We Few. We Happy Few.
The question gets asked so many times, “Should the US send more troops into Iraq?”
I think Shakespeare said it best, so I’ll quote him, from the play Henry V, in which one of his Dukes, Westmoreland, bemoans the huge number of French the English are about to fight, something like a 5-1 advantage, on St. Crispian’s Day:
WESTMORELAND O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day!
KING HENRY V 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.
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 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.
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.
By the time the 8-229th AVN Flying Tigers leave this theater, it will have been a year. Then for us, upon which every day is another battle somewhere here in the Sunni Triangle of Iraq, everyday is St. Crispian’s Day.
Yes, we few. We happy few
I think Shakespeare said it best, so I’ll quote him, from the play Henry V, in which one of his Dukes, Westmoreland, bemoans the huge number of French the English are about to fight, something like a 5-1 advantage, on St. Crispian’s Day:
WESTMORELAND O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day!
KING HENRY V 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.
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 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.
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.
By the time the 8-229th AVN Flying Tigers leave this theater, it will have been a year. Then for us, upon which every day is another battle somewhere here in the Sunni Triangle of Iraq, everyday is St. Crispian’s Day.
Yes, we few. We happy few
posted by Gary W Pearson at 9:30 PM
<< Home