_Chat._ Gog's bread! that will I do! As secret as mine own thought, by God and the devil too! _Diccon._ Here is Gammer Gurton, your neighbour, a sad and heavy wight: Her goodly fair red cock at home was stole this last night. _Chat._ Gog's soul! her cock with the yellow legs, that nightly crowed so just? _Diccon._ That cock is stolen. _Chat._ What, was he fet out of the hen's roost? _Diccon._ I cannot tell where the devil he was kept, under key or lock; But Tib hath tickled in Gammer's ear, that you should steal the cock. _Chat._ Have I, strong whore? by bread and salt!-- _Diccon._ What, soft, I say, be still! Say not one word for all this gear. _Chat._ By the mass, that I will! I will have the young whore by the head, and the old trot by the throat. _Diccon._ Not one word, dame Chat, I say; not one word for my coat! _Chat._ Shall such a beggar's brawl as that, thinkest thou, make me a thief? The pox light on her whore's sides, a pestilence and mischief! Come out, thou hungry needy bitch! O, that my nails be short! _Diccon._ Gog's bread, woman, hold your peace! this gear will else pass sport! I would not for an hundred pound this matter should be known, That I am author of this tale, or have abroad it blown. Did ye not swear ye would be ruled, before the tale I told? I said ye must all secret keep, and ye said sure ye would. _Chat._ Would you suffer, yourself, Diccon, such a sort to revile you, With slanderous words to blot your name, and so to defile you? _Diccon._ No, Goodwife Chat, I would be loth such drabs should blot my name; But yet ye must so order all that Diccon bear no blame. _Chat._ Go to, then, what is your reed? say on your mind, ye shall me rule herein. _Diccon._ Godamercy to dame Chat! In faith thou must the gear begin. It is twenty pound to a goose-turd, my gammer will not tarry, But hitherward she comes as fast as her legs can her carry, To brawl with you about her cock; for well I heard Tib say The cock was roasted in your house to breakfast yesterday; And when ye had the carcase eaten, the feathers ye outflung, And Doll, your maid, the legs she hid a foot-deep in the dung. _Chat._ O gracious God! my heart it bursts! _Diccon._ Well, rule yourself a space; And Gammer Gurton when she cometh anon into this place, Then to the quean, let's see, tell her your mind, and spare not. So shall Diccon blameless be; and then, go to, I care not! _Chat._ Then, whore, beware her throat! I can abide no longer. In faith, old witch, it shall be seen which of us two be stronger! And, Diccon, but at your request, I would not stay one hour.