We Few, We Happy Few…

KING. 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 whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

– William Shakespeare, Henry V

I always love St. Crispin’s Day speeches when they turn up in movies and literature. They’re always rousing and I’m man enough to admit that ten times out of nine, I’ll tear up when I see/hear/read them. I did during Aragorn’s speech in the latest Return of The King movie. I did during William Wallace’s speech during the movie Braveheart. I did during Henry’s speech during Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of the aforementioned play. Hell, I teared up re-reading this post. Go me!

At any rate, Happy St. Crispin’s Day everyone.

4 thoughts on “We Few, We Happy Few…

  1. This one made me laugh so hard I cried.

    Due South: Call of the Wild pt2

    **Sgt. Duncan “Buck” Frobisher (Leslie Nielsen) rallies the Mounties**

    They have called this day THE ELEVENTH OF MARCH. And whom-so-ever of you gets through this day unless you are shot in the head or somehow slain you will stand a hipnal when e’er you hear the name again and you will get EXCITED at the name MARCH THE ELEVENTH. We happy few, we few, we band of brothers our names will be as like HOUSEHOLD NAMES – Those who are not here be they sleeping or doing something else. They will feel themselves – Sort of crappy. Because they are not here to.. to join the fight. ON THIS DAY MARCH THE ELEVENTH!

    PS: I still miss this show!

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