Page 594 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

out, for all the country is laid for me; but now am I so hungry that if I
might have a lease of my life for a thousand years I [5] could stay no
longer. Wherefore, o’er 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 mee good: for many a time, but [10] 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. [15]

[Lies down picking of herbs and eating them.]

Enter Iden [and his Men].

IDEN

Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court
And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
This small inheritance my father left me
Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.
I seek not to wax great by others’ waning [20]
Or gather wealth I care not with what envy:
Sufficeth that I have maintains my state
And sends the poor well pleasèd from my gate.

CADE

[aside]
Here’s the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray, for entering his fee-
simple without leave. [25] - Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a
thousand crowns of the king by carrying my head to him: but I’ll make thee
eat iron like an ostridge, and swallow my sword like a great pin ere thou
and I part.

IDEN

Why, rude companion, whatsoever thou be, [30]
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? [35]

CADE

Brave thee! Ay, by the best blood that ever was broached, and beard thee