Shakespeare's Henry V -- Henry's St. Crispin's day speech

William Shakespeare | 1600? | William Shakespeare

[Clive]

Act 4, Scene 3 WESTMORELAND

O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

KING HENRY

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.

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 called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
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 Crispin'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 remember'd.

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 remember'd;

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 accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[Clive]

Today is the Feast of Saints Crispin and Crispinian. On this feast day in 1415, an outnumbered force, mainly English and Welsh archers, won the battle of Agincourt against the armed might of France. The grey goose flock won the day.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Once more unto the breech!

[Rummyfan]

Marking!

[COBOL2Java]

Rent the movie “Renaissance Man”. Contains the best recitation of this speech around.

[1rudeboy]

You are correct in one thing, that was a recitation. For a declamation of the speech, try the one below:

http://www.youtube.com.

/language snob

[GreenLanternCorps]

[SuperLuminal]

Golden oldie...

Think obamao used same speech to the Acorn/Soros OWS commies.../s

[circlecity]

"Rent the movie “Renaissance Man”. Contains the best recitation of this speech around."

The movie "Tombstone" has a pretty good version also.

[Calliecat]

Love it. One of my favorite movies of all time.

I pull out my video once in awhile to watch that scene.

[hc87]

Thanks.

[Excellence]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luqr-UX_oSM

I had forgotten about that movie. Actually, it was pretty good.

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[lucid discourse]

we band of brothers;

[Paine in the Neck]

Superb movie adaptation. I think I'll watch it tonight. Thanks for the reminder.

[fortheDeclaration]

Thank you.