Act II, Scene III

DICCON.
Ye see, masters, that one end tapp'd of this my short device!
Now must we broach th'other too, before the smoke arise;
And by the time they have a while run,
I trust ye need not crave it.
But look, what lieth in both their hearts, ye are like, sure, to have
it.

HODGE.
Yea, Gog's soul, art alive yet? What, Diccon, dare ich come?

DICCON.
A man is well hied to trust to thee; I will say nothing
but mum;
But and ye come any nearer, I pray you see all be sweet!

HODGE.
Tush, man, is Gammer's nee'le found? that chould gladly weet.

DICCON.
She may thank thee it is not found, for if you had kept thy
standing,
The devil he would have fet it out, ev'n, Hodge, at thy commanding.

HODGE.
Gog's heart! and could he tell nothing where the nee'le might
be found?

DICCON.
Ye foolish dolt, ye were to seek, ere we had got our ground;
Therefore his tale so doubtful was that I could not perceive it.

HODGE.
Then ich see well something was said, chope one day yet to
have it.
But Diccon, Diccon, did not the devil cry "ho, ho, ho"?

DICCON.
If thou hadst tarried where thou stood'st, thou wouldst have
said so!

HODGE.
Durst swear of a book, cheard him roar, straight after ich
was gone.
But tell me, Diccon, what said the knave? let me hear it anon.

DICCON.
The whoreson talked to me, I know not well of what.
One while his tongue it ran and paltered of a cat,
Another while he stammered still upon a rat;
Last of all, there was nothing but every word, Chat, Chat;
But this I well perceived before I would him rid,
Between Chat, and the rat, and the cat, the needle is hid.
Now whether Gib, our cat, hath eat it in her maw,
Or Doctor Rat, our curate, have found it in the straw,
Or this dame Chat, your neighbour, hath stolen it, God he knoweth!
But by the morrow at this time, we shall learn how the matter goeth.

HODGE.
Canst not learn to-night, man? seest not what is here?

[Pointing behind to his torn breeches.]

DICCON.
'Tis not possible to make it sooner appear.

HODGE.
Alas, Diccon, then chave no shift; but--lest ich tarry too
long--
Hie me to Sim Glover's shop, there to seek for a thong,
Therewith this breech to thatch and tie as ich may.

DICCON.
To-morrow, Hodge, if we chance to meet, shall see what I
will say.