henry v speech words

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

No Sweat Shakespeare

‘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.’

Watch St Crispin’s Day Speech Performed

See All Henry V Resources

Henry V | Henry V summary | Henry V characters | Henry V settings | Henry V in modern English | Henry V full text | Modern Henry V ebook | Henry V quotes | Henry V quote translations | Henry V monologues

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

  • Pinterest 0

Colin Allan

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.

Leave a Reply

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

follow on facebook

Poems & Poets

July/August 2024

Speech: “ This day is called the feast of Crispian ”

(from Henry V , spoken by King Henry) 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.

Interesting Literature

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’.

Discover more from Interesting Literature

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Type your email…

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

  • Pingback: A Short Analysis of the ‘Once More unto the Breach, Dear Friends’ Speech from Henry V – Interesting Literature

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

-->
directory
. .

Please see the bottom of this page for related resources.

, Act 3, Scene 2

___________


: Q & A

Plot Summary











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.  

Key Poem Information

Unlock more with Poetry +

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

Themes: Death , Identity , War

Speaker: King Henry V of England

Emotions Evoked: Courage , Honor , Passion , Pride , Resilience

Poetic Form: Free Verse

Time Period: 16th Century

Nadia Van Gordon

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.

Log in or join Poetry + to access Poem Printable PDFs.

Poem Printables

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.

Get PDFs for this Poem

Log in or join Poetry + to access all PDFs for this poem.

Poem Printables

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

Nadia Van Gordon Poetry Expert

About Nadia Van Gordon

Join the poetry chatter and comment.

Exclusive to Poetry + Members

Join Conversations

Share your thoughts and be part of engaging discussions.

Expert Replies

Get personalized insights from our Qualified Poetry Experts.

Connect with Poetry Lovers

Build connections with like-minded individuals.

Access the Complete PDF Guide of this Poem

henry v speech words

Poetry+ PDF Guides are designed to be the ultimate PDF Guides for poetry. The PDF Guide consists of a front cover, table of contents, with the full analysis, including the Poetry+ Review Corner and numerically referenced literary terms, plus much more.

Get the PDF Guide

Experts in Poetry

Our work is created by a team of talented poetry experts, to provide an in-depth look into poetry, like no other.

Cite This Page

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 7 September 2024.

Poem Analysis Logo

Help Center

Request an Analysis

(not a member? Join now)

Poem PDF Guides

PDF Learning Library

Beyond the Verse Podcast

Poetry Archives

Poetry Explained

Poet Biographies

Useful Links

Poem Explorer

Poem Generator

[email protected]

Poem Solutions Limited, International House, 36-38 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3NG, United Kingdom

(and discover the hidden secrets to understanding poetry)

Get PDFs to Help You Learn Poetry

250+ Reviews

Download Poetry PDF Guides

Complete Poetry PDF Guide

Perfect Offline Resource

Covers Everything You Need to Know

One-pager 'snapshot' PDF

Offline Resource

Gateway to deeper understanding

Get this Poem Analysis as an Offline Resource

Poetry+ PDF Guides are designed to be the ultimate PDF Guides for poetry. The PDF Guide contains everything to understand poetry.

  • Shakespeare Learning Zone Home
  • As You Like It
  • The Comedy of Errors
  • Julius Caesar
  • Measure for Measure
  • The Merchant of Venice
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Much Ado about Nothing
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • The Taming of The Shrew
  • The Tempest
  • Twelfth Night
  • Your Feedback
  • Education Home
  • What’s on at the RSC

Royal Shakespeare Company

Main Navigation

Once more unto the breach.

Act 3 Scene 1 – Key Scene

In this famous speech, King Henry urges his troops to enter the ‘breach’ they have made in Harfleur’s wall and take control of the town by force.

Take a look at an extract from this scene and watch it in performance here. 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 hole in a defensive wall.

Strong tendons or ligaments in the body.

Terrifying look or appearance.

You are descended from fathers who have already been tested in battle, fathers who, like so many Alexander the Greats, have fought in this country from morning until night, only putting down their swords when there was no one left to fight.

Create or make.

Be an example to men of common birth and show them how to fight in a war.

Good farmers, born in England, show us the bravery of your upbringing.

Why does Henry feel he needs to make this speech?

I see you standing like greyhounds on a leash, straining for the moment when you’ll be let loose. The hunt is on!

What might happen if this speech doesn't work?

What effect does this speech have on the troops?

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

henry v speech words

Play the scene in performance

Henry stands on stage alone, in armour with his sword outstretched as he rallies his men in the 2015 production of Henry V

Henry rallies his men in the 2015 production of Henry V 

Henry stands on a large wooden ladder looking down on his troops and rallies his men in the 1964 production of Henry V

Henry rallies his men in the 1964 production of Henry V 

Henry dressed in camouflage and khakis holds a sword in battle in the 2000 production of Henry V

Henry in battle in the 2000 production of Henry V 

Henry stands on a ladder, looking down at some soldiers and urges the troops in the 1951 production of Henry V

Henry urges the troops in the 1951 production of Henry V 

henry v speech words

We need your help

We’d love to know what you think about the Shakespeare Learning Zone. Help us by taking a short survey – it will only take a few minutes and will help us make the Shakespeare Learning Zone even better for everyone.

IMAGES

  1. (DOC) Henry V speeches analysis

    henry v speech words

  2. Usage of strong language in Shakespeare's Henry V

    henry v speech words

  3. St. Crispins Day Speech

    henry v speech words

  4. Analysis of Speeches

    henry v speech words

  5. Henry V: This speech gives me chills every time I hear it. Kenneth Branagh made Shakespeare come

    henry v speech words

  6. The Best Speeches From Shakespeare's Henry V

    henry v speech words

VIDEO

  1. Henry V

  2. St Crispin's Day Henry V

  3. Henry's speech x It's been so long

  4. INVICTUS (William Ernest Henly)

  5. HENRY V'S ARROW WOUND: Battlefield Surgery in Medieval England

  6. Shakespeare: Henry V (Shakespeare's Globe)

COMMENTS

  1. The St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V - Poetry Society

    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.

  2. St Crispin's Day Speech - Wikipedia

    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.

  3. Speech: “ Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more

    By William Shakespeare. (from Henry V, spoken by King Henry) 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:

  4. 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).

  5. Speech: “This day is called the feast of… | The Poetry Foundation

    By William Shakespeare. (from Henry V, spoken by King Henry) 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,

  6. “St. Cripin’s Day Speech”, Shakespeare, Henry V

    “St. Cripin’s Day Speech”, Shakespeare, Henry V Enter the KING 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

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

    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).

  8. Shakespeare's Henry V 3.1 - The siege of Harfleur, once more ...

    Breasting the lofty surge: O, do but think. You stand upon the ravage and behold. 15. A city on the inconstant billows dancing; For so appears this fleet majestical, Holding due course to Harfleur.

  9. 'Once more unto the breach' Speech in Henry V Explained

    Central Message: With courage, unity, determination, and patriotism, we can overcome adversity. Themes: Death, Identity, War. Speaker: King Henry V of England. Emotions Evoked: Courage, Honor, Passion, Pride, Resilience. Poetic Form: Free Verse. Time Period: 16th Century. Poem Analyzed by Nadia Van Gordon.

  10. Henry V Act 3 Scene 1 | Shakespeare Learning Zone

    Henry V encourages his troops to attack the French at the siege of Harfleur. Explore the 'once more unto the breach' speech, with annotated text, video and galleries.