University of Virginia Library

The ii. Sceane.

Gammer. Hodge.
Gāmer
How Hodge, mayst nowe be glade, chat newes to tell thee
Ich knowe who hais my neele, ich trust soone shalt it see

Hodge
The deuyll thou does, hast hard gammer in deede, or doest but iest

Gāmer
Tys as true as steele Hodge.

Hodge
Why, knowest well where dydst leese it?

Gāmer
Ich know who found it, and tooke it vp shalt see or it be longe.

Hodge
Gods mother dere, if that be true, farwel both naule an thong
But who hais it gammer say on: chould faine here it disclosed.

Gāmer
That false fixen, that same dame Chat, that counts her selfe so honest.

Hodge
Who tolde you so:

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

Hodge
Diccon: it is a vengeable knaue gammer, tis a bonable horsō,
Can do mo things then that els cham deceyued euill:
By the masse ich saw him of late cal vp a great blacke deuill,
O the knaue cryed ho, ho, he roared and he thundred,
And yead bene here, cham sure yould murrenly ha wondred.

Gāmer
Was not thou afraide Hodge to see him in this place:

Hodge
No, and chad come to me, chould haue laid him on the face,
Chould haue promised him.

Gāmer
But Hodge, had he no hornes to pushe:

Hodge
As long as your two armes, saw ye neuer Fryer Rushe
Painted on a cloth, with a side long cowes tayle:
And crooked clouen feete, and many a hoked nayle?
For al the world (if I shuld iudg) chould recken him his brother
Loke euen what face Frier Rush had, the deuil had such another

Gāmer
New Iesus mercy hodg, did diccon in him bring:

Hodge
Nay gammer (heare me speke) chil tel you a greater thing.
The deuil (when diccon had him, ich hard him wondrous weel)
Sayd plainly (here before vs, that dame chat had your neele.

[OMITTED] mer
Then let vs go, and aske her wherfore she minds to kepe it,
Seing we know so much, tware a madnes now to slepe it.

Hodge
Go to her gāmer see ye not where she stands in her doores
Byd her geue you the neele, tys none of hers but yours.