directory
home contact

King Henry VI, Part I

Please see the bottom of the page for helpful resources.

ACT IV SCENE IV Other plains in Gascony. 
[ Enter SOMERSET, with his army; a Captain of TALBOT's with him ]
SOMERSETIt 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 Talbot5
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.
CaptainHere is Sir William Lucy, who with me10
Set from our o'ermatch'd forces forth for aid.
[Enter Sir William LUCY]
SOMERSETHow now, Sir William! whither were you sent?
LUCYWhither, my lord? from bought and sold Lord Talbot;
Who, ring'd about with bold adversity,
Cries out for noble York and Somerset,15
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,20
Keep off aloof with worthless emulation.
Let not your private discord keep away
The levied succors that should lend him aid,
While he, renowned noble gentleman,
Yields up his life unto a world of odds:25
Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,
Alencon, Reignier, compass him about,
And Talbot perisheth by your default.
SOMERSETYork set him on; York should have sent him aid.
LUCYAnd York as fast upon your grace exclaims;30
Swearing that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
SOMERSETYork 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.35
LUCYThe 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.
SOMERSETCome, go; I will dispatch the horsemen straight:40
Within six hours they will be at his aid.
LUCYToo 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.
SOMERSETIf he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!45
LUCYHis fame lives in the world, his shame in you.
[Exeunt]

Continue to 1 Henry VI, Act 4, Scene 5

________

Related Articles

 The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)
 Elements of Shakespeare's History Plays
 Characteristics of Elizabethan Drama

 Shakespeare's Reputation in Elizabethan England
 Shakespeare's Impact on Other Writers
 Four Periods of Shakespeare's Life
 Shakespeare's Writing Style

 Words Shakespeare Coined
 Quotations About William Shakespeare
 Why Shakespeare is so Important
 Shakespeare's Language
 Shakespeare's Boss: The Master of Revels