St. Caswell/Smith’s Day Speech

Thoughts on the Annual dinner meeting with Bill Caswell and Sam Smith:

Photo courtesy of Peter Rossato

St. Caswell/Smith’s Day Speech*

used with permission of William Shakespeare (Well, it's not like he could say 'No'. )

*Any resemblance between the following and Shakespeare's St Crispin's Day Speech from HENRY V is purely..... well.... intentional!  ;)  I have no illusions that I could top what is arguably the greatest speech in the English Language, but.... I thought it simply needed a bit of ... tweaking.

ENTER THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT (JOHNSON): Wiley. O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men and women in New England That do no work to-day! Johnson. What’s she that wishes so? My cousin Wiley? No, my fair cousin; If we are mark’d to dine, we are enow To do our Chapter loss; and if to live, The fewer men and women, the greater share of honour. God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man or woman 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 or woman from New 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, Wiley, through my host, That he which hath no stomach to this dinner, Let him depart; his passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse; We would not dine in that man’s company That fears his fellowship to dine with us. This day is call’d the feast of Caswell/Smith. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home through the raging snowstorm, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, And rouse him at the name of Caswell/Smith. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say “To-morrow is Saint Caswell/Smith.” Then will he strip his sleeve and show his door prize, And say “This prize I had on Caswell/Smith’s day.” Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he’ll remember, with advantages, What eats he consumed that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words- Wiley the Out-going President, Johnson the In-coming President, Jerri Wiley the Mistress of Ceremonies, Antrim and Rich, Hurczyn and Centrella, Rossato and Ortoli- Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Caswell/Smith shall ne’er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters; For he to-day that shares his meal with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in New England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That dined with us upon Saint Caswell/Smith's Day. ;) *http://www.chronique.com/Library/Knights/crispen.htm