King Henry VI Part 2 Study Guide

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 dayIs 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