Queen.
Oh, Suffolk!—Winchester!—I fear'd, you were
Retir'd to rest.—

Beauf.
What is it, thus, alarms
Your Majesty?

Queen.
'Tis said, the Londoners
Are, All, in Uproar;—that, they now prepare
To move, this Way; vowing, they will not Sleep,
Till they have set their Idol-Duke at Liberty.

Beauf.
Meer harmless Noise; an empty Crack of Thunder!

Suff.
My Lord, I fear, your Counsels are too rash.

Beauf.
Rather accuse the Rashness of Your Fears.

Queen.
Is this a Time, my Lords, to move Contention?

Suff.
To Me, I do confess, there is, in Life no Dread
Like that of popular Fury!—From it's Rage,
In vain we fly to Courage, or to Conduct.

Queen.
Let us, then weigh the Events, on either Side.—
Suppose,—We should release the Duke?—

Beauf.
And, let
Our Adversaries see, they can defeat
Your Resolutions, by the slightest Rumour.
Or,—grant it True:—What happier Incident
Could we expect, to assure us of Success?
You, Madam, can improve it, to the King:
For,—Who, but Gloucester, causes this Sedition?—
Shall Gloucester be Protectour, then?

Queen.
I see,
His Popularity is dangerous to the State.

Beauf.
Most ruinous!—And will your Majesty
(Whose dauntless Spirit is your envied Glory)
Be over-awed, by a tumultuous Rout,
To save the Man,—

Queen.
The Man, whom I detest!—
If, I but smile on Suffolk; He repines:
And thinks the whole Indulgence of the Court
Due to Himself, alone.

Suff.
Madam, the Man,
Distinguish'd by Your Smiles, may boast an Honour,
The foremost Princes of the Earth would prize:
And, thus distinguish'd, I look down on Gloucester!

Beauf.
I would intreat your Majesty to rest,
This Night, secure; and You, my good Lord Suffolk:
Remembring, still, if any Tumult should
Arise, to Morrow, that we all stand firm.—
The King, who yields to popular Commotions,
Is more the Slave, than Sovereign, of his People.

Queen.
My Lord of Winchester; I know, Your Thought
Must be fatigued.—Good Night.—The King resolves,
Early, to meet the Parliament.

Beauf.
By Noon,
If I compute aright, the Power of Gloucester
Ceases.—

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