William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (57 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
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BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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B. For 1.4.39―40.2 the Quarto substitutes the following; it may report a revision made in rehearsal to cover the Spirit’s descent.
The Spirit sinks down again
BOLINGBROKE
Then down, I say, unto the damned pool
Where Pluto in his fiery wagon sits
Riding, amidst the singed and parched smokes,
The road of Ditis by the River Styx.
There howl and burn for ever in those flames.
Rise, Jordan, rise, and stay thy charming spells—
Zounds, we are betrayed!
Where Pluto in his fiery wagon sits
Riding, amidst the singed and parched smokes,
The road of Ditis by the River Styx.
There howl and burn for ever in those flames.
Rise, Jordan, rise, and stay thy charming spells—
Zounds, we are betrayed!
C. The entire debate on Duke Humphrey’s death in 3. 1
is handled differently by the Quarto from the Folio. We
retain the Folio version of the debate, but the Quarto
version may represent authorial revision. The following
Q lines, roughly corresponding to 3.1.310―30.1, are of
particular interest because they supply Buckingham with
speeches for this latter part of the scene.
is handled differently by the Quarto from the Folio. We
retain the Folio version of the debate, but the Quarto
version may represent authorial revision. The following
Q lines, roughly corresponding to 3.1.310―30.1, are of
particular interest because they supply Buckingham with
speeches for this latter part of the scene.
[YORK]
Let me have some bands of chosen soldiers,
And York shall try his fortune ‘gainst those kerns.
And York shall try his fortune ‘gainst those kerns.
QUEEN MARGARET
York, thou shalt. My lord of Buckingham,
Let it be your charge to muster up such soldiers
As shall suffice him in these needful wars.
Let it be your charge to muster up such soldiers
As shall suffice him in these needful wars.
BUCKINGHAM
Madam, I will, and levy such a band
As soon shall overcome those Irish rebels.
But, York, where shall those soldiers stay for thee?
As soon shall overcome those Irish rebels.
But, York, where shall those soldiers stay for thee?
YORK
At Bristol I will expect them ten days hence.
BUCKINCHAM
Then thither shall they come, and so farewell.
Exit
YORK
Adieu, my lord of Buckingham.
QUEEN MARGARET
Suffolk, remember what you have to do—
And you, Lord Cardinat—concerning Duke Humphrey.
‘Twere good that you did see to it in time.
Come, let us go, that it may be performed.
And you, Lord Cardinat—concerning Duke Humphrey.
‘Twere good that you did see to it in time.
Come, let us go, that it may be performed.
Exeunt
all
but York
all
but York
D. We adopt the Quarto version of the confrontation between Clifford and York at 5.3.20—30; the Folio version, an edited text of which follows, is probably the author’s original draft.
CLIFFORD
What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?
YORK
With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
CLIFFORD
Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.
But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.
YORK
So let it help me now against thy sword,
As I in justice and true right express it.
As I in justice and true right express it.
CLIFFORD
My soul and body on the action, both.
YORK
A dreadful lay. Address thee instantly.
CLIFFORD
La fin couronne les oeuvres.
Alarms. They fight. York kills Clifford
YORK
Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will. Exit
Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will. Exit
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
(3 HENRY VI)
THE play printed in the 1623 Folio as
The Third Part of Henry the Sixth, with the Death of the Duke of York
was described on the title-page of its first, unauthoritative publication in 1595 as
The True Tragedy of Richard, Duke of York, and the Death of Good King Henry the Sixth, with the whole Contention between the two houses Lancaster and York
. It is clearly a continuation of
The First Part of the Contention
, taking up the story where that play had ended, with the aspirations of Richard, Duke of York to the English throne, and was probably composed immediately afterwards.
The Third Part of Henry the Sixth, with the Death of the Duke of York
was described on the title-page of its first, unauthoritative publication in 1595 as
The True Tragedy of Richard, Duke of York, and the Death of Good King Henry the Sixth, with the whole Contention between the two houses Lancaster and York
. It is clearly a continuation of
The First Part of the Contention
, taking up the story where that play had ended, with the aspirations of Richard, Duke of York to the English throne, and was probably composed immediately afterwards.
The final scenes of
The First Part of the Contention
briefly introduce two of York’s sons, Edward (the eldest) and Richard (already described as a ‘foul, indigested lump, | As crooked in . . . manners as [in] shape’). They, along with their brothers Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and George (later Duke of Clarence), figure more prominently in
Richard Duke of York
. The first scenes show York apparently fulfilling his ambition, as Henry VI weakly cedes his rights to the throne after his death; but Queen Margaret leads an army against York, and, when he is captured, personally taunts him with news of the murder of his youngest son, stabs York to death, and commands that his head be ‘set on York gates’. (This powerful scene includes the line ‘O tiger’s heart wrapped in a woman’s hide’, paraphrased by Robert Greene before September 1592, which establishes the upward limit of the play’s date.)
The First Part of the Contention
briefly introduce two of York’s sons, Edward (the eldest) and Richard (already described as a ‘foul, indigested lump, | As crooked in . . . manners as [in] shape’). They, along with their brothers Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and George (later Duke of Clarence), figure more prominently in
Richard Duke of York
. The first scenes show York apparently fulfilling his ambition, as Henry VI weakly cedes his rights to the throne after his death; but Queen Margaret leads an army against York, and, when he is captured, personally taunts him with news of the murder of his youngest son, stabs York to death, and commands that his head be ‘set on York gates’. (This powerful scene includes the line ‘O tiger’s heart wrapped in a woman’s hide’, paraphrased by Robert Greene before September 1592, which establishes the upward limit of the play’s date.)
Though Richard of York dies early in the action, the remainder of the play centres on his sons’ efforts (aided by Warwick’s politic schemings) to avenge his death and to establish the dominance of Yorkists over Lancastrians. The balance of power shifts frequently, and the brothers’ alliance crumbles, but finally Queen Margaret, with her French allies, is defeated and captured, and Richard of York’s surviving sons avenge their father’s death by killing her son, Edward, before her eyes. Richard of Gloucester starts to clear his way to the throne by murdering ‘Good King Henry’ in the Tower, and the play ends with the new King Edward IV exulting in his ‘country’s peace and brothers’ loves’ while Richard makes clear to the audience that Edward’s self-confidence is ill-founded.
Though the play is loud and strife-ridden with war, power politics, and personal ambition, a concern with humane values emerges in the subtle and touching continuing portrayal of the quietist Henry VI, a saintly fool who meditates on the superiority of humble contentment to regal misery in an emblematic scene (2.5) that epitomizes the tragedy of civil strife.
Richard Duke of York
, like
The First Part of the Contention
, draws extensively on English chronicle history. Historically, the period of the action covers about sixteen years (1455 to 1471), but events are telescoped and rearranged; for instance, the opening scenes move rapidly from the Battle of St Albans (1445) to York’s death (1460); the future Richard III was only three years old, and living abroad, at the time of this opening battle in which he takes an active part; and Richard’s murder of Henry owes more to legend than to fact.
, like
The First Part of the Contention
, draws extensively on English chronicle history. Historically, the period of the action covers about sixteen years (1455 to 1471), but events are telescoped and rearranged; for instance, the opening scenes move rapidly from the Battle of St Albans (1445) to York’s death (1460); the future Richard III was only three years old, and living abroad, at the time of this opening battle in which he takes an active part; and Richard’s murder of Henry owes more to legend than to fact.
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
Of the King’s Party
KING HENRY VI
QUEEN MARGARET
PRINCE EDWARD, their son
Duke of S0MERSET
Duke of EXETER
Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND
Earl of WESTMORLAND
Lord CLIFFORD
Lord Stafford
SOMERVILLE
Henry, young Earl of Richmond
A SOLDIER who has killed his father
A HUNTSMAN who guards King Edward
QUEEN MARGARET
PRINCE EDWARD, their son
Duke of S0MERSET
Duke of EXETER
Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND
Earl of WESTMORLAND
Lord CLIFFORD
Lord Stafford
SOMERVILLE
Henry, young Earl of Richmond
A SOLDIER who has killed his father
A HUNTSMAN who guards King Edward
The Divided House of Neville
Earl of WARWICK, first of York’s party, later of Lancaster’s
Marquis of MONTAGUE, his brother, of York’s party
Earl of OXFORD, their brother-in-law, of Lancaster’s party
Lord HASTINGS, their brother-in-law, of York’s party
Marquis of MONTAGUE, his brother, of York’s party
Earl of OXFORD, their brother-in-law, of Lancaster’s party
Lord HASTINGS, their brother-in-law, of York’s party
Of the Duke of York’s Party
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of YORK
EDWARD, Earl of March, his son, later Duke of York and
KING EDWARD IV
LADY GRAY, a widow, later Edward’s wife and queen
Earl RIVERS, her brother
GEORGE, Edward’s brother, later Duke OF CLARENCE
RICHARD, Edward’s brother, later Duke OF GLOUCESTER
Earl of RUTLAND, Edward’s brother
Rutland’s TUTOR, a chaplain
SIR JOHN Mortimer, York’s uncle
Sir Hugh Mortimer, his brother
Duke of NORFOLK
Sir William Stanley
Earl of Pembroke
Sir John MONTGOMERY
A NOBLEMAN
Two GAMEKEEPERS
Three WATCHMEN, who guard King Edward’s tent
LIEUTENANT of the Tower
EDWARD, Earl of March, his son, later Duke of York and
KING EDWARD IV
LADY GRAY, a widow, later Edward’s wife and queen
Earl RIVERS, her brother
GEORGE, Edward’s brother, later Duke OF CLARENCE
RICHARD, Edward’s brother, later Duke OF GLOUCESTER
Earl of RUTLAND, Edward’s brother
Rutland’s TUTOR, a chaplain
SIR JOHN Mortimer, York’s uncle
Sir Hugh Mortimer, his brother
Duke of NORFOLK
Sir William Stanley
Earl of Pembroke
Sir John MONTGOMERY
A NOBLEMAN
Two GAMEKEEPERS
Three WATCHMEN, who guard King Edward’s tent
LIEUTENANT of the Tower
The French
KING LOUIS
LADY BONA, his sister-in-law
Lord Bourbon, the French High Admiral
LADY BONA, his sister-in-law
Lord Bourbon, the French High Admiral
Others
A SOLDIER who has killed his son
Mayor of Coventry
MAYOR of York
Aldermen of York
Soldiers, messengers, and attendants
The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York and the Good King Henry the SixthMayor of Coventry
MAYOR of York
Aldermen of York
Soldiers, messengers, and attendants
A chair of state. Alarum. Enter Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, his two sons Edward, Earl of March, and Crookback Richard, the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Montague, and the Earl of Warwick, ⌈with drummers⌉ and soldiers. ⌈They all wear white roses in their hats⌉
WARWICK
I wonder how the King escaped our hands?
YORK
While we pursued the horsemen of the north,
He slyly stole away and left his men;
Whereat the great lord of Northumberland,
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
Cheered up the drooping army; and himself,
Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast,
Charged our main battle’s front, and, breaking in,
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
He slyly stole away and left his men;
Whereat the great lord of Northumberland,
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
Cheered up the drooping army; and himself,
Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast,
Charged our main battle’s front, and, breaking in,
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
EDWARD
Lord Stafford’s father, Duke of Buckingham,
Is either slain or wounded dangerous.
I cleft his beaver with a downright blow.
That this is true, father, behold his blood.
He shows a bloody sword
Is either slain or wounded dangerous.
I cleft his beaver with a downright blow.
That this is true, father, behold his blood.
He shows a bloody sword
MONTAGUE ⌈
to York
⌉
to York
⌉
And, brother, here’s the Earl of Wiltshire’s blood,
He shows a bloody sword
Whom I encountered as the battles joined.
RICHARD (
to Somerset’s head, which he shows
) Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.
to Somerset’s head, which he shows
) Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.
YORK
Richard hath best deserved of all my sons.
(
To the head
) But is your grace dead, my lord of
Somerset?
(
To the head
) But is your grace dead, my lord of
Somerset?
NORFOLK
Such hap have all the line of John of Gaunt.
RICHARD
Thus do I hope to shake King Henry’s head.
⌈
He holds aloft the head, then throws it down
⌉
WARWICK
And so do I, victorious prince of York.
Before I see thee seated in that throne
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,
I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close.
This is the palace of the fearful King,
And this (
pointing to the chair of state
), the regal
seat—possess it, York,
For this is thine, and not King Henry’s heirs’.
Before I see thee seated in that throne
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,
I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close.
This is the palace of the fearful King,
And this (
pointing to the chair of state
), the regal
seat—possess it, York,
For this is thine, and not King Henry’s heirs’.
YORK
Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will,
For hither we have broken in by force.
For hither we have broken in by force.
NORFOLK
We’ll all assist you—he that flies shall die.
YORK
Thanks, gentle Norfolk. Stay by me, my lords
And soidiers—stay, and lodge by me this night.
They go up upon the state
And soidiers—stay, and lodge by me this night.
They go up upon the state
WARWICK
And when the King comes, offer him no violence
Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce.
Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce.
⌈
The soldiers withdraw
⌉
YORK
The Queen this day here holds her Parliament,
But little thinks we shall be of her council;
By words or blows here let us win our right.
But little thinks we shall be of her council;
By words or blows here let us win our right.
RICHARD
Armed as we are, let’s stay within this house.
WARWICK
‘The Bloody Parliament’ shall this be called,
Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king,
And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice
Hath made us bywords to our enemies.
Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king,
And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice
Hath made us bywords to our enemies.
YORK
Then leave me not, my lords. Be resolute—
I mean to take possession of my right.
I mean to take possession of my right.
WARWICK
Neither the King nor he that loves him best—
The proudest he that holds up Lancaster—
Dares stir a wing if Warwick shake his bells.
I’ll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares.
Resolve thee, Richard—claim the English crown.
The proudest he that holds up Lancaster—
Dares stir a wing if Warwick shake his bells.
I’ll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares.
Resolve thee, Richard—claim the English crown.
⌈
York sits in the chair.
⌉
Flourish. Enter King Henry, Lord Clifford, the Earls
of Northumberland and Westmorland, the Duke of
Exeter, and the rest.
⌈They all wear red roses in
their hats
⌉
KING HENRY
My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits—
Even in the chair of state! Belike he means,
Backed by the power of Warwick, that false peer,
To aspire unto the crown and reign as king.
Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father—
And thine, Lord Clifford—and you both have vowed
revenge
On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends.
Even in the chair of state! Belike he means,
Backed by the power of Warwick, that false peer,
To aspire unto the crown and reign as king.
Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father—
And thine, Lord Clifford—and you both have vowed
revenge
On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends.
NORTHUMBERLAND
If I be not, heavens be revenged on me.
CLIFFORD
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