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It has been a Crispian's Day* kind of a month
« on: 2009-07-26 01:50:55 » |
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From Shakespeare's Henry V
Enter the KING
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.
*Crispen's Day is on October 25. But this month two of the remaining survivors of World War I, the "War to End All Wars", died. They were Harry Patch (6 June 1896 – 18 July 2009) the last surviving soldier and Henry Allingham (17 June 1898 – 25 July 2009) the last surviving airman. Given the work done by these men to remind people of the pointlessness of war it seems fitting to remember them kindly.
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