The Feast of Crispian (Shakespeare, set by R. Cumming) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a-tiptoe when this 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 neighbors,
And say, "Tomorrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say,  "These wounds I had on Crispian's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember what feats he did that day.
This story shall the good man teach his son:
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
But we in it shall be remember'd.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today 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 accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's Day.

Input by Barbara Miller

Authorship

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Henry V

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Richard Jackson Cumming (1928-)

We Happy Few

Date added to the website: 2005-06-22.

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