| 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? |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH | No, but the loss of his own royal person. | 5 |
| 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: |
| And, as I further have to understand, | 10 |
| 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: |
| Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day. | 15 |
| 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; | 20 |
| 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. |
| RIVERS | But, madam, where is Warwick then become? | 25 |
| 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,-- | 30 |
| 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. | 35 |
[Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)