Gammer Gurton's Needle - Faculty & Staff Web Pages

Gammer: Rake a cat, Hodge! What wouldst thou do?
Gammer Gurton's Needle 37
Hodge: What! Thinkest thou that 'Cham not able?
Did not Tom Tankard rake his cur-tail t'other day, standing in the stable?
[Cocke enters running from down the street]
Gammer: Soft, be content; let's hear what news Cocke bringeth from Master Rat!
Cocke: Gammer, 'Chave been thereas you bade, ye wot well about what. 1
'Twill be not long before he come, Ich durst swear on a book.
He bids you see ye be at home, and there for him to look. 2
Gammer: Where didst thou find him, boy? Was he not where I told thee?
Cocke: Yes, yes, even at Hob Filcher's house, by him that bought and sold me; 3
A cup of ale [he] had in his hand, and a crab[apple] lay in the fire.
'Chad much ado to go and come, all was so full of mire. 4
And Gammer, one thing I can tell: Hob Filcher's nail was lost,
And Doctor Rat found it again, hard beside the door-post.
I'd hold a penny [he] can say something your nee'le again to fet. 5
Gammer: 'Cham glad to hear so much, Cocke. Then trust he will not let 6
To help us herein best he can; therefore, 'til time he come,
Let us go in. If there be aught to get, thou shalt have some. 7
1
'Chave been…what: I have been there where you told me, you know the reason.
2
He bids…look: He tells you to wait at your house and look for him [to come].
3
Him that bought and sold me: Jesus Christ
4
'Chad much . . . mire: I had a hard time because the street was so muddy.
5
Fet: find, fetch
6
Let: hesitate
7
If there . . . some: If there's any food in the house, you'll have some.
[They exit inside Gammer's house. Act 3 ends.]