The death of Odo

"At this point our men suffered a considerable setback. Odo of Beaugency, who was carrying the standard, was wounded by a poisoned arrow. His strength failed from the pain of the wound and he fell to the ground along with the standard.  William of Belesme hacked a way through the enemy with drawn sword and taised it from the ground. No tongue can tell or hand write or page contain what the leader of leaders Godfrey achieved that day, or Bohemond, or the distinguished young soldiers. Not one of our men hung back or acted as a coward: there was no room for such behaviour and the enemy, far more numerous, pressed each hard. The more that were killed, the more they seemed to be; they swarmed from every side like flies on rotting matter."

Robert the Monk's Historia Iherosolimitana, Victory at Antioch June to October 1098 Crusade Texts in Translation 11

A pleasent and wonderful morning to the shire and may your weeks end find you rested and envigorated.

Today in Southern Germany the clouds have lifted their seige and the sun's rays are bathing the land in all its life giving wonder. The flowers have been in full bloom now for over a month and they have easly washed the memory of the frigid winter from our minds. There is a fresh smell drifting through the air that shouts sweet fertility and is carried on the voices of the birds who have begun the morning worship at the first signs of dawn.

 "Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath..." "Kingdom of Heaven"

"Heroes, approach!" Atrides thus aloud,

"Stand forth distinguish'd from the circling crowd, Ye who by skill or manly force may claim, Your rivals to surpass and merit fame. This cow, worth twenty oxen, is decreed, For him who farthest sends the winged reed." Iliad

This day is called the Feast of Crispian:

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a-tiptoe when the day is named,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall see this day and live t'old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say "To-morrow is Saint Crispian":

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 remembered.

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 remembered;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he today 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 England now abed

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. (IV, iii)

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