Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Cade. CADE Fie on ambitions! 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 hungry that, if I might have a lease of my life 5
for a thousand years, I 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 10
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 quart pot to drink in; and now the word sallet 15
must serve me to feed on. | Things aren't looking too good for Cade. He's been roaming the woods and
hasn't eaten in five days. Now he's hiding out in Iden's garden,
searching for food. |
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. 20
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 pleasèd from my gate. | Looks like Iden is home, so the whole breaking-and-entering thing might not go down so well. |
CADE, aside Here’s the lord of the soil come to seize 25
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 by 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 30
and I part. He draws his sword. | Actually, Iden has no intention of hurting Cade. He sees Cade in his
garden, and then Cade just up and threatens him. Can you believe the
nerve of this guy? |
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 40
and 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, 45
Took odds to combat a poor famished man.
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, 50
Thy leg a stick comparèd with this truncheon.
My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast;
And if mine arm be heavèd in the air,
Thy grave is digged already in the earth.
As for words, whose greatness answers words, 55
Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
He draws his sword. | Iden doesn't want to fight with a man who is clearly weak. He asks Cade why he's being so rude.
Cade doesn't want to talk, so he draws his sword. |
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 60
knees thou mayst be turned to hobnails. (Here they fight, and 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 65
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. 70
Ne’er shall this blood be wipèd from thy point,
But thou shalt wear it as a herald’s coat
To emblaze the honor that thy master got. CADE Iden, farewell, and be proud of thy victory. Tell
Kent from me she hath lost her best man, and 75
exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never
feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valor.
Dies. | The two men fight, combat-style, and Cade is fatally stabbed. He says
his name is Cade, and Iden realizes who it is he's just killed. In his dying words, Cade is quick to point out that he was beaten "by
famine, not by valor." Translation: he wouldn't have lost that fight if
he hadn't been starving. He wouldn't want anyone thinking he was weak or
anything. |
IDEN
How much thou wrong’st me, heaven be my judge!
Die, damnèd wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!
And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, 80
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, 85
Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. He exits with his Men, dragging Cade’s body. | Iden tells his men to throw the body in a dunghill for the crows to feed on, and he'll take the head to the king. |