Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Act 1, Scene 1
We begin in the middle of things—or, if you want to get all fancy about it, in medias res—with York, his sons Edward and Richard, and his supporters Norfolk, Montague, and Warwick. They're all...
Act 1, Scene 2
Back at York's castle, Richard, Edward, and Montague are arguing over something when York comes in and hears them.When York asks the guys what they were talking about, they tell him they think he s...
Act 1, Scene 3
Rutland (York's youngest son) and his tutor are hanging out when they bump into Clifford and his soldiers.Clifford pulls an Inigo Montoya again by saying your "father slew my father, he shall die."...
Act 1, Scene 4
York delivers a soliloquy on the battlefield. He's proud of how hard his men fought, but it just wasn't their day. Margaret's army was bigger and better, and now they've got him surrounded.Just the...
Act 2, Scene 1
On the battlefield, Edward and Richard wonder where their dad is.
Richard saw him fighting and boy, was he brave. He's proud of his dad.
Act 2, Scene 2
Margaret, Clifford, Northumberland, and Prince Edward all arrive at York (as in the town) and greet Henry.Margaret tells Henry to look at the head of the severed guy who tried to steal his throne.H...
Act 2, Scene 3
In the midst of the fighting, Warwick gets tired and needs to rest.
Act 2, Scene 4
Alone on stage, Richard and Clifford fight. Richard wants to kill the man who murdered his father and little brother.To make matters worse, Clifford readily admits to the crimes and feels no regret...
Act 2, Scene 5
On a hill, Henry watches the battle and wonders which side is winning. Then he goes all philosopher on us and thinks about the life of a king.Henry's life is full of sadness. It would have been muc...
Act 2, Scene 6
Get out the first aid kit, because Clifford is injured. He's got a bunch of regrets, but not the kind you'd expect: he wishes he didn't have to die, and he wishes that Henry weren't such a weak kin...
Act 3, Scene 1
Two gamekeepers enter with crossbows in their hands. They're talking about hunting deer when suddenly, they hear a noise.It's King Henry in disguise, with a prayer book.
Act 3, Scene 2
Back at the palace, Edward, Richard, George, and Lady Elizabeth Grey talk about Lady Grey and her wealth. We learn that her hubby was killed, and she wants his lands back.Richard and George talk to...
Act 3, Scene 3
Bonjour. We're at the French court, where Lewis (the French king, aka Louis) and Margaret discuss Henry's predicament. She and Prince Edward tell him the whole story and ask for his help.It's looki...
Act 4, Scene 1
Richard and George talk about their brother Edward's wedding. They think
Edward should have waited to tie the knot until Warwick returned.
Act 4, Scene 2
Warwick and Oxford have just arrived back in England when George (Clarence) and Somerset meet up with them.At first, Warwick isn't sure if George and Somerset are his friends, but George assures hi...
Act 4, Scene 3
Three watchmen stand outside Edward's tent. They fear that Warwick is nearby, and that he wants to attack Edward.
Act 4, Scene 4
Lady Grey and her brother Rivers meet and talk about what's going down.Lady Grey and Rivers are worried that Edward's capture means bad news for them. Um… ya think?
Act 4, Scene 5
Richard, Hastings, and Sir William Stanley gather in the woods. Richard's sent word to his brother Edward to hunt in a certain place.Sure, Edward's been captured, but he's still allowed to hunt som...
Act 4, Scene 6
George, Warwick and crew gather at the Tower with Henry. They free him, and Henry thanks the lieutenant there for a pleasant stay—under the circumstances. Yeah, he's that kind of guy.Then Henry t...
Act 4, Scene 7
Edward, Richard, Hastings, and their men arrive at the city of York.
They've had some help from Burgundy and are ready to enter the city.
That should be easy enough, right?
Act 4, Scene 8
Henry, Warwick, George, and friends enter. They've learned that Edward's received help from Burgundy and is ready to fight.
Act 5, Scene 1
Warwick asks some messengers where Montague, George, and Oxford (or,
more important, their troops) are. He gets the deets for each one. When
he hears a drum, he thinks it's George, but it's actua...
Act 5, Scene 2
Edward drags in a wounded Warwick. He tells him to die and runs off to fight Montague.
Act 5, Scene 3
Edward enters with a flourish and greets his brothers. They have
defeated Warwick and his supporters, but Margaret looms on the horizon.
Act 5, Scene 4
Margaret comes in saying that her soldiers are like a ship at sea that has had a rough time. Even though their anchor (Warwick) and topmast (Montague) are both gone, they still have another anchor...
Act 5, Scene 5
Back at the palace, all our favorite players from both sides enter. We
figure that Edward has won the war because he orders that Oxford be sent
to Hames Castle (a prison) and Somerset's head be c...
Act 5, Scene 6
At the Tower, Richard enters Henry's cell. He tells the Lieutenant to leave them alone.
Act 5, Scene 7
In the throne room, Edward and his family gather. He delivers a speech
about England's throne being theirs again before he turns his attention
to his infant son.