University of Virginia Library

The .iiii. Sceane.

Gammer. Hodge. Tyb. Cocke.
Gāmer
A Las hoge, alas I may well cursse and ban
This daie that euer I saw it, with gyb and the mylke pan
For these and ill lucke to gather, as knoweth Cocke my boye
Haue stacke away my deare neele, and robd me of my ioye
My fayre longe strayght neele that was myne onely treasure
The fyrst day of my sorow is, and last end of my pleasure.

Hodge
Might ha kept it when ye had it, but fooles will be fooles styll.
Lose that is vast in your handes, ye neede not but ye will.

Gāmer
Go hie thee tib, and run thou hoore, to thend here of the towne
Didst cary out dust in thy lap, seeke wher thou porest it downe
And as thou sawest me roking, in the asshes where I morned
So see in all the heape of dust, thou leaue no straw vnturned.

Tyb
That chal gammer swythe and tyte, and sone be here agayne,

Gāmer
Tib stoope & loke downe to ye ground to it, & take some paine.

Hodge
Here is a prety matter, to see this gere how it goes
By gogs soule I thenk you wold loes your ars, and it were loose
Your neele lost, it is pitie you shold lack care and endlesse sorow
Gogs deth how shall my breches be sewid, shall I go thus to morow

Gāmer
Ah hodg, hodg, if that ich cold find my neele by the reed
Chould sow thy breches ich promise ye, wt full good double threed
And set a patch on either knee, shuld last this monethes twaine
Now god & good Saint Sithe I praye, to send it home againe.

Hodge
Wherto serued your hands & eies, but this your neele to kepe
What deuill had you els to do, ye kept ich wot no sheepe
Cham faine a brode to dyg and delue, in water, myre and claye
Sossing and possing in the durte, styll from day to daye
A hundred thinges that be abrode, cham set to see them weele
And foure of you syt idle at home, and can not keepe a neele.

Gāmer
My neele alas ich lost it hodge, what time ich me vp hasted
To saue the milke set vp for the, which gib our cat hath wasted

Hodge
The Deuill he burst both gib, and Tib, with all the rest
Cham alwayes sure of the worst end, who euer haue the best
Where ha you ben fidging abrode, since you your neele lost

Gāmer
Within the house, and at the dore, sitting by this same post
Wher I was loking a long howre, before these folks came here,
But welaway, all was in vayne, my neele is neuer the nere.

Hodge
Set me a candle, let me seeke and grope where euer it bee
Gogs hart ye be so folish (ich thinke) you knowe it not when you it see

Gāmer
Come hether Cocke, what Cocke I say.

Cocke.
Howe Gammer.

Gāmer
Goe hye thee soone, and grope behynd the old brasse pan,
Whych thing when thou hast done
Ther shalt thou fynd an old shooe, wher in if thou looke well
Thou shalt fynd lyeng an inche of a whyte tallow candell,
Lyght it, and brynge it tite awaye.

Cocke.
That shalbe done anone.

Gāmer
Nay tary hodg til thou hast light, and then weele seke ech one.

Hodge
Cum away ye horson boy, are ye a slepe: ye must haue a crier.

Cocke.
Ich cannot get the candel light here is almost no fier.

Hodge
Chil hold the a peny chil make ye come if yt ich may catch thine eares
Art deffe thou horson boy? cocke I say, why canst not heares.

Gāmer
Beate hym not Hodge but help the boy and come you two together.