Historic%20Yorkshire

mystery playsin Yorkshire. 39
Of this tree willImake themast,
Tied with cables that will last,
With a sail yard for each blast,
And each thingin their kind;
With topcastleand bowsprit.
Both cords andropes,Ihave all mette (measured)
To sail forth at the next wet,
This ship is at an end.
Wife, we shall in this vessel be kept,
My children and thouIwould yein leapt.
Noah's Wife:
In faith, Noah,Iwould aslief thou slept !
For all thy fryrish (nice) fare
Iwill not do after thy rede (advice).
Noah:
Good wife, do now as Ithee bid.
Noah's Wife:
I'faith I'llnot tillIseemore need,
Though thou stand all day and stare.
Noah next laments the "crabbed" nature of womankind.
The ark,however,is at lengthfinished,and afterreceiving
from God a list of the animals that are to enter into it
with him, Noah enters the ark with all his family except
his wife. Here considerable liberty is taken with the
Biblical version, and a strange scene is witnessed.
Noah's wife, a person of exceedinglywhimsical temper,
inreply to herhusband's appeal to her to enter the ark,
gives vent to a volley of strong language, saying that
unless her "gossips " are allowed to go in with her she
" will not out of this town," and tells him to "row where
he lists," and get a new wife. At last the dutiful Japhet
compels his mother to enter by main force, and immediately
upon her entrance she gives herself the task of
boxingNoah's ears. He remarks —
Ha, ha, marry, this is hot,
Itis good for to be still.
Ha,children, methinks myboat removes,
Our tarryinghere grievesme ill,
Over theland the water spreads.
God, do as thou wilt.