GAMMER. Alas, alas, I may well curse and ban This day, that ever I saw it, with Gib and the milk-pan. For these and ill luck together, as knoweth Cock my boy, Have stack[198] away my dear nee'le, and robbed me of my joy. My fair long straight nee'le, that was mine only treasure, The first day of my sorrow is, and last end of my pleasure. HODGE (_aside_). Might ha' kept it, when ye had it; but fools will be fools still: Lose that is vast in your hands? ye need not, but ye will. GAMMER. Go hie thee, Tib, and run, thou whore, to the end here of the town. Didst carry out dust in thy lap? seek where thou pourest it down; And as thou sawest me raking in the ashes where I mourned, So see in all the heap of dust thou leave no straw unturned. TIB. That chall, Gammer, swyth and tite,[199] and soon be here again. GAMMER. Tib, stoop and look down to the ground to it, and take some pain. HODGE. Here is a pretty matter, to see this gear how it goes: By Gog's soul, I think you would lose your arse, and it were loose. Your nee'le lost? it is pity you should lack care and endless sorrow. Gog's death, how shall my breeches be sewed? Shall I go thus to-morrow? GAMMER. Ah, Hodge, Hodge, if that ich could find my nee'le, by the reed, Ch'ould sew thy breeches, ich promise thee, with full good double thread, And set a patch on either knee should last this moneths twain, Now God and good Saint Sithe,[200] I pray to send it home[201] again. HODGE. Whereto served your hands and eyes, but this your nee'le to keep? What devil had you else to do? ye keep, ich wot, no sheep. Cham fain abroad to dig and delve, in water, mire, and clay, Sossing and possing in the dirt still from day to day. A hundred things that be abroad cham set to see them well: And four of you sit idle at home, and cannot keep a nee'le! GAMMER. My nee'le, alas, ich lost it, Hodge, what time ich me up hasted, To save milk set up for thee, which Gib our cat hath wasted. HODGE. The devil he burst both Gib and Tib, with all the rest; Cham always sure of the worst end, whoever have the best. Where ha' you been fidging abroad, since you your nee'le lost? GAMMER. Within the house, and at the door, sitting by this same post; Where I was looking a long hour, before these folks came here; But, wellaway! all was in vain, my nee'le is never the near. HODGE. Set me a candle, let me seek, and grope wherever it be. Gog's heart, ye be foolish (ich think), you know it not, when you it see. GAMMER. Come hither, Cock: what, Cock, I say. COCK. How, Gammer?