The cook said, ‘My lady hath promised that thee
Shall be as a scullion to wait upon me;
What say’st thou girl, art thou willing to bide?’
‘With all my heart truly,’ to him she replied.
To work at her needle she could very well,
And for raising of paste few could her excel;
She being so handy, the cook’s heart did win,
And then she was called by the name of Catskin.
PART III.
The lady a son had both comely and tall,
Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball
A mile out of town; and one evening-tide,
To dance at this ball away he did ride.
Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me
Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’
With that in a passion this lady she grew,
And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.
On being thus servèd she quick got away,
And in her rich garments herself did array;
And then to this ball she with speed did retire,
Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.
The sport being done, the young squire did say,
‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’
Her answer was to him, ‘Sir, that I will tell,—
At the sign of the broken ladle I dwell.’
She being very nimble, got home first, ’tis said,
And in her catskin robes she soon was arrayed;
And into the kitchen again she did go,
But where she had been they did none of them know.
Next night this young squire, to give him content,
To dance at this ball again forth he went.
She said, ‘Pray let me go this ball for to view.’
Then she struck with the skimmer, and broke it in two.
Then out of the doors she ran full of heaviness,
And in her rich garments herself soon did dress;
And to this ball ran away with all speed,
Where to see her dancing all wondered indeed.