Talbot's with him.
Som.
It 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 honour7 note,
-- 120 --
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.
Off.
Here is sir William Lucy, who with me
Set from our o'er-match'd forces forth for aid.
Enter Sir William Lucy.
Som.
How now, sir William? whither were you sent?
Lucy.
Whither, my lord? from bought and sold lord Talbot8 note
;
Who, ring'd about9 note
with bold adversity,
Cries out for noble York and Somerset,
To beat assailing death from his weak legions1 note.
And whiles the honourable captain there
Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,
And, in advantage ling'ring2 note
, looks for rescue,
You, his false hopes, the trust of England's honour,
Keep off aloof with worthless emulation3 note
.
-- 121 --
Let not your private discord keep away
The levied succours that should lend him aid,
While he, renowned noble gentleman,
Yields4 note up his life unto a world of odds:
Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy5 note,
Alençon, Reignier, compass him about,
And Talbot perisheth by your default.
Som.
York set him on, York should have sent him aid.
Lucy.
And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;
Swearing that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
Som.
York 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.
Lucy.
The 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.
Som.
Come, go; I will despatch the horsemen straight:
Within six hours they will be at his aid.
Lucy.
Too 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.
-- 122 --
Som.
If he be dead, brave Talbot then adieu!
Lucy.
His fame lives in the world, his shame in you.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
