Arthur Wellesley quotes from Sharpe

Arthur Wellesley

I'm much obliged to you. You've done me a damn good turn. Now I'm going to do you a damn bad one. I'm giving you a field commission, Sharpe. As of now you're a lieutenant in the 95th!

Wellesley

Must be a damn good book, Hogan.

Shakespeare, sir. Julius Caesar. Mark Antony, "Lend me your ears," eh?

Wellesley

(reads over Hogan's shoulder) "These many, then, shall die. Their names are pricked." By God, Hogan, you may be sure my name is well-pricked by those needles at Horse Guards.

A general who wins battles and lives to claim the credit will never lack for enemies in London, sir.

Wellesley

Continue, Sir Henry.

Simmerson

Well, sir, on first sighting the enemy, I naturally gave the order to advance; that's my style, sir. The South Essex crossed over the bridge and engaged the enemy. Major Lennox panicked. So then I fell back in good order and destroyed the bridge, sir. I have written to Horse Guards, sir, to state that the South Essex acquitted itself most commendably in discharging both your general order to engage the enemy, and your particular order to destroy the bridge, sir.

Wellesley

Did any officer distinguish himself?

Simmerson

Lieutenant Gibbons led the advance, sir. You may say that he is tied to me by blood. But is it a tie of blood to tie my tongue and rob a brave man of his just reward? No, sir! I move that Lieutenant Gibbons be gazetted captain, sir.

Wellesley

And Lieutenant Sharpe?

Simmerson

Lieutenant Sharpe dithered, sir. He was cut off when we destroyed the bridge.

Wellesley

This is a report from Major Hogan which differs somewhat from your account, Sir Henry.

Simmerson

Major Hogan is merely an engineer, sir.

Wellesley

Major Hogan's coat buttons up tight over a number of other duties, Sir Henry. Major Hogan reports a number of losses, Sir Henry. He says you first lost your head, and instead of destroying the bridge, you marched over it. He says you then lost your nerve, and ran from a small French patrol. He says you lost ten men, a major, and two sergeants. He says you finally lost your sense of honour, and destroyed the bridge, cutting off a rescue party led by Lieutenant Sharpe. Major Hogan leaves the worst to the last... [stares] He says you lost the King's Colours.

Simmerson

The fault was not mine, Sir. Major Lennox must answer.

Wellesley

[shouting] Major Lennox answered with his LIFE! As you should have done if you had any sense of honour! You lost the Colours of the King of England! You disgraced us, sir! You shamed us, sir! You will answer! [silence] The South Essex is stood down in name. If I wipe the name, I may wipe the shame. I am making you a battalion of detachments; you will fetch and carry. The light company put up a fight, so I will let it stand under the command of a new captain.

Simmerson

To be commanded by the newly gazetted Captain Gibbons, sir?

Wellesley

To be commanded by the newly gazetted Captain Sharpe, sir.

Simmerson

I have a cousin at Horse Guards, sir…and I have friends at Court.

Wellesley

[unmoved] A man who loses the King's Colours loses the King's friendship. You have two choices: to hide in England or be a hero in Spain. I shall help you to be a hero. We had a skirmish with the French today; tomorrow we shall have a battle. You will be the first to see a French column, sir; it is not a pretty sight. What you do then, sir, is up to you. Good morning.

I'm most grateful for this young man. He saved us all.

Wellesley

It's what he does. Isn't it, Sharpe?

[reading letter to Wellington] From his most Catholic Majesty, King Ferdinand, my Lord, I've taken the precaution of reading it. Shall I read it for you now? [Wellington nods] Um. His most Catholic Majesty....

Wellesley

Yes, yes, yes, get on with it.

In a spirit of regal cooperation with his royal cousin England, and in his great desire to drive the French invader from the the sacred soil of Spain has directed the Royal Irish Company of His Majesty's Household Guard under the command of Lord Kiley, to place themselves under the command of Field Marshal, the Lord Wellington. Sir.

Wellesley

Copied to Horse Guards, I presume.

Copied to the Prince Regent himself, my Lord.

Wellesley

Can we intercept it?

No sir, it's been gone these two weeks. You'll no doubt be flattered by the gesture.

Wellesley

Yes. Which means that we're stuck with 'em.

I'm sure they'll prove decorative.

Wellesley

I don't need decorative! I need an extra battalion of trained foot with full equipment to throw against the French. Are they all Irish?

Most of them are Spanish-born these days, but they have to be descended from Irish exiles.

Wellesley

Put them to latrine-digging.

My lord, if we employ the King's Household Guard on menial tasks, it will be construed as an insult to our Spanish allies, as well as to His most Catholic Majesty.

Wellesley

Damn His most Catholic Majesty! And damn this Lord Kiley. I know the Irish peerage. Irish Catholic exiles. You're paid to advise me Munro, so earn your damn pay.

I fear we must welcome Lord Kiley and his men, even while we mistrust them. It seems to me that we must do our best to make them feel...uncomfortable.

Wellesley

Drive them out? How?

Bivouac them close to the French lines, so that those who wish to desert will find it easy. We'll get them a liason officer, of course, someone senior enough to sooth Kiley's feathers. But why not give them a drill-master, too?

Wellesley

I doubt Lord Kiley would like a certain major of our acquaintance.

Ach, I cannot think they'll take to each other, my Lord, no.

Wellesley

Good! Then give the puppets Richard Sharpe!! [laughing]

Wellesley

Your Regiment, Sharpe!

Prince of... South Essex! ADVANCE!

South Essex Charge!

Wellesley

Go on, Sharpe! They won't stand!