Henry VI, Pt. 1
Act IV, Scene 3
France. Plains in Gascony.
Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York
Talbot Master, 1443
- Enter a Messenger that meets York. Enter York with Trumpet
- and many Soldiers.
Richard, Duke of York
1 - 2- Are not the speedy scouts return’d again
- That dogg’d the mighty army of the Dauphin?
Fifth Messenger
3 - 8- They are return’d, my lord, and give it out
- That he is march’d to Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux.
- Exit.
Richard, Duke of York
9 - 16- 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 louted by a traitor villain
- And cannot help the noble chevalier.
- God comfort him in this necessity!
- If he miscarry, farewell wars in France!
- Enter another Messenger, Sir William Lucy.
Sir William Lucy
17 - 23- 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 Bordeaux, warlike Duke! To Bordeaux, York!
- Else farewell Talbot, France, and England’s honor!
Richard, Duke of York
24 - 29- 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.
Sir William Lucy
30- O, send some succor to the distress’d lord!
Richard, Duke of York
31 - 33- 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.
Sir William Lucy
34 - 38- 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.
Richard, Duke of York
39 - 46- Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have
- To bid his young son welcome to his grave?
- Away! Vexation almost stops my breath,
- That sund’red 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.
Sir William Lucy
47 - 53- 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, honors, lands, and all, hurry to loss.
- Enter Sir William Lucy