'And gentlemen in England now a-bed...will hold their manhoods cheap': Shakespeare and the 2020 campaign rallies

The campaign season is upon us, and President Trump and former Vice President Biden are on the campaign trail giving speeches designed to rally the faithful and draw the undecided to the cause. Shakespeare as usual has already been there. His most famous offering is from Henry V, when the king addresses his troops to rally them prior to a battle with the French. Let's get straight to it. 

Henry starts by assuring the troops that their service is entirely voluntary.

Henry V: "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."

No modern military goes this far. While enlistment in the U.S. is currently voluntary, soldiers cannot seek to be discharged just prior to battle, but Henry has a Henry goes on:

"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:'"

Well, Henry does offer his soldiers one reward if they stay with him and fight, but it isn't a reward that he himself will bestow; it will be bestowed by their neighbors in the form of admiration and praise. A modern parallel is obvious here as well; future generations will either praise or condemn today's generation of soldier - OK, voters - depending on the wisdom of their choice. 

Henry has more to say:

"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."

It's a stirring speech, and it goes on: 

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:"

Be he never so vile. A fair number of the soldiers would have been reformed, or unreformed, criminals, and Henry is telling them that their actions on the day of the election, or rather the day of battle, can provide them with a form of redemption. This day shall gentle your condition. 

Then Henry compares his fellow soldiers, his band of brothers, to non-voters; I mean non-soldiers:

"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."

Enjoy the campaign - and vote!