Henry V - Act III, Scene I Before the Wall of a French Town

Henry V and his army are attacking the town of Harfleur in France. The English have just made a breach in the wall of the city, and Henry is urging his men to enter the breach in order to capture the town. He admits that it is normally good for men to be meek, gentle, and modest. But he says that in times of war men should behave like fierce animals.

Before Harfleur.
Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers, with scaling-ladders

KING HENRY V

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility,
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; hard favoured - ugly, severe
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head pry - extend through / portage - position, attitude
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof! fet - received from / war-proof - used to war
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest attest - give evidence for
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. beget - concieve
Be copy now to men of grosser blood, grosser - thicker
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman, yeomen - peasants
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear mettle - worth / pasture - native land
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base, base - of low class
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, slips - starting point of a race
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot! the game's afoot - the race has begun
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' Harry - Henry (the King)

Exeunt. Alarum, and chambers go off


http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/