King Henry VI Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare, originally known as The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster. It was probably written ca. 1590-91 as the second part of the trilogy on Henry VI of England and is often grouped together with Richard III as a tetralogy on The Wars of the Roses, the success of which established Shakespeare's reputation as a playwright.

Act I

  • O Lord, that lends me life,
    Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
    • King Henry, scene i


  • Main chance.
    • Warwick, scene i


  • Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious Gold.
    • Duchess, scene ii


  • Is this the fashion in the court of England?
    Is this the government of Britain's isle,
    And this the royalty of Albion's king?
    • Queen Margaret, scene iii


  • She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
    And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
    • Queen Margaret, scene iii


  • Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
    I’d set my ten commandments in your face.
    • Duchess, scene iii

Act II

  • How irksome is this music to my heart! When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
    • King Henry, scene i


  • God shall be my hope,
    My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.
    • King Henry, scene iii

Act III

  • Smooth runs the water, where the brook is deep;
    And in his simple show he harbours treason.
    • Suffolk, scene i


  • The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.
    • Suffolk, scene i


  • The commons, like an angry hive of bees,
    That want their leader, scatter up and down,
    And care not who they sting in his revenge.
    • Warwick, scene ii


  • What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted!
    Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel just;
    And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel,
    Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.
    • King Henry, scene ii


  • He dies, and makes no sign.
    • King Henry, scene iii


  • Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
    Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close;
    And let us all to meditation.
    • King Henry, scene iii

Act IV

  • The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day
    Is crept into the bosom of the sea.
    • Captain, scene i


  • Small things make base men proud.
    • Suffolk, scene i


  • True nobility is exempt from fear:—
    More can I bear, than you dare execute.
    • Suffolk, scene i


  • I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.
    • Second rebel, scene ii


  • There shall be, in England, seven half-penny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hoop'd pot shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony, to drink small beer.
    • Cade, scene ii


  • The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
    • Dick the butcher, scene ii


  • Is not this a lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment? that parchment, being scribbled o’er, should undo a man?
    • Cade, scene ii


  • And Adam was a gardener.
    • Cade, scene ii


  • Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house, and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it.
    • Smith the weaver, scene ii


  • Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar-school; and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face, that thou hast men about thee, that usually talk of a noun, and a verb; and such abominable words, as no Christian ear can endure to hear.
    • Cade, scene vii


  • Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.
    • Cade, scene vii


  • And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
    Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.
    • Saye, scene vii

Act V

  • It is great sin, to swear unto a sin;
    But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath.
    • Salisbury, scene i


  • Can we outrun the heavens?
    • King Henry, scene ii
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