Henry VI, part 3, Act 4 Scene 4 runs 35 lines of dialogue, spoken by 2 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 105 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Full Dialogue
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?
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.
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,
Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe.
Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surprised 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.
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.
Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may:
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
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.
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 the English crown.
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,–
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.
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.
35 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth | 28 | 80.0% |
| Rivers | 7 | 20.0% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 28 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 18 lines.
Total speakers on stage
2 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 4 of 8 in Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Scene length vs. play average
At 35 lines, this scene is shorter than the Henry VI, part 3 average scene in Henry VI, part 3 (~105 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 3 · Next: Act 4 Scene 5