Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Yet thus far Fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry’s regal crown.
Well have we passed and now repassed the seas,
And brought desired help from Burgundy.
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter as into our dukedom?
Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest, Still Fortune helps us out, And says that once more I will trade My diminished position for Henry's royal crown. We have crossed the seas well and now crossed back, And brought desired help from Burgundy. What then remains, since we have arrived From Ravenspurgh harbor before the gates of York, Except that we enter as into our dukedom?
Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and everyone else, Fortune is still on our side and says I'll trade my lost power for Henry's crown again. We've crossed the ocean there and back and brought support from Burgundy. So what's left to do, now that we're here at York's gates after landing at Ravenspurgh, but to enter our dukedom?
fortune's helping us brothers i'm taking the crown back from henry we got burgundy's help now we take york
The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
The gates are locked! Brother, I don't like this; Because many men who stumble at the doorway Are well predicted to find danger within.
The gates are locked! Brother, I don't like the look of this—people who stumble at the entrance usually find there's trouble waiting inside.
the gates are locked bad sign probs means trouble inside
Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us.
By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.
Come now, man, omens must not now frighten us. By fair means or foul we must enter, For to here will our friends come to us.
Forget the omens, man—they can't scare us now. We'll get in somehow, fair means or foul, because our friends will gather here.
don't worry about omens we'll get in one way or another our friends will show up anyway
My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.
My king, I'll knock once more to call them.
Your Majesty, I'll try knocking again to get their attention.
ill knock again for you
The Mayor speaks in the cautious, procedurally-minded register of a local official caught between great powers — a man whose instinct is always to find the path of least liability.
My lords, we were forewarned of your coming
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves,
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
My lords, we were warned beforehand of your arrival And shut the gates for our own safety, For now we owe our loyalty to Henry.
My lords, we were warned you were coming and closed the gates to protect ourselves, because we're loyal to Henry right now.
we knew you were coming so we locked up we're loyal to henry now
But, master Mayor, if Henry be your king,
Yet Edward, at the least, is Duke of York.
But, Master Mayor, should Henry claim your loyalty as king, I nevertheless remain your Duke of York.
Look, Master Mayor, if Henry has your loyalty as king, I'm still your Duke of York.
but im still your duke of york
True, my good lord, I know you for no less.
True, my good lord, I recognize you as such.
That's true, my lord, I know that.
yeah i know youre the duke
Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
Well, and I demand nothing except my dukedom, Being content with that alone.
Right, and I'm not asking for anything except my position as Duke—I'm satisfied with just that.
i just want my dukedom that's enough for me
[_Aside_.] But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He’ll soon find means to make the body follow.
But when the fox gets his nose in the door, he'll soon find means to make his entire body follow.
But once the fox gets his nose in, he'll find a way to get the rest of his body in too.
once the fox gets his nose in the body follows
Why, master Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry’s friends.
Well, Master Mayor, why do you hesitate? Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
Come on, Master Mayor, why are you still deciding? Open the gates—we're friends of King Henry's.
just open the gates we're with henry
Ay, say you so? The gates shall then be opened.
Yes, you say so? The gates will then be opened.
You say that? Then I'll open the gates.
ok fine gates open
Edward lands at Ravenspurgh — the same landing point used by Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV) when he returned from exile to depose Richard II. Shakespeare flags this via Hastings's naming of the port. It's not subtle: Edward is doing exactly what Henry IV did, and the audience watching in the 1590s would have recognized the echo. The Wars of the Roses, Shakespeare keeps suggesting, are a consequence of Henry IV's original usurpation — the stolen crown always comes due again. Edward's return is both a restoration and a repetition of the original sin, and the play knows it.
A wise, stout captain, and soon persuaded.
A clever, brave leader, and easily persuaded.
A smart, tough leader—and pretty easy to convince.
haha too easy to convince
The good old man would fain that all were well,
So ’twere not long of him; but, being entered,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
The good old man would like everything to be fine, As long as it wasn't his fault; but, being inside, I doubt not, I, but we will soon persuade Both him and all his supporters into agreement.
The old man wants everything to work out, as long as it's not his problem. But now that we're inside, I'm sure we'll convince him and all his supporters to go along with us.
he just wants peace and it's not his fault once we're in we'll convince everyone
So, master Mayor, these gates must not be shut
But in the night or in the time of war.
What, fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
Well, Master Mayor, these gates must not stay locked Except at night or during wartime. Don't worry, man, just hand me the keys;
Master Mayor, these gates shouldn't be locked except at night or in wartime. Don't worry, just give me the keys.
gates shouldn't be locked like this just give me the keys
For Edward will defend the town and thee
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Montgomery with drum and Soldiers.
For Edward will protect the town and you, and all those friends who choose to follow me.
Edward will defend this town and you, and everyone who decides to follow me.
edward'll defend the town & you and everyone who follows me
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend unless I be deceived.
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusted friend, unless I am wrong.
Brother, that's Sir John Montgomery, our loyal friend, unless I'm mistaken.
thats montgomery, hes cool with us
Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?
Welcome, Sir John! But why do you come in armor?
Welcome, Sir John! But what's with the armor?
hey montgomery why the armor?
Montgomery speaks in impatient, unambiguous ultimatums — he has no time for diplomatic hedging and no patience for men who won't own what they want. Watch for how his bluntness actually pushes Edward into bolder choices.
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
To help King Edward in his time of trouble, As every loyal subject should do.
To help King Edward through this crisis, like any loyal subject should.
to help you edward im loyal
Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Thank you, good Montgomery; but we now forget Our claim to the crown, and only demand Our dukedom until God chooses to send us the rest.
Thanks, Montgomery, but we're setting aside our claim to the crown for now and just asking for our dukedom until God gives us the rest.
thanks just give us the dukedom for now crown can wait till god says so
Then fare you well, for I will hence again.
I came to serve a king, and not a duke.
Then farewell, because I'm leaving. I came to serve a king, not a duke.
Then goodbye, because I'm out of here. I came to fight for a king, not a duke.
peace then im leaving i wanted to fight for a king
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
Drummer, begin playing, and let us march away.
Drummer, start playing and let's march.
drummer come on let's go
Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we’ll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recovered.
No, stay, Sir John, for a moment, and we'll discuss How safely the crown might be recovered.
No, wait, Sir John, let's talk about how we can safely get the crown back.
wait let's figure out how to get the crown
What talk you of debating? In few words,
If you’ll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I’ll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succour you.
Why shall we fight if you pretend no title?
What discussion? In a few words, If you will not here announce yourself as our king, I'll leave you to your fortune and depart To keep away those who come to help you. Why should we fight if you claim no title?
Why talk? Look, if you don't claim the crown right here and now, I'm leaving and I'll tell everyone who was coming to help you to stay away. What's the point of fighting if you won't even claim to be king?
stop talking claim the crown now or im out no point fighting if youre not king
Montgomery's entrance and exit logic is beautifully pragmatic: he came to fight for a king. Not a duke, not a claimant, not a pretender — a king. If Edward won't use the word, Montgomery won't use his soldiers. This is the feudal loyalty economy in miniature: loyalty is conditional on the sovereign fully claiming sovereignty. Half-measures produce half-allies. Richard and Hastings understand this intuitively; Edward's instinct toward caution is a flaw in a world where ambiguity costs you everything. Montgomery's forceful simplicity — 'Why shall we fight if you pretend no title?' — is the correct strategic analysis. Edward is only pushed into the right choice by being cornered.
Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
Brother, why do you stick to fine points?
Brother, why do you care about the details?
bro whats with being picky?
When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim.
Till then ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
When we become stronger, then we'll make our claim. Until then it is wisdom to hide our intentions.
Once we're stronger, we'll claim the crown. For now, it's smarter to keep our plans quiet.
when we're stronger we'll take it for now lay low
Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.
Forget careful thinking! Now fighting must rule.
Forget about being careful! It's time for action now.
stop overthinking time to fight
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
And bold minds reach the crown most quickly. Brother, we will announce you immediately; The news of it will bring you many supporters.
And brave men get to the crown fastest. Brother, we'll announce you right now—word of it will bring you plenty of supporters.
bold guys get crowns quick let's announce you now everyone will join us
Then be it as you will; for ’tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
Then let it be as you say; for it is my right, And Henry merely seizes the crown.
All right, if that's what you want—it's my right anyway, and Henry's just taken what isn't his.
ok fine its my right henry's just stealing it
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward’s champion.
Yes, now my sovereign speaks like himself, And now will I be Edward's defender.
Now that's what I want to hear—you're speaking like yourself again. Now I'm Edward's man.
thats the edward i know im your guy now
Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.
Come, soldier, make the announcement.
Come on, make the proclamation.
go announce it
[_Reads_.] _Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of England and
France, and Lord of Ireland, etc._
Edward, the fourth king of that name, crowned by Divine Providence, sovereign over England and France, and ruling all of Ireland, and so forth.
Edward the Fourth, chosen by God, your King over England, France, and Ireland, and other lands besides.
edward the fourth king of england france and ireland
And whoso’er gainsays King Edward’s right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
And whoever denies King Edward's right, I challenge him to single combat.
And anyone who says Edward isn't the rightful king, I'll fight him one-on-one.
anyone says edward's not king i'll fight you
Long live Edward the Fourth!
May Edward the Fourth have a long life and reign!
Edward the Fourth rules! May he live forever!
edward 4 forever!
Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto you all.
If Fortune serve me, I’ll requite this kindness.
Now for this night let’s harbour here in York,
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon
We’ll forward towards Warwick and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.
Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
Thank you, brave Montgomery, and thank you all. If Fortune favors me, I'll repay this kindness. Now for this night let's stay here in York, And when the morning sun will raise its chariot Above the edge of this horizon We'll advance towards Warwick and his allies; For I know well that Henry is no soldier. Ah, stubborn Clarence, how badly it suits you To flatter Henry and abandon your brother! Yet, as we can, we'll confront both you and Warwick. Come on, brave soldiers; do not doubt victory, And, once it is gained, do not doubt generous payment.
Thanks, Montgomery, and thanks to all of you. If Fortune smiles on me, I'll reward this kindness. We'll spend tonight here in York, and when the morning sun comes up we'll head toward Warwick and his forces. I know Henry's no soldier. Clarence, I've got to say, it's ugly to see you flattering Henry and turning your back on your own brother! But we'll deal with both you and Warwick when we can. Come on, soldiers, don't doubt we'll win, and don't doubt you'll be paid well once we do.
thanks everyone we're staying in york tonight then going after warwick henry's no fighter clarence betrayed us but we'll win and you'll get paid
The Reckoning
Edward is back, and he's doing what he does best: improvising with charm and then letting bolder men push him into decisiveness. The exchange with the Mayor of York is a masterclass in political incrementalism — say one thing, mean another, get your foot in the door. Richard's aside about the fox getting his nose in is the most honest line in the scene. The proclamation at the end, with Montgomery throwing down his gauntlet, shifts everything back toward war.
If this happened today…
A fired CEO returns from a trip to a friendly investor in Germany and shows up at the company's regional office, claiming he's just there to visit as the founding stockholder — not as CEO, definitely not. The office manager is nervous but lets him in. In the parking lot, his most loyal VP is already waiting with the marketing team to do a press release calling him CEO again. He's reluctant — 'let's be cautious' — but the VP says: 'If you don't say you're CEO right now I'm going back to my old job.' He says it.