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Prologue to Shakespeare's 'Henry VI - Part III'
(Commissioned for London Shakespeare Workout)
If that the Chorus' ministry should be
To make an hour glass
of history
And as mere facts and dates are dull and dry,
Permit me to unfold and simplify
England's befuddling Wars of the Roses
For Shakespeare's Henry 6 Part III opposes
The White Rose, denoting the House of York
And third son on the genealogical fork
Of King Edward the Third, against the Red,
Which from the fourth son of that monarch bred.
Through Henrys IV and V and VI passed down,
That House of Lancaster now wears the crown.
Though Henry Fifth, replete with wrathful fire,
Unleashed at Agincourt his Christian ire,
Winning in battle brave great swathes of France,
His son, Henry the Sixth, ill wields the lance,
And thrust with monarchy when still a boy
And cuckolded before his marriage joy
With Margaret, sees his father's gains, hard won,
By England's rancorous infighting undone.
As Warwick puts it, famed for changing pacts,
They've wrought this easy-melting king like wax.
Now would Richard of York in battle rid
Lancaster's sovereignty and make his bid
For monarchy, and when we start this play,
York at St. Albans has just won the day
Assisted by his four sons: Edward, George,
Dicky the crookback that some fiend did forge
(Who shall become the Duke of Gloucester when
His elder brother gains the throne, and then
Shall murder brother, nephews, foes and friend
To gain his piteous and unpitied end
As England's ruler, King Richard the Third,
Who'll die at Bosworth Field by prophets' word…)
But that's another play. York's youngest son,
Whose fate shall make his father's tears to run,
Is Rutland, and of him you'll shortly hear.
So sit back and relax and lend thine ear.
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