Posted on 10/25/2009 2:48:38 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen
October 25 is fraught with anniversaries. It marks a turning point in European history that was to later provide one of the greatest speeches ever to emerge from the English language and that has inspired millions for over 400 years.
We are speaking here, of course, of the Battle of Agincourt that was fought on the feast of St. Crispin's Day in 1415 when young King Henry V and his army defeated the French army under the command of Constable d’Albret and his 100,000 men
(Excerpt) Read more at speroforum.com ...
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.
I think Gibson’s Braveheart speech was better.
I turn into Goosebump City every time I read that passage.
ping
Thank you for posting that. It’s one of my favorite bits of Shakespeare.
Well, MNJohnnie, here's something else upon which we agree!
Would you also agree that Kenneth Branagh's delivery was nearly flawless--with the glaring exception of omitting the humor of "with advantages"--and brilliantly stirring? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8
I actually prefer it to Olivier's... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E (who also glosses over the humor).
Its better when someone that is used to delivering it does it. Braveheart is good. Willy is the best.
To celebrate, watch the movie “Renaissance Man”.
ping ping ping
In 1415, the Julian calendar was in use. According to the modern Gregorian calendar, the anniversary should be on November 3.
Or perhaps the Olivier (1944) or Branagh (1989) Henry V.
BTTT
It is said that Henry saw St. Andrew’s saltire in the sky that day. St. Andrew is the patron of Scotland.
When America was setting root, and beginning to form it’s own “Church of England”, our forefathers would not swear allegiance to the king so the first bishop was consecrated in Scotland.
The Episcopal Church in the United States (in its sad state of affairs) bears St. Andrew’s cross and St. George’s (patron saint of England) as well, because that St. George’s cross was on the flag flying on the ships when America was settled.
I knew that 2 far distant ancestors of mine had fought at Agincourt . One , a Man-at-arms or Lance , another an Archer , both under the Duke of Gloucester . Using my mother’s maiden name I found another , an Archer under the Earl of Norfolk .
http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/soldier/database/search.php
Piffle. Check back in 600 years and let's see who's still remembered.
At the rate that old blighty is falling into chaos, do you really think that shakespere’s romanticised version of henry’s brigandage will be remembered?
“Its better when someone that is used to delivering it does it. Braveheart is good. Willy is the best.”
Good point.
This version makes the limes look really fairy.
This, IMHO, was Kenneth Brannaugh’s finest movie performance. It is a great movie, love it.
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