Noye-- Good wyffe, doe nowe as I thee bydde.
Noye's Wiffe-- Be Christe! not or I see more neede, Though thou stande all the daye and stare.
Noye-- Lorde, that wemen be crabbed aye, And non are meke, I dare well saye. This is well seene by me to daye, In witnesse of you ichone (each one). Goodwiffe, lett be all this beare, That thou maiste in this place heare; For all the wene that thou arte maister, And so thou arte, by Sante John!
All Noah's artful concession of his wife's mastery in the household does not avail to move her and so he tries objurgation.
Noye-- Wiffe, come in: why standes thou their? Thou arte ever frowarde, I dare well sweare; Come in, one Godes halfe! tyme yt were, For feare leste that we drowne.
Noye's Wiffe-- Yes, sir, sette up youer saile, And rowe fourth with evill haile, For withouten (anye) fayle I will not oute of this towne; But I have my gossippes everyechone, One foote further I will not gone: The shall not drowne, by Sainte John! And I may save ther life. The loven me full well, by Christe! But thou lett them into thy cheiste, (ark) Elles rowe nowe wher thee leiste, And gette thee a newe wiffe.
It is evident that he will not succeed so Noah, wise doubtless with the wisdom of experience, forbears to urge but appeals to her sons to bring her.
NOYE-- Seme, sonne, loe! thy mother is wrawe: Forsooth, such another I doe not knowe.
Sem-- Father, I shall fetch her in, I trowe, Withoutten anye fayle.-- Mother, my father after thee sends. And byddes thee into yeinder shippe wende. Loke up and see the wynde. For we bene readye to sayle.
Noye's Wiffe-- Seme, goe againe to hym, I saie; I will not come theirin to daye.
Noye-- Come in, wiffe, in twentye devilles waye! Or elles stand there without.
Noye-- Yea, sonnes, in Christe blessinge and myne! I woulde you hied you be-tyme. For of this flude I am in doubte.
Jeffatte-- Mother, we praye you all together. For we are heare, youer owne childer. Come into the shippe for feare of the weither, For his love that you boughte!
Noye's Wiffe-- That will not I, for all youer call, But I have my gossippes all.
Sem-- In faith, mother, yett you shalle, Wheither thou wylte or (nought).
_(Her sons bring her in; as she steps aboard she is greeted by Noah.)_