Henrietta V, Act IV, Scene III Saint Anna’s Day

O that we now had here but ten thousand of those men in England that do no work to-day!

What's she that wishes so?

My cousin Liz? 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 any man.
Mio Dio, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear
awkward as that might appear;
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 any man .
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As any man methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Tanya, 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;
As if that were a surprise.
This day is call'd the feast of Anna
She that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse her at the name of Anna
She that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast her neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Anna.'
Then will she strip her gorgeous silk blouse and show her scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Anna's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But she'll remember, with advantages,
What feats she did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in her mouth as household words-
Erin, Penny and Edeyn,
Melanie and Lisa, Susan and Sarah and Kelly-
Sephrena, Heather, Joanne, all of you dear women!
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good woman teach her daughter;
And Anna shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of sisters;
For she to-day that sheds her blood with me;
whether physical or emotional;
Shall be my sister; be she ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle her condition
as if that were necessary, come on, girls;
And Good Ladies around the world now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their womanhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Anna's day.