Anonymous

“ Sweet cordials and other rich things were prepar’d,
Which between this couple were equally shar’d,
And when they were alone in each other’s arms,
Enjoy’d one another in love’s pleasant charms.
At length on a time, poor Cat-skins, ’tis said,
In her rich attire she was array’d;
And when that his mother the chamber drew near,
Then much like a goddess Cat-skins did appear,
Which caus’d her to startle, and thus for to say,
What young lady is this, son, tell me, I pray;
He said, why, ’tis Cat-skins, for whom sick I lie,
And without I have her, with speed I shall die. ”

“ And with her cat-skin robe was drest presently;
And into the kitchen among them she went,
But where she had been they were all innocent.
When the squire came home and found Cat-skin there
He was in amaze, and began for to swear,
For two nights at this ball has been a lady,
The sweetest of beauties that e’er I did see.
She was the best dancer in all the whole place.
And very much like our Cat-skins in the face;
Had she not been drest to that comely degree,
I’d sworn it had been Cat-skins bodily. ”

“ Whereto she belong’d and following Cat skin,
Into an old house he saw her creep in.
He said, O! brave Cat-skins, I find it is thee
These three nights together have so charmed me;
Thou art the sweetest creature my eyes e'er beheld,
With joy and contentment my heart it is fill’d.
Thou art the cook’s scullion, but as I have life,
Grant me but thy love, and I’ll make thee my wife ”