manner kind.
Here be, as thinks me.

_Japhet._ Take here cats and dogs too,
Otter, fox, fulmart also;
Hares, hopping gaily, can ye
Have kail here for to eat.

_Noah's Wife._ And here are bears, wolves set,
Apes, owls, marmoset;
Weasels, squirrels, and ferret
Here they eat their meat.

_Shem's Wife._ Yet more beasts are in this house!
Here cats come in full crowse,[35]
Here a rat and here a mouse;
They stand nigh together.

_Ham's Wife._ And here are fowls less and more,
Herons, cranes and bittern;
Swans, peacocks, have them before!
Meat for this weather.

_Japhet's Wife._ Here are cocks, kites, crows,
Rooks, ravens, many rows;
Cuckoos, curlews, whoso knows,
Each one in his kind.
And here are doves, ducks, drakes,
Redshanks, running through the lakes,
And each fowl that language makes
In this ship men may find.

[_In the stage direction the sons of Noah are enjoined to mention aloud
the names of the animals which enter; a representation of which, painted
on parchment, is to be carried by the actors._

_Noah._ Wife, come in, why standest thou there?
Thou art ever forward, that I dare swear:
Come on God's half, time it were,
For fear lest that we drown.

_Noah's Wife._ Yea, sir, set up your sail
And row forth with evil heale,
For, without any fail,
I will not out of this town.
But I have my gossips every one,
One foot further I will not go;
They shall not drown, by St. John!
If I may save their life.
They loved me full well, by Christ!
But thou wilt let them in thy chest,
Else row forth, Noah, whither thou list,
And get thee a new wife.

_Noah._ Shem, some love thy mother, 'tis true;
Forsooth, such another I do not know!

_Shem._ Father, I shall set her in, I trow,
Without any fail.
Mother, my father after thee sends,
And bids thee unto yonder ship wend,[36]
Look up and see the wind,
For we be ready to sail.

_Noah's Wife._ Son, go again to him and say
I will not come therein to-day!

_Noah._ Come in, wife, in twenty devils' way,
Or else stand without.

_Ham._ Shall we all fetch her in?

_Noah._ Yea, sons, in Christ's blessing and mine,
I would you hied you betime,
For of this flood I am in doubt.

_Japhet._ Mother, we pray you altogether,
For we are here, your children;
Come into the ship for fear of the weather,
For his love that you bought!

_Noah's Wife._ That I will not for your call,
But if I have my gossips all.

_Gossip._ The flood comes in full fleeting fast,