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PART II.
BUT now good people the cream of the jest,
In what sort of manner this Lady was drest,
With Cat-kins she made, for a robe I declare,
The which for a covering she daily did wear.
BUT now good people the cream of the jest,
In what sort of manner this Lady was drest,
With Cat-kins she made, for a robe I declare,
The which for a covering she daily did wear.
Her new rich attire, with jewels beside,
When up in a bundle by her then were ty’d,
Now to seek her fortune she wander’d away,
And when she had travell'd a whole winter-day.
When up in a bundle by her then were ty’d,
Now to seek her fortune she wander’d away,
And when she had travell'd a whole winter-day.
In the evening-tide she came to a town,
Then at the Knight’s door she sat herself down,
For to rest herself, who was tir’d to be sure;
This noble Knight’s Lady she came to the door.
Then at the Knight’s door she sat herself down,
For to rest herself, who was tir’d to be sure;
This noble Knight’s Lady she came to the door.
And seeing this creature in such sort of dress,
The lady unto her these words did express:
From whence cam'st thou girl? & what will you have?
⟨She⟩ cry’d a night’s quarters in your stable I crave.
The lady unto her these words did express:
From whence cam'st thou girl? & what will you have?
⟨She⟩ cry’d a night’s quarters in your stable I crave.
The Lady said to her, I’ll grant thy desire,
Come into the kitchen, and stand by the fire;
Then she thanked the Lady, and went in with haste,
There she was gaz’d on from biggest to least.
Come into the kitchen, and stand by the fire;
Then she thanked the Lady, and went in with haste,
There she was gaz’d on from biggest to least.
And being well warmed, her hunger being great,
They gave her a dish of good meat for to eat;
And then to an out-house this creature was led,
There she with fresh straw then made her a bed.
They gave her a dish of good meat for to eat;
And then to an out-house this creature was led,
There she with fresh straw then made her a bed.
And then in the morning that day-light she saw,
Her rich robes and jewels she hid in the straw:
And being very cold, she then did retire,
To go to the Kitchen, and stand by the fire.
Her rich robes and jewels she hid in the straw:
And being very cold, she then did retire,
To go to the Kitchen, and stand by the fire.
The cook said, my Lady, hath promis’d that thou
Shall be as a scullion to wait on me now;
What say’st thou girl: art thou willing to bide?
With all my heart, truly, to him she reply'd.
Shall be as a scullion to wait on me now;
What say’st thou girl: art thou willing to bide?
With all my heart, truly, to him she reply'd.
