Shakespeare Portal

Act 3, Scene 1

A Forest in the North of England.

  1. [Enter two Keepers, with crossbows in their hands.]
  2. First Keeper
  3. 1293 Under this thick-grown brake we'll shroud ourselves,
  4. 1294 For through this laund anon the deer will come;
  5. 1295 And in this covert will we make our stand,
  6. 1296 Culling the principal of all the deer.
  7. Second Keeper
  8. 1297 I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.
  9. First Keeper
  10. 1298 That cannot be; the noise of thy crossbow
  11. 1299 Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
  12. 1300 Here stand we both, and aim we at the best;
  13. 1301 And, for the time shall not seem tedious,
  14. 1302 I'll tell thee what befell me on a day
  15. 1303 In this self place where now we mean to stand.
  16. Second Keeper
  17. 1304 Here comes a man; let's stay till he be past.
  18. [Enter KING HENRY, disguised, with a prayer-book.]
  19. King Henry VI
  20. 1305 From Scotland am I stolen, even of pure love,
  21. 1306 To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.
  22. 1307 No, Harry, Harry, 't is no land of thine;
  23. 1308 Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee,
  24. 1309 Thy balm wash'd off wherewith thou wast anointed.
  25. 1310 No bending knee will call thee Caesar now,
  26. 1311 No humble suitors press to speak for right;
  27. 1312 No, not a man comes for redress of thee,
  28. 1313 For how can I help them, and not myself?
  29. First Keeper
  30. 1314 Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee.
  31. 1315 This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him.
  32. King Henry VI
  33. 1316 Let me embrace thee, sour adversity;
  34. 1317 For wise men say it is the wisest course.
  35. Second Keeper
  36. 1318 Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.
  37. First Keeper
  38. 1319 Forbear awhile; we'll hear a little more.
  39. King Henry VI
  40. 1320 My queen and son are gone to France for aid;
  41. 1321 And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
  42. 1322 Is thither gone to crave the French king's sister
  43. 1323 To wife for Edward. If this news be true,
  44. 1324 Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost,
  45. 1325 For Warwick is a subtle orator,
  46. 1326 And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words.
  47. 1327 By this account then Margaret may win him,
  48. 1328 For she's a woman to be pitied much.
  49. 1329 Her sighs will make a batt'ry in his breast,
  50. 1330 Her tears will pierce into a marble heart;
  51. 1331 The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn,
  52. 1332 And Nero will be tainted with remorse
  53. 1333 To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears.
  54. 1334 Ay, but she's come to beg, Warwick to give;
  55. 1335 She on his left side craving aid for Henry,
  56. 1336 He on his right asking a wife for Edward.
  57. 1337 She weeps and says her Henry is depos'd,
  58. 1338 He smiles and says his Edward is install'd;
  59. 1339 That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more;
  60. 1340 Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
  61. 1341 Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
  62. 1342 And, in conclusion, wins the king from her,
  63. 1343 With promise of his sister, and what else,
  64. 1344 To strengthen and support King Edward's place.
  65. 1345 O Margaret, thus 't will be! and thou, poor soul,
  66. 1346 Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn!
  67. Second Keeper
  68. 1347 Say, what art thou, that talk'st of kings and queens?
  69. King Henry VI
  70. 1348 More than I seem, and less than I was born to;
  71. 1349 A man at least, for less I should not be;
  72. 1350 And men may talk of kings, and why not I?
  73. Second Keeper
  74. 1351 Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king.
  75. King Henry VI
  76. 1352 Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough.
  77. Second Keeper
  78. 1353 But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?
  79. King Henry VI
  80. 1354 My crown is in my heart, not on my head,
  81. 1355 Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones,
  82. 1356 Not to be seen; my crown is call'd content,
  83. 1357 A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
  84. Second Keeper
  85. 1358 Well, if you be a king crown'd with content,
  86. 1359 Your crown content and you must be contented
  87. 1360 To go along with us; for, as we think,
  88. 1361 You are the king King Edward hath depos'd,
  89. 1362 And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,
  90. 1363 Will apprehend you as his enemy.
  91. King Henry VI
  92. 1364 But did you never swear, and break an oath?
  93. Second Keeper
  94. 1365 No, never such an oath; nor will not now.
  95. King Henry VI
  96. 1366 Where did you dwell when I was King of England?
  97. Second Keeper
  98. 1367 Here in this country, where we now remain.
  99. King Henry VI
  100. 1368 I was anointed king at nine months old,
  101. 1369 My father and my grandfather were kings,
  102. 1370 And you were sworn true subjects unto me;
  103. 1371 And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?
  104. First Keeper
  105. 1372 No;
  106. 1373 For we were subjects but while you were king.
  107. King Henry VI
  108. 1374 Why, am I dead? do I not breathe, a man?
  109. 1375 Ah, simple men! you know not what you swear.
  110. 1376 Look, as I blow this feather from my face,
  111. 1377 And as the air blows it to me again,
  112. 1378 Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
  113. 1379 And yielding to another when it blows,
  114. 1380 Commanded always by the greater gust,
  115. 1381 Such is the lightness of you common men.
  116. 1382 But do not break your oaths; for of that sin
  117. 1383 My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
  118. 1384 Go where you will, the king shall be commanded;
  119. 1385 And be you kings, command, and I'll obey.
  120. First Keeper
  121. 1386 We are true subjects to the king,—King Edward.
  122. King Henry VI
  123. 1387 So would you be again to Henry
  124. 1388 If he were seated as King Edward is.
  125. First Keeper
  126. 1389 We charge you, in God's name and the king's
  127. 1390 To go with us unto the officers.
  128. King Henry VI
  129. 1391 In God's name lead; your king's name be obey'd;
  130. 1392 And what God will, that let your king perform;
  131. 1393 And what he will, I humbly yield unto.
  132. [Exeunt.]