ACT IV. SCENE IV.
London. The palace
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS
| RIVERS. | Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
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| QUEEN ELIZABETH. | Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward?
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| RIVERS. | What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?
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| QUEEN ELIZABETH. | No, but the loss of his own royal person.
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| RIVERS. | Then is my sovereign slain?
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| QUEEN ELIZABETH. | 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 new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.
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| RIVERS. | 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.
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| QUEEN ELIZABETH. | 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 th' English crown.
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| RIVERS. | But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
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| QUEEN ELIZABETH. | 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
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Exeunt
Next
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