WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Henry V -Saint Crispin’s Day 25 October 1415
byVanderleunonOctober 25, 2017
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 rememberèd-
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 accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
I did hold myself cheap and accursed the day I stood below an Italian cliff with a band of brothers, telling of their winter battle there and sixty-plus years before. This was only made well by drinking grappa with these heroes, on top of the sacred battlefield.
Henry was right, in all ways. Those who deny or doubt are even more accursed than I.
Credit to Willy the Shakes. A toast to him, as well.
Fletcher ChristianOctober 25, 2017, 2:15 PM
Well chosen, but I think the Lawrence Olivier version is better. 🙂
Jeff CrumpOctober 25, 2017, 4:14 PM
The most rousing battle speech in the English speaking world.
Fletcher ChristianOctober 26, 2017, 6:44 AM
Jeff – I’m not so sure. For one thing it’s fictional, so that somewhat degrades its score. For another, Winston Churchill came up with some pretty good ones.
Another one is quite recent, and created by a screenwriter – in the work the film comes from, it’s represented as merely something like “he spoke to his men”. See if you can place it. (I’ve taken out the identifiers!)
My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!
MagnoliaOctober 26, 2017, 9:01 AM
That would be Aragorn, from the Return of the King
ScullmanOctober 26, 2017, 11:46 AM
Branagh’s best role. He’s never come close to equaling it.
Dunkirk was, meh.
GordonOctober 26, 2017, 10:04 PM
I dunno. Branagh was pretty good in Much Ado About Nothing also. A lot of good performances in that one, Michael Keaton among them.
But I can watch this anytime. And that end of the battle scene, the long, long single shot, following him as he carries the body of one of the page boys across the battlefield. How long did it take to set up that shot? I can’t imagine. Every key character is in it. And the thing is, Branagh was the director, which meant he had to rely on the cinematographer to get it right.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Thank you for this. I had forgotten.
In my opinion an outstanding movie.
I did hold myself cheap and accursed the day I stood below an Italian cliff with a band of brothers, telling of their winter battle there and sixty-plus years before. This was only made well by drinking grappa with these heroes, on top of the sacred battlefield.
Henry was right, in all ways. Those who deny or doubt are even more accursed than I.
Credit to Willy the Shakes. A toast to him, as well.
Well chosen, but I think the Lawrence Olivier version is better. 🙂
The most rousing battle speech in the English speaking world.
Jeff – I’m not so sure. For one thing it’s fictional, so that somewhat degrades its score. For another, Winston Churchill came up with some pretty good ones.
Another one is quite recent, and created by a screenwriter – in the work the film comes from, it’s represented as merely something like “he spoke to his men”. See if you can place it. (I’ve taken out the identifiers!)
My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!
That would be Aragorn, from the Return of the King
Branagh’s best role. He’s never come close to equaling it.
Dunkirk was, meh.
I dunno. Branagh was pretty good in Much Ado About Nothing also. A lot of good performances in that one, Michael Keaton among them.
But I can watch this anytime. And that end of the battle scene, the long, long single shot, following him as he carries the body of one of the page boys across the battlefield. How long did it take to set up that shot? I can’t imagine. Every key character is in it. And the thing is, Branagh was the director, which meant he had to rely on the cinematographer to get it right.