Original: A wisp of straw were worth a thousand crowns,
Modern: A tiny piece of straw would be worth a fortune,

Original: To make this shameless callet know herself.
Modern: If it could make this shameless whore see what she really is.

Original: Helen of Greece was fairer far than thou,
Modern: Helen of Troy was far more beautiful than you,

Original: Although thy husband may be Menelaus;
Modern: Even though your husband might be like Menelaus;

Original: And ne’er was Agamemnon’s brother wrong’d
Modern: And Agamemnon’s brother was never wronged

Original: By that false woman, as this king by thee.
Modern: By that unfaithful woman as much as this king has been wronged by you.

Original: His father revell’d in the heart of France,
Modern: His father celebrated victoriously in the center of France,

Original: And tamed the king, and made the dauphin stoop;
Modern: And conquered the king, and forced the French prince to bow down;

Original: And had he match’d according to his state,
Modern: And if he had married someone equal to his royal status,

Original: He might have kept that glory to this day;
Modern: He might have kept that glorious achievement until now;

Original: But when he took a beggar to his bed,
Modern: But when he married a lowborn woman,

Original: And graced thy poor sire with his bridal-day,
Modern: And honored your poor father by marrying you,

Original: Even then that sunshine brew’d a shower for him,
Modern: Even then that happy moment was creating a storm,

Original: That wash’d his father’s fortunes forth of France,
Modern: That washed away his father’s victories in France,

Original: And heap’d sedition on his crown at home.
Modern: And piled up rebellion against his throne here at home.

Original: For what hath broach’d this tumult but thy pride?
Modern: For what has started this chaos except your arrogance?

Original: Hadst thou been meek, our title still had slept;
Modern: If you had been humble, our claim to the throne would still be dormant;

Original: And we, in pity of the gentle king,
Modern: And we, out of sympathy for the kind king,

Original: Had slipp’d our claim until another age.
Modern: Would have let our claim wait until another generation.

In Act 2, Scene 2 of Henry VI, Part 3, the scene opens on the battlefield near York following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Towton. Edward (now Edward IV), Richard Duke of Gloucester, and George Duke of Clarence enter with their forces, having defeated the Lancastrian army. They encounter their wounded father’s friend, the Earl of Warwick, who despite his injuries encourages them to pursue their advantage and continue the fight against Queen Margaret and the remaining Lancastrian forces. The brothers acknowledge Warwick’s valor and devotion to their cause.

The scene shifts to focus on the immediate political and military situation following their victory. Edward orders the pursuit of the fleeing Lancastrian forces toward Scotland, where King Henry, Queen Margaret, and their son Prince Edward have retreated. The victorious Yorkists discuss their next strategic moves, including consolidating Edward’s claim to the throne and dealing with their enemies. The scene concludes with the Yorkist faction planning to march to London so that Edward can be formally crowned king, while also considering how to handle the threat that the exiled Lancastrians continue to pose from their refuge in Scotland and France.

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.