add SCENE IV. Other plains in
Gascony.
Enter SOMERSET, with his army; a Captain
of TALBOT’S
with him.
♦
Som.
It is too late; I cannot send them now:
This expedition was by York and Talbot
Too rashly plotted: all our general force
Might with a sally of the very town
5 Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot
Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour
By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure:
York set him on to fight and die in shame,
That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name.
10
Cap. Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me
♦
Set from our o’er-match’d forces forth for aid.
Enter Sir William Lucy.
♦
Som.
How now, Sir William! whither were you sent?
♦
Lucy.
Whither, my lord? from bought and sold Lord Talbot;
Who, ring’d about with bold adversity,
15 Cries out for noble York and Somerset,
♦
To beat assailing death from his weak legions:
♦
And whiles the honourable captain there
Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,
♦
And, in advantage lingering, looks for rescue,
20 You, his false hopes, the trust of England’s honour,
Keep off aloof with worthless emulation.
Let not your private discord keep away
♦
The levied succours that should lend him aid,
While he, renowned noble gentleman,
25
Yields up his life unto a world of odds:
♦
Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,
♦
Alençon, Reignier, compass him about,
And Talbot perisheth by your default.
Som.
York set him on; York should have sent him aid.
30
Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;
♦
Swearing that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
Som.
York lies; he might have sent and had the horse:
I owe him little duty, and less love;
35 And take foul scorn to fawn on him by sending.
Lucy.
The fraud of England, not the force of France,
Hath now entrapp’d the noble-minded Talbot:
Never to England shall he bear his life;
But dies, betray’d to fortune by your strife.
40
Som. Come, go; I will dispatch the horsemen straight:
Within six hours they will be at his aid.
♦
Lucy.
Too late comes rescue: he is ta’en or slain;
For fly he could not, if he would have fled;
♦
And fly would Talbot never, though he might.
45
Som. If he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!
Lucy.
His fame lives in the world, his shame in you.
[Exeunt.