TPTT The Second Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. The coast of Kent.
SCENE II. Blackheath.
SCENE III. Another part of Blackheath.
SCENE IV. London. The palace.
SCENE V. London. The Tower.
SCENE VI. London. Cannon Street.
SCENE VII. London. Smithfield.
SCENE VIII. Southwark.
SCENE IX. Kenilworth Castle.
SCENE X. Kent. IDEN's garden.
ACT V
About the Play
Feedback
  Search:   
for:

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
SCENE X. Kent. IDEN's garden.
Enter CADE
CADE
      Fie on ambition! fie on myself, that have a sword,
      and yet am ready to famish! These five days have I
      hid me in these woods and durst not peep out, for
      all the country is laid for me; but now am I so
5     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
10    this hot weather. And I think this word 'sallet'
      was born to do me good: for many a time, but for a
      sallet, my brainpan 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
15    quart pot to drink in; and now the word 'sallet'
      must serve me to feed on.
Enter IDEN
IDEN
      Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court,
      And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
      This small inheritance my father left me
20    Contenteth me, and 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
25    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 carrying my head to him: but
      I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow
30    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,
35    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 was
      broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I
      have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and
40    thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead
      as a doornail, 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.
45    Oppose thy steadfast-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,
      Thy leg a stick compared with this truncheon;
50    My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast;
      And if mine arm be heaved in the air,
      Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.
      As for words, whose greatness answers words,
      Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
CADE
55    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
      mayst be turned to hobnails.

Here they fight. CADE falls

60    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'll defy them
      all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a
      burying-place to all that do dwell in this house,
65    because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled.
IDEN
      Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?
      Sword, I will hollow 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;
70    But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat,
      To emblaze the honour that thy master got.
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
75    feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valour.
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.
80    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
Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene