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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 4, scene 3
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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 4, scene 3Act 4, scene 3
⌜Scene 3⌝
Synopsis:
Sir William Lucy urges York to help Talbot, but York refuses to march until Somerset unites his cavalry with York’s army, blaming Somerset for Talbot’s sure defeat.
Enter a Messenger that meets York. Enter Yorkwith Trumpet and many Soldiers.
YORK
1837 Are not the speedy scouts returned again
1838 That dogged the mighty army of the Dauphin?
MESSENGER
1839 They are returned, my lord, and give it out
1840 That he is marched to Bordeaux with his power
1841 5 To fight with Talbot. As he marched along,
1842 By your espials were discoverèd
1843 Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led,
1844 Which joined with him and made their march for
1845 Bordeaux.⌜He exits.⌝
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163
YORK 1846 10 A plague upon that villain Somerset
1847 That thus delays my promisèd supply
1848 Of horsemen that were levied for this siege!
1849 Renownèd Talbot doth expect my aid,
1850 And I am louted by a traitor villain
1851 15 And cannot help the noble chevalier.
1852 God comfort him in this necessity.
1853 If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.
Enter ⌜Sir William Lucy.⌝
⌜LUCY⌝
1854 Thou princely leader of our English strength,
1855 Never so needful on the earth of France,
1856 20 Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,
1857 Who now is girdled with a waist of iron
1858 And hemmed about with grim destruction.
1859 To Bordeaux, warlike duke! To Bordeaux, York!
1860 Else farewell Talbot, France, and England’s honor.
YORK
1861 25 O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart
1862 Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot’s place!
1863 So should we save a valiant gentleman
1864 By forfeiting a traitor and a coward.
1865 Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep
1866 30 That thus we die while remiss traitors sleep.
⌜LUCY⌝
1867 O, send some succor to the distressed lord!
YORK
1868 He dies, we lose; I break my warlike word;
1869 We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get,
1870 All long of this vile traitor Somerset.
⌜LUCY⌝
1871 35 Then God take mercy on brave Talbot’s soul,
1872 And on his son, young John, who two hours since
1873 I met in travel toward his warlike father.
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165
1874
This seven years did not Talbot see his son,1875 And now they meet where both their lives are done.
YORK
1876 40 Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have
1877 To bid his young son welcome to his grave?
1878 Away! Vexation almost stops my breath,
1879 That sundered friends greet in the hour of death.
1880 Lucy, farewell. No more my fortune can
1881 45 But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.
1882 Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours are won away,
1883 Long all of Somerset and his delay.
⌜York and his Soldiers⌝ exit.
⌜LUCY⌝
1884 Thus while the vulture of sedition
1885 Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,
1886 50 Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss
1887 The conquest of our scarce-cold conqueror,
1888 That ever-living man of memory,
1889 Henry the Fifth. Whiles they each other cross,
1890 Lives, honors, lands, and all hurry to loss.
⌜He exits.⌝