Henry IV, Part 2 (Folger Shakespeare Library)

by William Shakespeare

Let heaven kiss Earth! Now let not Nature’s hand 169 Keep the wild flood confined. Let order die, 170 And let this world no longer be a stage 171 To feed contention in a lingering act; 172 But let one spirit of the firstborn Cain 173 Reign in all bosoms, that, each heart being set 174 On bloody courses, the rude scene may end, 175 And darkness be the burier of the dead.

You, Lord Archbishop, 44 Whose see is by a civil peace maintained, 45 Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched, 46 Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored, 47 Whose white investments figure innocence, 48 The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace, 49 Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself 50 Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace, 51 Into the harsh and boist’rous tongue of war, 52 Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, 53 Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine 54 To a loud trumpet and a point of war?