Words to inspire (5)

There are two speeches that have been jostling for top spot in this short series.  In fact, they very nearly made numbers one and two but they are both by the same person and, even though some say he was the greatest orator of the 20th century, I didn't want to have more than one speech from any one person.  The person in question is Winston Churchill.  The speech of his which has not made the cut is the one he made immediately after being appointed Prime Minister in May 1940 - his "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech.  However, the most inspiring speech ever made is, in my opinion, his address to Parliament in June that year, after the shambles of the retreat from Dunkirk.  Whenever I hear or read these words the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

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Still in Venice, and another of those back-street canal bridges.  I couldn't say what was going on, but the Venetians do seem to enjoy dressing up.