HENRY THE SIXTH PART 3

Act 4 Scene 5

(Enter Earl Rivers and his sister, Lady Gray, Edward's queen)
l1l	Rivers	 Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
l2l	Lady Gray	Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
l3l		What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?
l4l	Rivers	What? Loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?
l5l	Lady Gray	No, but the loss of his own royal person.
l6l	Rivers	Then is my sovereign slain?
l7l	Lady Gray	Ay, almost slain—for he is taken prisoner,
l8l		Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard
l9l		Or by his foe surprised at unawares,
l10l		And, as I further have to understand,
l11l		Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
l12l		Fell Warwick’s brother, and by that our foe.
l13l	Rivers	These news, I must confess, are full of grief.
l14l		Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may.
l15l		Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.
l16l	Lady Gray	Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay,
l17l		And I the rather wean me from despair
l18l		For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb.
l19l		This is it that makes me bridle passion
l20l		And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross.
l21l		Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear
l22l		And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
l23l		Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
l24l		King Edward’s fruit, true heir to th’ English crown.
l25l	Rivers	But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
l26l	Lady Gray	I am informèd that he comes towards London
l27l		To set the crown once more on Henry’s head.
l28l		Guess thou the rest—King Edward’s friends must down.
l29l		But to prevent the tyrant’s violence—
l30l		For trust not him that hath once broken faith—
l31l		I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
l32l		To save at least the heir of Edward’s right.
l33l		There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
l34l		Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly.
l35l		If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.
		(Exeunt)