Original: Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
Modern: Oh, Gloucester, help me forget who I am!

Original: For whilst I think I am thy married wife
Modern: Because when I remember that I’m your wife

Original: And thou a prince, protector of this land,
Modern: And you’re a prince, the protector of this country,

Original: Methinks I should not thus be led along,
Modern: I don’t think I should be paraded through the streets like this,

Original: Mail’d up in shame, with papers on my back,
Modern: Wrapped up in shame, with signs pinned to my back,

Original: And followed with a rabble that rejoice
Modern: And followed by a mob that takes pleasure

Original: To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
Modern: In seeing my tears and hearing my deep sobs.

Original: The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
Modern: The hard, sharp stones cut my bare feet,

Original: And when I start, the envious people laugh
Modern: And when I flinch in pain, the spiteful crowd laughs

Original: And bid me be advised how I tread.
Modern: And tells me to watch where I step.

Original: Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
Modern: Oh, Humphrey, how can I endure this humiliating burden?

Original: Trow’st thou that e’er I’ll look upon the world,
Modern: Do you think I’ll ever face the world again,

Original: Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?
Modern: Or consider those who live freely to be fortunate?

Original: No; dark shall be my light and night my day;
Modern: No; darkness will be my light and night will be my day;

Original: To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
Modern: Remembering my former glory will be my torture.

Original: Sometime I’ll say, I am Duke Humphrey’s wife,
Modern: Sometimes I’ll remind myself, I am Duke Humphrey’s wife,

Original: And he a prince and ruler of the land:
Modern: And he’s a prince and ruler of the land:

Original: Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
Modern: But this is how he ruled and this is the kind of prince he was—

Original: As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Modern: He stood by and did nothing while I, his abandoned duchess,

Original: Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
Modern: Was made into a spectacle and an object to point at

Original: To every idle rascal follower.
Modern: For every lazy, worthless lowlife to mock.

Original: But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,
Modern: But you stay calm and don’t feel embarrassed by my disgrace,

Original: Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
Modern: And don’t do anything until the executioner’s axe

Original: Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will;
Modern: Hangs over your head, which I’m certain it soon will;

Original: For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
Modern: Because Suffolk, who has complete power

Original: With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
Modern: With the Queen who hates you and hates all of us,

Original: And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
Modern: And York and the ungodly Beaufort, that corrupt priest,

Original: Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,
Modern: Have all set traps to catch you,

Original: And, fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee:
Modern: And no matter how you try to escape, they’ll ensnare you:

Original: But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
Modern: But don’t be afraid until you’re actually caught,

Original: Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
Modern: And never try to protect yourself from your enemies.

In Act II, Scene iv of “Henry VI, Part 2,” the Duke of Gloucester arrives at the royal court to find the King, Queen Margaret, Cardinal Beaufort, and Suffolk waiting for him. Gloucester is immediately arrested for high treason by Suffolk, who reads charges accusing him of protecting criminals, imposing illegal taxes, torturing prisoners, and plotting to seize the crown. The Queen joins in the accusations, while Gloucester vehemently denies all charges and defends his loyal service to the crown and commonwealth. Despite his protestations of innocence and his appeal to his lifelong devotion to England, Gloucester is taken into custody and led away by guards, with the King expressing doubt about his uncle’s guilt but unable to prevent the arrest.

After Gloucester’s removal, the remaining nobles—including Somerset, York, Warwick, and Salisbury—debate his guilt or innocence. The King sorrowfully vouches for Gloucester’s integrity, while the Queen and Suffolk insist on his treachery. York, Warwick, and Salisbury argue that Gloucester should receive a fair trial rather than be judged by his enemies. The King reluctantly agrees to a formal trial the following day and then departs. Once alone, Suffolk, the Queen, and the Cardinal conspire to have Gloucester murdered before he can defend himself in court, with Suffolk volunteering to arrange the assassination and suggesting they can later blame the commons for the deed.

Henry VI, Part II opens with King Henry VI’s marriage to Margaret of Anjou, which was arranged as part of a peace treaty with France. The marriage proves politically disastrous, as Henry has agreed to surrender Maine and Anjou to France and provide no dowry, angering the English nobles. The Duke of Gloucester, Henry’s uncle and Lord Protector, opposes the marriage terms, while Cardinal Beaufort and the Duke of Suffolk, who arranged the marriage, work to undermine Gloucester’s influence. Queen Margaret quickly emerges as an ambitious figure who resents Gloucester’s power and begins plotting against him alongside Suffolk and other nobles.

The central conflict develops around the destruction of Gloucester, known as “Good Duke Humphrey.” Through a series of machinations involving his wife Eleanor’s involvement with conjurers and fortune-tellers, Gloucester is stripped of his position as Lord Protector. Eleanor is banished after being convicted of witchcraft, leaving Gloucester vulnerable. Margaret, Suffolk, Cardinal Beaufort, and others conspire to have Gloucester arrested on charges of treason. Before he can defend himself in trial, Gloucester is murdered in his bed, likely on Suffolk’s orders, shocking King Henry and the common people who loved Gloucester.

The aftermath of Gloucester’s murder destabilizes the realm further. Suffolk is banished by Henry after popular outcry against him, but he is captured and killed by pirates during his exile. Cardinal Beaufort dies tormented by guilt over Gloucester’s death. Meanwhile, Jack Cade leads a popular rebellion in Kent, claiming to be John Mortimer and demanding justice for the common people. Cade’s forces march on London, causing chaos and executing several nobles and officials before the rebellion is eventually suppressed. The play concludes with the return of Richard, Duke of York, from Ireland with an army, ostensibly to remove the remaining “traitors” around the king but actually to press his own claim to the throne, setting the stage for the Wars of the Roses that will dominate the final play in the trilogy.