6
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;
And you shall have maids to be at your call,
Sir, that cannot be, I’ve no portion at all.
Thy beauty is a portion, my joy and my dear,
I prize it far better than thousands a-year;
And to have my friends' consent, I have got a trick,
I’ll go to my bed and feign myself sick.
There's none shall attend me but thee, I protest,
So one day or other, when thou art drest
In thy rich dress, if my parents come nigh,
I’ll tell them ’tis for thee I’m sick and like to die.
PART IV.
Having thus consulted, this couple parted,
Next day this squire he took to his bed,
And when his dear parents this thing perceiv'd.
For fear of his death they were heartily griev'd.
To tend him they sent for a nurse presently,
He said, none but Cat-skins my mrse now shall be;
His parents said, no, son; he said, but she shall,
Or else I shall have no nurse at all.
His parents both wondered to hear him say thus,
That none but Cat-skins must needs be his nurse;
So then his dear parents, their son to content,
Up to the chamber poor Cat-skins they sent.
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.
