Act IV.
Scene IV.
Scene IV.—London. A Room in the Palace.
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.
Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden
change?
Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to
learn,
What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward?
Riv. What! loss of some pitch'd battle against
Warwick?
Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal
person.
Riv. Then is my sovereign slain?
Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken
prisoner;
Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares:
And, as I further have to understand,
Is now committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.
Riv. These news, I must confess, are full of
grief;
Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may:
Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.
Q. Eliz. Till then fair hope must hinder life's
decay.
And I the rather wean me from despair
For love of Edward's offspring in my womb:
This is it that makes me bridle passion,
And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross;
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English
crown.
Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then
become?
Q. Eliz. I am inform'd that he comes towards
London,
To set the crown once more on Henry's head:
Guess thou the rest; King Edward's friends
must down.
But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,—
For trust not him that hath once broken faith,—
I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
To save at least the heir of Edward's right:
There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
Come, therefore; let us fly while we may fly:
If Warwick take us we are sure to die. [Exeunt.
|
