Act III, Scene II

GAMMER.
Now Hodge, may'st now be glad, cha news to tell thee;
Ich know who hase my nee'le; ich trust soon shall it see.

HODGE.
The devil thou does! hast heard, gammer, indeed, or dost but
jest?

GAMMER.
'Tis as true as steel, Hodge.

HODGE.
Why, knowest well where didst lese it?

GAMMER.
Ich know who found it, and took it up! shalt see ere it be
long.

HODGE.
God's mother dear! if that be true, farewell both nawl and
thong!
But who hase it, gammer, say on; chould fain hear it disclosed.

GAMMER.
That false vixen, that same dame Chat, that counts herself
so honest.

HODGE.
Who told you so?

GAMMER.
That same did Diccon the bedlam, which saw it done.

HODGE.
Diccon? it is a vengeable knave, gammer, 'tis a bonable
whoreson,
Can do mo things than that, els cham deceived evil:
By the mass, ich saw him of late call up a great black devil!
O, the knave cried "ho, ho!" he roared and he thundered,
And ye 'ad been here, cham sure you'ld murrainly ha' wondered.

GAMMER.
Was not thou afraid, Hodge, to see him in this place?

HODGE.
No, and chad come to me, chould have laid him on the face,
Chould have, promised him!

GAMMER.
But, Hodge, had he no horns to push?

HODGE.
As long as your two arms. Saw ye never Friar Rush
Painted on a cloth, with a side-long cow's tail,
And crooked cloven feet, and many a hooked nail?
For all the world, if I should judge, chould reckon him his brother.
Look, even what face Friar Rush had, the devil had such another.

GAMMER.
Now, Jesus mercy, Hodge! did Diccon in him bring?

HODGE.
Nay, gammer, hear me speak, chill tell you a greater thing.
The devil (when Diccon had him, ich heard him wondrous well)
Said plainly here before us, that dame Chat had your nee'le.

GAMMER.
Then let us go, and ask her wherefore she minds to keep it;
Seeing we know so much, 'twere a madness now to slip it.

HODGE.
Go to her, gammer; see ye not where she stands in her doors?
Bid her give you the nee'le, 'tis none of hers but yours.