WAR. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;

To free king Henry from imprisonment, And see him feated in the regal throne. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter Queen ELIZABETH and RIVERS.4

Rır. Madam, what makes you in this fudden change?

"To tell the queen of our happy fortune;
"And bid her come with speed to join with us.

"War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do,
"And free king Henry from imprisonment,
"And fee him feated on the regal throne.

"Come, let's away; and, having past these cares,
"I'll poft to York, and fee how Edward fares."

STEEVENS. 4 Enter-Rivers.] Throughout this fcene the quartos vary in almost every speech from the folio. The variations, however, are hardly fuch as to deferve notice. STEEVENS.

They are, however, fo marked, as to prove decifively, I think, that either Shakspeare wrote two diftinct pieces on this fubject at different periods, or that the play as exhibited in the folio was his, and that in quarto the production of a preceding writer. Let the second speech of Rivers be read with this view:

"What loffe? of fome pitcht battaile against Warwicke? "Tush, feare not, fair queene, but caft these cares afide. King Edward's noble mind his honour doth display, "And Warwick may lofe, though then he got the day." See also the speech of Clarence quoted in the laft note.

MALONE.

Would not this prove rather too much, as a fimilar inference might be drawn from the two copies of Romeo and Juliet, in 1597 and 1599? STEEVENS.

Q. ELIZ. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to

learn,

'What late misfortune is befall'n king Edward? RIV. What, lofs of fome pitch'd battle against Warwick?

Q. ELIZ. No, but the lofs of his own royal per

fon.

'RIV. Then is my fovereign flain?

'Q. ELIZ. Ay, almost flain, for he is taken prifoner ;

'Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, 'Or by his foe furpriz'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.

'Riv. These news, I must confefs, are full of grief:

'Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may;
'Warwick may lofe, that now hath won the day.
* Q. ELIZ. Till then, fair hope muft hinder life's
decay.

*And I the rather wean me from defpair,
*For love of Edward's offspring in my womb:
*This is it that makes me bridle paffion,

* And bear with mildness my misfortune's crofs; Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,

*

* And ftop the rifing of blood-fucking fighs,

* Left with my fighs or tears I blaft or drown

King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English

crown.

*RIV. But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

Q. ELIZ. I am informed, that he comes towards

London,

LA

*To fet the crown once more on Henry's head: * Guess thou the reft; king Edward's friends must down.

"But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,

(For truft not him that hath once broken faith,) I'll hence forthwith unto the fanctuary,

To fave at least the heir of Edward's right; "There fhall I reft fecure from force, and fraud. 'Come therefore, let us fly, while we may fly; 'If Warwick take us, we are fure to die.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.5

A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire.

Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, and Others.

'GLO. Now, my lord Haftings," and fir William Stanley,

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

5 Scene V.] In new forming these pieces Shakspeare transposed not only many lines and speeches, but fome of the fcenes. This fcene in the original play precedes that which he has made the fourth fcene of this Act. MALONE.

A Park near Middleham-] Shakspeare follows his authority Holinfhed, in the reprefentation here given of King Edward's cap.ure and imprisonment. But honeft Raphael misled hi, as he himself was misled by his predeceffor Hall. The whole is untrue: Edward was never in the hands of Warwick. RITSON.

Now, my lord Haftings, &c.] I fhall infert the speech corref onding to this in the old play, as the comparison wil thow the reader in what manner Shakspeare proceeded, where he

Into this chiefeft thicket of the park.

Thus ftands the cafe: You know, our king, my brother,

"Is prifoner to the bishop here, at whofe hands
He hath good ufage and great liberty;
And often, but attended with weak guard,
'Comes hunting this way to difport himself.
I have advértis'd him by fecret means,
That if about this hour, he make this way,
"Under the colour of his ufual game,

'He shall here find his friends, with horse and

men,

To fet him free from his captivity.

Enter King EDWARD, and a Huntsman.

'HUNT. This way, my lord; for this way lies the

game.

'K. EDW. Nay, this way, man; fee, where the huntsmen ftand.

Now, brother of Glofter, lord Haftings, and the

reft,

'Stand you thus close, to fteal the bishop's deer?

merely retouched and expanded what he found in the elder drama, without the addition of any new matter :

"Glo. Lord Haftings and Sir William Stanley,
"Know that the caufe I fent for you is this..
"I look my brother with a slender train
"Should come a hunting in this forest here.
"The bishop of York befriends him much,
"And lets him ufe his pleasure in the chase.
"Now I have privily fent him word
"How I am come with you to rescue him
"And fee where the huntsman and he doth comę."

MALONE.

'GLO. Brother, the time and cafe requireth hafte; 'Your horse stands ready at the park corner.

'K. EDW. But whither fhall we then?

'HAST. TO Lynn, my lord; and fhip from thence to Flanders.

'GLO. Well guefs'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.

'K. EDW. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardnefs.

*GLO. But wherefore ftay we? 'tis no time to talk.

'K. EDW. Huntsman, what fay'ft thou? wilt thou go along?

HUNT. Better do fo, than tarry and be hang'd. * GLO. Come then, away; let's have no more

ado.

'K. EDW. Bishop, farewell: fhield thee from Warwick's frown;

And pray that I may repoffefs the crown.

[Exeunt.

and fhip-] The first folio has Shipt. The correction

was made by the editor of the fecond folio. MALOne.