ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 4
1Other plains in Gascony.
2Enter Somerset, with his army; a Captain of Talbot’s with him.
3SomersetIt 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.
4CaptainHere is Sir William Lucy, who with me
Set from our o’ermatch’d forces forth for aid.
5Enter Sir William Lucy.
6SomersetHow now, Sir William! whither were you sent?
7LucyWhither, 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 succours that should lend him aid,
While he, renowned noble gentleman,
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.
8SomersetYork set him on; York should have sent him aid.
9LucyAnd York as fast upon your grace exclaims;
Swearing that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
10SomersetYork 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.
11LucyThe 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.
12SomersetCome, go; I will dispatch the horsemen straight:
Within six hours they will be at his aid.
13LucyToo 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.
14SomersetIf he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!
15LucyHis fame lives in the world, his shame in you. Exeunt.