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Shakespeare on Stage

A sample of upcoming productions around the world.

Atlanta Shakespeare Company, The Merry Wives of Windsor. To Apr. 1, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, Much Ado about Nothing. To Apr. 8, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, Philaster, or Love Lies a-Bleeding. To Apr. 6, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, Dido, Queen of Carthage. To Apr. 7, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, A Mad World, My Masters. To Apr. 7, 2012.
More Performances…
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Henry VI, Part 3 (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
1
Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
Alarum.
Enter Plantagenet, Edward, Richard, Norfolke, Mount-
ague, Warwicke, and Souldiers.
5
Warwicke.
I Wonder how the King escap'd our hands?
Pl. While we pursu'd the Horsmen of ye North,
He slyly stole away, and left his men:
Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland,
10Whose Warlike eares could neuer brooke retreat,
Chear'd vp the drouping Army, and himselfe.
Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford all a-brest
Charg'd our maine Battailes Front: and breaking in,
Were by the Swords of common Souldiers slaine.
15Edw. Lord Staffords Father, Duke of Buckingham,
Is either slaine or wounded dangerous.
I cleft his Beauer with a down-right blow:
That this is true (Father) behold his blood.
Mount. And Brother, here's the Earle of Wiltshires
20Whom I encountred as the Battels ioyn'd.
Rich. Speake thou for me, and tell them what I did.
Plan. Richard hath best deseru'd of all my sonnes:
But is your Grace dead, my Lord of Somerset?
Nor. Such hope haue all the line of Iohn of Gaunt.
25Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henries head.
Warw. And so doe I, victorious Prince of Yorke.
Before I see thee seated in that Throne,
Which now the House of Lancaster vsurpes,
I vow by Heauen, these eyes shall neuer close.
30This is the Pallace of the fearefull King,
And this the Regall Seat: possesse it Yorke,
For this is thine, and not King Henries Heires.
Plant. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will,
For hither we haue broken in by force.
35Norf. Wee'le all assist you: he that flyes, shall dye.
Plant. Thankes gentle Norfolke, stay by me my Lords,
And Souldiers stay and lodge by me this Night.
They goe vp.
Warw. And when the King comes, offer him no violence,
40Vnlesse he seeke to thrust you out perforce.
Plant. The Queene this day here holds her Parliament,
But little thinkes we shall be of her counsaile,
By words or blowes here let vs winne our right.
Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this House.
45Warw. The bloody Parliament shall this be call'd,
Vnlesse Plantagenet, Duke of Yorke, be King,
And bashfull Henry depos'd, whose Cowardize
Hath made vs by-words to our enemies.
Plant. Then leaue me not, my Lords be resolute,
50I meane to take possession of my Right.
Warw. Neither the King, nor he that loues him best,
The prowdest hee that holds vp Lancaster,
Dares stirre a Wing, if Warwick shake his Bells.
Ile plant Plantagenet, root him vp who dares:
55Resolue thee Richard, clayme the English Crowne.
Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland,
Westmerland, Exeter, and the rest.
Henry. My Lords, looke where the sturdie Rebell sits,
Euen in the Chayre of State: belike he meanes,
60Backt by the power of Warwicke, that false Peere,
To aspire vnto the Crowne, and reigne as King.
Earle of Northumberland, he slew thy Father,
And thine, Lord Clifford, & you both haue vow'd reuenge
On him, his sonnes, his fauorites, and his friends.
65Northumb. If I be not, Heauens be reueng'd on me.
Clifford. The hope thereof, makes Clifford mourne in
Steele.
Westm. What, shall we suffer this? lets pluck him down,
My heart for anger burnes, I cannot brooke it.
70Henry. Be patient, gentle Earle of Westmerland.
Clifford. Patience is for Poultroones, such as he:
He durst not sit there, had your Father liu'd.
My gracious Lord, here in the Parliament
Let vs assayle the Family of Yorke.
75North. Well hast thou spoken, Cousin be it so.
Henry. Ah, know you not the Citie fauours them,
And they haue troupes of Souldiers at their beck?
Westm. But when the Duke is slaine, they'le quickly
flye.
80 Henry. Farre be the thought of this from Henries heart,
To make a Shambles of the Parliament House.
Cousin of Exeter, frownes, words, and threats,
Shall be the Warre that Henry meanes to vse.
Thou factious Duke of Yorke descend my Throne,
85And kneele for grace and mercie at my feet,
I am thy Soueraigne.
Yorke. I am thine.
Exet. For shame come downe, he made thee Duke of
Yorke.
90Yorke. It was my Inheritance, as the Earledome was.
Exet. Thy Father was a Traytor to the Crowne.
Warw. Exeter thou art a Traytor to the Crowne,
In following this vsurping Henry.
Clifford. Whom should hee follow, but his naturall
95King?
Warw. True Clifford, that's Richard Duke of Yorke.
Henry. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my Throne?
Yorke. It must and shall be so, content thy selfe.
Warw. Be Duke of Lancaster, let him be King.
100Westm. He is both King, and Duke of Lancaster,
And that the Lord of Westmerland shall maintaine.
Warw. And Warwick shall disproue it. You forget,
That we are those which chas'd you from the field,
And slew your Fathers, and with Colours spread
105Marcht through the Citie to the Pallace Gates.
Northumb. Yes Warwicke, I remember it to my griefe,
And by his Soule, thou and thy House shall rue it.
Westm. Plantagenet, of thee and these thy Sonnes,
Thy Kinsmen, and thy Friends, Ile haue more liues
110Then drops of bloud were in my Fathers Veines.
Cliff. Vrge it no more, lest that in stead of words,
I send thee, Warwicke, such a Messenger,
As shall reuenge his death, before I stirre.
Warw. Poore Clifford, how I scorne his worthlesse
115Threats.
Plant. Will you we shew our Title to the Crowne?
If not, our Swords shall pleade it in the field.
Henry. What Title hast thou Traytor to the Crowne?
My Father was as thou art, Duke of Yorke,
120Thy Grandfather Roger Mortimer, Earle of March.
I am the Sonne of Henry the Fift,
Who made the Dolphin and the French to stoupe,
And seiz'd vpon their Townes and Prouinces.
Warw. Talke not of France, sith thou hast lost it all.
125Henry. The Lord Protector lost it, and not I:
When I was crown'd, I was but nine moneths old.
Rich. You are old enough now,
And yet me thinkes you loose:
Father teare the Crowne from the Vsurpers Head.
130Edward. Sweet Father doe so, set it on your Head.
Mount. Good Brother,
As thou lou'st and honorest Armes,
Let's fight it out, and not stand cauilling thus.
Richard. Sound Drummes and Trumpets, and the
135King will flye.
Plant. Sonnes peace.
Henry. Peace thou, and giue King Henry leaue to
speake.
Warw. Plantagenet shal speake first: Heare him Lords,
140And be you silent and attentiue too,
For he that interrupts him, shall not liue.
Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leaue my Kingly Throne,
Wherein my Grandsire and my Father sat?
No: first shall Warre vnpeople this my Realme;
145I, and their Colours often borne in France,
And now in England, to our hearts great sorrow,
Shall be my Winding-sheet. Why faint you Lords?
My Title's good, and better farre then his.
Warw. Proue it Henry, and thou shalt be King.
150 Hen. Henry the Fourth by Conquest got the Crowne.
Plant. 'Twas by Rebellion against his King.
Henry. I know not what to say, my Titles weake:
Tell me, may not a King adopt an Heire?
Plant. What then?
155Henry. And if he may, then am I lawfull King:
For Richard, in the view of many Lords,
Resign'd the Crowne to Henry the Fourth,
Whose Heire my Father was, and I am his.
Plant. He rose against him, being his Soueraigne,
160And made him to resigne his Crowne perforce.
Warw. Suppose, my Lords, he did it vnconstrayn'd,
Thinke you 'twere preiudiciall to his Crowne?
Exet. No: for he could not so resigne his Crowne,
But that the next Heire should succeed and reigne.
165Henry. Art thou against vs, Duke of Exeter?
Exet. His is the right, and therefore pardon me.
Plant. Why whisper you, my Lords, and answer not?
Exet. My Conscience tells me he is lawfull King.
Henry. All will reuolt from me, and turne to him.
170Northumb. Plantagenet, for all the Clayme thou lay'st,
Thinke not, that Henry shall be so depos'd.
Warw. Depos'd he shall be, in despight of all.
Northumb. Thou art deceiu'd:
'Tis not thy Southerne power
175Of Essex, Norfolke, Suffolke, nor of Kent,
Which makes thee thus presumptuous and prowd,
Can set the Duke vp in despight of me.
Clifford. King Henry, be thy Title right or wrong,
Lord Clifford vowes to fight in thy defence:
180May that ground gape, and swallow me aliue,
Where I shall kneele to him that slew my Father.
Henry. Oh Clifford, how thy words reuiue my heart.
Plant. Henry of Lancaster, resigne thy Crowne:
What mutter you, or what conspire you Lords?
185Warw. Doe right vnto this Princely Duke of Yorke,
Or I will fill the House with armed men,
And ouer the Chayre of State, where now he sits,
Write vp his Title with vsurping blood.
He stampes with his foot, and the Souldiers
190shew themselues.
Henry. My Lord of Warwick, heare but one word,
Let me for this my life time reigne as King.
Plant. Confirme the Crowne to me and to mine Heires,
And thou shalt reigne in quiet while thou liu'st.
195Henry. I am content: Richard Plantagenet
Enioy the Kingdome after my decease.
Clifford. What wrong is this vnto the Prince, your
Sonne?
Warw. What good is this to England, and himselfe?
200Westm. Base, fearefull, and despayring Henry.
Clifford. How hast thou iniur'd both thy selfe and vs?
Westm. I cannot stay to heare these Articles.
Northumb. Nor I.
Clifford. Come Cousin, let vs tell the Queene these
205Newes.
Westm. Farwell faint-hearted and degenerate King,
In whose cold blood no sparke of Honor bides.
Northumb. Be thou a prey vnto the House of Yorke,
And dye in Bands, for this vnmanly deed.
210Cliff. In dreadfull Warre may'st thou be ouercome,
Or liue in peace abandon'd and despis'd.
Warw. Turne this way Henry, and regard them not.
Exeter. They seeke reuenge, and therefore will not
yeeld.
215Henry. Ah Exeter.
Warw. Why should you sigh, my Lord?
Henry. Not for my selfe Lord Warwick, but my Sonne,
Whom I vnnaturally shall dis-inherite.
But be it as it may: I here entayle
220The Crowne to thee and to thine Heires for euer,
Conditionally, that heere thou take an Oath,
To cease this Ciuill Warre: and whil'st I liue,
To honor me as thy King, and Soueraigne:
And neyther by Treason nor Hostilitie,
225To seeke to put me downe, and reigne thy selfe.
Plant. This Oath I willingly take, and will performe.
Warw. Long liue King Henry: Plantagenet embrace
him.
Henry. And long liue thou, and these thy forward
230Sonnes.
Plant. Now Yorke and Lancaster are reconcil'd.
Exet. Accurst be he that seekes to make them foes.
Senet. Here they come downe.
Plant. Farewell my gracious Lord, Ile to my Castle.
235Warw. And Ile keepe London with my Souldiers.
Norf. And I to Norfolke with my followers.
Mount. And I vnto the Sea, from whence I came.
Henry. And I with griefe and sorrow to the Court.
Enter the Queene.
240Exeter. Heere comes the Queene,
Whose Lookes bewray her anger:
Ile steale away.
Henry. Exeter so will I.
Queene. Nay, goe not from me, I will follow thee.
245Henry. Be patient gentle Queene, and I will stay.
Queene. Who can be patient in such extreames?
Ah wretched man, would I had dy'de a Maid?
And neuer seene thee, neuer borne thee Sonne,
Seeing thou hast prou'd so vnnaturall a Father.
250Hath he deseru'd to loose his Birth-right thus?
Hadst thou but lou'd him halfe so well as I,
Or felt that paine which I did for him once,
Or nourisht him, as I did with my blood;
Thou would'st haue left thy dearest heart-blood there,
255Rather then haue made that sauage Duke thine Heire,
And dis-inherited thine onely Sonne.
Prince. Father, you cannot dis-inherite me:
If you be King, why should not I succeede?
Henry. Pardon me Margaret, pardon me sweet Sonne,
260The Earle of Warwick and the Duke enforc't me.
Quee. Enforc't thee? Art thou King, and wilt be forc't?
I shame to heare thee speake: ah timorous Wretch,
Thou hast vndone thy selfe, thy Sonne, and me,
And giu'n vnto the House of Yorke such head,
265As thou shalt reigne but by their sufferance.
To entayle him and his Heires vnto the Crowne,
What is it, but to make thy Sepulcher,
And creepe into it farre before thy time?
Warwick is Chancelor, and the Lord of Callice,
270Sterne Falconbridge commands the Narrow Seas,
The Duke is made Protector of the Realme,
And yet shalt thou be safe? Such safetie findes
The trembling Lambe, inuironned with Wolues.
Had I beene there, which am a silly Woman,
275The Souldiers should haue toss'd me on their Pikes,
Before I would haue granted to that Act.
But thou preferr'st thy Life, before thine Honor.
And seeing thou do'st, I here diuorce my selfe,
Both from thy Table Henry, and thy Bed,
280Vntill that Act of Parliament be repeal'd,
Whereby my Sonne is dis-inherited.
The Northerne Lords, that haue forsworne thy Colours,
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread:
And spread they shall be, to thy foule disgrace,
285And vtter ruine of the House of Yorke.
Thus doe I leaue thee: Come Sonne, let's away,
Our Army is ready; come, wee'le after them.
Henry. Stay gentle Margaret, and heare me speake.
Queene. Thou hast spoke too much already: get thee
290gone.
Henry. Gentle Sonne Edward, thou wilt stay me?
Queene. I, to be murther'd by his Enemies.
Prince. When I returne with victorie to the field,
Ile see your Grace: till then, Ile follow her.
295Queene. Come Sonne away, we may not linger thus.
Henry. Poore Queene,
How loue to me, and to her Sonne,
Hath made her breake out into termes of Rage.
Reueng'd may she be on that hatefull Duke,
300Whose haughtie spirit, winged with desire,
Will cost my Crowne, and like an emptie Eagle,
Tyre on the flesh of me, and of my Sonne.
The losse of those three Lords torments my heart:
Ile write vnto them, and entreat them faire;
305Come Cousin, you shall be the Messenger.
Exet. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.
Exit.