|
| |
St Crispian Day
The King speaks
to his men in Act IV, Scene III, in the English camp:
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 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, "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget;
yet all shall be forget, 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 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 accursed they were not here, And hold
their manhoods cheap while any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's
day
|
