HAPPY ST GEORGES DAY
KC72
Active member
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there`s nothing so becomes a man
As modest humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the actions of a tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood
Disguise fair nature with with hard-favour`d rage
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o`erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O`erhang and jutty his confounded base
Swill`d with the wild and wasteful ocean
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height! On, on, you noblest English!
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheath`d their swords for lack of argument
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call`d fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you good yoemen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which i doubt not;
For there is non of you so mean and base
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game`s afoot:
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge
Cry `God for Harry! England, and Saint George!'
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there`s nothing so becomes a man
As modest humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the actions of a tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood
Disguise fair nature with with hard-favour`d rage
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o`erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O`erhang and jutty his confounded base
Swill`d with the wild and wasteful ocean
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height! On, on, you noblest English!
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheath`d their swords for lack of argument
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call`d fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you good yoemen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which i doubt not;
For there is non of you so mean and base
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game`s afoot:
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge
Cry `God for Harry! England, and Saint George!'