&blquo;SCENE IV.
London. A Room in the Palace.
&blquo;Enter the Queen and Lord Rivers.
&blquo;Riv.
&blquo;Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
&blquo;Que.
&blquo;Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
&blquo;What late misfortune hath befall'n king Edward?
-- 340 --
&blquo;Riv.
&blquo;What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?
&blquo;Que.
&blquo;No, but the loss of his own royal person.
&blquo;Riv.
&blquo;Then is my sovereign slain?
&blquo;Que.
&blquo;Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner;
&blquo;Either betray'd by falshood of his guard,
&blquo;Or by his foe surpriz'd at unawares:
&blquo;And, as I further have to understand,
&blquo;Is new committed to the bishop of York,
&blquo;Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.
&blquo;Riv.
&blquo;These news, I must confess, are full of grief:
&blquo;Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may;
&blquo;Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.
&blquo;Que.
&blquo;'Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay.
&blquo;And I the rather wean me from despair,
&blquo;For love of Edward's offspring in my womb:
&blquo;This is it that makes me bridle my passion,
&blquo;And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross
&blquo;Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
&blquo;And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
&blquo;Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
&blquo;King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.
&blquo;Riv.
&blquo;But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
&blquo;Que.
&blquo;I am informed, that he comes towards London,
&blquo;To set the crown once more on Henry's head:
&blquo;Guess thou the rest, king Edward's friends must down.
&blquo;But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,
&blquo;(For trust not him that hath once broken faith)
&blquo;I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
&blquo;To save at least the heir of Edward's right;
&blquo;There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
&blquo;Come therefore, let us fly, while we may fly;
&blquo;If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.
[Exeunt* note.
John Bell [1774], Bell's Edition of Shakespeare's Plays, As they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London; Regulated from the Prompt Books of each House By Permission; with Notes Critical and Illustrative; By the Authors of the Dramatic Censor (Printed for John Bell... and C. Etherington [etc.], York) [word count] [S10401].