亨利五世的战地演讲：战神亨利五世的空口白话

 

　　在征战法国的过程中，亨利五世的铁蹄绝不是永远坚硬而不知疲倦，他也曾经和自己的士兵们被逼入绝境，但这种绝境并没能击败这位战神。亨利五世曾经在绝境之际有过一番演讲，虽然今天看来都是一些空口白话，但不得不说在当时确实起到了鼓舞士兵的作用。
　　公元1415年，亨利五世带领孤军深入法国腹地，最后他的军队被法军挤压到一个没有防卫的要塞。
　　莎士比亚为我们描绘出当时的场景。在战役打响之前，国王作了这样的演讲：“谁没有心思打这一仗，就让他离队好了。我们发给他通信证，还让他带上银元作盘缠，既然他不愿和我们一起以身报国，我们也不愿和他死在一起。”
　　迪克西特分析道：这个策略是，任何人想要接受这一临阵豁免提议的士兵，都不得不在所有同伴眼皮底下这么做，当然，没有人愿意这么做，因为这实在太丢脸了。士兵通过拒绝这一提议，在心理上已经破釜沉舟，切断退路了。他们彼此之间已经签订这样一份隐含的合同，宣布面临生命危险时，谁也不苟且偷生。
　　接下来本应该是“打了胜仗，金票大大的有”。但是亨利五世更有高明之处，他继续演讲道：“上了年纪的人记性差，但是哪怕什么都忘了，他也会如数家珍回忆自己干下的业绩……我们这一班生死与共的兄弟，凡是今天和我一道血洒战场的人，都将是我的兄弟。不管他地位如何卑下低微……此刻熟睡的绅士，有朝一日会埋怨自己时运不济，没能来到这里……”
　　多么煽情的激励，成为国王的兄弟，他一开口就让其他人感到英雄气短。
　　当他的将领感慨说，要是我们再多一万人就好了，亨利五世回答道：“哪怕再增加一个人我也不愿意，增加一个人就会分享我那么一点光荣。”反正也不会有援军来，不如说得体面点。
　　这段对话据说被当时的传记作家记录下来，后来被放入了莎士比亚的戏剧中而广为流传。
　　阿金库尔战役最后以亨利五世大胜告终。那么当你凯旋，国王会跟你说“我的兄弟，到我的王宫来，和我住在一起吧，把我的妹子嫁给你”吗？当然不会，说到底这是一些空话，但这种激励确实很管用。
　　英文原文：
　　What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? 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 not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; it yearns me not if men my garments wear; 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 not a man from England. God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour as one man more, methinks, would share from me for the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more! Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, 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.
　　This day is called the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, will stand a tip-toe when the 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 neighbours, and say 'Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars and say: 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Old men forget, yet all shall be forgot. But he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day.
　　Then shall our names familiar in his mouth as household words: Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, and York, be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd. This story shall the good man teach his son. And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day to the ending of the world, 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 accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.