upon the king speech henry v analysis

A Short Analysis of the ‘St Crispin’s Day’ Speech from Henry V

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The ‘St Crispin’s Day’ speech is one of the most famous speeches from William Shakespeare’s Henry V , a history play written in around 1599 and detailing the English king’s wars with France during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).

Henry V himself delivers the St Crispin’s Day speech in the play. He delivers the speech on the occasion of the Battle of Agincourt. The real battle did indeed take place on 25 October 1415, and 25 October is indeed the feast day of the Christian saint St Crispin.

However, although Shakespeare’s speech is often referred to as the ‘St Crispin’s Day’ speech, Henry doesn’t actually mention St Crispin until the end; the saint he mentions at the beginning of the speech (‘This day is called the feast of Crispian’) is actually a different saint.

Henry needs to make a rousing speech to his men. They are significantly outnumbered by the enemy forces. The real, historical Battle of Agincourt bears this out: it is thought that Henry’s forces numbered around 5,000 men, while the French army numbered at least around 30,000, although some estimates are as high as 100,000 men.

Henry’s speech captures the sense of comradeship and patriotism which binds the men together on the field of battle. The best way to offer an analysis of this classic speech is to go through it section by section, summarising its meaning and analysing the language Henry uses as we go.

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.

As mentioned above, ‘Crispian’ is not a mere variation on the name of St Crispin, for the purposes of metre: he’s a different saint. And even that one isn’t properly called ‘Crispian’.

The legend tells of two brothers, Crispin and Crispinian ( not Crispian), who left Rome and settled in France, where they became shoemakers. They both subsequently became the patron saints of shoemakers. They attained sainthood by converting many people to Christianity, before being beheaded as martyrs.

Henry’s speech refers to ‘the feast of Crispian’: a reference to St Crispin’s brother , St Crispinian. However, because the fortunes of the two brothers were so closely interlinked, they share a feast day, 25 October.

Now we’ve cleared that up … Henry begins his rousing speech to his troops by telling them that all men who fight in the battle that day, and survive, returning safely home afterwards, will ‘stand a-tiptoe’ (i.e. walk tall, or feel proud) whenever the day of St Crispin’s (or Crispinian’s) Day is mentioned, because it will remind them of their heroism on this day.

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.’

Henry goes on to tell his men that those who survive the battle and live to see old age will, every year on the ‘vigil’ (i.e. the eve) of the anniversary of the battle, celebrate with his neighbours back home and mark the occasion, showing off his battle scars.

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.

Old men tend to be forgetful, and all of the soldiers standing before Henry will become forgetful as they grow old too; but one thing they will never forget is their feats of bravery that they perform in the battle on this day.

The names of those who lead the battle – the King and the noblemen who fight with him – will remain familiar in the mouth of every man who fought alongside them, as familiar as ‘household words’ or common phrases.

The reference to ‘mouth’ here suggests that the veterans of the battle will be telling their war stories to a rapt audience of neighbours in years to come: people who wish to hear of the part the men played in the heroic battle.

Curiously, Shakespeare is inaccurate in listing ‘Warwick’ and ‘Talbot’ as among those fighting at the Battle of Agincourt: Warwick was a later figure, mentioned in 1 Henry VI , and Talbot (John Talbot, First Earl of Shrewsbury) didn’t join the French campaign until 1419, four years after Agincourt.

But then this was probably deliberate anachronism on Shakespeare’s part: he needed to mention the names of figures his audience would recognise from the popular history (and earlier plays, such as his own trilogy of Henry VI plays), otherwise Henry’s claim that these names would be ‘familiar … as household words’ in years to come might sound comically wide of the mark.

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;

Every good man will teach his son about the battle, so that not a single year will go by when the battle is not remembered on St Crispin’s Day. This will last forever – until the end of the world.

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:

Here’s the most famous line from Henry’s whole speech: ‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers’.

‘Band of brothers’ gave its name to Steven Spielberg’s TV series about the Second World War, and the phrase is often associated with comradeship and camaraderie among soldiers serving and fighting together: although not related by blood, they are brothers-in-arms, through battle – or brothers in ‘blood’, not in the sense that they are related by blood, but because they have shed blood together. (Henry, or rather Shakespeare, may well be drawing upon the brotherly relationship between Crispin and Crispinian, too.)

And it really is a case of ‘we few’, given how much Henry and the English army are outnumbered by the French enemy!

When Henry says that ‘be he ne’er so vile, / This day shall gentle his condition’, he means that every man, no matter how small (‘vile’ was used to refer to someone of minor social standing, e.g. a member of the ‘great unwashed’, as well as denoting someone mean or evil), will become a ‘gentleman’, or be raised up in the eyes of society, through his heroic conduct in battle.

Henry doesn’t literally mean that the swineherds and peasants fighting with him will become earls or dukes when they get home: he’s speaking figuratively, of course. They will be ennobled in a general way through their noble deeds done in battle, fighting for king and country.

However, as is often the case in Shakespeare, there is a potential secondary meaning: namely, that no matter what ‘vile’ deeds these fighting-men have carried out before, their ‘condition’ in the eyes of God will be improved through their heroism. It’s as if, by fighting with Henry V in this battle, they can attain absolution or forgiveness for past sins or misdemeanours.

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.

Indeed, those current ‘gentlemen’ (Henry’s use of the word follows Henry’s use of ‘gentle’ as a verb in the previous line) who are now safe in their beds back home, and not fighting alongside their king, will think it a bad thing that they were absent from the fighting – it will be so terrible for them that it will carry the force of a curse.

They will consider their masculinity, their sense of courage and heroism, a small and worthless thing whenever they hear others talk of the bravery of the men who did fight in the battle. (Once again, there’s another, slightly rude meaning to Henry’s words: ‘hold their manhoods cheap’ suggests these non-combatants will consider their ‘manhoods’, i.e. their male genitalia as a symbol of their male power, worthless because they did not prove their mettle in the heat of battle.)

The ‘St Crispin’s Day’ speech does at least end with Henry mentioning the correct saint. But the speech was worth closer analysis, not only because of the double meanings to some of the language Shakespeare uses, or because of the fact that he is actually talking about two saints rather than one (albeit two with very similar names).

No: the speech is also noteworthy for the way Henry cleverly switches from speaking of ‘we few, we happy few’ – i.e. those noblemen who immediately surround him in the front line of battle – to including the whole army in his rousing and inspiring speech. All men who shed blood with him will become his ‘brothers’.

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5 thoughts on “A Short Analysis of the ‘St Crispin’s Day’ Speech from Henry V”

The “gentlemen now a-bed” feel no remorse, though; they become presidents and send the children of others – not their own children, of course – to fight in undeclared wars.

Love the double meanings and the new (for me) info about “two saints rather than one.” I will have to add this below my own blog entry on “Henry V: Compartments and Counterfeits” :) ( https://shakemyheadhollow.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/henry-v-compartments-and-counterfeits/ )

Just watched Tom Hiddleston’s version from The Hollow Crown which is so different than Kenneth Branagh’s. Another version is from Danny Devito’s Renaissance Man.

The Olivier film version is the best rendition I have seen. A great call to arms esp effective as made during World War two

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‘St Crispin’s Day’ speech with translation

The Feast of St Crispin’s Day speech is spoken by England’s King Henry V in Shakespeare’s Henry V history play ( act 4 scene 3 ). The scene is set on the eve of the battle of Agincourt at the English camp in northern France, which took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin’s Day). Through the course of the speech, Henry V motivates his men – his ‘band of brothers’, outnumbered greatly by the French – by recalling previous English military defeats of the French.

St Crispin’s Day speech, original text

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, 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.’ 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.

St Crispin’s Day Speech Translation

Who’s wishing that? My cousin Westmorland? No, my dear cousin, if we are marked down to die we are enough for our country to lose, and if marked down to live, the fewer the men the greater the share of honour. For the love of God, don’t wish for one man more. By Jove, I’m not interested in gold, nor do I care who eats at my expense. It doesn’t bother me who wears my clothes. Such outward things don’t come into my ambitions. But if it is a sin to long for honour I am the most offending soul alive. No, indeed, my cousin, don’t wish for another man from England. God’s peace, I wouldn’t lose as much honour as the share one man would take from me. No, don’t wish for one more. Rather proclaim to my army, Westmorland, that anyone who doesn’t have the stomach for this fight should leave now. He will be guaranteed free passage and travel money will be put in his purse. We would not like to die with any man who lacks the comradeship to die with us. This day is called the Feast of Crispian. He who outlives this day and gets home safely to reach old age will yearly on its anniversary celebrate with his neighbours and say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.” Then he will roll up his sleeve and show his scars and say “I got these wounds on Crispin’s day.” Old men are forgetful, but even if he remembers nothing else he’ll remember, with embroideries, what feats he did that day. Then our names, as familiar in his mouth as household words – Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester – will be remembered in their toasts. This good man will teach his son, and Crispin Crispian will never pass from today until the end of the world without us being remembered: we few; we happy few; we band of brothers! The man who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; however humble he may be, this day will elevate his status. And gentlemen in England, still lying in their beds, will think themselves accursed because they were not here, and be in awe while anyone speaks who fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.’

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How Shakespeare Rescued St Crispin’s Day From Obscurity

25 th October is St Crispin’s Day. Henry V is structured around that day because this was the day on which Henry defeated the French at Agincourt. It’s also the day on which two other celebrated battles were fought: the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimean War, immortalised by Tennyson in his poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade , 1854, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Pacific, 1944.

St Crispin’s Day is burned into our culture because of Henry’s speech. St Crispin’s Day is actually the feast day of both St Crispin and St Crispinian, Roman twins, the patron saints of cobblers – for that’s what they were, teaching the gospels to the Gauls by day and making and mending shoes by night. In modern times they are also the patron saints of cyclists, of all things!

The brothers fell foul of the authorities because of their Christian preaching and were tortured and beheaded in 256. Strangely, although the majority of recognised saints are legendary rather than historical figures, St Crispin’s Day was removed from the Catholic list of feast days because the Vatican decided that there was little evidence of their existence.

But because of one of the most famous passages in Shakespeare’s works we remember St Crispian and St Crispinian ( Crispian in Shakespeare).

Henry V sat on a horse, surrounded by troops giving speech

Henry V giving his St Crispin’s day speech

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I have never heard a better example of why Shakespeare was such a good poet. The ” translation ” is frankly rubbish as he doesn’t need translation. The original is a stirring speech and anybody who has an elementary understanding of English would appreciate. Clearly the teaching of English in schools needs improvement.

The St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V

By private: william shakespeare.

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. 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, 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.’ 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.

From Henry V , Act IV, Scene III

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Henry V Shakescleare Translation

Henry V Translation Act 4, Scene 3

Enter GLOUCESTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, ERPINGHAM, with all his host, SALISBURY, and WESTMORELAND

GLOUCESTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, ERPINGHAM with his army, SALISBURY, and WESTMORELAND enter.

Where is the king?

The king himself is rode to view their battle.

He rode out to look at their army himself.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

They have a good sixty thousand fighting men.

Everything you need for every book you read.

There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

That's five to one. And they're all fresh.

God’s arm strike with us! 'Tis a fearful odds. God be wi' you, princes all. I’ll to my charge. If we no more meet till we meet in heaven, Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford, My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter, And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

May God fight for us! It's frightening odds. God be with you, princes. I'll go to my troops. If we don't meet again until we meet in heaven, then I joyfully say goodbye, noble Lord of Bedford, dear Lord Gloucester, and good Lord Exeter, and

[to ERPINGHAM] you, my kind relative, all of you soldiers.

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with thee.

Goodbye, good Salisbury, and good luck.

Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today. And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it, For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.

Goodbye, kind lord. Fight bravely today. But I'm insulting you by reminding you of that, because you're made out of bravery itself.

Exit SALISBURY

SALISBURY exits.

He is as full of valor as of kindness, Princely in both.

He is as full of bravery out of kindness, and has the amount of each quality one expects in a prince.

Enter KING HENRY

KING HENRY enters.

Oh, that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work today.

I wish we now had here just ten thousand of the men in England who aren't working today.

What’s he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? 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 honor. 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 honor, 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 honor As one man more, methinks, would share from me, For the best hope I have. Oh, 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 o' tiptoe when the day is named And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall see this day, and live old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors And say, “Tomorrow 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 remembered. 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 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 abed 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 wishes that? My cousin Westmoreland? No, good cousin. If we are doomed to die, there are enough of us to harm our country by our loss; and if to live, the fewer men there are, the greater share of honor each one gets. By God, please don't wish for even one more man. By God, I don't desire gold and I don't care who takes my money to pay for food; I don't mind if men wear my clothes; I don't desire such worldly things. But if it's a sin to desire honor, I am the most sinful man alive. No, really, cousin, don't wish for a single man from England. God, I wouldn't give up so great a share of honor as one more man, I think, would take from me, in exchange for getting my greatest wish. Don't wish for one more! But, Westmoreland, announce to my army that anyone who doesn't feel like fighting should leave. We'll give him a passport and money to pay for his travel back. I don't want to die in the company of a man who is afraid to die in mine. This day is the feast day of Crispin. Anyone who lives through this day and gets home safely will stand on tiptoe when the day is mentioned and jump up at the name of Crispin. Anyone who lives through this day and lives to old age will hold a feast for his neighbors on the day before and say "Tomorrow is Saint Crispin's day." Then he will raise his sleeve and show his scars and say, "I got these wounds on Crispin's day." Old men forget; but everything else will be forgotten and he'll still remember, with additions, all the deeds he did that day. Then our names, familiar to him as household words, Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, will be remembered by them as they drink. The good man will teach his son that story, and Saint Crispin's day will never go by, from this day to the end of the world, without us being remembered—we few, we lucky few, we band of brothers. Because anyone who sheds his blood today with me will be my brother. However low-born he is, this day will make him a nobleman. And gentlemen now in their beds in England will be miserable that they were not here, and they will think that they are not real men when anyone is speaking who fought with us on Saint Crispin's day.

Enter SALISBURY

SALISBURY enters.

My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed. The French are bravely in their battles set, And will with all expedience charge on us.

My king, get ready quickly. The French are well prepared for battle, and will soon charge at us.

All things are ready if our minds be so.

Everything is ready if our minds are.

Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

Death to anyone who wants to run away now!

Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

You don't wish for more help from England, cousin?

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone, Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

By God, my king, I wish you and I alone, without more help, could fight this royal battle!

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men, Which likes me better than to wish us one. —You know your places. God be with you all.

What, you've just wished away five thousand men, which I like better than to wish to add one.

[To others] You know your positions. May God be with you all.

Tucket. Enter MONTJOY

A trumpet sounds. MONTJOY enters.

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry, If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound, Before thy most assurèd overthrow. For certainly thou art so near the gulf Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy, The constable desires thee thou wilt mind Thy followers of repentance, that their souls May make a peaceful and a sweet retire From off these fields where, wretches, their poor bodies Must lie and fester.

Once more I've come to ask you, King Harry, if you'll agree to a sum for your ransom before your certain defeat. Because certainly you are so near the whirlpool that you'll necessarily be swallowed by it. Besides, as an act of mercy, the constable asks that you remind your followers to repent, so that their souls retreat peacefully and sweetly from these fields where, poor things, their poor bodies must lie and rot.

Who hath sent thee now?

Who has sent you now?

The constable of France.

I pray thee, bear my former answer back. Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones. Good God, why should they mock poor fellows thus? The man that once did sell the lion’s skin While the beast lived was killed with hunting him. A many of our bodies shall no doubt Find native graves, upon the which, I trust, Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work. And those that leave their valiant bones in France, Dying like men though buried in your dunghills, They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them And draw their honors reeking up to heaven, Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime, The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France. Mark, then, abounding valor in our English, That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing, Break out into a second course of mischief, Killing in relapse of mortality. Let me speak proudly: tell the constable We are but warriors for the working day; Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched With rainy marching in the painful field. There’s not a piece of feather in our host— Good argument, I hope, we will not fly— And time hath worn us into slovenry. But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim, And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads And turn them out of service. If they do this, As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor. Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald. They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints, Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em them, Shall yield them little. Tell the constable.

Please, send the same answer back as last time. Tell them they'll have to catch me before they sell my bones. Good God, why do they have to mock poor men this way? The man who sold the lion's skin while the beast was alive, died while hunting him. Many of our bodies will no doubt be buried in our own countries, on which, I trust, carved in brass will be a reminder of the work we do today. And those who leave their brave bones in France, dying like men though buried in piles of dung, will be famous. Because the the sun will greet them and drag their honor stinking up to heaven, leaving their flesh to choke your climate, the smell of which will start a plague in France. See, then, huge bravery in our Englishmen, who although they're dead, like a bullet breaking in two, break out into a second path of mischief, killing by being dead. Let me speak proudly: tell the constable we're just working-day heroes. Our beautiful things and gold are dirty from painful marching in the rain. There's not a single decorative feather in our whole army, which goes to show we won't fly away, and time has worn us down and made us messy. But, by God, our hearts are in order, and my poor soldiers tell me that before night they'll be wearing fresher clothes, or they'll pull the beautiful new uniforms over the French soldiers' heads and so throw them out of the army. If they do this, as (if God wishes it) they will, my ransom will be paid soon. Herald, save yourself pointless work. Don't come any more for ransom, gentle herald. They will have none, I swear, except my joints here, which, in the state I'll leave them, won't be worth much to them. Tell the constable that.

I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well. Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.

I will, king Harry. Goodbye. You will never hear a herald ever again.

I fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom.

I am afraid you will come once more for a ransom.

YORK enters.

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg The leading of the vaward.

My lord, I beg humbly, on my knees, to lead the charge.

Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away, And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.

Do it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away, and make the day go however you want, God.

Henry V Act 4 Scene 3

Henry v act 4 scene 3 lyrics.

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The badly outnumbered English army discusses its grim prospects before the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry rallies his men with the “St. Crispin’s Day speech,” perhaps the most famous battle speech in the history of literature. Calling his men a “band of brothers,” he promises that even the lowest-ranking soldiers will be promoted to a higher condition (social status) if the English win.

The French send a herald, Montjoy, to offer the English mercy in exchange for a ransom. King Henry refuses, declaring that “our hearts are in the trim,” and Montjoy rides off with the warning that there will be no further diplomatic offers.

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1. Henry V (Characters of the Play)
2. Henry V Act 1 Scene 1
3. Henry V Act 1 Scene 2
4. Henry V Act 2 Scene 1
5. Henry V Act 2 Scene 2
6. Henry V Act 2 Scene 3
7. Henry V Act 2 Scene 4
8. Henry V Act 3 Scene 1
9. Henry V Act 3 Scene 2
10. Henry V Act 3 Scene 3
11. Henry V Act 3 Scene 4
12. Henry V Act 3 Scene 5
13. Henry V Act 3 Scene 6
14. Henry V Act 3 Scene 7
15. Henry V Act 4 Scene 1
16. Henry V Act 4 Scene 2
17. Henry V Act 4 Scene 3
18. Henry V Act 4 Scene 4
19. Henry V Act 4 Scene 5
20. Henry V Act 4 Scene 6
21. Henry V Act 4 Scene 7
22. Henry V Act 4 Scene 8
23. Henry V Act 5 Scene 1
24. Henry V Act 5 Scene 2

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St. Crispin's Day Speech: From Henry V by William Shakespeare

WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day! KING. 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, 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 call'd 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 "To-morrow 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- Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester- Be in their flowing cups freshly remembred. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall neer 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 to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he neer so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accursd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

The Life of King Henry the Fifth

| | Act 4, Scene 1
|

Enter KING HENRY, BEDFORD, and GLOUCESTER

Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be. Good morrow, brother Bedford. God Almighty! There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distil it out. For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers, Which is both healthful and good husbandry: Besides, they are our outward consciences, And preachers to us all, admonishing That we should dress us fairly for our end. Thus may we gather honey from the weed, And make a moral of the devil himself. Enter ERPINGHAM Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham: A good soft pillow for that good white head Were better than a churlish turf of France.

Not so, my liege: this lodging likes me better, Since I may say 'Now lie I like a king.'

'Tis good for men to love their present pains Upon example; so the spirit is eased: And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt, The organs, though defunct and dead before, Break up their drowsy grave and newly move, With casted slough and fresh legerity. Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers both, Commend me to the princes in our camp; Do my good morrow to them, and anon Desire them an to my pavilion.

We shall, my liege.

Shall I attend your grace?

No, my good knight; Go with my brothers to my lords of England: I and my bosom must debate awhile, And then I would no other company.

The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry! Exeunt all but KING HENRY

God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully. Enter PISTOL

Discuss unto me; art thou officer? Or art thou base, common and popular?

I am a gentleman of a company.

Trail'st thou the puissant pike?

Even so. What are you?

As good a gentleman as the emperor.

Then you are a better than the king.

The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold, A lad of life, an imp of fame; Of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?

Harry le Roy.

Le Roy! a Cornish name: art thou of Cornish crew?

No, I am a Welshman.

Know'st thou Fluellen?

Tell him, I'll knock his leek about his pate Upon Saint Davy's day.

Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours.

Art thou his friend?

And his kinsman too.

The figo for thee, then!

I thank you: God be with you!

My name is Pistol call'd. Exit

It sorts well with your fierceness. Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER

Captain Fluellen!

So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower. It is the greatest admiration of the universal world, when the true and aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the wars is not kept: if you would take the pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle toddle nor pibble pabble in Pompey's camp; I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of the wars, and the cares of it, and the forms of it, and the sobriety of it, and the modesty of it, to be otherwise.

Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all night.

If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also, look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb? in your own conscience, now?

I will speak lower.

I pray you and beseech you that you will. Exeunt GOWER and FLUELLEN

Though it appear a little out of fashion, There is much care and valour in this Welshman. Enter three soldiers, JOHN BATES, ALEXANDER COURT, and MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which breaks yonder?

I think it be: but we have no great cause to desire the approach of day.

We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there?

Under what captain serve you?

Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.

A good old commander and a most kind gentleman: I pray you, what thinks he of our estate?

Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to be washed off the next tide.

He hath not told his thought to the king?

No; nor it is not meet he should. For, though I speak it to you, I think the king is but a man, as I am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me: the element shows to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but human conditions: his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and though his affections are higher mounted than ours, yet, when they stoop, they stoop with the like wing. Therefore when he sees reason of fears, as we do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as ours are: yet, in reason, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army.

He may show what outward courage he will; but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were quit here.

By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king: I think he would not wish himself any where but where he is.

Then I would he were here alone; so should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved.

I dare say you love him not so ill, to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel other men's minds: methinks I could not die any where so contented as in the king's company; his cause being just and his quarrel honourable.

That's more than we know.

Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we know enough, if we know we are the kings subjects: if his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us.

But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join together at the latter day and cry all 'We died at such a place;' some swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how can they charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it; whom to disobey were against all proportion of subjection.

So, if a son that is by his father sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness by your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him: or if a servant, under his master's command transporting a sum of money, be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the business of the master the author of the servant's damnation: but this is not so: the king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master of his servant; for they purpose not their death, when they purpose their services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all unspotted soldiers: some peradventure have on them the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder; some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury; some, making the wars their bulwark, that have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have defeated the law and outrun native punishment, though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God: war is his beadle, war is vengeance; so that here men are punished for before-breach of the king's laws in now the king's quarrel: where they feared the death, they have borne life away; and where they would be safe, they perish: then if they die unprovided, no more is the king guilty of their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited. Every subject's duty is the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience: and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained: and in him that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.

'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon his own head, the king is not to answer it.

But I do not desire he should answer for me; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him.

I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed.

Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser.

If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after.

You pay him then. That's a perilous shot out of an elder-gun, that a poor and private displeasure can do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a foolish saying.

Your reproof is something too round: I should be angry with you, if the time were convenient.

Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live.

I embrace it.

How shall I know thee again?

Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet: then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I will make it my quarrel.

Here's my glove: give me another of thine.

This will I also wear in my cap: if ever thou come to me and say, after to-morrow, 'This is my glove,' by this hand, I will take thee a box on the ear.

If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.

Thou darest as well be hanged.

Well. I will do it, though I take thee in the king's company.

Keep thy word: fare thee well.

Be friends, you English fools, be friends: we have French quarrels enow, if you could tell how to reckon.

Indeed, the French may lay twenty French crowns to one, they will beat us; for they bear them on their shoulders: but it is no English treason to cut French crowns, and to-morrow the king himself will be a clipper. Exeunt soldiers Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, Our children and our sins lay on the king! We must bear all. O hard condition, Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy! And what have kings, that privates have not too, Save ceremony, save general ceremony? And what art thou, thou idle ceremony? What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What are thy rents? what are thy comings in? O ceremony, show me but thy worth! What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree and form, Creating awe and fear in other men? Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd Than they in fearing. What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee, Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, That play'st so subtly with a king's repose; I am a king that find thee, and I know 'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball, The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, The intertissued robe of gold and pearl, The farced title running 'fore the king, The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp That beats upon the high shore of this world, No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony, Not all these, laid in bed majestical, Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread; Never sees horrid night, the child of hell, But, like a lackey, from the rise to set Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn, Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse, And follows so the ever-running year, With profitable labour, to his grave: And, but for ceremony, such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king. The slave, a member of the country's peace, Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages. Enter ERPINGHAM

My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence, Seek through your camp to find you.

Good old knight, Collect them all together at my tent: I'll be before thee.

I shall do't, my lord. Exit

O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts; Possess them not with fear; take from them now The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord, O, not to-day, think not upon the fault My father made in compassing the crown! I Richard's body have interred anew; And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears Than from it issued forced drops of blood: Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay, Who twice a-day their wither'd hands hold up Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do; Though all that I can do is nothing worth, Since that my penitence comes after all, Imploring pardon. Enter GLOUCESTER

My brother Gloucester's voice? Ay; I know thy errand, I will go with thee: The day, my friends and all things stay for me. Exeunt

| | Act 4, Scene 1
|

Once More Unto The Breach (Henry V)

By William Shakespeare

From Henry V, ‘Once More Unto The Breach,’ without doubt, one of Shakespeare’s most rousing and iconic speeches. It has inspired motivational speeches from everywhere from Independence Day and Star Trek and remains a masterclass in rhetoric language to this day.

William Shakespeare

Nationality: English

His plays and poems are read all over the world.

Poem Analyzed by Nadia Van Gordon

Teacher with a B.A. Honors in English Language and Literature

Based on the events of the Hundred Years War, Henry V of England is convinced that he is the rightful heir to the French throne and has come to claim his rightful place as king of France. The ‘ Once more unto the breach ‘ speech appears at the peak of the action in Act 3, Scene 1. King Henry’s army is in the middle of a siege of the French city, Harfleur. They have succeeded in weakening the walls of the city and creating a “breach” they can use to access it, but are outnumbered and exhausted. It is up to Henry to rouse them into gathering up their strength for a decisive charge to take the city and bring the English closer to victory.

Explore Once More Unto The Breach

2 Detailed Analysis
4 Structure and Form
5 Literary Devices
6 William Shakespeare Background

Once More Unto The Breach (Henry V) by William Shakespeare

Henry gives his men a stark choice: either summon the energy to push through the breach or give up, die and leave it to be filled with the corpses of the “English dead.” He reminds them that there is no room for the “modest stillness and humility” that might be useful in peacetime. Instead, they must “imitate the action of the tiger” and make themselves think and look physically terrifying, by using their full height, baring their teeth, and flaring their nostrils. He advises them to make their eyes look like a “brass cannon” peaking out from a warship and to hold their foreheads high and “fearfully” so they appear like an angry cliff or “galled rock” over the ocean.

In the second part of the ‘ Once more unto the breach ‘ speech, Henry flatters his men, the “noblest English” and urges them to “Dishonour not your mothers” and make their families proud of them by being “men of grosser blood” who are ready for war.

By the time the speech ends, the soldiers are ready to storm Harfleur and charge through its walls on Henry’s famous rallying cry, “God for Harry, for England and St George!”

Detailed Analysis

Henry immediately seeks to build up trust and rapport between him and his men by calling them “dear friends.” He knows he will need their confidence in him, as he has to ask them “once more” to fight for him when he knows they have already given everything they have. If they do not fight, the progress they have made by breaking through Harfleur’s defences will be for nothing and the gap may as well be filled with the “English dead.”

Henry then taps into the tired soldiers’ dreams of peace and home and the men they are outside war, with “stillness and humility.” But, there is no room for qualities like this in the middle of battle, when “the blast of war blows in our ears.” When that happens, a different kind of man is needed, that can “stiffen the sinews” and “summon up the blood” to become a strong and ruthless fighter. He encourages them not only to feel angry with a “hard favour’d rage,” but to look the part as well, by looking with a “terrible aspect” and setting the “teeth” and stretching out their nostrils to appear as fearsome as possible.

Once the men look ready to fight, Henry praises where they come from. He calls them men “whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof” – men whose fathers were fighters, and who must now take their turn. He compares them to “many Alexanders, ” portraying them all as soldiers as brave as Alexander the Great, who never rested until he won. Shakespeare takes the idea about fathers even further, by telling the men they have to fight to show that they really are the children of their courageous fathers:

now attest That those whom you call’d fathers did beget you.

Part of Henry’s army are noblemen, and they are addressed directly, “good yeoman.” He reminds them of their rank and responsibility to show the other men that they are “worth your breeding” and high birth. However, regardless of class, Henry shows that he believes in all his men and no matter how humble they are, he knows they are capable of fighting well:

For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.

Finally, Henry uses the metaphor of a greyhound about to race, “straining upon the start” to show that the men are ready and poised for battle. The fight is about to start, “the game’s afoot” and the men must draw on everything they have to “follow your spirit” and fight for God, their king and their country.

Patriotism – Shakespeare aims this speech firmly at an English audience . He emphasizes English values of king, country, and religion and portrays the English as brave, noble, and willing to fight for what they believe in. We can certainly view this speech and other representations of Henry’s character in the play as propaganda for England’s treatment of the French in the Hundred Years War.
Masculinity and the qualities of a soldier – Shakespeare draws a vivid portrait of how a soldier, or any man of England, should be. They should appear imposing and frightening, and physically strong, even when they do not feel like it. He also explores how they should behave. They should be brave, fearless, and warrior-like, and above all, should never forget to make their families proud of them. “Stillness and humility” must be forgotten about when there is a war to be won.

Structure and Form

The ‘ Once more unto the breach ‘ speech is in free verse and uses iambic pentameter to create a rousing effect, almost like a war march.

Literary Devices

Shakespeare uses several literary devices in the ‘ Once more unto the breach ‘ speech. These include but are not limited to:

Flattery: Shakespeare uses this to demonstrate the love and faith Henry has in his men and country, proving him to be a good king worth fighting for. For example, “dear friends” and “good yeoman” and superlative phrases like “you noblest English.”
Iambic pentameter : These are pairs of unstressed/ stressed syllables. Here, the stressed syllables emphaisse the most powerful and impactful words in the speech: Hold hard the breath and bend up ev e ry spir it To his full height. In this example, the stresses in “every” reinforce the idea that the soldiers have to muster up every ounce of strength they have, and the stressed “his” shows the role of every man as an individual to do his part.
Simile : occurs when words something is described as or like something else. For example, the men are compared to greyhounds, “like greyhounds in the slips” to show that they are the peak of physical condition and are sleek fighting machines hungry for victory.

William Shakespeare Background

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, and remains one of the most well-known and most revered writers of the English-speaking world. After writing many plays and poems and enjoying a successful career in his lifetime, he died in 1616.

Henry V was one of Shakespeare’s history plays that told the stories of real figures in Medieval English history. However, although they were based on real people and events, Shakespeare wrote them to entertain his audience. Like any writer, he took liberties with characters and situations and changed them to suit his story when he needed to.

Henry V did lay siege to Harfleur, but we do not know exactly what he said to his men. The words in this speech , like many others in the play, are Shakespeare’s invention.

Despite many English casualties and a dangerous outbreak of dysentery, the English army successfully forced Harfleur to surrender and took many as prisoners of war. They went on to defeat the French army in the Battle of Agincourt, one of their biggest victories in the Hundred Years War.

In Shakespeare’s “Henriad” plays, where he is the main character, he is portrayed as a great king. He is presented as charming, witty, and able to inspire and get on with men of every class and background. Of course, Shakespeare emphasizes his skills as a soldier and military tactician to present him favorably to an English audience . In real life, Henry V was indeed very successful in the Hundred Years War, and England was largely a stable and peaceful place under his reign. Henry was known for being a good politician who was able to form good relationships in Parliament and build relationships with men whose fathers had been executed under the old King, Henry IV. After the Hundred Years War, he married Catherine of Valois, the daughter of the King Charles of France. This was a step closer to the union between the two countries, but Henry died a couple of years later.

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Central Message: With courage, unity, determination, and patriotism, we can overcome adversity

Speaker: King Henry V of England

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Gordon, NadiaVan. "Once More Unto The Breach (Henry V) by William Shakespeare". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/william-shakespeare/once-more-unto-the-breach/ . Accessed 23 July 2024.

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A monologue from the play by William Shakespeare

KING: 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 stillness and humility, But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favored 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 gallèd rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, Swilled 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 noble 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 sheathed their swords for lack of argument. Dishonor not your mothers; now attest That those whom you called fathers did beget you! Be copy now to men of grosser blood And teach them how to war! And you, good yeomen, 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 none 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!'

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Henry V - Act 5, scene 2

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Act 5, scene 2.

The Duke of Burgundy has brought about a meeting between French and English to sign a peace treaty. Henry delegates negotiation of the treaty to his nobles while he woos Katherine, Princess of France, who agrees to marry him. The French are brought to accept all English terms, including Henry’s right to succeed to the French throne.

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Best Speeches From Shakespeare's Henry V

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M.A., Literature, California State University - Northridge
B.A., Creative Writing, California State University - Northridge

As it has been argued that, among the best Shakespeare plays , the Henriad (a four-play cycle containing Richard II, Henry IV Parts One and Two , and Henry V ) is the crowning achievement of the Immortal Bard's incredible career.

The 3 Best Henry V Speeches

There are many reasons why fans laud the Henry plays above the others, including the remarkable character arc; the astute blend of humor, history, and family drama; and the awesome array of battle scenes. For fans of Henry V, another reason to admire this work is that it contains some of the most powerful monologues in the English language.

Listed below are three of the best speeches delivered by King Henry:

Once More Unto the Breach

In this scene, Henry V and his small band of English soldiers have been battling the French . They've gotten roughed up pretty good, and some of them are ready to give up, but when Henry delivers this motivational speech, they take charge once more and win the day. Note that, contrary to a common misconception, the first line of this speech is not "Once more into the breach."+

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 stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let 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 sheathed 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 yeoman, 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 none 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!'

Upon the King

The night before the most monumental battle in the play, Henry looks upon his sleeping soldiers and contrasts a king's life of pomp and ceremony with the emotional life of a commoner.

Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, Our children and our sins lay on the king! We must bear all. O hard condition, Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy! And what have kings, that privates have not too, Save ceremony, save general ceremony? And what art thou, thou idle ceremony? What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What are thy rents? what are thy comings in? O ceremony, show me but thy worth! What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree and form, Creating awe and fear in other men? Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd Than they in fearing. What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee, Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, That play'st so subtly with a king's repose; I am a king that find thee, and I know 'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball, The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, The intertissued robe of gold and pearl, The farced title running 'fore the king, The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp That beats upon the high shore of this world, No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony, Not all these, laid in bed majestical, Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread; Never sees horrid night, the child of hell, But, like a lackey, from the rise to set Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night Sleeps in Elysium ; next day after dawn, Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse, And follows so the ever-running year, With profitable labour, to his grave: And, but for ceremony, such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king. The slave, a member of the country's peace, Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages.

St. Crispin's Day Speech

This is the most famous monologue from Henry V, and with good reason. These inspiring lines are delivered to the rabble of brave English soldiers who are about to go into battle (the famous Battle of Agincourt ) against thousands of French knights. Outnumbered, the soldiers wish they had more men to fight, but Henry V interrupts them, declaring that they have just enough men to make history.

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 honor. 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 honor, 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 honor 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 call'd 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 neighbors, And say "To-morrow 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- Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester- 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 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.

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Henry V Monologues

Henry V is one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated history plays. We ranked this play in the top 15 Shakespeare’s plays. Henry V is a gift for actors and there are plenty of awesome speeches to get your teeth into. I’m excited to share some of my favourites with you here. Like many of Shakespeare’s history plays they are very male-centric, so all of these pieces are for men. However, when it comes to Shakespeare monologues you can always approach any monologues regardless of gender.

Let’s get stuck into the best monologues from Henry V…

Act 1 Scene 1 (Chorus)

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leash’d in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire Crouch for employment. But pardon, and gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest in little place a million; And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, On your imaginary forces work. Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confined two mighty monarchies, Whose high upreared and abutting fronts The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder: Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts; Into a thousand parts divide on man, And make imaginary puissance; Think when we talk of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoofs i’ the receiving earth; For ’tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings, Carry them here and there; jumping o’er times, Turning the accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glass: for the which supply, Admit me Chorus to this history; Who prologue-like your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

Act 1 Scene 2 (Henry V)

We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us. His present and your pains we thank you for: When we have march’d our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by God’s grace, play a set Shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard.

Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler That all the courts of France will be disturb’d With chaces. / And we understand him well, How he comes o’er us with our wilder days, Not measuring what use we made of them.

We never valued this poor seat of England; And therefore, living hence, did give ourself To barbarous licence; as ’tis ever common That men are merriest when they are from home.

But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state, Be like a king and show my sail of greatness When I do rouse me in my throne of France.

For that I have laid by my majesty And plodded like a man for working-days, But I will rise there with so full a glory That I will dazzle all the eyes of France, Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.

And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his Hath turn’d his balls to gun-stones; and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands; Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down; And some are yet ungotten and unborn That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin’s scorn.

But this lies all within the will of God, To whom I do appeal; and in whose name Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on, To venge me as I may and to put forth My rightful hand in a well-hallow’d cause.

So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin His jest will savour but of shallow wit, When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.

Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well.

FULL BREAKDOWN: Henry V Monologue Act 1 Scene 2

Act 3 Scene 1 (Henry V)

Deep in battle, Henry rouses his troupes into action for a final push.

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 stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let 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 sheathed 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 yeoman, 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 none 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!’

FULL BREAKDOWN: Henry V Monologue Act 3 Scene 1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Henry V)

Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, Our children and our sins lay on the king! We must bear all. O hard condition, Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing! What infinite heart’s-ease Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy! And what have kings, that privates have not too, Save ceremony, save general ceremony? And what art thou, thou idle ceremony? What kind of god art thou, that suffer’st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What are thy rents? what are thy comings in? O ceremony, show me but thy worth! What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree and form, Creating awe and fear in other men? Wherein thou art less happy being fear’d Than they in fearing. What drink’st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poison’d flattery? O, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think’st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? Canst thou, when thou command’st the beggar’s knee, Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, That play’st so subtly with a king’s repose; I am a king that find thee, and I know ‘Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball, The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, The intertissued robe of gold and pearl, The farced title running ‘fore the king, The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp That beats upon the high shore of this world, No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony, Not all these, laid in bed majestical, Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, Who with a body fill’d and vacant mind Gets him to rest, cramm’d with distressful bread; Never sees horrid night, the child of hell, But, like a lackey, from the rise to set Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn, Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse, And follows so the ever-running year, With profitable labour, to his grave: And, but for ceremony, such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king. The slave, a member of the country’s peace, Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages.

FULL BREAKDOWN: Henry V Monologue Act 4 Scene 1

Act 4 Scene 3 (Henry V)

Henry’s most famous speech, and one of the most well known in all of Shakespeare’s works. This speech is a classic, pre-battle motivational speech. The battle ahead will be a gruelling fight with the french, and they are massively out numbered. If he cannot get these soldiers to fight the battle of their lives, all is lost!

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.

FULL BREAKDOWN: Henry V Monologue Act 4 Scene 3

I hope this serves as a helpful list of Henry V monologues. This is a wartime play and full of high octane speeches that are great to work on. If you are looking for an intense monologue for an audition I would definitely consider a piece from this play. The monologue from Act 4 Scene 3 ( This day is called the feast of Crispian ) is an absolute classic and I think works brilliantly in an audition setting.

About the Author

is the founder of StageMilk. Andrew trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and is now a Sydney-based actor working in Theatre, Film and Television.

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· · Verse
Henry

Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls,
Our debts, our careful wives,
Our children and our sins lay on the king!
We must bear all. O hard condition,
Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath
Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel
But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease
Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy!
And what have kings, that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save general ceremony?
And what art thou, thou idle ceremony?
What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more
Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers?
What are thy rents? what are thy comings in?
O ceremony, show me but thy worth!
What is thy soul of adoration?
Art thou aught else but place, degree and form,
Creating awe and fear in other men?
Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd
Than they in fearing.
What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
And bid thy ceremony give thee cure!
Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out
With titles blown from adulation?
Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee,
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
That play'st so subtly with a king's repose;
I am a king that find thee, and I know
'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball,
The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
The farced title running 'fore the king,
The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
That beats upon the high shore of this world,
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave,
Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind
Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread;
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn,
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
And follows so the ever-running year,
With profitable labour, to his grave:
And, but for ceremony, such a wretch,
Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep,
Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king.
The slave, a member of the country's peace,
Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots
What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace,
Whose hours the peasant best advantages.

.

Steven Shults & Brandon Faloona
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Henry V Scenes

Henry V: Act 5, Scene 2
Henry V: Prologue
Henry V: Act 1, Scene 1
Henry V: Act 1, Scene 2
Henry V: Act 2 Prologue
Henry V: Act 2, Scene 1
Henry V: Act 2, Scene 2
Henry V: Act 2, Scene 3
Henry V: Act 2, Scene 4
Henry V: Act 3 Prologue
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 1
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 2
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 3
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 4
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 5
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 6
Henry V: Act 3, Scene 7
Henry V: Act 4 Prologue
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 1
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 2
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 3
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 4
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 5
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 6
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 7
Henry V: Act 4, Scene 8
Henry V: Act 5 Prologue
Henry V: Act 5, Scene 1
Henry V: Epilogue

France. The French King’s apartment in Troyes.

(King Henry the Fifth; Exeter; Bedford; Gloucester; Warwick; Westmorland; Lords; Queen Isabel; French King; Duke of Burgundy; Katherine; Alice; French Power; English Lords)

King Henry and the French King meet, protesting their love for one another. The Duke of Burgundy makes an impassioned plea for peace. The French King tells Henry that he has not studied the proposed peace treaty in detail and goes off with the English lords to do so. Left alone with Katherine and Alice, Henry does his best to woo her, which is difficult as her English has not improved since last we saw her and his French is ghastly. Though coy and somewhat taken aback at his bluntness, Katherine is not displeased with his wooing, and in the end permits him to kiss her, at which point the French King and the lords of both countries walk in on them. They announce that the French King has accepted the treaty, under which terms he shall reign until his death, but Henry shall take the throne thereafter. Henry looks forward to his wedding. (198 lines)

Enter, at one door, King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Gloucester, Warwick, Westmorland, and other Lords; at another, Queen Isabel, the King of France, the Duke of Burgundy, Katherine, Alice, and other French.

Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are met!

Unto our brother France, and to our sister,

Health and fair time of day; joy and good wishes

To our most fair and princely cousin Katherine;

And as a branch and member of this royalty,

By whom this great assembly is contriv’d,

We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy,

And, princes French, and peers, health to you all!

Right joyous are we to behold your face,

Most worthy brother England, fairly met!

So are you, princes English, every one.

So happy be the issue, brother England,

Of this good day and of this gracious meeting,

As we are now glad to behold your eyes—

Your eyes, which hitherto have borne in them

Against the French that met them in their bent

The fatal balls of murdering basilisks.

The venom of such looks we fairly hope

Have lost their quality, and that this day

Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love.

To cry amen to that, thus we appear.

You English princes all, I do salute you.

My duty to you both, on equal love.

Great Kings of France and England: that I have labor’d

With all my wits, my pains, and strong endeavors

To bring your most imperial Majesties

Unto this bar and royal interview,

Your mightiness on both parts best can witness.

Since then my office hath so far prevail’d,

That face to face, and royal eye to eye,

You have congreeted, let it not disgrace me,

If I demand, before this royal view,

What rub or what impediment there is,

Why that the naked, poor, and mangled Peace,

Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful births,

Should not in this best garden of the world,

Our fertile France, put up her lovely visage?

Alas, she hath from France too long been chas’d,

And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps,

Corrupting in it own fertility.

Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart,

Unpruned dies; her hedges even-pleach’d,

Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair,

Put forth disorder’d twigs; her fallow leas

The darnel, hemlock, and rank femetary

Doth root upon, while that the coulter rusts

That should deracinate such savagery;

The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth

The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover,

Wanting the scythe withal, uncorrected, rank,

Conceives by idleness, and nothing teems

But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs,

Losing both beauty and utility;

And all our vineyards, fallows, meads, and hedges,

Defective in their natures, grow to wildness.

Even so our houses, and ourselves, and children,

Have lost, or do not learn for want of time,

The sciences that should become our country,

But grow like savages—as soldiers will

That nothing do but meditate on blood—

To swearing and stern looks, defus’d attire,

And every thing that seems unnatural.

Which to reduce into our former favor

You are assembled; and my speech entreats

That I may know the let why gentle Peace

Should not expel these inconveniences,

And bless us with her former qualities.

If, Duke of Burgundy, you would the peace,

Whose want gives growth to th’ imperfections

Which you have cited, you must buy that peace

With full accord to all our just demands,

Whose tenures and particular effects

You have enschedul’d briefly in your hands.

The King hath heard them; to the which, as yet

There is no answer made.

Well then: the peace,

Which you before so urg’d, lies in his answer.

I have but with a cursitory eye

O’erglanc’d the articles. Pleaseth your Grace

To appoint some of your Council presently

To sit with us once more, with better heed

To re-survey them, we will suddenly

Pass our accept and peremptory answer.

Brother, we shall. Go, uncle Exeter,

And brother Clarence, and you, brother Gloucester,

Warwick, and Huntington, go with the King,

And take with you free power to ratify,

Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best

Shall see advantageable for our dignity,

Any thing in or out of our demands,

And we’ll consign thereto. Will you, fair sister,

Go with the princes, or stay here with us?

Our gracious brother, I will go with them.

Happily a woman’s voice may do some good,

When articles too nicely urg’d be stood on.

Yet leave our cousin Katherine here with us:

She is our capital demand, compris’d

Within the fore-rank of our articles.

She hath good leave.

Exeunt omnes. Manent King Henry and Katherine with the gentlewoman Alice.

Fair Katherine, and most fair,

Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms,

Such as will enter at a lady’s ear,

And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?

Your Majesty shall mock at me, I cannot speak your England.

O fair Katherine, if you will love me soundly with your French heart, I will be glad to hear you confess it brokenly with your English tongue. Do you like me, Kate?

Pardonnez-moi, I cannot tell wat is “like me.”

An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel.

Que dit-il? Que je suis semblable à les anges?

Oui, vraiment, sauf votre grâce, ainsi dit-il.

I said so, dear Katherine, and I must not blush to affirm it.

O bon Dieu! Les langues des hommes sont pleines de tromperies.

What says she, fair one? That the tongues of men are full of deceits?

Oui, dat de tongeus of de mans is be full of deceits: dat is de Princess.

The Princess is the better Englishwoman. I’ faith, Kate, my wooing is fit for thy understanding. I am glad thou canst speak no better English, for if thou couldst, thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I had sold my farm to buy my crown. I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to say “I love you”; then if you urge me farther than to say “Do you in faith?” I wear out my suit. Give me your answer, i’ faith, do, and so clap hands and a bargain. How say you, lady?

Sauf votre honneur, me understand well.

Marry, if you would put me to verses, or to dance for your sake, Kate, why, you undid me: for the one, I have neither words nor measure; and for the other, I have no strength in measure, yet a reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a lady at leap-frog, or by vaulting into my saddle with my armor on my back, under the correction of bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap into a wife. Or if I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favors, I could lay on like a butcher, and sit like a jack-an-apes, never off. But, before God, Kate, I cannot look greenly, nor gasp out my eloquence, nor I have no cunning in protestation; only downright oaths, which I never use till urg’d, nor never break for urging. If thou canst love a fellow of this temper, Kate, whose face is not worth sunburning, that never looks in his glass for love of any thing he sees there, let thine eye be thy cook. I speak to thee plain soldier. If thou canst love me for this, take me! If not, to say to thee that I shall die, is true; but for thy love, by the Lord, no; yet I love thee too. And while thou liv’st, dear Kate, take a fellow of plain and uncoin’d constancy, for he perforce must do thee right, because he hath not the gift to woo in other places; for these fellows of infinite tongue, that can rhyme themselves into ladies’ favors, they do always reason themselves out again. What? A speaker is but a prater, a rhyme is but a ballad; a good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a black beard will turn white, a curl’d pate will grow bald, a fair face will wither, a full eye will wax hollow; but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon, or rather the sun and not the moon; for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps his course truly. If thou would have such a one, take me! And take me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king. And what say’st thou then to my love? Speak, my fair, and fairly, I pray thee.

Is it possible dat I sould love de ennemie of France?

No, it is not possible you should love the enemy of France, Kate; but in loving me, you should love the friend of France; for I love France so well that I will not part with a village of it; I will have it all mine. And, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then yours is France and you are mine.

I cannot tell wat is dat.

No, Kate? I will tell thee in French, which I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new-married wife about her husband’s neck, hardly to be shook off. Je quand sur le possession de France, et quand vous avez le possession de moi—let me see, what then? Saint Denis be my speed!—donc votre est France et vous êtes mienne. It is as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom as to speak so much more French. I shall never move thee in French, unless it be to laugh at me.

Sauf votre honneur, le François que vous parlez, il est meilleur que l’Anglois lequel je parle.

No, faith, is’t not, Kate; but thy speaking of my tongue, and I thine, most truly falsely, must needs be granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost thou understand thus much English? Canst thou love me?

I cannot tell.

Can any of your neighbors tell, Kate? I’ll ask them. Come, I know thou lovest me; and at night, when you come into your closet, you’ll question this gentlewoman about me; and I know, Kate, you will to her dispraise those parts in me that you love with your heart. But, good Kate, mock me mercifully, the rather, gentle Princess, because I love thee cruelly. If ever thou beest mine, Kate, as I have a saving faith within me tells me thou shalt, I get thee with scambling, and thou must therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder. Shall not thou and I, between Saint Denis and Saint George, compound a boy, half French, half English, that shall go to Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard? Shall we not? What say’st thou, my fair flower-de-luce?

I do not know dat.

No; ’tis hereafter to know, but now to promise. Do but now promise, Kate, you will endeavor for your French part of such a boy; and for my English moi’ty, take the word of a king and a bachelor. How answer you, la plus belle Katherine du monde, mon très cher et devin déesse?

Your Majestee ave fausse French enough to deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France.

Now fie upon my false French! By mine honor, in true English, I love thee, Kate; by which honor I dare not swear thou lovest me, yet my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost—notwithstanding the poor and untempering effect of my visage. Now beshrew my father’s ambition! He was thinking of civil wars when he got me; therefore was I created with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that when I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But in faith, Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear. My comfort is, that old age, that ill layer-up of beauty, can do no more spoil upon my face. Thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst; and thou shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better; and therefore tell me, most fair Katherine, will you have me? Put off your maiden blushes, avouch the thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress, take me by the hand, and say, “Harry of England, I am thine”; which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud, “England is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Henry Plantagenet is thine”; who, though I speak it before his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your answer in broken music; for thy voice is music and thy English broken; therefore, queen of all, Katherine, break thy mind to me in broken English—wilt thou have me?

Dat is as it shall please de roi mon père.

Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall please him, Kate.

Den it sall also content me.

Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you my queen.

Laissez, mon seigneur, lais sez, laissez! Ma foi, je ne veux point que vous abaissez votre grandeur en baisant la main d’une (Notre Seigneur!) indigne serviteur. Excusez-moi, je vous supplie, mon très puissant seigneur.

Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.

Les dames et demoiselles pour être baisées devant leur noces, il n’est pas la coutume de France.

Madam my interpreter, what says she?

Dat it is not be de fashon pour les ladies of France—I cannot tell wat is baiser en Anglish.

Your Majestee entendre bettre que moi.

It is not a fashion for the maids in France to kiss before they are married, would she say?

Oui, vraiment.

O Kate, nice customs cur’sy to great kings. Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confin’d within the weak list of a country’s fashion. We are the makers of manners, Kate; and the liberty that follows our places stops the mouth of all find-faults, as I will do yours, for upholding the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss; therefore patiently and yielding.

Kissing her.

You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate; there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them than in the tongues of the French council; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes your father.

Enter the French Power and the English Lords.

God save your Majesty! My royal cousin, teach you our princess English?

I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how perfectly I love her, and that is good English.

Is she not apt?

Our tongue is rough, coz, and my condition is not smooth; so that having neither the voice nor the heart of flattery about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit of love in her, that he will appear in his true likeness.

Pardon the frankness of my mirth, if I answer you for that. If you would conjure in her, you must make a circle; if conjure up Love in her in his true likeness, he must appear naked and blind. Can you blame her then, being a maid yet ros’d over with the virgin crimson of modesty, if she deny the appearance of a naked blind boy in her naked seeing self? It were, my lord, a hard condition for a maid to consign to.

Yet they do wink and yield, as love is blind and enforces.

They are then excus’d, my lord, when they see not what they do.

Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to consent winking.

I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if you will teach her to know my meaning; for maids, well summer’d and warm kept, are like flies at Bartholomew-tide, blind, though they have their eyes, and then they will endure handling, which before would not abide looking on.

This moral ties me over to time and a hot summer; and so I shall catch the fly, your cousin, in the latter end, and she must be blind too.

As love is, my lord, before it loves.

It is so; and you may, some of you, thank love for my blindness, who cannot see many a fair French city for one fair French maid that stands in my way.

Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively: the cities turn’d into a maid; for they are all girdled with maiden walls that war hath never ent’red.

Shall Kate be my wife?

So please you.

I am content, so the maiden cities you talk of may wait on her; so the maid that stood in the way for my wish shall show me the way to my will.

We have consented to all terms of reason.

Is’t so, my lords of England?

The King hath granted every article:

His daughter first; and in sequel, all,

According to their firm proposed natures.

Only he hath not yet subscribed this:

Where your Majesty demands that the King of France, having any occasion to write for matter of grant, shall name your Highness in this form, and with this addition, in French, Notre très cher fils Henri, Roi d’Angleterre, Héritier de France; and thus in Latin, Praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus, Rex Angliae, et Heres Franciae.

Nor this I have not, brother, so denied,

But your request shall make me let it pass.

I pray you then, in love and dear alliance,

Let that one article rank with the rest,

And thereupon give me your daughter.

Take her, fair son, and from her blood raise up

Issue to me, that the contending kingdoms

Of France and England, whose very shores look pale

With envy of each other’s happiness,

May cease their hatred; and this dear conjunction

Plant neighborhood and Christian-like accord

In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance

His bleeding sword ’twixt England and fair France.

Now welcome, Kate; and bear me witness all,

That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.

God, the best maker of all marriages,

Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one!

As man and wife, being two, are one in love,

So be there ’twixt your kingdoms such a spousal,

That never may ill office, or fell jealousy,

Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage,

Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms,

To make divorce of their incorporate league;

That English may as French, French Englishmen,

Receive each other. God speak this Amen!

Prepare we for our marriage; on which day,

My Lord of Burgundy, we’ll take your oath,

And all the peers’, for surety of our leagues.

Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me,

And may our oaths well kept and prosp’rous be!

Sennet. Exeunt.

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Henry in disguise.

Act 4 Scene 1 – Key Scene

In this scene, King Henry visits the English camp in disguise. He talks with some of the soldiers, who do not recognise him, and quarrels with one of them, Michael Williams, about the responsibility of the King.

Take a look at an extract from this scene. Using the following steps, remember to look at it line by line and if you’re looking at the scene for the first time don’t worry if you don’t understand everything at once.

A long list of debts to pay - physical and spiritual.

Judgement Day.

How can anyone expect a peaceful death when they’ve spent their lives killing and sinning against God?

Lying under oath.

Safeguard/escape route.

An officer like a policeman.

Captured and held to ransom.

That’s a lame threat from a toy gun, all a common person can’t do to injure a king.

You may as well try to freeze the sun by fanning it with a peacock feather.

How different would William’s language and speech be if he knew he was talking to the King?

Listen Read the scene aloud. Are there any words or lines that really stand out?

Play scene in performance

Henry in disguise wearing a dark cloak over his clothes and the hood pulled up over his head in the 2015 production of Henry V

Henry in disguise in the 2015 production of Henry V

Henry in disguise, dressed in a dark cloak wrapped round him and hiding his hair, in the 2007 production of Henry V

Henry in disguise in the 2007 production of Henry V

Richard Burton as Henry in disguise, hunched down and wearing a dark cloak, in the 1951 production of Henry V

Henry in disguise in the 1951 production of Henry V

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History of Henry V

Act IV, Scene 1

The English camp at Agincourt.

[Enter KING HENRY, BEDFORD, and GLOUCESTER] . Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger;
The greater therefore should our courage be.
Good morrow, brother Bedford. God Almighty! 1845
There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men observingly distil it out.
For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers,
Which is both healthful and good husbandry:
Besides, they are our outward consciences, 1850
And preachers to us all, admonishing
That we should dress us fairly for our end.
Thus may we gather honey from the weed,
And make a moral of the devil himself.
1855
Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham:
A good soft pillow for that good white head
Were better than a churlish turf of France. . Not so, my liege: this lodging likes me better,
Since I may say 'Now lie I like a king.' 1860 . 'Tis good for men to love their present pains
Upon example; so the spirit is eased:
And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt,
The organs, though defunct and dead before,
Break up their drowsy grave and newly move, 1865
With casted slough and fresh legerity.
Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers both,
Commend me to the princes in our camp;
Do my good morrow to them, and anon
Desire them an to my pavilion. 1870 . We shall, my liege. . Shall I attend your grace? . No, my good knight;
Go with my brothers to my lords of England:
I and my bosom must debate awhile, 1875
And then I would no other company. . The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry!

[Exeunt all but KING HENRY] . God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully.

[Enter PISTOL] . Qui va la? . A friend. . Discuss unto me; art thou officer?
Or art thou base, common and popular? . I am a gentleman of a company. 1885 . Trail'st thou the puissant pike? . Even so. What are you? . As good a gentleman as the emperor. . Then you are a better than the king. . The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold, 1890
A lad of life, an imp of fame;
Of parents good, of fist most valiant.
I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string
I love the lovely bully. What is thy name? . Harry le Roy. 1895 . Le Roy! a Cornish name: art thou of Cornish crew? . No, I am a Welshman. . Know'st thou Fluellen? . Yes. . Tell him, I'll knock his leek about his pate 1900
Upon Saint Davy's day. . Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day,
lest he knock that about yours. . Art thou his friend? . And his kinsman too. 1905 . The figo for thee, then! . I thank you: God be with you! . My name is Pistol call'd.

[Exit] . It sorts well with your fierceness. 1910

[Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER] . Captain Fluellen! . So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower. It is
the greatest admiration of the universal world, when
the true and aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the 1915
wars is not kept: if you would take the pains but to
examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall
find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle toddle
nor pibble pabble in Pompey's camp; I warrant you,
you shall find the ceremonies of the wars, and the 1920
cares of it, and the forms of it, and the sobriety
of it, and the modesty of it, to be otherwise. . Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all night. . If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also, 1925
look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb? in your own conscience, now? . I will speak lower. . I pray you and beseech you that you will.

[Exeunt GOWER and FLUELLEN] . Though it appear a little out of fashion,
There is much care and valour in this Welshman.

[Enter three soldiers, JOHN BATES, ALEXANDER COURT, and MICHAEL WILLIAMS] . Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which
breaks yonder? 1935 . I think it be: but we have no great cause to desire
the approach of day. . We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think
we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there? . A friend. 1940 . Under what captain serve you? . Under Sir Thomas Erpingham. . A good old commander and a most kind gentleman: I
pray you, what thinks he of our estate? . Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to be 1945
washed off the next tide. . He hath not told his thought to the king? . No; nor it is not meet he should. For, though I
speak it to you, I think the king is but a man, as I
am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me: the 1950
element shows to him as it doth to me; all his
senses have but human conditions: his ceremonies
laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and
though his affections are higher mounted than ours,
yet, when they stoop, they stoop with the like 1955
wing. Therefore when he sees reason of fears, as we
do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish
as ours are: yet, in reason, no man should possess
him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing
it, should dishearten his army. 1960 . He may show what outward courage he will; but I
believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish
himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would he
were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were quit here. . By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king: 1965
I think he would not wish himself any where but
where he is. . Then I would he were here alone; so should he be
sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved. . I dare say you love him not so ill, to wish him here 1970
alone, howsoever you speak this to feel other men's
minds: methinks I could not die any where so
contented as in the king's company; his cause being
just and his quarrel honourable. . That's more than we know. 1975 . Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we know
enough, if we know we are the kings subjects: if
his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes
the crime of it out of us. . But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath 1980
a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and
arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join
together at the latter day and cry all 'We died at
such a place;' some swearing, some crying for a
surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind 1985
them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their
children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die
well that die in a battle; for how can they
charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their
argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it 1990
will be a black matter for the king that led them to
it; whom to disobey were against all proportion of
subjection. . So, if a son that is by his father sent about
merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the 1995
imputation of his wickedness by your rule, should be
imposed upon his father that sent him: or if a
servant, under his master's command transporting a
sum of money, be assailed by robbers and die in
many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the 2000
business of the master the author of the servant's
damnation: but this is not so: the king is not
bound to answer the particular endings of his
soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master of
his servant; for they purpose not their death, when 2005
they purpose their services. Besides, there is no
king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to
the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all
unspotted soldiers: some peradventure have on them
the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder; 2010
some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of
perjury; some, making the wars their bulwark, that
have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with
pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have
defeated the law and outrun native punishment, 2015
though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to
fly from God: war is his beadle, war is vengeance;
so that here men are punished for before-breach of
the king's laws in now the king's quarrel: where
they feared the death, they have borne life away; 2020
and where they would be safe, they perish: then if
they die unprovided, no more is the king guilty of
their damnation than he was before guilty of those
impieties for the which they are now visited. Every
subject's duty is the king's; but every subject's 2025
soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in
the wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every
mote out of his conscience: and dying so, death
is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was
blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained: 2030
and in him that escapes, it were not sin to think
that, making God so free an offer, He let him
outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach
others how they should prepare. . 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon 2035
his own head, the king is not to answer it. . But I do not desire he should answer for me; and
yet I determine to fight lustily for him. . I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed. . Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but 2040
when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we
ne'er the wiser. . If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after. . You pay him then. That's a perilous shot out of an
elder-gun, that a poor and private displeasure can 2045
do against a monarch! you may as well go about to
turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a
peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word
after! come, 'tis a foolish saying. . Your reproof is something too round: I should be 2050
angry with you, if the time were convenient. . Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live. . I embrace it. . How shall I know thee again? . Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my 2055
bonnet: then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I
will make it my quarrel. . Here's my glove: give me another of thine. . There. . This will I also wear in my cap: if ever thou come 2060
to me and say, after to-morrow, 'This is my glove,'
by this hand, I will take thee a box on the ear. . If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it. . Thou darest as well be hanged. . Well. I will do it, though I take thee in the 2065
king's company. . Keep thy word: fare thee well. . Be friends, you English fools, be friends: we have
French quarrels enow, if you could tell how to reckon. . Indeed, the French may lay twenty French crowns to 2070
one, they will beat us; for they bear them on their
shoulders: but it is no English treason to cut
French crowns, and to-morrow the king himself will
be a clipper.
2075
Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls,
Our debts, our careful wives,
Our children and our sins lay on the king!
We must bear all. O hard condition,
Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath 2080
Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel
But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease
Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy!
And what have kings, that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save general ceremony? 2085
And what art thou, thou idle ceremony?
What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more
Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers?
What are thy rents? what are thy comings in?
O ceremony, show me but thy worth! 2090
What is thy soul of adoration?
Art thou aught else but place, degree and form,
Creating awe and fear in other men?
Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd
Than they in fearing. 2095
What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
And bid thy ceremony give thee cure!
Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out
With titles blown from adulation? 2100
Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee,
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
That play'st so subtly with a king's repose;
I am a king that find thee, and I know 2105
'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball,
The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
The farced title running 'fore the king,
The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp 2110
That beats upon the high shore of this world,
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave,
Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind 2115
Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread;
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn, 2120
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
And follows so the ever-running year,
With profitable labour, to his grave:
And, but for ceremony, such a wretch,
Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, 2125
Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king.
The slave, a member of the country's peace,
Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots
What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace,
Whose hours the peasant best advantages. 2130

[Enter ERPINGHAM] . My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,
Seek through your camp to find you. . Good old knight,
Collect them all together at my tent: 2135
I'll be before thee. . I shall do't, my lord.

[Exit] . O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts;
Possess them not with fear; take from them now 2140
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord,
O, not to-day, think not upon the fault
My father made in compassing the crown!
I Richard's body have interred anew; 2145
And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears
Than from it issued forced drops of blood:
Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay,
Who twice a-day their wither'd hands hold up
Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built 2150
Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests
Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do;
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
Since that my penitence comes after all,
Imploring pardon. 2155

[Enter GLOUCESTER] . My liege! . My brother Gloucester's voice? Ay;
I know thy errand, I will go with thee:
The day, my friends and all things stay for me. 2160

[Exeunt]

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VAWG crimes include domestic abuse , rape, sexual assault, stalking, and harassment.

You can read more from our news correspondent Mollie Malone here:

The previous government was set to spend £10bn on the now-scrapped Rwanda scheme, the home secretary has claimed.

Giving a statement in the Commons on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper said £700m of taxpayers' money had already been spent on the scheme, which the Conservatives brought in to act as a deterrent to those travelling in small boats across the Channel.

Ms Cooper branded the scheme - which would have sent people arriving in small boats to the African country for processing - "the most shocking waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen".

But, speaking to Sky News today, shadow home secretary James Cleverly said the £700m figure is a "nonsense number".

You can read more on this story below:

James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, has failed to rule out running to take over the Conservative Party leadership.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "I've always believed you do the work you need to do in the order you need to do it.

"So, with the leadership stuff, the details have just been announced.

"We know that Rishi [Sunak] is going to stay on until the autumn - we have a process over the summer.

"But at the moment, my work is to hold the government to account.

"We've got the King's Speech debate, I'll be leading the home affairs section of that for the opposition."

Mr Cleverly says today will be about "doing my primary function which is to hold the government to account".

He says he will make any "announcements or decisions in the near future".

The shadow minister agrees there is a "reasonable chance" he will throw his hat in the ring.

Asked if he has the backing to do so, Mr Cleverly says he has had "lots of kind words" from colleagues and former colleagues.

"The decision about any future leadership ambitions, that's for later on."

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are here with their guide to the day ahead in politics.

Labour sets out to tackle welfare, setting out their vision to get Britain working by addressing economic inactivity - could this be Sir Keir Starmer's biggest challenge yet?

Or perhaps it's the first rebellion already on the cards for the new Labour leader.

Plus, while Kamala Harris has said she has enough delegates to secure the nomination to be the new leader of the Democrats - the Tories delay announcing their leader till November, meaning a long wait to find out who Rishi Sunak's successor will be.

Email Jack and Sam: [email protected]

👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam's wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Almost half of private renters in England are living in homes that are cold, damp or mouldy, even in the summer, according to new figures.

A survey by Citizens Advice found 45% of private renters are currently experiencing damp, mould or excessive cold in their home.

And the research found 48% of these households have been living with the disrepair for more than a year.

The charity's data showed private renters on low wages were expected to spend 53% of their income on energy and housing costs this year - compared with 46% for those living in social housing and 40% for those who own their homes.

You can read more from Sky News here:

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, has insisted that tackling child poverty is a "priority" for the Labour government.

Asked if the two-child benefit cap will be lifted, the minister stressed that Labour will not make commitments if they can't pay for them.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from MPs, including from inside his own party, to change his position and abolish the cap today.

A King's Speech debate could end with a vote on the matter on Tuesday evening if Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle selects one of several amendments that have been tabled.

Ms Kendall says: "I am absolutely passionate about tackling child poverty.

"It is a priority for me personally, and for the government.

"People have rightly raised this issue, we know the evidence about its impact, but we were elected promising we would only make commitments when we show how we can fund them.

"But we are taking immediate action.

"Within the first week, I called in a child poverty expert and campaigners, the prime minister has launched a new taskforce right across government to drive down child poverty.

"We are determined to build on the legacy of the last Labour government, which took half a million children out of poverty - unlike the Conservatives, who we saw having 700,000 more kids in poverty."

Ms Kendall goes on to say she is not "hard line" on the two-child benefit cap: "I am compassionate."

"I will only make promises I can show I can deliver."

Asked if Sir Keir can afford a rebellion at this early stage, she reiterates that her colleagues are aware of Labour's stance on the issue.

"Colleagues know that we have got this plan for a bold new strategy on child poverty," Ms Kendall says.

By Deborah Haynes , security and defence editor

The state of the UK's armed forces, hollowed out by decades of cuts, is "much worse than we thought", Defence Secretary John Healey has revealed.

The comments came as Ukraine's former military chief warned that Britain and other democracies need to "wake up" and consider how to protect themselves from another world war - a level of readiness that would require all of society, not just the military, to be prepared.

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who took up a new position as Ukrainian ambassador to London this month, told a conference in London: "Evil is here and it has come to kill."

Both men were speaking separately at the British Army's annual Land Warfare Conference, hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) thinktank.

Rishi Sunak has resigned as Conservative Party leader and the race to replace him could start soon.

With the party now in opposition for the first time since 2010, Tory MPs and members will choose their new leader.

So who is likely to throw their hat into the ring, what do they believe in and, crucially, do they have the backing of party members?

Read the latest from our political reporter Tim Baker below:

Rishi Sunak's replacement as Conservative leader will be announced on 2 November, the Tory party has confirmed.

The party said the former prime minister, who led the Conservatives to their worst-ever defeat on 4 July , will remain acting leader until that date.

Nominations to succeed Mr Sunak will open on Wednesday at 7pm and will close at 2.30pm on Monday.

Following meetings between the Conservative Party board and the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, it has been decided that candidates will need the backing of at least 10 MPs - a proposer, a seconder and eight nominations to proceed to the ballot.

Tory MPs will then narrow down to four candidates, who will make their case to party members at the Conservative conference this autumn.

You can read more from Sky News below:

Sir Keir Starmer will face pressure from MPs in the Commons, including from inside his own party, to change his position and abolish the two-child benefit cap on Tuesday.

The prime minister has said there is "no silver bullet" to end child poverty and acknowledged the "passion" of Labour MPs considering rebelling over the continuation of the policy that affects some 1.6 million children.

The SNP has tabled an amendment, which it says is backed by Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independent MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said: "Keir Starmer must not fail his first major test in government by refusing to scrap the cap. It is the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty - and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.

"Labour MPs have a choice today. They can lift children out of poverty by voting for the SNP amendment to abolish the cap - or they will push children into poverty by keeping it in place."

Kim Johnson and Rosie Duffield are among the Labour MPs who have urged Sir Keir to change tack, while Conservative Suella Braverman spoke on Monday to support scrapping the limit.

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IMAGES

King Henry in the Play "Henry V" by W. Shakespeare
Analysis of Speeches
Henry V Speech Analysis
William Shakespeare's 'Henry V': context, summary & themes! *REVISION
Shakespeare's King Henry V.
Understanding HENRY V's speech "Upon the King!"

VIDEO

Act 4, Chorus, Henry V
Shakespeare: Henry IV Part 1: Act 3, Scene 2
Macbeth Act V
"King Henry V" Shakespeare; audio/abridged; w/ Richard Burton
Shakespeare: Henry V (Shakespeare's Globe)
A Prayer Of King Henry Vi, domine jesu christe

COMMENTS

A Short Analysis of the 'St Crispin's Day' Speech from Henry V
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) The 'St Crispin's Day' speech is one of the most famous speeches from William Shakespeare's Henry V, a history play written in around 1599 and detailing the English king's wars with France during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).. Henry V himself delivers the St Crispin's Day speech in the play.
Henry V Monologue (Act 4, Scene 1)
Let's take a closer look at the speech itself: Original Text. Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, Our children and our sins lay on the king! ... The actor must have a specific robe in their mind when they reference it in this speech. Henry knows each of these objects individually and specifically ...
St Crispin's Day Speech: Henry V Speech W Analysis
The Feast of St Crispin's Day speech is spoken by England's King Henry V in Shakespeare's Henry V history play (act 4 scene 3).The scene is set on the eve of the battle of Agincourt at the English camp in northern France, which took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day). Through the course of the speech, Henry V motivates his men - his 'band of brothers', outnumbered ...
St Crispin's Day Speech
The St Crispin's Day speech is a part of William Shakespeare's history play Henry V, Act IV Scene iii(3) 18-67. On the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, which fell on Saint Crispin's Day, Henry V urges his men, who were vastly outnumbered by the French, to imagine the glory and immortality that will be theirs if they are victorious.The speech has been famously portrayed by Laurence Olivier to ...
The St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, ... That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. From Henry V, Act IV, Scene III. Related poems. ... The St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V William Shakespeare; France, 1941 Heidi Williamson Members' Poems - War; Search; About; FAQ; Poems;
Henry V Act 4, Scene 1 Translation
KING HENRY. Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger. The greater therefore should our courage be. —Good morrow, brother Bedford. God almighty, There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distill it out. For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers, Which is both healthful and good husbandry. Besides, they are our outward consciences And preachers to us ...
Henry V Act 4, Scene 3 Translation
KING HENRY. Who wishes that? My cousin Westmoreland? No, good cousin. If we are doomed to die, there are enough of us to harm our country by our loss; and if to live, the fewer men there are, the greater share of honor each one gets. By God, please don't wish for even one more man.
William Shakespeare
The badly outnumbered English army discusses its grim prospects before the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry rallies his men with the "St. Crispin's Day speech," perhaps the most
Henry V
Toggle Contents Act and scene list. Characters in the Play ; Entire Play Henry V begins at the English court, where the young king is persuaded that he has a claim to the throne of France. When the French dauphin, or heir apparent, insults him by sending him tennis balls, Henry launches his military expedition to France.Before departing, Henry learns that three of his nobles have betrayed him ...
St. Crispin's Day Speech: From Henry V by William Shakespeare
KING. 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;
SCENE I. The English camp at Agincourt.
Upon Saint Davy's day. KING HENRY V Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours. PISTOL Art thou his friend? KING HENRY V And his kinsman too. PISTOL The figo for thee, then! KING HENRY V I thank you: God be with you! PISTOL My name is Pistol call'd.
'Once more unto the breach' Speech in Henry V Explained
Based on the events of the Hundred Years War, Henry V of England is convinced that he is the rightful heir to the French throne and has come to claim his rightful place as king of France. The ' Once more unto the breach ' speech appears at the peak of the action in Act 3, Scene 1.
Henry V: King's Monologue
HENRY V A monologue from the play by William Shakespeare. KING: Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, ... Straining upon the start. The game's afoot! Follow your spirit; and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry! England and Saint George!' Purchase this play.
Henry V
Henry V is Shakespeare's most famous "war play"; it includes the storied English victory over the French at Agincourt. ... TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis) Download as TEISimple XML ... KING HENRY 3233 Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you 3234 my queen. KATHERINE 3235 Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez ...
The Best Speeches From Shakespeare's Henry V
The 3 Best Henry V Speeches . There are many reasons why fans laud the Henry plays above the others, including the remarkable character arc; the astute blend of humor, history, and family drama; and the awesome array of battle scenes. For fans of Henry V, another reason to admire this work is that it contains some of the most powerful monologues in the English language.
Henry V
Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers, with scaling-ladders. KING HENRY V : 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: 40 : As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Henry V Monologues
Act 4, Scene 1 (Henry V) Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, Our children and our sins lay on the king! We must bear all. ... Act 4 Scene 3 (Henry V) Henry's most famous speech, and one of the most well known in all of Shakespeare's works. This speech is a classic, pre-battle motivational speech.
Language analysis in Henry V
What it means to be a king is an important theme in Henry V. We know that Henry has only just begun to emerge from 'the veil of wildness' (Ely, 1:1) and accept his responsibilities as a monarch. This change in him could be a growing maturity, although he does claim in Henry IV Part I that he is pretending to transform.
Shakespeare's Monologues
Making it easier to find monologues since 1997. A complete database of Shakespeare's Monologues. All of them. The monologues are organized by play, then categorized by comedy, history and tragedy. You can browse and/or search. Each monologue entry includes the character's name, the first line of the speech, whether it is verse or prose, and shows the act, scene & line number.
Henry V: Act 5, Scene 2
King Henry and the French King meet, protesting their love for one another. The Duke of Burgundy makes an impassioned plea for peace. ... Doth root upon, while that the coulter rusts. That should deracinate such savagery; The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth ... You are assembled; and my speech entreats. That I may know the let why ...
Henry V Act 4 Scene 1
Henry in disguise. Act 4 Scene 1 - Key Scene . In this scene, King Henry visits the English camp in disguise. He talks with some of the soldiers, who do not recognise him, and quarrels with one of them, Michael Williams, about the responsibility of the King. Take a look at an extract from this scene.
Henry V, Act IV, Scene 1 :|: Open Source Shakespeare
Henry V. No, I am a Welshman. Pistol. Know'st thou Fluellen? Henry V. Yes. Pistol. Tell him, I'll knock his leek about his pate 1900 Upon Saint Davy's day. Henry V. Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours. Pistol. Art thou his friend? Henry V. And his kinsman too. 1905; Pistol. The figo for thee, then ...
King's Speech: What is it and why does someone have to be ...
Once the King's Speech concludes, a new parliamentary session begins, with MPs debating its contents around two hours later in the Commons. Debates over the speech typically continue for several ...
July 21, 2024, presidential campaign news
President Joe Biden has announced he is dropping out of the presidential race after mounting calls from Democrats.
Politics latest: Labour government 'can't make any promises' on
Sir Keir Starmer launches new skills body as he comes under pressure over the two-child benefit cap. Yvette Cooper tells MPs the last government planned to spend over £10bn on its Rwanda scheme.