Richard wrote:
<< now tell us the source so that we can go back and put it in
the Bard's context and then, as you have done, re-extract it for our own
purposes >>
It's King Henry's pep talk to his troops before the battle at Agincour
in Henry V. Truly one of the greatest scenes in all of Shakespeare's
works. Certain folks might prefer the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet
(and PTTHHLBB on them), but the St. Crispian's day speech is the one
that makes my hair stand on end.
The English army has been in France for months (years?) fighting over
ownership of some bit of northern France and is tired, sick and wanting
to go home. At Agincour, on St. Crispian's Day, they're faced by a
HUGE, well-rested French army and are vastly outnumbered (by 5 to 1--
think Ol' Blue with a busted hub looking across the paddock at a
gleaming line of Renault 5 Turbo Group B cars). One of the lords wishes
out loud for more men from home.
Henry gives them this pep-talk, saying in essence, "Hey, if we get our
butts kicked, we're enough in number that England is harmed. BUT if we
win this battle against these odds, think of the bragging rights that
are ours for life."
(edited for bandwidth -- forgive me Will!)
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 honor.
God's will I pray thee, wish not one man more.
. . .
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 neighbors,
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.'
. . .
And Crispin Crispian shal 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 abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Henry's inspired army, with the help of the long-bow, goes on to wipe
out the larger French one with very little loss on the English side.
Kenneth Branaugh did a Henry V movie a few years ago that is highly
recommended -- just the sound track is worth having.
Scott
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Taylor [SMTP:n196x@mindspring.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 6:44 PM
> To: Mark J Bradakis; fot@autox.team.net; mgvrmark@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: Mid Ohio Triumph/MG race
>
> Mark,
> Yeah, I'm a little embarrassed, but I too am one of the closet
> dabblers.
> The piece your offer here is absolutely classic. Thanks for sharing.
> OK,
> now tell us the source so that we can go back and put it in the Bard's
> context and then, as you have done, re-extract it for our own
> purposes. I'm
> thinking Julius Caesar but then the contrivances of MacBeth could
> offer
> such a call of mortal allegiance to the Fates.
>
> I know some of you intellectuals are feign to share the little wonders
> you've discovered, but just pretend that I'm asking about an ignition
> timing secret or cam overlap or something.
>
> Thanks again for the gift.
>
> Richard Taylor
> TR-4
> Atlanta
>
> .At 02:27 AM 6/15/99 -0600, Mark J Bradakis wrote:
> >
> > From this day till the ending of the world
> > But we in it shall be remembered:
> > We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
> > For he that sheds his blood with me today
> > Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
> > This day shall gentle his condition.
> >
> >
> >There's at least one person reading this list who's dabbled with
> Shakespeare,
> >and knows the above quote. And while great literature can soothe
> many ills,
> >it obviously won't make up for me missing out on a weekend with "we
> happy
> few,
> >we band of brothers" Tip one back for me when the track is clear.
> >
> >mjb.
> >
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