University of Virginia Library

The iii. Sceane.

Hodge. Diccon.
Diccon
Ye see masters ye one end tapt of this my short deuise
Now must we breche thoter to, before the smoke arise
And by the time they haue a while run. I trust ye need not craue it.
But loke what lieth in both their harts ye ar like sure to haue it

Hodge
Yea gogs soule, art aliue yet? what Diccon dare ich come?

Diccon
A man is wel hied to trust to thee, I wil say nothing but mum
But and ye come any nearer I pray you see all be sweete.

Hodge
Tush man, is gammers neele found, that chould gladly weete

Diccon
She may thāke thee it is not foūd, for if yu had kept thy stāding
The deuil he wold haue fet it out, euen hodg at thy cōmaunding

Hodge
Gogs hart, & cold he tel nothing wher the neele might be found

Diccon
Ye folysh dolt, ye were to seek, ear we had got our ground,
Therfore his tale so doubtfull was, that I cold not perceiue it.

Hodge
Then ich se wel somthing was said, chope one day yet to haue it,
But diccon, diccon, did not the deuill cry ho, ho, ho,

Diccon
If yu hadst taryed where thou stoodst, thou woldest haue said so

Hodge
Durst swere of a boke, chard him rore, streight after ich was gon
But tel me diccon what said ye knaue: let me here it anon.

Diccon
The horson talked to mee. I know not well of what
One whyle his tonge it ran and paltered of a Cat,
Another whyle he stamered styll vppon a Rat,
Last of all there was nothing but euery word Chat, Chat,
But this I well perceyued before I wolde him rid,
Betweene Chat, and the Rat, and the Cat, the nedle is hyd,
Now wether Gyb our cat haue eate it in her mawe,
Or Doctor Rat our curat haue found it in the straw,
Or this dame chat your neighbour haue stollen it, god hee knoweth
But by ye morow at this time, we shal learn how the matter goeth

Hodge
Canst not learn to night man, seest not what is here,

Pointyng behind to his torne breeches.
Diccon
Tys not possyble to make it sooner appere,

Hodge
Alas Diccon then chaue no shyft, but least ich tary to longe
Hye me to Sym glouers shop, theare to seeke for a Thonge,
Ther with this breech to tatche and tye as ich may.

Diccon
To morow hodg if we chaunce to meete, shalt see what I will say.