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King Henry VI, Part 1: Act 4 Scene 4

Scene IV Other plains in Gascony.

[Enter SOMERSET, with his army; a Captain of

TALBOT's with him]

SOMERSET

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

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.

CAPTAIN

Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me

Set from our o'ermatch'd forces forth for aid.

[Enter Sir William LUCY]

SOMERSET

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,

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,

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 succors that should lend him aid,

While he, renowned noble gentleman,

Yields up his life unto a world of odds:

Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,

Alencon, Reignier, compass him about,

And Talbot perisheth by your default.

SOMERSET

York set him on; York should have sent him aid.

LUCY

And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;

Swearing that you withhold his levied host,

Collected for this expedition.

SOMERSET

York lies; he might have sent and had the horse;

I owe him little duty, and less love;

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.

SOMERSET

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.

SOMERSET

If he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!

LUCY

His fame lives in the world, his shame in you.

[Exeunt]