_Tyb._ Se, Gammer, Gammer, Gib, our cat, cham afraid what she ayleth;
She standes me gasping behind the doore, as though her winde her
faileth:
Now let ich doubt what Gib shuld mean, that now she doth so dote.
_Hodge._ Hold hether! I chould twenty pound, your neele is in her
throte.
Grope her, ich say, me thinkes ich feele it; does not pricke your
hand? 5
_Gammer._ Ich can feele nothing.
_Hodge._ No, ich know thars not within this land
A muryner cat then Gyb is, betwixt the Tems and Tyne;
Shase as much wyt in her head almost as chave in mine!
_Tyb._ Faith, shase eaten some thing, that will not easily downe;
Whether she gat it at home, or abrode in the towne 10
Ich can not tell.
_Gammer._ Alas ich feare it be some croked pyn!
And then farewell Gyb! she is undone, and lost al save the skyn!
_Hodge._ Tys[711] your neele, woman, I say! Gogs soule! geve me a
knyfe,
And chil have it out[712] of her mawe, or els chal lose my lyfe!
_Gammer._ What! nay, Hodg, fy! Kil not our cat, tis al the cats we ha
now. 15
_Hodge._ By the masse, Dame Chat hays me so moved,[713] iche care not
what I kyll, ma[714] God a vowe!
Go to, then, Tyb, to this geare! holde up har tayle and take her!
Chil see what devil is in her guts! chil take the paines to rake
her!
_Gammer._ Rake a cat, Hodge! what woldst thou do?
_Hodge._ What, thinckst that cham not able?
Did not Tom Tankard rake his curtal toore[715] day standing in the
stable? 20
_Gammer._ Soft! be content, lets here what newes Cocke bringeth from
Maist Rat.
_Cocke._ Gammer, chave ben ther as you bad, you wot wel about what.
Twill not be long before he come, ich durst sweare of a booke.
He byds you see ye be at home, and there for him to looke.
_Gammer._ Where didst thou find him, boy? was he not wher I told
thee? 25
_Cocke._ Yes, yes, even at Hob Filchers house, by him that bought and
solde me!
A cup of ale had in his hand, and a crab lay in the fyer;
Chad much a do to go and come, al was so ful of myer.
And, Gammer, one thing I can tel, Hob Filchers naule was loste,
And Doctor Rat found it againe, hard beside the doore poste. 30
I chould a penny can say something your neele againe to set.
_Gammer._ Cham glad to heare so much, Cocke, then trust he wil not let
To helpe us herein best he can; therfore tyl time he come
Let us go in; if there be ought to get thou shall have some.