Henry VI, Pt. 3
Act IV, Scene 4
London. A palace room.
Frontpiece for Henry VI part 3
From the third folio
1663
- Enter Rivers and Lady Grey, now Queen Elizabeth.
Lord Rivers
1- Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
Queen Elizabeth
2 - 3- Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
- What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?
Lord Rivers
4- What? Loss of some pitch’d battle against Warwick?
Queen Elizabeth
5- No, but the loss of his own royal person.
Lord Rivers
6- Then is my sovereign slain?
Queen Elizabeth
7 - 12- 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.
Lord Rivers
13 - 15- 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.
Queen Elizabeth
16 - 24- Till then fair hope must hinder live’s decay;
- And I the rather wain 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.
Lord Rivers
25- But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
Queen Elizabeth
26 - 35- 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.