|
|
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Henry V
I'm currently listening to Shakespeare's "Henry V". King Henry V of England had laid claim to some part of France which they believed rightfully belonged to England. The dauphin (prince?) of France sends a messenger to the young King of England and mentions that they will overlook this insult since he is so young, and that they've sent him a treasure to occupy him to help him forget about the land in France. They open the treasure, and it's a chest of tennis balls. Long story short, England has a rightful claim because of blood-lines and all that to France and they go to claim it with the King leading the troops.
The English are incredibly outnumbered (5-1), tired and hungry prior to a major battle where the French noblemen are joking about how there aren't even enough Englishmen to wet their swords, etc. The French have fresh troops and a large number of cavalry.
One of the English noblemen (Westmoreland) makes a comment about how he would give anything for some of the men at home in England. The king overhears him and gives a rallying speech to encourage the soldiers. It includes the much nowadays used phrase "band of brothers" and is a very stirring speech. If you haven't seen the depiction of the play on DVD, I highly recommend it.
Here's the speech - (it takes me a few lines before getting into Shakespearean mode to where you can follow him, but it's worth it):
WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But, if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian!'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
The outcome of the battle is that the English rout the French. The English take 1500 French prisoners and 10,000 French are slain - the field was incredibly muddy and sloppy and the horses and French foot-soldiers were mired down in the muck and the English archery units cut them down. Only 25 English are lost. King Henry (they call him Harry for some reason) points out that it was God who gave them the victory and that any man who boasts about the victory, taking the glory from God, will be put to death.
More interesting historical background here.
1/18/2005 09:39:00 AM by Todd Bacon
0 comments
|
