Tolkien 'War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I'm not a pacifist, but I agree with J.R.R. Simply because he has a doubtful claim to France's throne, and the prince of France-the Dauphin-insulted him? My dislike of Henry's war, and therefore Henry himself may be helped along by the fact that the responsibility of Joan of Arc's unfair death seems to be evenly divided between him and Charles VII, the king of France whom Joan served. I'm not altogether certain that I'm understanding the historical context, but it seems to me that Henry's war does not have just cause. Only the Saint Crispin's Day Speech stopped me from giving this just one star. Especially King Lear (of the few I've read so far) I just didn't like Henry V as a character, which severely stunted my ability to enjoy the play. The game's afoot:Ĭry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' Read more I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, That you are worth your breeding which I doubt not įor there is none of you so mean and base, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.Īnd teach them how to war. Have in these parts from morn till even foughtĪnd sheathed their swords for lack of argument: Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof! Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean. Like the brass cannon let the brow o'erwhelm it In peace there's nothing so becomes a manīut when the blast of war blows in our ears,ĭisguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage Or close the wall up with our English dead.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more It just doesn't get any better than this!!

Henry the v by william shakespeare