On the eve of the battle of Agincourt at the English camp in northern France, which took place on St. Crispin’s Day, October 25, 1415, King Henry V motivates his men – his ‘band of brothers’, upon hearing Westmoreland wish that some of the soldiers uselessly in England were with them at the field to reduce the odds of greatly outnumbered greatly by the French.
The King begins this moving speech in which he asks not for more men, but fewer, since with defeat, the fewer men the less harm to England, while with victory, the fewer men the greater the honor to England.
This is a worthy passage for recitation! Download the print version here.
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, L
et 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 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.
Who are Saint Crispin and Saint Crispain?
According to legend which can be traced back no further than the 8th century, Crispin and Crispain were two brothers, Christians, living in Rome. They fled the persecution of Christians begun under the Roman Emporer Diocletian. They traveled to Soissons in what was then Gaul (later France), and remained in hiding, supporting themselves as shoemakers. In 286 they were found and beheaded, presumably on October 25, which became the day of their commemoration. They were the patron saints of shoemakers and their day was particularly celebrated in France. It was on this day, October 25 that the Battle of Agincourt was to be fought.
Grand Conversation
Do you believe King Henry V was truly confident before the battle in which the odds were so enormously against him? Why or Why not?
Do you believe King Henry V was a competent general? Why or Why not?
Does King Henry or the Battle of Agincourt remind you of anything else?