O God of Battles! Steel my Soldiers' Hearts

Possess them not with fear; take from them now
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord O, not to-day...

There is nothing more stirring than to see a commander speak in light of his troops, to see one painted in the colors of war, empowered with rank and glory speak passionately a speech from the dust, a speech asking God to inspire the hearts of his troops. HIS troops.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother;

We watched a solider one who has been called to die for his friends--for the ones he loves--We watched him and his commander give these lines, the firmament in all it's glory is not arrayed in more glory than the two of these...  Hecuba is someone to them! 

Those who knew Shakespeare had these lines memorized! This is the power of Shakespeare!

COMPLETE REPORT

PHOTOS: BYU ROTC -- OUR BROTHERS NOVEMBER 17th, 2011

Cupid's Army

Love's Labor's Lost

 Dread prince of plackets, king of codpieces,

Sole imperator and great general

Of trotting paritors--O my little heart!

And I to be a corporal of his field

And wear his colors like a tumbler's hoop!

O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid's hose.

By earth, she is not, corporal.  There you lie.

This is a very interest Conceit that Shakespeare continues to uses, because of the use of love associated with Cupid and his dreadful power love takes on a whole new meaning.

Love is now not just a feel that wells up inside one, but something that is inflicted by a king, a prince, a great general, a dreadfully powerful God--Cupid.  He is commander of a great army and by force consumes ones oaths, ransacks ones home, and take one captive into his army, to serve him and him alone.  

One follows His Orders.

One interesting thing about this use of love is that it removes choice.  It suggest that one does not have a choice as to when love will come in and rule ones life.  It leans toward unbridled passion, it comes in and cannot be controlled. It also gives light to the battle of the sexes going on this play, for it is the men that are the voices of Cupids power, as if it is man's plight to be overcome with passion and lust.