Printable version of this page

King Henry VI, Part 1: Act 4 Scene 3

Scene III Plains in Gascony.

[Enter a Messenger that meets YORK. Enter YORK

with trumpet and many Soldiers]

YORK

Are not the speedy scouts return'd again,

That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin?

MESSENGER

They are return'd, my lord, and give it out

That he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power,

To fight with Talbot: as he march'd along,

By your espials were discovered

Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led,

Which join'd with him and made their march for Bourdeaux.

YORK

A plague upon that villain Somerset,

That thus delays my promised supply

Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege!

Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid,

And I am lowted by a traitor villain

And cannot help the noble chevalier:

God comfort him in this necessity!

If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.

[Enter Sir William LUCY]

LUCY

Thou princely leader of our English strength,

Never so needful on the earth of France,

Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,

Who now is girdled with a waist of iron

And hemm'd about with grim destruction:

To Bourdeaux, warlike duke! to Bourdeaux, York!

Else, farewell Talbot, France, and England's honour.

YORK

O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart

Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot's place!

So should we save a valiant gentleman

By forfeiting a traitor and a coward.

Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep,

That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.

LUCY

O, send some succor to the distress'd lord!

YORK

He dies, we lose; I break my warlike word;

We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;

All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.

LUCY

Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul;

And on his son young John, who two hours since

I met in travel toward his warlike father!

This seven years did not Talbot see his son;

And now they meet where both their lives are done.

YORK

Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have

To bid his young son welcome to his grave?

Away! vexation almost stops my breath,

That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death.

Lucy, farewell; no more my fortune can,

But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.

Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours, are won away,

'Long all of Somerset and his delay.

[Exit, with his soldiers]

LUCY

Thus, while the vulture of sedition

Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,

Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss

The conquest of our scarce cold conqueror,

That ever living man of memory,

Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross,

Lives, honours, lands and all hurry to loss.

[Exit]