Act III, Scene IV

TIB.
See, gammer, gammer, Gib, our cat, cham afraid what she aileth;
She stands me gasping behind the door, as though her wind her faileth:
Now let ich doubt what Gib should mean, that now she doth so doat.

HODGE.
Hold hither! I chould twenty pound, your nee'le is in her
throat.
Grope her, ich say, methinks ich feel it; does not prick your hand?

GAMMER.
Ich can feel nothing.

HODGE.
No! ich know there's not within this land
A murrainer cat than Gib is, betwixt the Thames and Tyne;
Sh'ase as much wit in her head almost as ch'ave in mine.

TIB.
Faith, sh'ase eaten something, that will not easily down;
Whether she gat it at home, or abroad in the town Ich cannot tell.

GAMMER.
Alas, ich fear it be some crooked pin!
And then farewell Gib! she is undone, and lost all save the skin!

HODGE.
'Tis your nee'le, woman, I say! Gog's soul! give me a knife,
And chill have it out of her maw, or else chall lose my life!

GAMMER.
What! nay, Hodge, fie! Kill not our cat, 'tis all the cats
we ha' now.

HODGE.
By the mass, dame Chat hase me so moved, ich care not what
I kill, ma' God a vow!
Go to, then, Tib, to this gear! hold up her tail and take her!
Chill see what devil is in her guts! chill take the pains to rake her!

GAMMER.
Rake a cat, Hodge! what wouldest thou do?

HODGE.
What, think'st that cham not able?
Did not Tom Tankard rake his curtal t'o'er day standing in the stable?

GAMMER.
Soft! be content, let's hear what news Cock bringeth from
Mast Rat.

COCK.
Gammer, chave been there as you bad, you wot well about what.
'Twill not be long before he come, ich durst swear off a book,
He bids you see ye be at home, and there for him to look.

GAMMER.
Where didst thou find him, boy? was he not where I told thee?

COCK.
Yes, yes, even at Hob Filcher's house, by him that bought and
sold me!
A cup of ale had in his hand, and a crab lay in the fire;
Chad much ado to go and come, all was so full of mire.
And, gammer, one thing I can tell: Hob Filcher's nawl was lost,
And Doctor Rat found it again, hard beside the door-post.
I chold a penny can say something, your nee'le again to set.

GAMMER.
Cham glad to hear so much, Cock, then trust he will not let
To help us herein best he can; therefore, till time he come
Let us go in; if there be ought to get thou shalt have some.