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By William Shakespeare. (from Henry V, spoken by King Henry) Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man. As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Throughout Henry V’s ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends’ speech, he makes references to animals known for their ferocity (tigers) or speed (greyhounds), while his talk of ‘breeding’ and ‘pasture’ imply a link between the English soldiers and bulls and rams, tough and hardy animals.
Read Shakespeare’s ‘ Once more unto the breach, dear friends’ speech from Henry V below, along with a modern English translation: Spoken by Henry, Act 3 Scene 1. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man. As modest stillness and humility:
1564 –. 1616. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead! In peace there's nothing so becomes a man, As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, conjure up the blood,
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Why does Henry V say 'once more unto the breach'?
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Once more back into the gap in the wall, dear friends, once more, or let it be closed up with dead English soldiers! There's nothing more proper for a man in a time of peace as modest calm and humility, but when the trumpet of war blows in your ears, you should imitate the actions of a tiger.
Henry immediately seeks to build up trust and rapport between him and his men by calling them “dear friends.” He knows he will need their confidence in him, as he has to ask them “once more” to fight for him when he knows they have already given everything they have.
The Life of King Henry the Fifth. SCENE I. France. Before Harfleur. Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers, with scaling-ladders. KING HENRY V. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.
