songs of experience

Often times I would give my cross-country teams articles to read and quotes to absorb before major championships or over the summer for inspiration. Once I used a Shakespearian speech that King Henry gave to his troops - who were outnumbered 10 to 1 - the night before their battle on St. Crispian’s Day. It is an oft-quoted speech and has actually been “made boring” in English classes over time … but if you read it fresh, as a soldier … as a running warrior … it still inspires the comman man(woman) to want to be a (s)hero.

“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 whilst any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day. ”

from, William Shakespeare’s Henry V