |
| And King ore him, and all that he enioyes: | And king o'er him and all that he enjoys. | KJ II.i.240 |
| For this downe-troden equity, we tread | For this downtrodden equity we tread | KJ II.i.241 |
| In warlike march, these greenes before your Towne, | In warlike march these greens before your town, | KJ II.i.242 |
| Being no further enemy to you | Being no further enemy to you | KJ II.i.243 |
| Then the constraint of hospitable zeale, | Than the constraint of hospitable zeal | KJ II.i.244 |
| In the releefe of this oppressed childe, | In the relief of this oppressed child | KJ II.i.245 |
| Religiously prouokes. Be pleased then | Religiously provokes. Be pleased then | KJ II.i.246 |
| To pay that dutie which you truly owe, | To pay that duty which you truly owe | KJ II.i.247 |
| To him that owes it, namely, this yong Prince, | To him that owes it, namely this young prince. | KJ II.i.248 |
| And then our Armes, like to a muzled Beare, | And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear, | KJ II.i.249 |
| Saue in aspect, hath all offence seal'd vp: | Save in aspect, hath all offence sealed up; | KJ II.i.250 |
| Our Cannons malice vainly shall be spent | Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent | KJ II.i.251 |
| Against th' involuerable clouds of heauen, | Against th' invulnerable clouds of heaven; | KJ II.i.252 |
| And with a blessed and vn-vext retyre, | And with a blessed and unvexed retire, | KJ II.i.253 |
| With vnhack'd swords, and Helmets all vnbruis'd, | With unhacked swords and helmets all unbruised, | KJ II.i.254 |
| We will beare home that lustie blood againe, | We will bear home that lusty blood again | KJ II.i.255 |
| Which heere we came to spout against your Towne, | Which here we came to spout against your town, | KJ II.i.256 |
| And leaue your children, wiues, and you in peace. | And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace. | KJ II.i.257 |
| But if you fondly passe our proffer'd offer, | But if you fondly pass our proffered offer, | KJ II.i.258 |
| 'Tis not the rounder of your old-fac'd walles, | 'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls | KJ II.i.259 |
| Can hide you from our messengers of Warre, | Can hide you from our messengers of war, | KJ II.i.260 |
| Though all these English, and their discipline | Though all these English and their discipline | KJ II.i.261 |
| Were harbour'd in their rude circumference: | Were harboured in their rude circumference. | KJ II.i.262 |
| Then tell vs, Shall your Citie call vs Lord, | Then tell us, shall your city call us lord | KJ II.i.263 |
| In that behalfe which we haue challeng'd it? | In that behalf which we have challenged it, | KJ II.i.264 |
| Or shall we giue the signall to our rage, | Or shall we give the signal to our rage | KJ II.i.265 |
| And stalke in blood to our possession? | And stalk in blood to our possession? | KJ II.i.266 |
| | | |
| As many and as well-borne bloods as those. | As many and as well-born bloods as those – | KJ II.i.278 |
| | | |
| Stand in his face to contradict his claime. | – Stand in his face to contradict his claim. | KJ II.i.280 |
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| Amen, Amen, mount Cheualiers to Armes. | Amen, amen! Mount, chevaliers! To arms! | KJ II.i.287 |
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| It shall be so, and at the other hill | It shall be so. And at the other hill | KJ II.i.298 |
| Command the rest to stand, God and our right. | Command the rest to stand. God and our right! | KJ II.i.299 |
| | | |
| England thou hast not sau'd one drop of blood | England, thou hast not saved one drop of blood, | KJ II.i.341 |
| In this hot triall more then we of France, | In this hot trial, more than we of France; | KJ II.i.342 |
| Rather lost more. And by this hand I sweare | Rather, lost more. And by this hand I swear, | KJ II.i.343 |
| That swayes the earth this Climate ouer-lookes, | That sways the earth this climate overlooks, | KJ II.i.344 |
| Before we will lay downe our iust-borne Armes, | Before we will lay down our just-borne arms, | KJ II.i.345 |
| Wee'l put thee downe, 'gainst whom these Armes wee beare, | We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear, | KJ II.i.346 |
| Or adde a royall number to the dead: | Or add a royal number to the dead, | KJ II.i.347 |
| Gracing the scroule that tels of this warres losse, | Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss | KJ II.i.348 |
| With slaughter coupled to the name of kings. | With slaughter coupled to the name of kings. | KJ II.i.349 |
| | | |
| Speake Citizens for England,whose your king. | Speak, citizens, for England. Who's your king? | KJ II.i.362 |
| | | |
| Know him in vs, that heere hold vp his right. | Know him in us, that here hold up his right. | KJ II.i.364 |
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| Let it be so: say, where will you assault? | Let it be so. Say, where will you assault? | KJ II.i.408 |
| | | |
| Our Thunder from the South, | Our thunder from the south | KJ II.i.411.2 |
| Shall raine their drift of bullets on this Towne. | Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. | KJ II.i.412 |
| | | |
| Speake England sirst, that hath bin forward first | Speak England first, that hath been forward first | KJ II.i.482 |
| To speake vnto this Cittie: what say you? | To speak unto this city. What say you? | KJ II.i.483 |
| | | |
| What sai'st thou boy? looke in the Ladies face. | What sayst thou, boy? Look in the lady's face. | KJ II.i.495 |
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| It likes vs well young Princes: close your hands | It likes us well. Young princes, close your hands. | KJ II.i.533 |
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| Now Cittizens of Angires ope your gates, | Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates; | KJ II.i.536 |
| Let in that amitie which you haue made, | Let in that amity which you have made. | KJ II.i.537 |
| For at Saint Maries Chappell presently, | For at Saint Mary's chapel presently | KJ II.i.538 |
| The rights of marriage shallbe solemniz'd. | The rites of marriage shall be solemnized. | KJ II.i.539 |
| Is not the Ladie Constance in this troope? | Is not the Lady Constance in this troop? | KJ II.i.540 |
| I know she is not for this match made vp, | I know she is not, for this match made up | KJ II.i.541 |
| Her presence would haue interrupted much. | Her presence would have interrupted much. | KJ II.i.542 |
| Where is she and her sonne, tell me, who knowes? | Where is she and her son? Tell me, who knows. | KJ II.i.543 |
| | | |
| And by my faith, this league that we haue made | And, by my faith, this league that we have made | KJ II.i.545 |
| Will giue her sadnesse very little cure: | Will give her sadness very little cure. | KJ II.i.546 |
| Brother of England, how may we content | Brother of England, how may we content | KJ II.i.547 |
| This widdow Lady? In her right we came, | This widow-lady? In her right we came, | KJ II.i.548 |
| Which we God knowes, haue turnd another way, | Which we, God knows, have turned another way, | KJ II.i.549 |
| To our owne vantage. | To our own vantage. | KJ II.i.550.1 |
| | | |
| 'Tis true (faire daughter) and this blessed day, | 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day | KJ III.i.75 |
| Euer in France shall be kept festiuall: | Ever in France shall be kept festival. | KJ III.i.76 |
| To solemnize this day the glorious sunne | To solemnize this day the glorious sun | KJ III.i.77 |
| Stayes in his course, and playes the Alchymist, | Stays in his course and plays the alchemist, | KJ III.i.78 |
| Turning with splendor of his precious eye | Turning with splendour of his precious eye | KJ III.i.79 |
| The meager cloddy earth to glittering gold: | The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold. | KJ III.i.80 |
| The yearely course that brings this day about, | The yearly course that brings this day about | KJ III.i.81 |
| Shall neuer see it, but a holy day. | Shall never see it but a holiday. | KJ III.i.82 |
| | | |
| By heauen Lady, you shall haue no cause | By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause | KJ III.i.96 |
| To curse the faire proceedings of this day: | To curse the fair proceedings of this day. | KJ III.i.97 |
| Haue I not pawn'd to you my Maiesty? | Have I not pawned to you my majesty? | KJ III.i.98 |
| | | |
| Heere comes the holy Legat of the Pope. | Here comes the holy legate of the Pope. | KJ III.i.135 |
| | | |
| Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. | Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. | KJ III.i.161 |
| | | |
| I am perplext, and know not what to say. | I am perplexed, and know not what to say. | KJ III.i.221 |
| | | |
| Good reuerend father, make my person yours, | Good reverend father, make my person yours, | KJ III.i.224 |
| And tell me how you would bestow your selfe? | And tell me how you would bestow yourself. | KJ III.i.225 |
| This royall hand and mine are newly knit, | This royal hand and mine are newly knit, | KJ III.i.226 |
| And the coniunction of our inward soules | And the conjunction of our inward souls | KJ III.i.227 |
| Married in league, coupled, and link'd together | Married in league, coupled and linked together | KJ III.i.228 |
| With all religous strength of sacred vowes, | With all religious strength of sacred vows; | KJ III.i.229 |
| The latest breath that gaue the sound of words | The latest breath that gave the sound of words | KJ III.i.230 |
| Was deepe-sworne faith, peace, amity, true loue | Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love | KJ III.i.231 |
| Betweene our kingdomes and our royall selues, | Between our kingdoms and our royal selves; | KJ III.i.232 |
| And euen before this truce, but new before, | And even before this truce, but new before, | KJ III.i.233 |
| No longer then we well could wash our hands, | No longer than we well could wash our hands | KJ III.i.234 |
| To clap this royall bargaine vp of peace, | To clap this royal bargain up of peace, | KJ III.i.235 |
| Heauen knowes they were besmear'd and ouer-staind | Heaven knows, they were besmeared and overstained | KJ III.i.236 |
| With slaughters pencill; where reuenge did paint | With slaughter's pencil, where revenge did paint | KJ III.i.237 |
| The fearefull difference of incensed kings: | The fearful difference of incensed kings. | KJ III.i.238 |
| And shall these hands so lately purg'd of bloud? | And shall these hands, so lately purged of blood, | KJ III.i.239 |
| So newly ioyn'd in loue? so strong in both, | So newly joined in love, so strong in both, | KJ III.i.240 |
| Vnyoke this seysure, and this kinde regreete? | Unyoke this seizure and this kind regreet? | KJ III.i.241 |
| Play fast and loose with faith? so iest with heauen, | Play fast and loose with faith? So jest with heaven, | KJ III.i.242 |
| Make such vnconstant children of onr selues | Make such unconstant children of ourselves, | KJ III.i.243 |
| As now againe to snatch our palme from palme: | As now again to snatch our palm from palm, | KJ III.i.244 |
| Vn-sweare faith sworne, and on the marriage bed | Unswear faith sworn, and on the marriage-bed | KJ III.i.245 |
| Of smiling peace to march a bloody hoast, | Of smiling peace to march a bloody host, | KJ III.i.246 |
| And make a ryot on the gentle brow | And make a riot on the gentle brow | KJ III.i.247 |
| Of true sincerity? O holy Sir | Of true sincerity? O holy sir, | KJ III.i.248 |
| My reuerend father, let it not be so; | My reverend father, let it not be so! | KJ III.i.249 |
| Out of your grace, deuise, ordaine, impose | Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose | KJ III.i.250 |
| Some gentle order, and then we shall be blest | Some gentle order, and then we shall be blessed | KJ III.i.251 |
| To doe your pleasure, and continue friends. | To do your pleasure and continue friends. | KJ III.i.252 |
| | | |
| I may dis-ioyne my hand, but not my faith. | I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith. | KJ III.i.262 |
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| Thou shalt not need. England, I will fall frõ thee. | Thou shalt not need. England, I will fall from thee. | KJ III.i.320 |
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| Thy rage shall burne thee vp, & thou shalt turne | Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn | KJ III.i.344 |
| To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire: | To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire. | KJ III.i.345 |
| Looke to thy selfe, thou art in ieopardie. | Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy! | KJ III.i.346 |
| | | |
| So by a roaring Tempest on the flood, | So, by a roaring tempest on the flood, | KJ III.iv.1 |
| A whole Armado of conuicted saile | A whole armado of convicted sail | KJ III.iv.2 |
| Is scattered and dis-ioyn'd from fellowship. | Is scattered and disjoined from fellowship. | KJ III.iv.3 |
| | | |
| What can goe well,when we haue runne so ill? | What can go well, when we have run so ill? | KJ III.iv.5 |
| Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers lost? | Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers lost? | KJ III.iv.6 |
| Arthur tane prisoner? diuers deere friends slaine? | Arthur ta'en prisoner? Divers dear friends slain? | KJ III.iv.7 |
| And bloudy England into England gone, | And bloody England into England gone, | KJ III.iv.8 |
| Ore-bearing interruption spight of France? | O'erbearing interruption, spite of France? | KJ III.iv.9 |
| | | |
| Well could I beare that England had this praise, | Well could I bear that England had this praise, | KJ III.iv.15 |
| So we could finde some patterne of our shame: | So we could find some pattern of our shame. | KJ III.iv.16 |
| | | |
| Looke who comes heere? a graue vnto a soule, | Look who comes here! A grave unto a soul, | KJ III.iv.17 |
| Holding th'eternall spirit against her will, | Holding th' eternal spirit, against her will, | KJ III.iv.18 |
| In the vilde prison of afflicted breath: | In the vile prison of afflicted breath. | KJ III.iv.19 |
| I prethee Lady goe away with me. | I prithee, lady, go away with me. | KJ III.iv.20 |
| | | |
| Patience good Lady, comfort gentle Constance. | Patience, good lady. Comfort, gentle Constance. | KJ III.iv.22 |
| | | |
| O faire affliction, peace. | O fair affliction, peace! | KJ III.iv.36.2 |
| | | |
| Binde vp those tresses: O what loue I note | Bind up those tresses! O, what love I note | KJ III.iv.61 |
| In the faire multitude of those her haires; | In the fair multitude of those her hairs! | KJ III.iv.62 |
| Where but by chance a filuer drop hath falne, | Where but by chance a silver drop hath fallen, | KJ III.iv.63 |
| Euen to that drop ten thousand wiery fiends | Even to that drop ten thousand wiry friends | KJ III.iv.64 |
| Doe glew themselues in sociable griefe, | Do glue themselves in sociable grief, | KJ III.iv.65 |
| Like true, inseparable, faithfull loues, | Like true, inseparable, faithful loves, | KJ III.iv.66 |
| Sticking together in calamitie. | Sticking together in calamity. | KJ III.iv.67 |
| | | |
| Binde vp your haires. | Bind up your hairs. | KJ III.iv.68.2 |
| | | |
| You are as fond of greefe, as of your childe. | You are as fond of grief as of your child. | KJ III.iv.92 |
| | | |
| I feare some out-rage, and Ile follow her. | I fear some outrage, and I'll follow her. | KJ III.iv.106 |