_Hodge._ Bym fay, sir, that ye shall. What matter so ever there was done, ich can tell your maship [all]: My Gammer Gurton heare, see now, 5 sat her downe at this doore, see now; And, as she began to stirre her, see now, her neele fell to the floore, see now; And while her staffe shee tooke, see now, at Gyb her cat to flynge, see now, 10 Her neele was lost in the floore, see now. Is not this a wondrous thing, see now? Then came the queane Dame Chat, see now, to aske for hir blacke cup, see now: And even here at this gate, see now, 15 she tooke that neele up, see now: My Gammer then she yeede,[719] see now, her neele againe to bring, see now, And was caught by the head, see now. Is not this a wondrous thing, see now? 20 She tare my Gammers cote, see now, and scratched hir by the face, see now; Chad thought shad stopt hir throte, see now. Is not this a wondrous case, see now? When ich saw this, ich was wrothe,[720] see now, 25 and start betwene them twaine, see now; Els ich durst take a booke othe, see now, my gammer had bene slaine, see now. _Gammer._ This is even the whole matter, as Hodge has plainly tolde; And chould faine be quiet for my part, that chould. 30 But help us, good Master, beseech ye that ye doo: Els shall we both be beaten and lose our neele too. _D. Rat._ What wold ye have me to doo? tel 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 neele founde? 35 _Gammer._ Here comes the man that see hir take it up of the ground. Aske him your selfe, Master Rat, if ye beleve not me: And help me to my neele, for Gods sake and Saint Charitie! _D. Rat._ Come nere, Diccon, and let us heare what thou can expresse. Wilt thou be sworne thou seest Dame Chat this womans neele have? 40 _Diccon._ Nay, by S. Benit, wil I not, then might ye thinke me rave! _Gammer._ Why, didst not thou tel me so even here? canst thou for shame deny it? _Diccon._ I, mary, Gammer; but I said I would not abide by it. _D. Rat._ Will you say a thing, and not sticke to it to trie it? _Diccon._ "Stick to it," quoth you, Master Rat? mary, sir, I defy it! 45 Nay, there is many an honest man, when he suche blastes hath blowne In his freindes eares, he woulde be loth the same by him were knowne. If such a toy be used oft among the honestie, It may beseme a simple man of your and my degree. _D. Rat._ Then we be never the nearer, for all that you can tell! 50