Original: Great lords, wise men ne’er sit and wail their loss,
Modern: Noble lords, wise men never just sit around crying about what they’ve lost,

Original: But cheerly seek how to redress their harms.
Modern: But instead cheerfully look for ways to fix their problems.

Original: What though the mast be now blown overboard,
Modern: So what if the mast has been blown off the ship,

Original: The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost,
Modern: The rope has snapped, the anchor that held us steady is gone,

Original: And half our sailors swallow’d in the flood?
Modern: And half our sailors have been swallowed up by the sea?

Original: Yet lives our pilot still. Is’t meet that he
Modern: Our captain is still alive. Is it right that he

Original: Should leave the helm and like a fearful lad
Modern: Should abandon the ship’s wheel and act like a frightened boy

Original: With tearful eyes add water to the sea
Modern: With his tears adding more water to the ocean

Original: And give more strength to that which hath too much,
Modern: And give more power to something that’s already too powerful,

Original: Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock,
Modern: While, as he’s complaining, the ship crashes and splits apart on the rocks,

Original: Which industry and courage might have saved?
Modern: When hard work and bravery might have saved it?

Original: Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this!
Modern: Oh, what a disgrace! Oh, what a terrible mistake that would be!

Original: Say Warwick was our anchor; what of that?
Modern: Let’s say Warwick was our anchor; so what?

Original: And Montague our topmost; what of him?
Modern: And Montague was our highest mast; what about him?

Original: Our slaughter’d friends the tackles; what of these?
Modern: Our murdered friends were the ropes and rigging; what about them?

Original: Why, is not Oxford here another anchor?
Modern: Well, isn’t Oxford here to be another anchor?

Original: And Somerset another goodly mast?
Modern: And Somerset another fine mast?

Original: The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings?
Modern: The allies from France our ropes and equipment?

Original: And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I
Modern: And, even though we’re inexperienced, why can’t Ned and I

Original: For once allow’d the skilful pilot’s charge?
Modern: Be given the chance to take on the skilled captain’s responsibility?

Original: We will not from the helm to sit and weep,
Modern: We won’t leave the ship’s wheel just to sit around and cry,

Original: But keep our course, though the rough wind say no,
Modern: But will stay on course, even though the harsh wind tries to stop us,

Original: From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck.
Modern: Away from the shallow reefs and rocks that threaten to destroy us.

Original: As good to chide the waves as speak them fair.
Modern: It’s just as useful to scold the waves as it is to speak nicely to them.

Original: And what is Edward but ruthless sea?
Modern: And what is Edward except a merciless ocean?

Original: What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit?
Modern: What is Clarence except quicksand made of lies?

Original: And Richard but a ragged fatal rock?
Modern: And Richard except a jagged, deadly rock?

Original: All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Modern: All of these are enemies to our poor little ship.

Original: Say you can swim; alas, ‘tis but a while!
Modern: Let’s say you can swim; unfortunately, it’s only for a short time!

Original: Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink:
Modern: Step on the sand; well, you’ll sink quickly there:

Original: Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off,
Modern: Climb onto the rock; the tide will sweep you away,

Original: Or else you famish; that’s a threefold death.
Modern: Or else you’ll starve; that’s three ways to die.

Original: This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
Modern: I’m telling you this, lords, to make you understand,

Original: If case some one of you would fly from us,
Modern: In case any one of you wants to run away from us,

Original: That there’s no hoped-for mercy with the brothers
Modern: That there’s no mercy to hope for from the brothers

Original: More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks.
Modern: Any more than from merciless waves, quicksand, and rocks.

Original: Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided
Modern: So, be brave then! Whatever can’t be avoided

Original: ‘Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.
Modern: It would be childish and weak to complain about or be afraid of.

In Act V, Scene iv of “Henry VI, Part 3,” Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, Oxford, Somerset, and their forces arrive on the plains near Tewkesbury, where they prepare to face the army of King Edward IV. The scene opens with the exhausted Queen Margaret attempting to rally her weary soldiers for battle. She delivers an impassioned speech acknowledging their fatigue from their forced march but urging them to stand and fight rather than flee, reminding them that victory is still possible and that courage in battle offers their only hope of survival and success.

Prince Edward, Margaret’s young son, then speaks, demonstrating his resolve and martial spirit despite his youth. He encourages the soldiers by invoking the memory of his father, the imprisoned King Henry VI, and appeals to their sense of duty and honor. Oxford and Somerset add their own words of encouragement, promising to fight bravely alongside their men. The scene concludes with the Lancastrian forces preparing to engage in what will become the Battle of Tewkesbury, a decisive confrontation in the ongoing conflict between the houses of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne.

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.