Ode to the Cambro-Britons and their Harp, His Ballad of Agi

Michael Drayton 1563 (Hartshill) – 1631 (London)



Fair stood the wind for France,
   When we our sails advance;
   Nor now to prove our chance
       Longer will tarry;
   But putting to the main,
   At Caux, the mouth of Seine,
   With all his martial train
       Landed King Harry.

   And taking many a fort,
  Furnish'd in warlike sort,
  Marcheth towards Agincourt
      In happy hour;
  Skirmishing day by day
  With those that stopp'd his way,
  Where the French gen'ral lay
      With all his power.

  Which, in his height of pride,
  King Henry to deride,
  His ransom to provide
      To the King sending;
  Which he neglects the while,
  As from a nation vile
  Yet with an angry smile
      Their fall portending.

  And turning to his men
  Quoth our brave Henry then:
  "Though they to one be ten
      Be not amazed.
  Yet have we well begun:
  Battles so bravely won
  Have ever to the sun
      By Fame been raised!

  "And for myself," quoth he,
  "This my full rest shall be:
  England ne'er mourn for me,
      Nor more esteem me;
  Victor I will remain,
  Or on this earth lie slain;
  Never shall she sustain
      Loss to redeem me!

  "Poitiers and Cressy tell
  When most their pride did swell
  Under our swords they fell;
      No less our skill is
  Than when our grandsire great,
  Claiming the regal seat,
  By many a warlike feat
      Lopp'd the French lilies."

  The Duke of York so dread
  The eager vaward led;
  With the main Henry sped
      Amongst his henchmen:
  Excester had the rear,
  A braver man not there
  O Lord, how hot they were
      On the false Frenchmen!

  They now to fight are gone;
  Armour on armour shone;
  Drum now to drum did groan:
       To hear, was wonder;
  That, with cries they make,
  The very earth did shake;
  Trumpet to trumpet spake,
      Thunder to thunder.

  Well it thine age became,
  O noble Erpingham,
  Which didst the signal aim
      To our hid forces;
  When, from a meadow by,
  Like a storm suddenly,
  The English archery
      Stuck the French horses

  With Spanish yew so strong,
  Arrows a cloth-yard long,
  That like to serpents stung,
      Piercing the weather.
  None from his fellow starts,
  But playing manly parts,
  And like true English hearts
      Stuck close together.

  When down their bows they threw,
  And forth their bilboes drew,
  And on the French they flew,
      Not one was tardy;
  Arms were from shoulders sent,
  Scalps to the teeth were rent,
  Down the French peasants went:
      Our men were hardy.

  This while our noble King,
  His broad sword brandishing,
  Down the French host did ding,
      As to o'erwhelm it.
  And many a deep wound lent,
  His arms with blood besprent,
  And many a cruel dent
      Bruised his helmet.

  Gloster, that duke so good,
  Next of the royal blood,
  For famous England stood
    With his brave brother.
 Clarence, in steel so bright,
 Though but a maiden knight,
 Yet in that furious fight
    Scarce such another!

 Warwick in blood did wade,
 Oxford the foe invade,
 And cruel slaughter made,
    Still as they ran up.
 Suffolk his axe did ply;
 Beaumont and Willoughby
 Bare them right doughtily;
    Ferrers and Fanhope.

 Upon Saint Crispin's Day
 Fought was this noble fray,
 Which fame did not delay
    To England to carry.
 O when shall English men
 With such acts fill a pen,
 Or England breed again
    Such a King Harry?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 21, 2023

2:47 min read
93

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAABCBCB DDDEFFFE GGGHIIIH JJJKLLLK BBBBCCCB MMMNXOOX PPPLXXEJ XQQERRRE SSSNTBBX UUXEVVVE WWWBXXXB HHHXXDXX YXYEZZZE 1 1 1 2 TBI2 FFFBJJJB
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 3,229
Words 552
Stanzas 15
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8

Michael Drayton

Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. more…

All Michael Drayton poems | Michael Drayton Books

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