Queen.
Lord Cardinal, Good Morrow.

Beauf.
Your Majesty wears not the Smiles, this Day
Requires:—This long-expected Day.

Suff.
A Dream
Has overcast her wonted Chearfulness.

Queen.
A Dream
So very wild!—And yet, so powerfull, it wrought;
That, from my Slumbers, I awoke disorder'd.
  Methought I saw a hunted Stag take Refuge
In a wide Stream;—not unlike the Thames:—
And, when I look'd again; That Stag—was Suffolk!—
Again, I slumber'd:—When another Dream
Sets Beaufort in my View;—besmear'd with Blood!—
And Warwick,—crying Murder, through the Palace!—
What I saw, after, was—embattled Armies!—
The King, dethroned!—My Self, a Wanderer!—
And York;—Yet soon, it was not York;
But, a fresh-blooming Youth, who wore the Crown!

Beauf.
This, only, shews; your Majesty is anxious
For the King's Honour, and Safety of your Friends.
  I, my self, did dream, Gloucester was taken Speechless!—
Must it, therefore, be so?—Or, does it not
Proceed from the Concern of Yesterday?
When, there was Cause to dread his Power of Speech!

Queen.
Then,—let these Visions pass.—But, have you heard
Of last Night's Tumult?

Beauf.
Nothing.—I went to Rest.

Queen.
The Duke of Suffolk brought the Account, this Morning.

Suff.
Midnight Sedition!—Of which I mean to speak
In Parliament.

Beauf.
Most fortunate Event!—

Queen.
As it has prov'd.—

Beauf.
Does the King know it?

Queen.
He does: And, is determin'd.

Beauf.
But, is he ready?

Queen.
By this Time, his Robes are on.—

Beauf.
For,—if the Duke's Confinement be prolong'd,
Till the Day wears; the Commoners and Peers
Will clamour to release him, ere we can pass
A Vote to make his Office void.

Suff.
Madam,
That Vote secur'd; We have reduced your Foe.

Queen.
I ask no more.—Kind Fortune, aid us, now!—
And, think not, Gloucester, We (howe'er incens'd)
Would let Resentment loose, against thy Life.—
Be Duke of Gloucester, still!—But not Protectour!

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