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out, for all the country is lay'd for me; but now I am * 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, I 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-pan2 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.

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. 'I seek not to wax great by others' waning; 'Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy; Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state,

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, 'But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms?

Cade. Brave thee? ay, by the best blood that ever

5 but for a sallet, my brain-pan, &c.] A quibble from salut, Fr.; as an helmet keeps the head safe.

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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,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
Oppose thy stedfast gazing eyes to mine,
See if thou canst outface me with thy looks.
Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;
Thy hand is but a finger to my fist;

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Thy leg a stick, compared with this truncheon; My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast; 6 And if mine arm be heaved in the air,

Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.

As for more words +, whose greatness answers words, Let this my sword report what speech forbears.

Cade. By my valour, 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 mayest 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 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 honour that thy master got.

+"As for words," - MALONE.

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IDEN. IST CADE THAT I HAVE SLAIN. THAT MONSTROUS TRAITOR.
SWORD I WILL HALLOW THEE FOR THIS THY DEED
AND HANG THEE O'ER MY TOMB, WHEN I AM DEAD:
Ast Sc.10.

London. Published by F.C.& J. Rivington and Partners. Feb 1823.

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 valour. [Dies.

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* Iden. How much thou wrong'st me3, 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.

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The King's Camp on one side. On the other, enter YORK attended, with Drum and Colours: his Forces at some distance.

York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim his right,

And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head:

3 How much thou wrong'st me,] That is, in supposing that I am proud of my victory.

* So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell, &c.] Not to dwell upon the wickedness of this horrid wish, with which Iden debases his character, the whole speech is wild and confused. To draw a man by the heels, headlong, is somewhat difficult; nor can I discover how the dunghill would be his grave, if his trunk were left to be fed upon by crows. These Iconceive not to be the faults of corruption but negligence, and therefore do not attempt correction. JOHNSON.

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