Gammer Gurton's Needle - Faculty & Staff Web Pages
Gammer Gurton's Needle - Faculty & Staff Web Pages
Gammer Gurton's Needle - Faculty & Staff Web Pages
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<strong>Gammer</strong> <strong>Gurton's</strong> <strong>Needle</strong> 25<br />
Hodge: Gog's heart, and could he tell nothing [about] where the nee'le might be found?<br />
Diccon: Ye foolish dolt, ye were to seek e'er we had got our ground, 1<br />
Therefore his tale so doubtful was that I could not perceive it.<br />
Hodge: Then Ich see well something was said; 'Ch hope one day yet to have it,<br />
But Diccon, Diccon, did not the devil cry "Ho, ho ho?"<br />
Diccon: If you hadst tarried where thou stoodst, thou wouldst have said so.<br />
Hodge: Durst swear on a book, 'Ch heard him roar, straight after Ich was gone<br />
But tell me, Diccon, what said the knave; let me hear it anon.<br />
Diccon: The whoreson talked to me. I know not well of what;<br />
One while his tongue it ran and paltered 2 of a cat,<br />
Another while he stammered still upon a rat,<br />
Last of all there was nothing but every word "Chat, Chat!"<br />
But this I well perceived before I would him rid, 3<br />
Between Chat and the Rat and the Cat the needle is hid,<br />
Now whether Gib our cat have eat it in her maw, 4<br />
Or Doctor Rat our curate 5 have found it in the straw,<br />
Or this dame Chat your neighbor have stolen it, God he knoweth;<br />
But by tomorrow at this time we shall learn how the matter goeth.<br />
Hodge: Canst not learn tonight, man, seest what is here?<br />
[Hodge points behind at the great rip in his torn<br />
breeches.]<br />
Diccon: 'Tis not possible to make it sooner appear.<br />
Hodge: Alas, Diccon, then 'Chave no shift but -- lest Ich tarry too long –<br />
Hie me to Sam Glover's shop, there to seek for a thong<br />
Therewith this breech to 'tach and tie as Ich may. 6<br />
Diccon: Tomorrow, Hodge, if we chance to meet – shalt see what I will say.<br />
[Hodge exits down the street]<br />
1<br />
Ye foolish . . .ground: You foolish idiot, you went missing (were to seek) before we knew where we stood.<br />
2<br />
Paltered: prated, spoke foolishly<br />
3<br />
Before I . . . rid: before I would banish him back to hell<br />
4<br />
Maw: stomach<br />
5<br />
Curate: priest<br />
6<br />
Alas Diccon . . . may: Alas, Diccon, then I have no choice but – lest I wait too long – to run to Sym the glover's shop to see<br />
if I can find a thong which I can attach to my breeches and tie the rip up as best I can.
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