From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right
And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head.
Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,
To entertain great England’s lawful king.
Ah, _sancta majestas_, who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey that knows not how to rule.
This hand was made to handle nought but gold.
I cannot give due action to my words
Except a sword or sceptre balance it.
A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul,
On which I’ll toss the fleur-de-luce of France.
From Ireland I come to claim my rightful throne and take the crown from weak Henry's head. Ring out bells, burn bright bonfires, to welcome England's true king. Ah, holy majesty, who wouldn't pay a high price for you? Let those who don't know how to rule obey. This hand was made only to handle gold. I can't back up my words with mere gestures - my words need a sword or scepter to support them. I will have a scepter, if I have any will, on which I'll throw the French crown.
I've come from Ireland to take what's rightfully mine - to rip the crown off Henry's weak head. Ring those bells, light those fires bright, to greet the real king of England. Holy majesty - who wouldn't sacrifice everything for power like this? Anyone who doesn't know how to rule should just obey someone who does. These hands were meant only to hold gold and power. Empty words don't cut it - I need steel or a scepter to back them up. I will get a scepter, that I swear, and I'll make it hold France too.
im from ireland to take the throne take crown from weak henry ring bells and light fires im the real king here this hand only holds power words need steel behind them i will be sceptered
York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.
York, if you mean well, I greet you well.
York, if your intentions are good, I welcome you.
york if ur good here im cool w/ u
Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.
Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?
Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept your greeting. Are you here as a messenger, or just for pleasure?
Humphrey of Buckingham, thanks for the welcome. So are you here to deliver a message, or just visiting?
cool thx here as a messenger or just hanging?
A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
To know the reason of these arms in peace;
Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
Should raise so great a power without his leave,
Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
I'm a messenger from Henry, our king, to ask why you have these armies in peaceful times; or why you, being a subject like me, breaking your sworn oath and loyalty, raised such a large force without his permission, or dared to bring your army so close to the court.
I'm here from Henry, our king, to find out why you've got all these soldiers here when there's no war; and why you, who swore an oath to the king just like I did, broke that promise and your loyalty to raise this huge army without permission, and had the nerve to march it right up to the palace.
msg from king henry why do u have armies? no war going on u swore loyalty why break it? why bring ur army here?
[_Aside_.] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great.
O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
I am so angry at these abject terms;
And now, like Ajax Telamonius,
On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
I am far better born than is the King,
More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts.
But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.—
Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,
That I have given no answer all this while;
My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
The cause why I have brought this army hither
Is to remove proud Somerset from the King,
Seditious to his grace and to the state.
I can barely speak, my anger is so great. I could demolish rocks and fight against stone, I am so furious at these degrading words; And now, like the legendary Ajax, I could spend my rage on sheep or cattle. I am far better born than the King, More kingly in manner, more kingly in my thoughts. But I must keep up appearances for a while, Until Henry becomes weaker and I become stronger.— Buckingham, I beg your pardon, That I have given no answer all this time; My mind was troubled with deep sadness. The reason why I have brought this army here Is to remove proud Somerset from the King, Who is a traitor to his grace and to the state.
I can barely speak—my anger is so intense. I could smash rocks and fight stone, I'm that furious at these insults. Right now I'm like Ajax going crazy—I could take my rage out on sheep or cattle if I had to. I'm way better born than the King is, much more kingly in how I think and act. But I need to keep pretending to be calm for now, until Henry gets weaker and I get stronger. Buckingham, I'm sorry I haven't answered till now—I've been really depressed. The real reason I brought this army is to get the arrogant Somerset away from the King, since Somerset is a traitor to him and to the country.
i can barely speak i'm so angry i could fight rocks i'm better born than the king much more kingly than he is but i gotta play it cool till he's weaker and i'm stronger i'm here to get somerset away he's a traitor
That is too much presumption on thy part;
But if thy arms be to no other end,
The King hath yielded unto thy demand:
The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
That's too much arrogance from you; But if your army is only for that purpose, the King has agreed to what you asked: the Duke of Somerset is locked in the Tower.
That's pretty arrogant of you to say; but okay, if that's the only reason you've got an army, the King has given in to what you want: Somerset is already locked up in the Tower.
thats bold talk but if thats why ur here king agreed somerset's in the tower
Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
On your honor, is he truly a prisoner?
You're sure about that? I need your word as a gentleman.
for real? swear on it?
Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
On my honor, he is a prisoner.
I swear on my honor, he's locked up.
yeah i swear he's in there
Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.
Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
Meet me tomorrow in Saint George’s field,
You shall have pay and everything you wish.
Then, Buckingham, I'm dismissing my army. Soldiers, I thank you all; go your separate ways; Meet me tomorrow at Saint George's field, you'll get paid and everything else you want.
Okay, Buckingham, I'm standing down. Soldiers, thanks for coming - you can all head out now; we'll meet up tomorrow at Saint George's field, and you'll get paid and everything you need.
buckingham im good soldiers thx & go home meet me @ st george field tomorrow ill pay u & give u stuff
York's claim to the throne rested on descent from Edward III through the female line — through Philippa, daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, who was Edward III's second son. Henry VI descended from John of Gaunt, Edward's third son, through the male line. The Lancastrian position was that male-line descent trumped female-line descent, regardless of seniority. The Yorkist position was that primogeniture (oldest surviving line) should prevail regardless of gender. Salisbury's argument in this scene — that a sinful oath (swearing allegiance to a king who shouldn't be king) cannot bind in conscience — is the philosophical underpinning for why backing York is not mere treason. The legal question was genuinely contested: Parliament had formally recognized the Lancastrian succession, but the biological claim was at least arguable. Shakespeare is not endorsing either side — he is showing us that the civil war is built on competing legitimate-sounding principles, which makes it all the more tragic.
York, I commend this kind submission.
We twain will go into his highness’ tent.
York, I respect this gracious backing down. Let's go together into the King's tent.
York, that was smart and graceful of you. Let's go see the King together.
smart move lets go see the king
Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us
That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
Buckingham, does York mean us no harm, the way he's walking with you arm in arm?
Buckingham, York isn't planning anything against us, is he? It looks pretty friendly, him walking with you like that.
is york cool w/ us? looks friendly walking together
In all submission and humility
York doth present himself unto your highness.
In complete respect and humility, York presents himself to your majesty.
With all respect and humility, I'm here to serve you, your majesty.
im here 2 serve u your highness
Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?
Then why did you bring these armies?
So what's with all the soldiers?
so why bring all the soldiers?
To heave the traitor Somerset from hence
And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
Who since I heard to be discomfited.
To remove the traitor Somerset from here and to fight against that monstrous rebel Cade, whom I've since heard has been defeated.
To get Somerset out of your way and to fight against that monster Cade, who I heard has already been beaten.
remove somerset the traitor fight the rebel cade who's already been beaten anyway
If one so rude and of so mean condition
May pass into the presence of a king,
Lo, I present your grace a traitor’s head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
If someone as rough and low-born as me may come before a king, I present to you a traitor's head - the head of Cade, whom I killed in combat.
If a rough guy like me can stand before a king, I've got something to show you: here's the head of that traitor Cade, the guy I beat in a fight.
if lowborns can stand b4 a king here's cade's head i killed him myself
The head of Cade! Great God, how just art Thou!
O, let me view his visage, being dead,
That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?
The head of Cade! Great God, how just you are! Let me look at his face now that he's dead, he caused me so much trouble while alive. Tell me, my friend, are you the one who killed him?
Cade's head! Thank God for justice! Let me see what he looks like now that he's dead - he made my life miserable while he was alive. Tell me, friend, you're the one who took him down?
cade's head!! thank god for justice let me see his face he destroyed my life was it u who killed him?
I was, an ’t like your majesty.
Yes, if it pleases your majesty.
Yes, if it pleases your majesty, it was me.
yeah if u like your majesty
How art thou called? And what is thy degree?
What is your name? And what is your rank?
What's your name? What's your station?
whats ur name & what r u?
Alexander Iden, that’s my name;
A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his King.
Alexander Iden - that's my name; a poor gentleman of Kent who loves his King.
I'm Alexander Iden; a simple landowner from Kent who loves his King.
im alexander iden poor gentleman of kent i love my king
So please it you, my lord, ’twere not amiss
He were created knight for his good service.
If it please you, my lord, it would be fitting that he be made a knight for his good service.
Your majesty, if I may suggest, he deserves to be knighted for what he's done.
my lord he should be a knight for his good service
Iden, kneel down. [_He kneels_.] Rise up a knight.
We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
And will that thou henceforth attend on us.
Iden, kneel down. Rise up a knight. We give you a thousand marks as a reward, and we want you to serve us from now on.
Iden, kneel. Now rise - you're a knight. We're giving you a thousand marks as payment, and we'd like you to serve at court from now on.
kneel. now rise as sir iden im giving u thousand marks come serve me from now on
Richard's line — 'And if words will not, then our weapons shall' — is deceptively simple, but it establishes the character who will dominate the next two plays and then star in his own. In eight words: complete loyalty to his father, immediate resort to violence as the default escalation from words, and a bluntness that cuts through all diplomatic framing. The contrast with Edward is immediate: Edward says 'if our words will serve' — conditional, hoping words are enough. Richard says 'if not, weapons' — assuming they won't be. Clifford's insult ('crooked in thy manners as thy shape') introduces the physical deformity that will be Richard's defining feature in Richard III, and the exchange — 'you'll sup with Christ tonight' / 'if not in heaven, then in hell' — has the rhythm of a man who finds death threats funny. This is the introduction of one of literature's great villains, and Shakespeare is already making him the sharpest mind in the room.
May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
And never live but true unto his liege!
May I live to deserve such a reward, and may I never live except in loyalty to my king!
I hope I can live up to this honor, and I'll never stop being loyal to you!
ill earn this honor ill always be loyal to u
See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with the Queen.
Go, bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
Look, Buckingham, Somerset is coming with the Queen. Go tell her to hide him quickly from York.
Look, Somerset's coming in with the Queen. Go tell her to get him out of sight from York.
somerset's here w/ the queen tell her hide him from york
For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,
But boldly stand and front him to his face.
For a thousand Yorks he will not hide his head, but will stand boldly and face him directly.
He's not hiding from York, not for anything. He'll stand tall and face him straight up.
he's not hiding he'll stand & face him
How now? Is Somerset at liberty?
Then, York, unloose thy long-imprisoned thoughts,
And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.
Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?
False king, why hast thou broken faith with me,
Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
“King” did I call thee? No, thou art not king,
Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
Which dar’st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor.
That head of thine doth not become a crown;
Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer’s staff,
And not to grace an awful princely sceptre.
That gold must round engirt these brows of mine,
Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles’ spear,
Is able with the change to kill and cure.
Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up
And with the same to act controlling laws.
Give place! By heaven, thou shalt rule no more
O’er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.
What's happening now? Is Somerset free? Well then, York, release all the thoughts you've been keeping locked inside, And let your speech finally match your true feelings. How can I stand to see Somerset alive? False king, why did you break your oath to me, When you know I can barely tolerate being wronged? "King"? Did I call you that? No, you're not a real king, Not fit to govern and control many people, Yet you can't even govern and control a single traitor. That head of yours doesn't deserve a crown; Your hand was made to hold a pilgrim's staff, Not to hold a magnificent royal scepter. That gold crown must encircle my brow instead, For my smile and frown, like Achilles' spear, Can bring both life and death with a mere change. These hands should hold a scepter And use them to enforce the laws of the realm. Step aside! By heaven, you'll rule no more Over the man whom heaven itself created as your ruler.
Wait, Somerset is actually free? That's unbelievable. Well, I'm done keeping my real thoughts locked away. I'm finally going to say what I actually feel. How am I supposed to look at Somerset and not lose it? You fake king—you promised me you'd have my back and you completely broke that promise. Don't you know how much I hate being wronged? King? Did I even call you that? You're not a real king. You can't even run a country, let alone control multiple people, And you can't even manage one lousy traitor. That crown looks completely wrong on you. Your hands are built to carry a pilgrim's staff, Not to wield a powerful royal scepter. A crown like that belongs on my head, not yours. My word—whether I smile or frown—has the power to destroy or save, Just like the legendary spear of Achilles. These hands are the ones that should hold a scepter And make the decisions that run this kingdom. Get out of the way. By God, you're done being king Over someone heaven made to be the real ruler.
somerset's free?? im done hiding what i really think youre a fake king you broke your oath to me cant even control one traitor that crown doesn't belong on your head my hands should be holding the scepter not yours heaven made ME the ruler not you get out of my way
O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,
Of capital treason ’gainst the King and crown.
Obey, audacious traitor, kneel for grace.
You monster! I arrest you, York, for the highest treason against the King and crown. Obey, you bold traitor - kneel and beg for mercy.
You're a monster! I'm arresting you, York, for high treason against the King. Obey now, you arrogant traitor - get on your knees.
ur a monster yr arrested for treason kneel & beg for mercy
Wouldst have me kneel? First let me ask of these
If they can brook I bow a knee to man.
Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail.
You want me to kneel? First let me ask these men if they would accept me bowing to a man. You there, call in my sons to be my guarantee.
You want me to kneel? First let me ask these soldiers if they'd be okay with me bowing to anyone. Hey, go get my sons - they'll guarantee my release.
kneel?? ask these guys if they're ok w/ that bring my sons here as guarantee
Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain,
To say if that the bastard boys of York
Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
Call Clifford here; tell him to come right away, to say whether York's bastard sons can be guarantors for their traitor father.
Get Clifford in here fast, and we'll see if York's illegitimate sons can guarantee their traitor father.
get clifford here now to decide if yorks sons can bail him
O blood-bespotted Neapolitan,
Outcast of Naples, England’s bloody scourge!
The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,
Shall be their father’s bail; and bane to those
That for my surety will refuse the boys!
You bloodstained woman from Naples, outcast from Naples, plague of England! The sons of York, who are better born than you, will guarantee their father; and disaster to anyone who refuses the boys as my surety!
You bloodied Naples princess, a disgrace from Naples, England's curse! My sons - who are far better born than you - they'll stand for me; and God help anyone who refuses them as my guarantee!
u blood-stained neapolitan outcast my sons - betterborn than u will guarantee me god help u if u refuse them
Buckingham swears 'upon mine honour' that Somerset is imprisoned. Somerset then walks in, free. The sworn honor guarantee — the currency of aristocratic politics — proves worthless within twenty lines. This is not incidental; it is the scene's moral hinge. York's explosion when he sees Somerset is partly rage and partly a response to a specific breach of the code that governs his world. If honor pledges can be broken (whether by Margaret's defiance or by Henry's inability to enforce his own agreement), then the entire system of verbal agreements and sworn loyalty that holds noble politics together is void. And if the system is void, then swords decide. The Battle of St. Albans is not just a military event; it is the logical consequence of a broken pledge. The play has been building to this collapse of the honor system since the first scene.
And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.
And here comes Clifford to refuse their bail.
And here comes Clifford to say no.
clifford just arrived he's gonna shoot them down
Health and all happiness to my lord the King.
Wishing you good health and every happiness, my lord the King.
Greetings to your majesty, and wishes for your wellbeing.
greetings your majesty
I thank thee, Clifford. Say, what news with thee?
Nay, do not fright us with an angry look.
We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again.
For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.
I thank you, Clifford. Tell me, what's new? No, don't scare us with that angry face. We are your king, Clifford - kneel again. We forgive you for your mistake.
Thanks, Clifford. What's going on? Don't give me that angry look. I'm your king, Clifford - get on your knees. I'm forgiving you for misunderstanding.
thx clifford whats up why the angry face im ur king kneel i forgive u
This is my king, York, I do not mistake;
But thou mistakes me much to think I do.
To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
This is my king, York, I'm not mistaken; but you're very wrong to think I am. He should be locked up in an asylum! Has he gone crazy?
Henry is my king, York - no mistake there; you're the one who's confused about who it is. This guy should be in an asylum! Has he lost his mind?
henry's my real king u got confused not me this guy's crazy
Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour
Makes him oppose himself against his king.
Yes, Clifford; madness and ambition make him turn against his own king.
Right, Clifford - he's mad and power-hungry, which is why he's fighting against his own king.
yeah he's mad & power-crazy thats y he's fighting u
He is a traitor; let him to the Tower,
And chop away that factious pate of his.
He's a traitor; send him to the Tower, and cut off that rebel head of his.
He's a traitor - lock him in the Tower, and chop off his rebellious head.
traitor lock him up cut off his head
He is arrested, but will not obey;
His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
He's under arrest, but he won't obey; his sons, he says, will guarantee for him.
He's arrested but he won't surrender; he's saying his sons will put up bail for him.
he wont obey his sons will bail him
Will you not, sons?
Will you do that, sons?
Will you do it, my sons?
will u sons?
Edward of March — York's eldest son, the future Edward IV — speaks briefly but loyally. Measured where Richard is sharp; this is the man who will eventually become king.
Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
Yes, noble father, if our word will be enough.
Yes, father, if they'll take our word.
yeah dad if they take our word
Richard of Gloucester makes his first substantial appearance here — sharp, contemptuous, already talking about supper with Christ. Watch for the way his language cuts faster than anyone else's, and remember this is the man who will become Richard III.
And if words will not, then our weapons shall.
And if words don't work, then our swords will.
And if words aren't enough, we'll use swords.
if not then weapons will
Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!
My, what a group of traitors we have here!
Look at this whole family of traitors!
whole family of traitors
Look in a glass, and call thy image so.
I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.
Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,
That with the very shaking of their chains
They may astonish these fell-lurking curs.
Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me.
Look in a mirror and call your own image that. I am your king, and you're a false-hearted traitor. Bring to the stake my two brave bears, who with just the shaking of their chains can terrify these cruel sneaking dogs. Have Salisbury and Warwick come to me.
Go look in a mirror - you're the traitor. I'm your king, and you're the fake-hearted one. Bring out my two best fighting bears who can scare the life out of these vicious dogs just by rattling their chains. Get Salisbury and Warwick here.
look in mirror u traitor im the king bring my fierce bears they'll scare ur dogs get salisbury & warwick
Are these thy bears? We’ll bait thy bears to death
And manacle the bearherd in their chains,
If thou dar’st bring them to the baiting-place.
Are those your bears? We'll tire your bears to death and chain up the bearherd in their chains, if you dare bring them to the fighting place.
Those are your bears? We'll fight your bears to death and we'll chain up whoever runs them, if you're crazy enough to bring them.
ur bears? well kill them chain up ur bearherd too if u bring them
Oft have I seen a hot o’erweening cur
Run back and bite because he was withheld,
Who, being suffered with the bear’s fell paw,
Hath clapped his tail between his legs and cried;
And such a piece of service will you do
If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.
I've often seen an arrogant dog run back and bite because he was restrained, who, when the bear's cruel paw touched him, put his tail between his legs and cried; and that's exactly what you'll do if you try to stand up against Lord Warwick.
I've seen plenty of arrogant dogs run back and bite because they were held back, but when a bear's paw gets them, they tuck tail and whimper; and that's what you'll do if you try to face off against Warwick.
ive seen arrogant dogs like u talk big but bite when held back once a bear hits u u tuck tail & cry thats what warwick will do 2 u
Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,
As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!
Get out, pile of anger, foul ugly mass, as twisted in your behavior as your body!
Get out of here, you angry lump, you're as twisted in your behavior as you are in your body!
get out u twisted lump ur behavior is as ugly as u
The scene ends with both sides heading for battle. The conflict that starts here will continue for thirty years of English history, through three Henry VI plays, Richard III, and arguably into Henry V's backstory. The Wars of the Roses — the name came later, from the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York — would kill or execute several English kings, reshape the nobility, and ultimately bring the Tudor dynasty to power. Shakespeare is at the beginning of that story here, and he constructs the beginning carefully: not as a clash of pure good versus pure evil, but as a collision of competing legitimate claims, broken promises, faction politics, and personal ambition, all ignited by an impossible king who was nine months old when they crowned him. The tragedy is structural, not moral. Nobody is entirely wrong. That's what makes it a history rather than a morality play.
Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.
No, we'll make you hot under the collar soon.
We'll get you riled up soon enough.
well make u angry soon
Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.
Be careful that your passion doesn't burn you.
Watch out - your anger might consume you.
ur anger will burn u instead
Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?
Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brainsick son!
What, wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian,
And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
If it be banished from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?
Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
And shame thine honourable age with blood?
Why art thou old, and want’st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
For shame, in duty bend thy knee to me
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
Why, Warwick, has your knee forgotten how to bow? Old Salisbury, you bring shame to your gray hair, you crazy leader of your foolish son! What, will you play the thug on your deathbed, and look for trouble with your eyes? Where is faith? Where is loyalty? If it disappears from your old head, where will it find a home anywhere? Will you dig a grave to find war, and bring blood and shame to your honored age? Why are you old and have no wisdom? Or why do you throw away what wisdom you have? Shame on you - bow your knee to me who bows to the grave with great age.
Warwick, why have you forgotten how to bow? Salisbury, you shame your white hair - you're a mad fool leading your crazy son! Are you going to play the thug until you die, looking for trouble to upset yourself? Where's faith? Where's loyalty? If it's gone from you old men, where on earth will we find it? Will you go digging for a war, and ruin your honored old age with blood? You're old - you should have learned wisdom by now. So why are you throwing it away? Come on - bow to me, someone who still respects the order of things even in my age.
warwick y u not bowing salisbury shame on u u lost faith & loyalty old men should know better but ur choosing war instead come bow to me
My lord, I have considered with myself
The title of this most renowned duke,
And in my conscience do repute his grace
The rightful heir to England’s royal seat.
My lord, I have thought carefully about the claim of this famous duke, and in my conscience I believe he is the rightful heir to England's throne.
Your majesty, I've thought hard about this, and about York's claim to the throne, and I believe in my heart that he really is the rightful king of England.
ive thought about it i think yorks the real heir the rightful king
Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?
Didn't you swear loyalty to me?
But you swore an oath to me!
didnt u swear loyalty 2 me?
I have.
I did.
I did.
yeah i did
Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?
Can you get heaven to excuse you from that oath?
Do you think heaven will let you out of that oath?
will heaven excuse u from that oath?
It is great sin to swear unto a sin,
But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.
Who can be bound by any solemn vow
To do a murderous deed, to rob a man,
To force a spotless virgin’s chastity,
To reave the orphan of his patrimony,
To wring the widow from her customed right,
And have no other reason for this wrong
But that he was bound by a solemn oath?
It's a great sin to swear an oath for something sinful, but it's a greater sin to keep a sinful oath. Who could be bound by any solemn vow to do murder, to rob someone, to force a pure woman's virginity, to steal an orphan's inheritance, to take a widow's rightful property, and have no other excuse for this wrong except that they swore a solemn oath?
It's wrong to swear an oath for something evil, but it's worse to keep that evil oath. Nobody can be bound by any promise to commit murder, steal, rape a pure woman, rob an orphan of his inheritance, take away a widow's support, just because they swore something. That's not a good excuse.
oath 4 evil = sin but keeping evil oath = bigger sin u cant swear 2 murder/steal/rape just because u made an oath thats not an excuse
A subtle traitor needs no sophister.
A clever traitor doesn't need an argument-maker.
A smart traitor doesn't need fancy words.
sneaky traitor needs no fancy words
Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.
Call Buckingham and tell him to get ready for battle.
Get Buckingham - tell him to prepare for war.
call buckingham get him ready for war
Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast,
I am resolved for death or dignity.
Call Buckingham and all your friends, I'm determined to get what I want or die.
Call your friends, call Buckingham, I'm ready to die or get what's mine.
call ur friends im ready to get power or die trying
The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.
Death is the likely outcome, if dreams tell the truth.
Death it is then, if my dreams come true.
death is what im seeing in my dreams
You were best to go to bed and dream again,
To keep thee from the tempest of the field.
You'd better go to bed and keep dreaming, to keep yourself away from the storm of battle.
You should go to bed and keep dreaming, so you don't have to face real battle.
go 2 bed & keep dreaming stay away from the real fight
I am resolved to bear a greater storm
Than any thou canst conjure up today;
And that I’ll write upon thy burgonet,
Might I but know thee by thy household badge.
I'm determined to face a bigger storm than anything you can create today; and I'll write that on your helmet, if only I could identify you by your family crest.
I'm ready to face a bigger storm than anything you've got. I'll carve that on your helmet, if I could just find you by your family badge.
ill face a worse storm i'll carve it on ur helmet if i knew ur family badge
Now, by my father’s badge, old Neville’s crest,
The rampant bear chained to the ragged staff,
This day I’ll wear aloft my burgonet,
As on a mountain top the cedar shows
That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,
Even to affright thee with the view thereof.
Now, by my father's crest, old Neville's badge, the raging bear chained to the broken staff, today I'll wear it high on my helmet, like a cedar on a mountain top that keeps its leaves in spite of any storm, just to scare you with the sight of it.
By my father's crest - the bear and the staff - I'm wearing it proud on my helmet today, like a cedar on a mountain that stands strong no matter what storm comes, just so you know who you're facing.
im wearing the bear & staff proud on my helmet like a cedar in a storm u'll know who im facing
And from thy burgonet I’ll rend thy bear
And tread it under foot with all contempt,
Despite the bearherd that protects the bear.
And from your helmet I'll tear off your bear and stomp on it with total disrespect, right in front of the one who protects it.
I'll rip that bear off your helmet and stomp it into the ground, right in front of you.
ill rip off ur bear step on it in front of u
Young Clifford enters bristling with the violence he will embody in Part 3 — his exchange with Richard is a preview of the war both men are about to fight. Watch for how quickly his courtesy turns to threat.
And so to arms, victorious father,
To quell the rebels and their complices.
And so to arms, victorious father, to defeat the rebels and those who help them.
Let's get to arms, father, and crush these rebels and everyone with them.
lets fight dad crush the rebels & their friends
Fie, charity, for shame! Speak not in spite,
For you shall sup with Jesu Christ tonight.
Shame on charity! Don't speak in anger, because you'll have supper with Jesus Christ tonight.
Forget charity - don't say such angry things, because you're going to meet Jesus tonight.
dont b cruel youre gonna meet jesus tonite
Foul stigmatic, that’s more than thou canst tell.
You foul marked man, that's more than you can know.
You ugly wretch, you can't know that.
u cant know that u wretch
If not in heaven, you’ll surely sup in hell.
If not in heaven, you'll definitely have supper in hell.
If not heaven, then definitely hell for you.
if not heaven then hell for u
The Reckoning
The mask comes off. For the whole play, York has been the man behind other men — behind Cade, behind faction politics, behind careful positioning. Now he stands in a field and says it plainly: he is the rightful king, Henry is not fit to rule, and no amount of diplomatic management will make him accept otherwise. The young Richard's exchange with Young Clifford at the end — two men with knives in their hearts — announces the next generation of the conflict. The play's final movement has started.
If this happened today…
The board member who has been quietly building a shareholder bloc for three years finally shows up at the annual meeting with all his allies, demands the CFO be fired, gets a promise it will happen, and walks in to find the CFO still sitting at the table. The façade of corporate courtesy collapses. He stands up and tells the room exactly what he thinks of the company's leadership — in full view of everyone. The lawyers in the room reach for their phones.