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.

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