Gary And Keith At The Battle Of College

[Red_Mat]

I thought maybe a little bit of encouragement might be useful before going into battle with those councillors tonight, so here's what I thought Gary might be saying to Keith later this evening:

Keith Millen:

"O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those players in England

That do no work to-day!"

King Johnson I:

"What's he that wishes so?

My cousin Keith Millen? 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 players, the greater share of honour.

God's will! I pray thee, wish not one player more.

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;

It yearns me not if players my football shirts wear;

Such outward things dwell not in my desires:

But if it be a sin to covet a new stadium,

I am the most offending soul alive.

No, faith, my coz, wish not a player from England:

God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour

As one player more, methinks, would share from me

For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!

Rather proclaim it, Keith Millen, 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 player's company

That fears his fellowship to die with us.

This day is called the feast of Lansdown:

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 Lansdown.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Lansdown:'

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.

And say 'These wounds I had on Lansdown'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

Gary the king, Carey and Elliott,

Maynard and Fontaine, Saborio and Gerken,

Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Stephen Lansdown 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 Bristol 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 Lansdown's day."

Err, I may have had a little help from Will.....