* * * * five days have I hid me in these woods; and durst not peep out, for all the country is layed for me; but * now am I so hungry, that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. * Wherefore, on a brick-wall have I climbed into this garden; to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather. And, I think, this word *sallet was born to do me good; for, many a time, but *for a sallet, my brain-pan had been cleft with a * brown bill; and, many a time, when I have been dry, * and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a * quart-pot to drink in; and now the word sallet must serve me to feed on. * 6 Enter IDEN, with Servants. • Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these? This small inheritance, my father left me, • Contenteth me, and is worth a monarchy. And sends the poor well pleased from my gate. Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without leave. Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thousand crowns of the king for carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow my 'sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, 'I know thee not. Why then should I betray thee? 'Is't not enough to break into my garden, And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds, Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner, was broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well. I have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door nail, I pray God, I may never eat grass more. Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while England stands, That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, 6 Thy leg a stick, compared with this truncheon; My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast ; Thy grave is digged already in the earth. As for words, whose greatness answers words,1 * Cade. By my valor, the most complete champion *that ever I heard. Steel, if thou turn the edge, or 'cut not out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef 'ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I beseech God on my 'knees, thou mayst be turned to hobnails. [They 'fight; CADE falls.] O, I am slain! famine, and no other, hath slain me; let ten thousand devils come against me, and give me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy them all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a burying-place to all that do dwell in this house, because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled. • Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous 6 traitor? 'Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, And hang thee o'er my tomb when I am dead. *Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; *But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat, * To emblaze the honor that thy master got. 1 Johnson explains this, "As for words, whose pomp and rumor may answer words, and only words, I shall forbear them, and refer the rest to my sword." 2 In the folio "I beseech Jove" was substituted to avoid the penalty of the statute, 3 Jac. I. c. 2, against profane swearing. Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy victory. Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never 'feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valor. [Dies. * * Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, Heaven be my judge. * Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee! And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, *So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell. Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave, And there cut off thy most ungracious head; • Which I will bear in triumph to the king, Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. [Exit, dragging out the body. ACT V. SCENE I. The same. Fields between Dartford and Blackheath. 6 The King's Camp on one side. On the other, enter YORK, attended, with drum and colors: his Forces at some distance. • York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim his right, And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head. Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright, To entertain great England's lawful king. Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear? 'Let them obey that know not how to rule; This hand was made to handle nought but gold; 6 Except a sword, or sceptre, balance it.1 'A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul,2 'On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. 6 Enter BUCKINGHAM. Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? The king hath sent him, sure. I must dissemble. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well. • York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? Buck. A messenger, from Henry, our dread liege, To know the reason of these arms in peace; 'Or why, thou,-being a subject as I am, Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn, 'Shouldst raise so great a power without his leave, 'Or dare to bring thy force so near the court. 'York. Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great. 'O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, I am so angry at these abject terms; 'And now, like Ajax Telamonius, On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury! 'But I must make fair weather yet awhile, Aside. 'Q, Buckingham, I pr'ythee, pardon me, 1 i. e. balance my hand. 2 York means to say, "If I have a soul, my hand shall not be without a sceptre." Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part. But if thy arms be to no other end, • The king hath yielded unto thy demand; York. Upon thine honor, is he prisoner? York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; 'Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field, You shall have pay, and every thing you wish. * And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, * Command my eldest son,-nay, all my sons, *As pledges of my fealty and love; *I'll send them all as willing as I live; * Lands, goods, horse, armor, any thing I have *Is his to use, so Somerset may die. 'Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: 'We twain will go into his highness' tent. Enter KING HENRY, attended. K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us, That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? *York. In all submission and humility, * York doth present himself unto your highness. * K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou dost bring? *York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence; And fight against that monstrous rebel, Cade, 'Who since I heard to be discomfited. Enter IDEN, with CADE's head. Iden. If one so rude, and of so mean condition, 6 May pass into the presence of a king, 6 Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head, 'The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew. |