Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 3

Plains in Gascony.

  1. [Enter a Messenger that meets York. Enter York with trumpet and many soldiers.]
  2. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  3. 1838 Are not the speedy scouts return'd again,
  4. 1839 That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin?
  5. Messenger
  6. 1840 They are return'd, my lord, and give it out
  7. 1841 That he is march'd to Bordeaux with his power,
  8. 1842 To fight with Talbot: as he march'd along,
  9. 1843 By your espials were discovered
  10. 1844 Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led,
  11. 1845 Which join'd with him and made their march for
  12. 1846 Bordeaux.
  13. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  14. 1847 A plague upon that villain Somerset,
  15. 1848 That thus delays my promised supply
  16. 1849 Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege!
  17. 1850 Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid,
  18. 1851 And I am lowted by a traitor villain,
  19. 1852 And cannot help the noble chevalier:
  20. 1853 God comfort him in this necessity!
  21. 1854 If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.
  22. [Enter Sir William Lucy.]
  23. Sir William Lucy
  24. 1855 Thou princely leader of our English strength,
  25. 1856 Never so needful on the earth of France,
  26. 1857 Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,
  27. 1858 Who now is girdled with a waist of iron,
  28. 1859 And hemm'd about with grim destruction.
  29. 1860 To Bordeaux, warlike Duke! to Bordeaux, York!
  30. 1861 Else, farewell, Talbot, France, and England's honor.
  31. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  32. 1862 O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart
  33. 1863 Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot's place!
  34. 1864 So should we save a valiant gentleman
  35. 1865 By forfeiting a traitor and a coward.
  36. 1866 Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep,
  37. 1867 That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.
  38. Sir William Lucy
  39. 1868 O, send some succor to the distress'd lord!
  40. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  41. 1869 He dies; we lose; I break my warlike word;
  42. 1870 We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;
  43. 1871 All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.
  44. Sir William Lucy
  45. 1872 Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul;
  46. 1873 And on his son young John, who two hours since
  47. 1874 I met in travel toward his warlike father!
  48. 1875 This seven years did not Talbot see his son;
  49. 1876 And now they meet where both their lives are done.
  50. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  51. 1877 Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have,
  52. 1878 To bid his young son welcome to his grave?
  53. 1879 Away! vexation almost stops my breath,
  54. 1880 That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death.
  55. 1881 Lucy, farewell: no more my fortune can,
  56. 1882 But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.
  57. 1883 Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours, are won away,
  58. 1884 'Long all of Somerset and his delay.
  59. [Exit, with his soldiers.]
  60. Sir William Lucy
  61. 1885 Thus, while the vulture of sedition
  62. 1886 Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,
  63. 1887 Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss
  64. 1888 The conquest of our scarce cold conqueror,
  65. 1889 That ever living man of memory,
  66. 1890 Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross,
  67. 1891 Lives, honors, lands and all hurry to loss.
  68. [Exit.]