Henry VI, part 3, Act 4 Scene 7 runs 87 lines of dialogue, spoken by 7 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 105 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Full Dialogue
King Edward Iv ♂
Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
Gloucester ♂
The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
King Edward Iv ♂
Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us:
By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.
By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.
Hastings ♂
My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them.
Mayor ♂
My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
King Edward Iv ♂
But, master mayor, if Henry be your king,
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.
Mayor ♂
True, my good lord; I know you for no less.
King Edward Iv ♂
Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
As being well content with that alone.
Gloucester ♂
[Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He'll soon find means to make the body follow.
He'll soon find means to make the body follow.
Hastings ♂
Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
Mayor ♂
Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd.
Gloucester ♂
A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!
Hastings ♂
The good old man would fain that all were well,
So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
King Edward Iv ♂
So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut
But in the night or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
But in the night or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
Gloucester ♂
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.
King Edward Iv ♂
Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?
Montague ♂
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
As every loyal subject ought to do.
King Edward Iv ♂
Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
Our title to the crown and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Our title to the crown and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Montague ♂
Then fare you well, for I will hence again:
I came to serve a king and not a duke.
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
I came to serve a king and not a duke.
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
King Edward Iv ♂
Nay, stay, Sir John, awhi le, and we'll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
Montague ♂
What talk you of debating? in few words,
If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I'll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succor you:
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I'll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succor you:
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
Gloucester ♂
Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
King Edward Iv ♂
When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim:
Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
Hastings ♂
Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.
Gloucester ♂
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand:
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand:
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
King Edward Iv ♂
Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
Montague ♂
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;
And now will I be Edward's champion.
And now will I be Edward's champion.
Hastings ♂
Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd:
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
Soldier ♂
Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of
England and France, and lord of Ireland, & c.
England and France, and lord of Ireland, & c.
Montague ♂
And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
By this I challenge him to single fight.
All ♂
Long live Edward the Fourth!
King Edward Iv ♂
Thanks, brave Montgomery; and thanks unto you all:
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York;
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.
Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York;
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.
Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
87 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| King Edward Iv | 43 | 49.4% |
| Montague | 14 | 16.1% |
| Gloucester | 12 | 13.8% |
| Hastings | 10 | 11.5% |
| Mayor | 5 | 5.7% |
| Soldier | 2 | 2.3% |
| All | 1 | 1.1% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 43 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 12 lines.
Total speakers on stage
7 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 7 of 8 in Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Scene length vs. play average
At 87 lines, this scene is shorter than the Henry VI, part 3 average scene in Henry VI, part 3 (~105 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 6 · Next: Act 4 Scene 8
About Act 4 Scene 7 of Henry VI, part 3
Who carries Act 4 Scene 7 of Henry VI, part 3?
King Edward Iv, with 43 lines — about 49% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 7 speakers and the lead holding 49% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.