_Diccon._ Follow me but a litle, and marke what I will say; Lay downe your gown beside you; go to, come on your way! 135 Se ye not what is here? a hole wherin ye may creepe Into the house, and sodenly unwares among them leape; There shal ye finde the bitchfox and the neele together. Do as I bid you, man, come on your wayes hether! _D. Rat._ Art thou sure, Diccon, the swil-tub standes not here aboute? 140 _Diccon._ I was within my selfe, man, even now, there is no doubt. Go softly, make no noyse; give me your foote, Sir John. Here will I waite upon you, tyl you come out anone. _D. Rat._ Helpe, Diccon! out, alas! I shal be slaine among them! _Diccon._ If they give you not the nedle, tel them that ye will hang them. 145 Ware that! Hoow, my wenches! have ye caught the Foxe That used to make revel among your hennes an Cocks? Save his life yet for his order, though he susteine some paine. Gogs bread! I am afraide they wil beate out his braine. _D. Rat._ Wo worth the houre that I came heare! 150 And wo worth him that wrought this geare! A sort of drabs and queanes have me blest-- Was ever creature halfe so evill drest? Who ever it wrought, and first did invent it He shall, I warrant him, erre long repent it! 155 I will spend all I have without my skinne Diii But he shall be brought to the plight I am in! Master Bayly, I trow, and he be worth his eares, Will snaffle these murderers and all that them beares.[725] I will surely neither byte nor suppe 160 Till I fetch him hether, this matter to take up. The v. Acte. The i. Sceane. MASTER BAYLY. DOCTOR RAT. _Bayly._ I can perceive none other, I speke it from my hart, But either ye ar in al the fault, or els in the greatest part. _D. Rat._ If it be counted his fault, besides all his greeves, When a poore man is spoyled and beaten among theeves, Then I confess my fault herein, at this season; 5 But I hope you will not judge so much against reason. _Bayly._ And, me thinkes, by your owne tale, of all that ye name, If any plaid the theefe, you were the very same. The women they did nothing, as your words make probation, But stoutly withstood your forcible invasion. 10 If that a theefe at your window to enter should begin, Wold you hold forth your hand and helpe to pull him in? Or you wold kepe him out? I pray you answere me. _D. Rat._ Mary, kepe him out, and a good cause why! But I am no theefe, sir, but an honest learned clarke. 15