"The game's afoot..."

So apparently, this phrase, or a version of it, is used in just about every Sherlock Holms related anything and I never realized that there was more to it. The whole line was actually included when used in the first of the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holms films. The entire quote is:


"The game's afoot: follow you spirit, and upon this charge cry 'God for Harry, England, and St. George!'"


It is part of the speech that starts, "Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our English dead." from Act III of Shakespeare's Henry V
It is an amazingly stirring speech goading the British troops into battle to conquer France. To be honest I have only watched one rendition of the play, and I remember not being overly fond of how distracting it was in that particular version. I shall have to look up another. Although, for all I know, I could simply dislike the play. Reading is always preferable, of course, but the sad statement is that I am so bad at time management that I probably won't do that until summer.


In any case, I am always tickled when authors of fiction make reference to actual works. Especially authors who I admire on either side of the equation.