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2003-02-06 Iraq

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Posted by Steve 2003-02-06 03:58 pm|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Ah, the Welch -

(Henry the 5th, Act 3, scene 3)

King. How yet resolues the Gouernour of the Towne?
This is the latest Parle we will admit:
Therefore to our best mercy giue your selues,
Or like to men prowd of destruction,
Defie vs to our worst: for as I am a Souldier,
A Name that in my thoughts becomes me best;
If I begin the batt'rie once againe,
I will not leaue the halfe-atchieued Harflew,
Till in her ashes she lye buryed.
The Gates of Mercy shall be all shut vp,
And the flesh'd Souldier, rough and hard of heart,
In libertie of bloody hand, shall raunge
With Conscience wide as Hell, mowing like Grasse
Your fresh faire Virgins, and your flowring Infants.
What is it then to me, if impious Warre,
Arrayed in flames like to the Prince of Fiends,
Doe with his smyrcht complexion all fell feats,
Enlynckt to wast and desolation?
What is't to me, when you your selues are cause,
If your pure Maydens fall into the hand
Of hot and forcing Violation?
What Reyne can hold licentious Wickednesse,
When downe the Hill he holds his fierce Carriere?
We may as bootlesse spend our vaine Command
Vpon th' enraged Souldiers in their spoyle,
As send Precepts to the Leuiathan, to come ashore.
Therefore, you men of Harflew,
Take pitty of your Towne and of your People,
Whiles yet my Souldiers are in my Command,
Whiles yet the coole and temperate Wind of Grace
O're-blowes the filthy and contagious Clouds
Of headly Murther, Spoyle, and Villany.
If not: why in a moment looke to see
The blind and bloody Souldier, with foule hand
Desire the Locks of your shrill-shriking Daughters:
Your Fathers taken by the siluer Beards,
And their most reuerend Heads dasht to the Walls:
Your naked Infants spitted vpon Pykes,
Whiles the mad Mothers, with their howles confus'd,
Doe breake the Clouds; as did the Wiues of Iewry,
At Herods bloody-hunting slaughter-men.
What say you? Will you yeeld, and this auoyd?
Or guiltie in defence, be thus destroy'd.

Posted by mojo 2003-02-06 15:43:40|| 2003-02-06 15:43:40|| Front Page Top

01:28 mojo
22:50 Steve White
22:31 Frank G
20:59 JDB
20:55 Dr. Weevil
20:31 Anonymous
20:28 Fred
20:13 paj
20:05 Alaska Paul
20:01 paj
19:53 Alaska Paul
18:44 Fred
18:04 Crusader Fromage
17:43 VAMark
17:36 Old Grouch
17:35 Yank
17:16 Yank
17:11 dennisw
16:09 Anonymous
16:03 tu3031
16:02 tu3031
15:58 mojo
15:43 mojo
15:31 tu3031