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Battle speech from Henry V (world cup version)

Pete Hunter

Monday, June 5th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Henry V (World Cup)

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Once more unto the pitch dear friends
And fill the fixtures with English goals.
In peace there’s nothing so becoming a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of the whistle blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the lion;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d play,
And lend the eye a terrible aspect.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up the spirit
To his full height. On, on you noblest English.
Whose blood is fet from the players of sixty-six!
Players that, like so many Bobby Moores
Have in these parts from morn to even cleaned
And polished their boots for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you called fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to play. And you, good player,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worthy of your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble Psycho’s lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The games afoot – ball:
Follow your spirit, and upon this whistle
Cry ‘God for Beckham, England and Saint George!’

© peter hunter 2006

Notes

Not really an original poem, but a rewrite of a Shakespeares patriotic battle speech from Henry V. Sorry it’s not original, hope that’s ok.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/battle-speech-from-henry-v-world-cup-version/