Henry VI, Part 1

By William Shakespeare QUOTATION: God is our fortress.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Talbot, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 2, sc. 1, l. 26.

Claiming God’s protection as he attacks the French at Orleans.

QUOTATION: My thoughts are whirlèd like a potter’s wheel.
I know not where I am or what I do.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Talbot, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 1, sc. 5, l. 19.

QUOTATION: I owe him little duty and less love.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Somerset, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 4, sc. 4, l. 34.

QUOTATION: Speak on, but be not over-tedious.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Burgundy, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 3, sc. 3, l. 43.

QUOTATION: Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves
That could not live asunder day or night.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Burgundy, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 2, sc. 2, l. 30-1.

QUOTATION: I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Vernon, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 2, sc. 4, l. 47.

Plucking a white rose, the badge of the faction of York.

QUOTATION: I have heard it said unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Bedford, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 2, sc. 2, l. 55-6.

QUOTATION: Hung be the heavens with black! Yield, day, to night!
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Bedford, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 1, sc. 1, l. 1.

Probably referring to the canopy over the stage, hung with black drapes for a tragedy.

QUOTATION: A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Joan, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 5, sc. 4, l. 51.

Joan of Arc defending herself.

QUOTATION: Glory is like a circle in the water,
Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,
Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc), in Henry VI, Part 1, act 1, sc. 2, l. 133-5.

The glory is that brought to England by Henry V, now dead.

QUOTATION: What, shall we curse the planets of mishap
That plotted thus our glory’s overthrow?
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Exeter, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 1, sc. 1, l. 23-4.

Attributing the early death of Henry V to the influence of the planets.

QUOTATION: What, shall we curse the planets of mishap
That plotted thus our glory’s overthrow?
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Exeter, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 1, sc. 1, l. 23-4.

Attributing the early death of Henry V to the influence of the planets.

QUOTATION: ‘Tis much when sceptres are in children’s hands,
But more when envy breeds unkind division:
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Exeter, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 4, sc. 1, l. 192-4.

QUOTATION: Civil dissension is a viperous worm
That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. King Henry, in Henry VI, Part 1, act 3, sc. 1, l. 72-3.