| ACT IV SCENE IV | London. The palace. | |
| | Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS | |
| RIVERS | Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? | |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH | Why brother Rivers, are you yet to learn | |
| | What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward? | |
| RIVERS | What! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick? | 5 |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH | No, but the loss of his own royal person. | |
| RIVERS | Then is my sovereign slain? | |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH | Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner, | |
| | Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard | |
| | Or by his foe surprised at unawares: | 10 |
| | And, as I further have to understand, | |
| | Is new committed to the Bishop of York, | |
| | Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe. | |
| RIVERS | These news I must confess are full of grief; | |
| | Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may: | 15 |
| | Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day. | |
| 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 | 20 |
| | 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. | 25 |
| RIVERS | But, madam, where is Warwick then become? | |
| 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,-- | 30 |
| | 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: | 35 |
| | If Warwick take us we are sure to die. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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