Tom Tankard's cow (by Gog's bones) she set me up her sail,
And flinging about his halse aker,[193] fisking with her tail,
As though there had been in her arse a swarm of bees;
And chad not cried tphrowh, whore, shea'd leapt out of his lees.
Diccon. Why, Hodge, lies the cunning in Tom Tankard's cow's tail?
Hodge. Well, ich chave heard some say such tokens do not fail.
But ca'st thou not tell, in faith, Diccon, why she frowns, or whereat?
Hath no man stolen her ducks or hens, or gelded Gib her cat?[194]
Diccon. What devil can I tell, man, I could not have one word,
They gave no more heed to my talk than thou wouldst to a lord.