This is a chapter out of a book I'm writing, 'Memories'. You can read the whole thing by following my sig. The words obviously aren't all mine, I just put them together this way.
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We stood at the back of the courtyard with all non essential personnel gathered for evening service. The 'Knight's Choir' stood with a dozen or so to one side, where I could see young Sarah Lyons standing. She gave me a curious look but said nothing. Lights dimmed in the setting sun of the citadels courtyard, and from the far doorway elder Lyons entered. Everyone stood. As he approached the center, the entire congregation started the service by saying in one mouth:
"O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!"In A-cappella, the choir softly started as a solemn, low voice that slowly swelled.
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are Elder Lyons stood now at the center mike, reading glasses perched on his nose as he read from a worn book.
"What's he that wishes so?" He exclaimed.
and nothing else matters"My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our brotherhood loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour."Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say "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."and nothing else matters"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. O, do not wish one more!"Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view "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."and nothing else matters"This day is call'd the feast of Crispian."never cared for what they do"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,"never cared for what they know"Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian."but I know?Carl leaned over to me and whispered, "[censored], this is heavy." I nodded in agreement, my eyes closed.
"He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,"So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are "And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'"and nothing else matters"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- never cared for what they do "Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester- never cared for what they know "Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red."but I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say At that moment elder Lyons dropped the worn book, losing the place. Hastily he tried finding the page. The page marker still laying on the floor. The choir in a holding pattern. Giving Carl a smile, I strode down the center isle towards the brotherhood elder, questioning glances from those to each side of the isle. An expression of undulated horror transfixed on Sarah's face as she shook her head frantically 'No!'. So this could get me shot.. sometimes you just gotta roll with it.
"This story shall the good man teach his son;" I stated loudly, to overreach the choir, "And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world," I stood in front of Elder Lyon, a look of shock quickly transforming into gratitude. The choir resumed the hymn.
Trust I seek and I find in you "But we in it shall be remembered-" I continued, now turning to the rest of the assembled knights,
Every day for us, something new "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;" tears ran freely down my face
Open mind for a different view "For he to-day that sheds his blood with me" I had my hands outstretched to them, "Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile.., This day shall gentle his condition;"
and nothing else matters "And gentlemen in England now-a-bed"
never cared for what they say "Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,"
never cared for games they play"And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks"
never cared for what they do, never cared for what they know"That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
and I know?The brotherhood stood up, a silent ovation. I was glad for them that their service hadn't been disrupted, but it's wasn't them that I did it for. Looking to the back I saw Carl standing there, mouth open and jaw rolling over the ground.
'I ain't doing it for you either, butthead.' I thought. Nor was I doing it for the greater good.
All the while after leaving Franks place I had been quiet, not ignoring Carl ?much, but not talkitive either, more introspective. I was remembering everyone we'd lost along the way. And everyone we still were going to lose on the coming way. I did it for them.
The choir cut into their closing verse, letting it die out softly.
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else mattersdedicated to all those lost along the way, and to those we still have to lose, may these words comfort you in your final moments. we love you.
hoo-rah.
» Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:37 am 
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