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If we are mark’d to lose, we are enow
To do our region loss, and if to win,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
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 honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my brother, wish not a man from England:
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, my brother, 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 lose in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to be with us.
This day is called the Election day:
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 ‘To-morrow is The Day:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Election 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
Jocospor, ShrewLlamaLand and Depackya,
Regna Loreau and West heisen,
Khanbaliq Mongolia and Alexander the magnus,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Election day 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 Dictators.
For he today who votes for Jocospor
shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
this day shall gentle his condition:
and gentlemen in the Confederation now a-bed,
shall think themselves accursed they had not voted
and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Election day.

Hail the Confederation!