156. awful: awe-inspiring

  160. make: i.e., makes

  164. Numb’ring . . . beads: i.e., counting our prayers with the beads of our rosary (An “Ave Mary” is a “Hail Mary,” a prayer invoking Mary as the mother of Jesus.) See picture.

  A rosary. (2.1.164)

  From Cesare Vecellio, Habiti antichi et moderni . . . (1598).

  166. Tell: wordplay on (1) count out; (2) proclaim

  167. to it: i.e., go to it

  168. therefore: i.e., for that purpose

  170. Attend me: i.e., listen to me

  171. haught: haughty

  172. of their . . . birds: i.e., many more just like them (Proverbial: Birds of a feather . . .)

  173. wrought . . . wax: Proverbial: to work (something) like wax  wrought: worked

  177. frustrate: render ineffectual; what beside: i.e., anything else that

  178. make against: be unfavorable to

  179. power: army

  181. Earl of March: i.e., Edward

  184. via: onward, forward (Italian)

  189. he: i.e., any man

  190. Retire: retreat

  193. forfend: forbid

  195. degree: rank (literally, a step on a ladder)

  199. fault: transgression, offense

  202. about: i.e., (let’s get) going about

  203. were thy heart: i.e., even if your heart were

  206. Saint George: the patron saint of England (See picture.)

  Saint George. (2.1.206; 2.2.80–81; 4.2.30; 5.1.114)

  From [Jacobus de Voragine,] Here begynneth . . . legenda aurea . . . [1493].

  209. puissant host: powerful army

  210. craves: i.e., (Norfolk) requests

  211. sorts: is fitting, suits

 

  * * *

 

  2.2  Warwick and the Yorkists confront King Henry, Margaret, the newly knighted Prince Edward, and the other Lancastrians. Both the Lancastrian Henry and the Yorkist Edward claim the kingship. The forces for each side prepare to engage in battle.

  0 SD. Drum: i.e., drummer; Trumpets: i.e., trumpeters

  1. brave: worthy, excellent

  3. encompassed: encircled

  5. their wrack: i.e., the wreck of their ship

  6. irks: troubles

  8. infringed: broken

  14. spoils: i.e., kills; or, perhaps, steals

  16. her: its

  17. The smallest . . . on: proverbial  turn: attack, become defiant

  19. level: aim

  22. issue: offspring

  23. goodly: splendid

  26. Unreasonable creatures: i.e., creatures not endowed with reason

  27. fearful: frightening

  30. sometime: formerly; fearful: timorous, frightened

  38. fondly: foolishly (with possible wordplay on fond as “idiotic, imbecile, insane”)

  42. hold: keep possession of

  44. Inferring: bringing forward

  46. things . . . success: proverbial  ill got: wrongfully obtained  bad success: misfortune, failure

  47. happy: fortunate

  48. for his: because of his

  50. would: i.e., I wish

  51. held: regarded, esteemed; rate: value, worth

  54. cousin: kinsman

  57. courage: spirit, disposition; faint: lose heart

  58. forward: eager, spirited

  59. presently: now; at once

  62. right: that which is morally just

  63. by your . . . leave: an apology for the remark that will follow

  64. apparent: i.e., heir apparent

  65. that quarrel: that cause; defense of that claim

  66. toward: promising

  69. backing: i.e., in support

  72. Deraign your battle: arrange your troops for battle

  80–81. Saint George: a battle cry (See note to 2.1.206 and picture.)

  81 SD. March: drum beat to accompany the march of troops

  82. grace: pardon, forgiveness

  84. bide: encounter, undergo, suffer

  85. rate: chide, reprove; minions: favorites, followers

  86. Becomes . . . terms: i.e., is it appropriate for you to speak so boldly

  94. reason: i.e., rightly, with good reason

  97. answer: encounter, fight with

  98. any he: i.e., any man

  103. long-tongued: chattering, babbling

  107. fly: flee

  108. so much: i.e., the same thing

  110. durst: dares

  111. hold thee reverently: regard you with respect

  112. refrain: hold back, restrain

  113. The execution of: i.e., putting into action (the passions of)

  117. tender: young, vulnerable

  121. Defy them: challenge them to battle

  122. prithee: an expression of polite request

  126. executioner: i.e., killer, murderer

  127. resolved: convinced

  128. manhood: courage, valor; upon his tongue: i.e., in words only

  130. broke their fasts: eaten their breakfasts

  131. dine: eat dinner

  132. deny: refuse; upon: i.e., be upon

  136. got: begot, fathered

  137. wot: know

  138. dam: i.e., mother (a term usually applied to animals)

  139. stigmatic: i.e., monster, one marked with a deformity

  140. Marked: branded; the Destinies: the goddesses that determine the course of one’s life, the Fates (See picture.)

  The Destinies or Fates. (2.2.140; 4.3.60)

  From Vincenzo Cartari, Imagines deorum . . . (1581).

  141. venom: venomous

  142. Iron . . . gilt: The image is of a piece of iron (i.e., Margaret) disguised or beautified with English gold (i.e., her English marriage).  gilt: literally, a thin layer of gold

  146. extraught: derived, descended

  147. detect: expose, display

  148. A . . . crowns: a colorful way of saying “it would be impossible”  were: i.e., would be

  149. callet: strumpet, slut

  150–53. Helen . . . by thee: Helen of Troy wronged her husband, Menelaus, the brother of Agamemnon, triggering the Trojan War. (See pictures.)  Menelaus: i.e., a cuckold, a man whose wife is false, or unfaithful

  Helen. (2.2.150)

  From [Guillaume Rouillé,] . . . Promptuarii iconum . . . (1553).

  Agamemnon. (2.2.152)

  From Geoffrey Whitney, A choice of emblemes . . . (1586).

  154. His father: i.e., Henry VI’s father, Henry V (See note to 1.1.111–12 and picture.)

  156. he matched: i.e., Henry VI married; state: position of wealth; greatness, high rank

  159. graced . . . day: i.e., honored your father with this marriage  thy poor sire: i.e., Reignier, king of Naples (lines 142–43)  his: i.e., Henry VI’s

  161. forth of: i.e., out of

  163. broached: i.e., released (literally, pierced in order to liberate or extract)

  164. our . . . slept: i.e., my claim to the throne would have continued to lie dormant

  166. slipped: neglected to prosecute

  168. increase: wordplay on (1) fruitful growth; (2) additional prosperity or honor

  170. something: i.e., somewhat, to some degree

  172. leave: cease

  173. bathed . . . bloods: See longer note.  bathed: watered

  174. resolution: conviction, certainty

  175. willing: desiring; conference: conversation

  176. denied’st: forbade, refused to allow

  177. bloody colors: i.e., flags that promise bloodshed

 

  * * *

 

  2.3  Warwick retires from the battle and meets Edward, Richard, and George. They all fear defeat, but take their farewells and return to the battle.

  0 SD. Excursions: attacks and counterattacks

  1. Forspent: worn out

  2. breathe: rest

  5. spite of spite: i.e., despite reproach

  6. ungentle: discourteous; violent

  7. sun: Edward’s badge (See longer note.)

  8. hap: luck, fortune

  11. fly: flee

  13. shun: escape

  15. Thy brother’s blood: a reference to a brother known as “the Bastard of Salisbury”

  16. Broached . . . lance: The image is of a pierced cask from which liquid is being drawn off; here, the body is pierced with a lance, releasing the blood.

  18. clangor: loud resonant ringing sound

  27. look upon: i.e., look on like spectators

  28. played in jest: i.e., performed; counterfeiting: i.e., role-playing (See picture.)

  “. . . played in jest by . . . actors.” (2.3.28)

  From [William Alabaster,] Roxana tragaedia . . . (1632).

  32. Fortune: the goddess Fortuna, thought to bestow rewards and punishments on humans (See picture.) measure: i.e., my share

  40. brazen: brass

  42. take leave: i.e., say farewell

  44. gentle: noble

  49. all together: i.e., all go together

  50. will not: i.e., do not wish to

  51. stand to: i.e., support, stand by

  53. Olympian Games: the ancient Greek festival of athletic competitions

  54. quailing: fearful, faltering

  55. is hope: i.e., there is hope

  56. Forslow: be slow or dilatory; amain: with all our might; without delay

 

  * * *

 

  2.4  Richard and Clifford fight. When Warwick enters, Clifford flees. Richard prepares to search for Clifford in order to fight to the death.

  1. singled thee: separated you out from the herd

  3. both: i.e., both arms

  9. cheers: animates, incites

  11. have at thee: a warning that a blow is coming

  12. single . . . chase: select a different quarry

 

  * * *

 

  2.5  As the battle of Towton proceeds, King Henry contemplates his unhappy life as king and then observes as a young man realizes that the man he has killed is his own father and then as a father learns that the man he killed is his own son. As they grieve, Henry claims to be sadder than either of them because of what is happening to his country. Margaret, Prince Edward, and Exeter enter and urge Henry to flee with them from the victorious Yorkists.

  0 SD. Alarum: See note to 1.1.0 SD.

  1. morning’s war: i.e., contest that takes place each morning

  3. What time: i.e., that time when; blowing of: i.e., blowing on (to warm them)

  8. retire: retreat

  9. flood: ocean; water

  13. equal poise: condition of being equally weighted on both sides, equilibrium; fell: savage, cruel

  17. chid me: driven me (by chiding)

  20. grief: hardship, suffering

  22. homely swain: simple shepherd (See picture.)

  A shepherd tending his flock. (2.5.22, 31, 43)

  From Hortus sanitatis . . . (1536).

  24. dials: i.e., small sundials; quaintly: ingeniously

  27. brings about: completes

  34. sport myself: amuse or enjoy myself

  35. with young: i.e., pregnant

  36. poor fools: a term of pity; ean: give birth

  37.

  Shearing the fleece. (2.5.37)

  From Pietro de Crescenzi, [Ruralia commoda, 1561].

  38. So minutes: thus minutes

  39. Passed over: spent; to the end: for the purpose

  43. silly: pitiful, defenseless (a conventional epithet for sheep) See picture.

  47. homely: plain, simple

  50. secure: i.e., safely

  51. delicates: luxuries, delights

  53. couchèd in: reposed on; curious: exquisite

  54. waits on: lie in wait for

  55. Ill . . . nobody: proverbial

  57. May be possessèd with: may possess; crowns: coins worth 5 shillings

  58. haply: by chance or accident

  62. unwares: unknowingly, unintentionally

  63. heavy: oppressive, distressful (The word begetting perhaps colors heavy with the sense of “pregnant.”)

  64. pressed: compelled to serve, impressed; forth: i.e., away from London

  65. man: servant

  68. bereavèd: robbed, deprived

  75. abide: suffer, undergo

  77–78. let . . . break: i.e., let our hearts break and our eyes be blinded with tears    like civil war: i.e., like a kingdom torn by civil war

  78. o’ercharged: oppressed

  85. Throw up: i.e., raise, throw open; showers: i.e., showers of tears

  87. kills: i.e., kill

  89. stratagems: deeds of blood and violence; fell: cruel

  90. Erroneous: criminal; mutinous: turbulent, contentious

  92–93. gave . . . late: While the meaning here is unclear, the rhetorical device of syncrisis (contrast) in gave/bereft and too soon/too late is obvious. Late here means, in part, “recently” and soon may mean “readily.” (See longer note.)

  94. grief: suffering

  95. stay: stop; ruthful: piteous, lamentable

  99. purple: crimson

  100. presenteth: exhibit, display

  101. Wither one rose: i.e., may one rose wither

  104. Take on with: be furious with, rage against; satisfied: sufficiently answered

  107. chances: unfortunate events

  108. Misthink: think ill of

  118. obsequious: dutiful in performing funeral obsequies

  119. no more: i.e., no more sons (line 120)

  120. Priam: king of Troy, reputed to have fifty valiant sons, many of whom died in the Trojan War (See picture.)

  Priam. (2.5.120)

  From [Guillaume Rouillé,] . . . Promptuarii iconum . . . (1553).

  123. overgone: overcome, oppressed

  126. a chafèd: an angry

  127. hold us in pursuit: put us to flight

  128. post amain: speed with all your might

  129. brace: pair, couple

  A greyhound. (2.5.129)

  From Edward Topsell, The historie of foure-footed beasts . . . (1607).

  130. flying: fleeing

  135. expostulate: talk, discuss

  139. intends: journeys, makes her way

 

  * * *

 

  2.6  Lord Clifford enters wounded to the death. Warwick, Edward, Richard, and George find Clifford’s body and taunt him. They prepare to cut off his head and place it over York’s city gate. Before they march to London in triumph, Warwick announces his plan to win Lady Bona as Edward’s bride, and Edward makes George the Duke of Clarence and Richard the Duke of Gloucester.

  1–2. Here . . . light: For the image of life as a candle, see longer note.

  5. My . . . fear: i.e., love and fear of me; glued: attached, allied

  6. now I: i.e., now that I; tough . . . melts: i.e., strong alliances dissolve  tough: sticky, glutinous  commixtures: compounds

  7. misproud: arrogant, wickedly proud

  8. And . . . sun: Many editions insert an additional line before this one. See longer note.

  10–12. O Phoebus . . . earth: In classical mythology, Phaëton persuaded his father Phoebus, the sun god, to let him drive the chariot of the sun, with disastrous results to the earth. (For Phaëton’s fall, see picture.)  check: rein, control

  13. swayed: ruled, governed

  15. Giving no ground: i.e., refusing to yield

  16. sprung: come forth suddenly, issued

  18. mourning widows: i.e., widows mourning

  19. chair: throne

  20. cherish: foster

  23. hold out: keep up, continue

  27. effuse: pouring out, effusion

  29 SD. retreat: signal to retire from the field

  30. breathe we: i.e., let us rest

  32. bloody-minded: bloodthirsty

  33. led: commanded, governed

  34. fretting gust: i.e., sudden gust of wind

  35. argosy: a large merchant vessel (See picture.) stem: breast, make headway against

  An argosy. (2.6.35)

  From Robert Hitchcock, A politique platt . . . (1580 [i.e., 1581]).

  38. his: i.e., Richard’s

  41. takes . . . leave: i.e., bids its heavy farewell  heavy: ponderous; sorrowful

  42. departing: separation

  44. If: whether; gently used: treated honorably

  45. doom: decree

  46–50. Who . . . York: In this image, York is the root of the family tree on which his sons are the branches.  tender spray: delicate shoot or twig

  53. this: i.e., the head of Clifford; supply the room: i.e., take its place

  54. Measure . . . answerèd: i.e., our response must exactly match their offense (Measure for measure alludes to several biblical passages. See longer note.)

  55. that fatal . . . house: i.e., that screech owl (a bird of ill omen) fatal to the house of York (Proverbial: “The screeching owl bodes death” [line 56].) See picture.

  A screech owl. (2.6.55; 5.6.45)

  From Konrad Gesner, Icones animalium quadrupedum . . . (1560).

  59. is bereft: has been taken away

  62. beams: light rays (See longer note to 2.6.1–2, for the image of life as light.)

  63. nor sees: neither sees

  64. would: i.e., I wish

  65. policy: cunning

  68. vex: harass; eager: biting

  72. faults: transgressions

  75. fence: protect

  76. wast wont: were accustomed to doing

  77. goes hard: i.e., is in trouble

  79. by my soul: a mild oath