Tonight we were watching a show that Mike Rowe was hosting and he was discussing the camaraderie between Captains and fishermen with Captain. The Captain said ”we are a band of brother.” Mike Rowe commented that he was quoting Shakespeare. The Captain was confused as Mike Rowe began to quote “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;”
This peaked my interest. I have always heard Band of Brothers referenced in military terms, there is a movie named Band of Brothers. I looked up the quote and found that the quote was one sentence of the St. Crispin's Day speech in Henry V,Act IV Scene iii 18–67. This was written around 1600 by William Shakespeare.
The speech is to an outnumbered and demoralized army which is to go against the French on St. Crispin’s Eve, King Henry V rallies them by promising brotherhood, greatness and legacy:
This speech is cuts to the heart of the bond which is formed between people on the battlefield. The dependemcee on other for your life form a bond which is not broken and goes deeper than the familial blood bond of a sibling. This bond is forged deep in your soul the moment you hear cry of the Valkyrie.
It is a band much like a wedding band that binds you to another creating a brotherhood or sisterhood. They are your brother or sister in arms From that moment on. They understand what you have been through because they were there fighting at your side. You can discuss subjects with them that cannot be discussed with other or you can remain silent yet still understand each other.
This bond is deep. No matter how far away to you travel that bond is there. At a moments notice you will drop everything to help them, to celebrate or cry with them. Why you ask; the answer is simple they are my family. The family I have chosen or has chosen me.
The speech is the ultimate pre-battle pep talk. Parts of this speech have been used and written over and over. It is powerful to me is the best way us to pay tribute to the men and women who have died fighting for their countr. For when they fight for their country it is to preserve the way of life they want to ensure all of their countrymen enjoy. Their sacrifice should not only be remembered on Memorial Day, but daily.
Shakespeare in this one speech capture the emotion which has and will always endure as a battle is ready to begin. So on Memorial Day we feast to honor all the pre-battle feast and the people who we lost.
This is my toast to those who heard the cry of the Valkyrie and followed.
The St. Crispian’s Day Speech
WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today!
KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin, Westmorland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are marked to die, we are enough
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, Westmorland, 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 this day is nam'd,
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 "Tomorrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say "These wounds I had on Crispian’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—
WarwickandTalbot,SalisburyandGloucester—
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
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 rememberEd
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today 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.
Please take a minute to reflect on what it would be like to be getting this pep talk before battle.
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