The New York Post Editorial Board offers a look back at Shakespeare’s St. Crispin’s Day speech on Memorial Day.
Memorial Day inspires mixed
emotions: pride in the valor of those who gave their lives in the cause of
freedom; sorrow that such self-sacrifice should have been necessary. Pride in
past valor may be best expressed in the St. Crispin’s Day speech from “Henry V”
(Act IV, Scene iii), delivered by the young king on the eve of the Battle of
Agincourt.
St. Crispin’s Day
By William Shakespeare
(1564-1616)
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:
You can read the rest of the
speech via the below link:
You can also watch Sir Laurence Olivier perform the speech via the below link:
Note: The above photo is of
actor Sir Laurence Olivier in Henry V.
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