Oct
25
“Rouse Him at the Name of Crispian”
October 25, 2007 |
Sometimes, you gotta wonder about the timing of God’s messages - the gospel for today (Luke 12:49-53) has Christ exhorting us that “I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!”
In any case, I think it’s best to just leave this gospel alone considering the events of this week.
Instead, I want to concentrate on two minor saints whose feast day is today - 3rd Century martyrs and twin brothers, Sts. Crispin and Crispinian. Not much is really known about them but they were immortalized by Shakespeare in Henry V, Act IV Scene 3.
Henry is faced with rallying his ragtag army against the most powerful army in the world (the French) on foreign soil. They are about to do battle at Agincourt and the date is October 25, 1415 (yes, this is the anniversary). As it is also the feast day of St. Crispin, Henry uses the significance of this feast day to great effect on his troops. [Note: St. Crispin was a major religious holiday for 15th Century England and was a day of rest.]
His soliloquy is one of the best in all of literature -
WESTMORELAND O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today!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 enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, 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 ‘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 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 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.SALISBURY My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed:
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.KING HENRY V All things are ready, if our minds be so.
WESTMORELAND Perish the man whose mind is backward now!
KING HENRY V Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?
WESTMORELAND God’s will! my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!KING HENRY V Why, now thou hast unwish’d five thousand men;
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
You know your places: God be with you all!
Everytime I read this soliloquy, I’m ready to jump through the page and join the battle.
And that’s the power of this piece for us as men - its about honor, courage, doing something great that will last beyond our lifetime, brotherhood, manhood, loyalty, and ultimately faith. We then add in the religious theme of St. Crispin and the singing of the Te Deum in praise and thanksgiving to God (Act IV, Scene 8) after this motley crew defeats the mighty French Army. [In Scene 8, Henry dutifully gives all credit for the victory to God.] This whole scene has such power that it should inspire us all to be faithful, Godly men true to our calling to be princes and knights for Christ and his Church.
Yes, I may sound over-the-top, but there was a time when men like Sts. Crispin and Crispinian and the heroes of Henry’s army were commonplace. For us to succeed and thrive as a nation, as a Church, and as stable and strong families, we all need to be that type of man - no exceptions.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
Text courtesy of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” at shakespeare.mit.edu.
Photo: Site of Battle of Agincourt, David Hartford, July 26,2005. License. Some right reserved.
