Saint George's day

A slight twist (Elizabeth II in place of King Henry/Harry) to Shakespeare's amazing words - that are a reminder of how Englishmen thought and acted in his times.

How different are we, who are mere shadows of this description - OR ARE WE? Has the CoronaVirus given us back some of what is described below (shortened version):

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:

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,

Then imitate the action of the tiger;

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,

Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;

Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit

To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.

And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,

Whose limbs were made in England, show us here

The mettle of your pasture; let us swear

That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;

For there is none of you so mean and base,

That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:

Follow your spirit, and upon this charge

Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Taken from Henry V, the history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written around 1599. Therefore reflecting how we English thought about ourselves 420 years ago.

Shakespeare, as every British schoolchild / pupil will know (?) tells the story of King Henry V of England, focusing on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt, of 1415, during the Hundred Years' War.

That 'war' was a series of conflicts from 1337 to 1453, waged between the Plantagenet rulers of England and the French House of Valais over the right to rule the Kingdom of France.