Henry VI, part 2, Act 4 Scene 4 runs 60 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 130 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Henry VI, part 2.
Full Dialogue
Queen Margaret ♀
Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind,
And makes it fearful and degenerate;
Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
But who can cease to weep and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast:
But where's the body that I should embrace?
And makes it fearful and degenerate;
Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
But who can cease to weep and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast:
But where's the body that I should embrace?
Buckingham ♂
What answer makes your grace to the rebels'
supplication?
supplication?
King Henry Vi ♂
I'll send some holy bishop to entreat;
For God forbid so many simple souls
Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general:
But stay, I'll read it over once again.
For God forbid so many simple souls
Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general:
But stay, I'll read it over once again.
Queen Margaret ♀
Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face
Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?
Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?
King Henry Vi ♂
Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
Say ♂
Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.
King Henry Vi ♂
How now, madam!
Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me.
Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me.
Queen Margaret ♀
No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
King Henry Vi ♂
How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste?
Messenger ♂
The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
And calls your grace usurper openly
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
His army is a ragged multitude
Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless:
Sir Humphrey Stafford and h is brother's death
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed:
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.
Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
And calls your grace usurper openly
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
His army is a ragged multitude
Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless:
Sir Humphrey Stafford and h is brother's death
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed:
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.
King Henry Vi ♂
O graceless men! they know not what they do.
Buckingham ♂
My gracious lord, return to Killingworth,
Until a power be raised to put them down.
Until a power be raised to put them down.
Queen Margaret ♀
Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!
King Henry Vi ♂
Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
Say ♂
So might your grace's person be in danger.
The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
And therefore in this city will I stay
And live alone as secret as I may.
The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
And therefore in this city will I stay
And live alone as secret as I may.
Messenger ♂
Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge:
The citizens fly and forsake their houses:
The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
To spoil the city and your royal court.
The citizens fly and forsake their houses:
The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
To spoil the city and your royal court.
Buckingham ♂
Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse.
King Henry Vi ♂
Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succor us.
Queen Margaret ♀
My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.
King Henry Vi ♂
Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.
Buckingham ♂
Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd.
Say ♂
The trust I have is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and resolute.
And therefore am I bold and resolute.
60 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| King Henry Vi | 17 | 28.3% |
| Messenger | 16 | 26.7% |
| Queen Margaret | 14 | 23.3% |
| Say | 7 | 11.7% |
| Buckingham | 6 | 10.0% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 17 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 12 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 4 of 10 in Act 4 of Henry VI, part 2.
Scene length vs. play average
At 60 lines, this scene is shorter than the Henry VI, part 2 average scene in Henry VI, part 2 (~130 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 3 · Next: Act 4 Scene 5
About Act 4 Scene 4 of Henry VI, part 2
Who carries Act 4 Scene 4 of Henry VI, part 2?
King Henry Vi, with 17 lines — about 28% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 5 speakers and the lead holding 28% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.