_Gammer._ Alas, alas! 'cha lost my good nee'le! My nee'le, I say, and wot ye what, a drab came by and spied it, And when I asked her for the same, the filth flatly denied it. _Doctor Rat._ What was she that? _Gammer._ A dame, ich warrant you! She began to scold and brawl-- Alas, alas! come hither, Hodge! this wretch can tell you all. THE FOURTH ACT. THE SECOND SCENE. HODGE, DOCTOR RAT, GAMMER, DICCON. _Hodge._ Good morrow, Gaffer Vicar. _Doctor Rat._ Come on, fellow, let us hear! Thy dame hath said to me, thou knowest of all this gear; Let's see what thou canst say. _Hodge._ By m' fay, sir, that ye shall, What matter soever there was done, ich can tell your maship [all]: My Gammer Gurton here, see now, Sat her down at this door, see now; And, as she began to stir her, see now, Her nee'le fell in the floor, see now; And while her staff she took, see now, At Gib her cat to fling, see now, Her nee'le was lost in the floor, see now-- Is not this a wondrous thing, see now? Then came the quean dame Chat, see now, To ask for her black cup, see now: And even here at this gate, see now, She took that nee'le up, see now: My gammer then she yede, see now, Her nee'le again to bring, see now, And was caught by the head, see now-- Is not this a wondrous thing, see now? She tare my gammer's coat, see now, And scratched her by the face, see now; Chad thought sh'ad stopp'd her throat, see now-- Is not this a wondrous case, see now? When ich saw this, ich was wroth, see now, And stert between them twain, see now; Else ich durst take a book-oath, see now, My gammer had been slain, see now. _Gammer._ This is even the whole matter, as Hodge has plainly told; And chould fain be quiet for my part, that chould. But help us, good Master, beseech ye that ye do: Else shall we both be beaten and lose our nee'le too. _Doctor Rat._ What would ye have me to do? tell me, that I were gone; I will do the best that I can, to set you both at one. But be ye sure dame Chat hath this your nee'le found? _Gammer._ Here comes the man, that see her take it up off the ground. Ask him yourself, Master Rat, if ye believe not me: And help me to my nee'le, for God's sake and Saint Charity! _Doctor Rat._ Come near, Diccon, and let us hear what thou can express. Wilt thou be sworn thou seest dame Chat this woman's nee'le have? _Diccon._ Nay, by Saint Benet, will I not, then might ye think me rave! _Gammer._ Why, did'st not thou tell me so even here? canst thou for shame deny it? _Diccon._ Ay, marry, gammer; but I said I would not abide by it. _Doctor Rat._ Will you say a thing, and not stick to it to try it?