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Gammer Gurton's Needle 35
Gammer: We have a parson, Hodge, thou knows, a man esteemed wise,
Mast[er] Doctor Rat; 'Chi'll for him send, and let me have his advice.
He will her shrive for all this gear, and give her penance straight;
We's have our nee'le, else Dame Chat comes ne'er within Heaven's gate! 1
Hodge: Yea, marry, Gammer, that Ich think best. Will you now for him send?
The sooner Doctor Rat be here, the sooner we's have an end.
And here, Gammer! Diccon's devil, as Ich remember well,
Of cat, and Chat, and Doctor Rat a felonious tale did tell!
'Chold you forty pound that is the way your nee'le to get again!
Gammer: 'Chi'll have him straight! Call out the boy – we's make him take the pain! 2
Hodge: What, Cocke, I say! Come out! What [the] devil! Canst not hear?
[Cocke enters from Gammer's house]
Cocke: How now, Hodge? How does, Gammer? Is yet the weather clear?
What would [you] have me to do?
Gammer: Come hither, Cocke, anon!
Hence swithe 3 to Doctor Rat, hie thee that thou were gone!
And pray him come speak with me; 'Cham not well at ease.
Shalt have him at his chamber, or else at Mother Bee's; 4
Else seek him at Hob Filcher's shop, for as Ich heard it reported,
There is the best ale in all the town, and now is most resorted. 5
Cocke: And shall Ich bring him with me, Gammer?
Gammer: Yea, by-and-by, 6 good Cocke.
Cocke: Shalt see that [he] shall be here anon, else let me have [one] on the dock! 7
[Cocke exits, running down the street]
Hodge: Now, Gammer, shall we two go in, and tarry for his coming?
What [the] devil, woman! Pluck up your heart, and leave off all this glooming!
Though she were stronger at the first, as Ich think you did find her,
Yet there you dressed the drunk sow that time you came behind her.
1
In other words, the preacher will force Dame Chat to confess, and then will give her a hard punishment (penance strait) and
force her to return the needle – if she doesn't obey, the pastor will send her to hell.
2
We's make . . . pain: We'll have him (Cocke) go to the trouble [of finding the preacher].
3
Hence swithe: Go from here quickly
4
Shalt have . . . Bee's: You'll find him in his rooms, or else in Mother Bee's ale-house
5
There is . . . resorted: It has the best ale in town, and more people go there than to any other ale-house.
6
By-and-by: immediately, right now
7
Dock: tail; Cocke says, "You'll see I'll bring him right here, or swat me on the butt."