Original: My gracious liege, this too much lenity
Modern: My noble king, this excessive kindness

Original: And harmful pity must be laid aside.
Modern: And this dangerous mercy must be set aside.

Original: To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Modern: Who do lions look gently upon?

Original: Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
Modern: Not to the animal that tries to take over their home.

Original: Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?
Modern: Whose hand does the wild bear lick affectionately?

Original: Not his that spoils her young before her face.
Modern: Not the hand of someone who harms her cubs right in front of her.

Original: Who ‘scapes the lurking serpent’s mortal sting?
Modern: Who escapes the hidden snake’s deadly bite?

Original: Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
Modern: Not the person who steps on the snake’s back.

Original: The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
Modern: Even the tiniest worm will fight back when stepped on,

Original: And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.
Modern: And gentle doves will attack to protect their babies.

Original: Ambitious York doth level at thy crown,
Modern: Power-hungry York is aiming for your throne,

Original: Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows:
Modern: While you smile as he frowns in anger:

Original: He, but a duke, would have his son a king,
Modern: He, only a duke, wants his son to become king,

Original: And raise his issue, like a loving sire;
Modern: And advance his children, like a devoted father;

Original: Thou, being a king, blest with a goodly son,
Modern: You, already a king, blessed with a fine son,

Original: Didst yield consent to disinherit him,
Modern: Agreed to take away his inheritance,

Original: Which argued thee a most unloving father.
Modern: Which proves you are a very uncaring father.

Original: Unreasonable creatures feed their young;
Modern: Even mindless animals feed their young;

Original: And though man’s face be fearful to their eyes,
Modern: And even though they’re afraid of human beings,

Original: Yet, in protection of their tender ones,
Modern: Still, when protecting their helpless babies,

Original: Who hath not seen them, even with those wings
Modern: Who hasn’t seen them, even with those same wings

Original: Which sometime they have used with fearful flight,
Modern: That they’ve sometimes used to fly away in fear,

Original: Make war with him that climb’d unto their nest,
Modern: Attack anyone who climbs up to their nest,

Original: Offer their own lives in their young’s defence?
Modern: Risking their own lives to defend their young?

Original: For shame, my liege, make them your precedent!
Modern: You should be ashamed, my king—follow their example!

Original: Were it not pity that this goodly boy
Modern: Wouldn’t it be terrible if this fine boy

Original: Should lose his birthright by his father’s fault,
Modern: Should lose what’s rightfully his because of his father’s mistake,

Original: And long hereafter say unto his child,
Modern: And someday have to tell his own child,

Original: ‘What my great-grandfather and his grandsire got
Modern: ‘What my great-grandfather and his grandfather earned

Original: My careless father fondly gave away’?
Modern: My foolish father stupidly gave away’?

Original: Ah, what a shame were this! Look on the boy;
Modern: Oh, what a disgrace this would be! Look at the boy;

Original: And let his manly face, which promiseth
Modern: And let his mature face, which promises

Original: Successful fortune, steel thy melting heart
Modern: A successful future, strengthen your weakening resolve

Original: To hold thine own and leave thine own with him.
Modern: To keep what’s yours and pass it on to him.

Henry VI, Part 3 opens with the aftermath of the Battle of St. Albans, where the Yorkists have achieved victory over the Lancastrians. The Duke of York enters Parliament and claims the throne, leading to a confrontation with King Henry VI. A compromise is reached whereby Henry remains king for his lifetime but agrees to disinherit his son Prince Edward in favor of York and his heirs. When Queen Margaret learns of this arrangement, she is furious and raises an army to defend her son’s birthright.

The conflict escalates into full civil war. Margaret’s forces defeat and kill the Duke of York at the Battle of Wakefield, but York’s sons—Edward, George, and Richard—continue the fight. They achieve victory at the Battle of Towton, where King Henry is captured and Edward of York is proclaimed King Edward IV. Henry escapes and flees to Scotland with Margaret and Prince Edward, while Edward IV consolidates his power and marries Elizabeth Woodville, causing tension with his supporter the Earl of Warwick.

Warwick, feeling betrayed by Edward’s marriage, switches sides and allies with Margaret and the exiled Henry VI. With French support, they invade England and briefly restore Henry to the throne while Edward flees to Burgundy. However, Edward returns with an army and reclaims his crown. The final act culminates in the Battle of Tewkesbury, where the Yorkists achieve decisive victory. Prince Edward is killed in battle, Queen Margaret is captured, and Henry VI is murdered in the Tower of London by Richard of Gloucester. The play concludes with Edward IV seemingly secure on the throne, though Richard’s final soliloquy hints at his own future ambitions for the crown.