Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death.
– William Shakespeare
The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 1. When their ship is wrecked in a tempest, Gonzalo swears that he would give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of useless ground. He would prefer to die on land.