23 age in people. Knowing people will fight harder for those things they love, Churchill frequently drew upon the imagery of Henry’s St. Crispian’s Day speech. On February 3, 1943, Churchill delivered a speech to the men of the Eighth Army at Tripoli. Like Henry, Churchill appealed to the future acclaim that would be theirs: Let me then assure you, soldiers and airmen, that your fellow-countrymen regard your joint work with admiration and gratitude, and that after the war when a man is asked what he did it will be quite sufficient for him to say, "I marched and fought with the Desert Army." And when history is written and all the facts are known, our feats will gleam and glow and will be a source of song and story long after we who are gathered here have passed away..46 Conclusion Winston Churchill fashioned himself an heir to the leadership legacy of Henry V, and the Second World War allowed him to prove his mettle against a ferocious Nazi army devouring Europe. As a strong leader, historian, and student of Shakespeare, Churchill inspired his countrymen, insulted and intimidated his enemies, and summoned internal fortitude that roused the nation’s courage. Like his hero, Henry V, his rhetoric gave hope in perilous times, brought comfort to his brothersin-arms, and outlined a pathway to victory. Henry and Churchill both believed they were “walking in destiny” as leaders, and it was their responsibility to lead their nation even if it meant their own death. In a May 28, 1940, speech, Churchill summoned his inner Henry and stated, “We shall fight on, and if this long island story of ours is to end at last, let it end only when each of us lies choking in his own blood upon the ground.”47 Shakespeare’s Henry V is both a work of history and fiction. The characters are true, and some of his actual words endure. However, it is the Bard that put immortal speeches into the mouth of Henry, crafting an ongoing legacy. Winston Churchill took the historical Henry and the words of Shakespeare and changed the course of history. Ten years after World War II ended, Churchill said of his wartime role that it was THE BARD AND THE BULLDOG
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