| ACT IV SCENE III | Plains in Gascony. | |
| [
Enter a Messenger that meets YORK. Enter YORK
with trumpet and many Soldiers
] |
| YORK | Are not the speedy scouts return'd again, |
| That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin? |
| Messenger | They are return'd, my lord, and give it out |
| That he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power, |
| To fight with Talbot: as he march'd along, | 5 |
| By your espials were discovered |
| Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led, |
| Which join'd with him and made their march for Bourdeaux. |
| YORK | A plague upon that villain Somerset, |
| That thus delays my promised supply | 10 |
| Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege! |
| Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid, |
| And I am lowted by a traitor villain |
| And cannot help the noble chevalier: |
| God comfort him in this necessity! | 15 |
| If he miscarry, farewell wars in France. |
| [Enter Sir William LUCY] |
| LUCY | 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 | 20 |
| And hemm'd about with grim destruction: |
| To Bourdeaux, warlike duke! to Bourdeaux, York! |
| Else, farewell Talbot, France, and England's honour. |
| YORK | O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart |
| Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot's place! | 25 |
| 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. |
| LUCY | O, send some succor to the distress'd lord! | 30 |
| YORK | 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. |
| LUCY | Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul; |
| And on his son young John, who two hours since | 35 |
| 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. |
| YORK | Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have |
| To bid his young son welcome to his grave? | 40 |
| Away! vexation almost stops my breath, |
| That sunder'd 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, | 45 |
| 'Long all of Somerset and his delay. |
| [Exit, with his soldiers] |
| LUCY | 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, | 50 |
| That ever living man of memory, |
| Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross, |
| Lives, honours, lands and all hurry to loss. |
| [Exit] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)