GOD, FOR HARRY, ENGLAND, AND ST. GEORGEI have misquoted the above lines for years always putting England first. The correct quote is, God, for Harry, England, and St. George. I stand duly corrected. But lets forget about Harry for the moment and concentrate on George. St. George's day came and went relatively unnoticed, April 23. St. George is the patron saint of England, as is St. Patrick for Ireland, St. Andrew for Scotland, and St. David for Wales. Either by accident or design, six of Britain's monarchs have been named George. From the Hanover born George I, 1714, to George VI, (the present Queen Elizabeth's father) in 1937. St. George (d. about 303) was an early Christian martyr born in Cappadocia (eastern Asia Minor). His life is obscured by legend, but his martyrdom at Lydda, Palestine, is generally considered to be a matter of historical fact, testified to by two early Syrian Church inscription and by a canon of Pope Gelasius I dated 494 in which St. George is mentioned as one whose name was held in reverence. The most popular of the legends that have grown up around him relates his encounter with the dragon. A pagan town in Libya was victimized by a dragon (representing the Devil), which the inhabitants first attempted to placate by offerings of sheep and then by the sacrifice of various members of their community. The daughter of the king (representing the Church) was chosen by lot and was taken out to await the coming of the monster, but George arrived, killed the dragon and converted the community to Christianity. In 1222 the Council of Oxford ordered that his feast, on April 23rd, be celebrated as a national festival and in the 14th century he became the patron saint of England and of the Order of the Garter. That's another story worth sharing. St. George must have been quite a traveler because he is also the patron saint of Russia. Doubtless he rescued a couple of Olga's from the Volga. So much for St. George. April 23rd is also Shakespeare's birthday. The best bit of literary good-fortune that ever befell a race was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire in 1564, the eldest son of John Shakespeare, the merchant and Mary Arden, a member of the local landed gentry. As the eldest son, he attended the local grammar school and was fairly well educated.After leaving grammar school, Will is believed to have worked with his father. At the age of 17, Will married Anne Hathaway in 1581 by special license. Their first child, a son Hamlet, was born six months later. In 1587, Shakespeare arrived in London. It is believed that his reason for leaving Stratford was that he was caught poaching deer in Chorcott Park, the countryseat of the Lucy family, which, incidentally, are still there - both the deer and the Lucy family. Actually Shakespeare's knowledge of history and his history plays were on the whole pretty accurate and had their basis in fact and were patriotic morale builders, except for Richard III (always remembering that Shakespeare was writing with a Tudor on the throne and had to keep his politics and public relations in order). It is interesting to note that Shakespeare also died on April 23rd, there were, of course, a few years in between.The famous quote above mentioned, God, for Harry, England, and St. George is actually from Henry V before the battle of Harfleur, which starts out with "once more unto the breach dear friends, once more" and ends with " I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game's afoot: Follow your spirit; and upon this charge Cry - God, for Harry, England, and St. George! Speaking of Shakespeare quotes, do you realize if you've ever been "tongue tied' seen an "eyesore" or said "good riddance" to anything, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you've acted "more in sorrow than in anger", if you've "seen better days", or "lived in a fool's paradise", "acted without rhyme or reason", you are quoting Shakespeare. There are dozens more; in fact the words of the bard have become part of our everyday life and conversation. Speaking of more quotes, recognize the above quote "the game's afoot" appropriated by another famous Englishman, Sherlock Holmes.After 444 years the words of Shakespeare live on. - TTFNLinda of London[[In-content Ad]]
