Henry VI, Part 2

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

• Main chance.
  • Warwick, scene i

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

Act III

• Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.
  • Suffolk, scene i

• 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

• 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

• There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped pots shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony, to drink small beer.
  • Jack 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?
  • Jack 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.
  • Jack Cade, scene vii

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

Act V

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