Come on God’s half [behalf], time it were,
For fear lest that we drown.”
But the foolish woman could not be persuaded. Nothing would induce her to enter the ark, she declared, unless her “gossips” were allowed to come too; and that, as we know from the story of the Flood, was forbidden, since only Noah and his family were allowed to embark.
“Yes, sir; set up your sail (said she),
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 S. John!