Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση
[ocr errors]

HENRY THE FIFTH, THAT MAN MADE OUT OF FIRE."-DRAYTON.

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.

For hedge nor ditch they spared not,

But after her they hie them :
A cobweb over them they throw,
To shield the wind if it should blow;
Themselves they wisely could bestow,

Lest any should espy them.
[MICHAEL DRAYTON. See p. 35.]

37

"IN OUR HALLS IS HUNG ARMOURY OF TH' INVINCIBLE KNIGHTS OF OLD."-WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.

[This great battle was fought on the 25th of October 1415, by an English
army of 8000 men under Henry V., against a French force of between
50,000 and 60,000 under the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon, and the Con-
stable D'Albret.]

AIR stood the wind for France,
When we our sails advance,
Nor now to prove our chance
Longer will tarry;
But, putting to the main,
At Kaux, the mouth of Seine,
With all his martial train,
Landed King Harry.

And taking many a fort,
Furnished in warlike sort,
Marched towards Agincourt
In happy hour;
Skirmishing day by day

With those that stopped his way,

Where the French gen'ral lay

With all his power;

Which, in his height of pride,
King Henry to deride,

66 HEAVEN THAT DAY TO THE BRAVE ENGLISH OWED.

-DRAYTON.

"THOSE VICTORIOUS DAYS, THE DEEDS OF WHICH BEYOND THEIR NAME SHOULD LAST."-DRAYTON.

"MAY HE BE SUFFOCATE THAT DIMS THE HONOUR OF THIS WARLIKE ISLE!"-WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

38

"IT IS MOST MEET WE ARM US 'GAINST THE FOE." -SHAKSPEARE.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"ENGLAND IS SAFE, IF TRUE WITHIN ITSELF."-SHAKSPEARE.

"AND AS THEY PASS, St. George for ENGLAND AND THE KING, THEY CRY."-MICHAEL DRAYTON.

"WHO FIGHTS, THE COLD BLADE IN HIS BOSOM FEELS; WHO FLIES, STILL HEARS IT WHIZZING AT HIS HEELS."-DRAYTON.

"WHERE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS INSTANTLY WERE done."-DRAYTON.

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.

39

The Duke of York so dread,
The eager vaward led;

With the main Henry sped,

Amongst his henchmen;
Excester had the rear,
A braver man not there;

O Lord, how hot they were

On the false Frenchmen!
They now to fight are gone,-
Armour on armour shone,
Drum now to drum did groan,

To hear was wonder;

That with the cries they make,
The very earth did shake,
Trumpet to trumpet spake,
Thunder to thunder.

Well it thine age became,
O noble Erpingham,
Which did the signal aim

To our hid forces;
When from a meadow by,
Like a storm suddenly,
The English archery
Struck the French horses.
With Spanish yew so strong,
Arrows a cloth-yard long,
That like to serpents stung,
Piercing the weather;
None from his fellow starts,
But, playing manly parts,
And like true English hearts,
Stuck close together.

"I KNOW THAT RESOLUTION MAY DO MUCH."-DRAYTON.

"THIS DAY HATH MADE MUCH WORK FOR TEARS IN MANY AN ENGLISH MOTHER."-WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

"HIS DEEDS EXCEED ALL SPEECH, HE NE'ER LIFT UP HIS HAND BUT CONQUERED."-WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

This while our noble king,

His broadsword brandishing,

"VIRTUE HE HAD, DESERVING TO COMMAND."-SHAKSPEARE.

"ENGLAND NE'ER LOST A KING OF SO MUCH WORTH."-SHAKSPEARE.

40

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.

When down their bows they threw,
And forth their bilbows drew,
And on the French they flew,

Not one was tardy;

Arms were from shoulders sent,
Scalps to the teeth were rent,
Down the French peasants went-

Our men were hardy.

"WHAT IS THIS CASTLE CALLED THAT STANDS HARD BY? THEY CALL IT AGINCOURT."-WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

[graphic]

"THE ARMS ARE FAIR, WHEN THE INTENT OF BEARING THEM IS JUST."-WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

"THE HARSH AND BOIST'ROUS TONGUE OF WAR." -SHAKSPEARE.

[blocks in formation]

"THE KING IS FULL OF GRACE AND FAIR REGARD."-SHAKSPEARE.

"THEN CALL WE THIS THE FIELD OF AGINCOURT, FOUGHT ON THE DAY OF CRISPIANUS."-SHAKSPEARE.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »