昨日、YWC|Aのシェクスピア講座で「アジャンクールの戦い」の原文を読んだ。この戦いについては、３４年前（１９９１年）、生徒にKNOW THE WORLD WITH MAT "MATの目”でプリントを配った。以下は、そのプリントである。
原文を併せて付加えることにした。
Yesterday, I studied the Battle of Agincourt in the Shakespeare Class at Nagoya YWCA. I had given printed materials about the battle in my English class 34 years ago. I was 48 years old then. I added Henry V's encouragement speech to the Bilingual Bulletin No. 25.
南山高等学校 ２年 日英バイリンガル通信 NO. 25 July 19, 1991
少ないほど大きい
諸君は世界史で「アジャンクールの戦い」について習いましたが覚えていますか。１４１５年、アジャンクールでヘンリー５世の率いる三千のイギリス軍が、二万のフランス騎士軍を破りました。フランス軍の死者は一万、イギリス軍は二百人でした。シェクスピアの「ヘンリー５世」によると、王は次のように言って兵士を鼓舞しました。
『援軍を望む者もいよう。しかし我々が戦死するなら三千で十分だ。生き残るのなら少数なほど名誉も大きい。戦う勇気のない者は立ち去るがいい。我々は共に死ぬのを恐れるような者と死にたくはない。今日は聖クリスピアンの祭日だ。今日を生きのび無事故郷に帰る者は、毎年この日に胸を張ることだろう。今日を生きのび長生きする者は、毎年友達に「明日は聖クリスピアンだ」と言って古傷を見せ、「これは聖クリスピアンの日の傷だ」と言うことだろう。老人は忘れ易いが、今日の手柄は決して忘れず、息子に語り聞かせるであろう。我々は少数だが幸せだ。クリスピアンの日が来さえすれば我々のことが思いだされるからだ。今日、朕と共に血を流す者を朕の兄弟としよう。たとえ卑しい身分でも貴紳としよう。故国で今寝ている者はここにいなかったことを残念がるだろう。』
THE FEWER, THE GREATER
You studied the Battle of Agincourt during your
world history lesson. Do you remember it? An English army of 3,000 men led by
King Henry V defeated a French force of 20,000 knights at Agincourt in 1415.
The French losses were 10,000, while the English losses were only 200.
According to Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” this is how the king encouraged his men.
“Some of you may want to have more men from England,
but if we are to die, 3,000 of us are more than enough. If we are to live, the
fewer we are, the greater is our share of honor. He who has no stomach for this
fight, let him depart. We will not die with those who fear to die with us.
“Today is the Feast of Crispian. He who survives
today and goes home safely will be proud of himself when this day comes. He who
survives today and lives to an old age will say to his friends every year,
‘Tomorrow is Crispian’s day,’ and he will show his scars and say, ‘I got these
wounds on Crispian’s day.’ Old men often forget, but they will never forget
what they did this day. They will tell this story to their sons. We are a happy
few. Every year when Crispian’s day comes, we will be remembered.
“He who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.
However vile he may be, he shall be called a gentleman. The gentlemen lying in
bed in England will be sorry that they are not here.”
*********************************************
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
--Shakespeare “Henry V”
The St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V
by Private: William Shakespeare
King Henry V: 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. O, 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 ‘To-morrow 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, Salisbury and Gloucester,
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 to-day 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
From Henry V, Act IV, Scene III
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