Ancient Poems [40]
royal King Henrie Came weeping away.
Ballad: THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN.
[THE following version of this ancient English ballad has been collated with three copies. In some editions it is called CATSKIN'S GARLAND; OR, THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN. The story has a close similarity to that of CINDERELLA, and is supposed to be of oriental origin. Several versions of it are current in Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Wales. For some account of it see PICTORIAL BOOK OF BALLADS, ii. 153, edited by Mr. J. S. Moore.]
PART 1.
YOU fathers and mothers, and children also, Draw near unto me, and soon you shall know The sense of my ditty, and I dare to say, The like's not been heard of this many a day.
The subject which to you I am to relate, It is of a young squire of vast estate; The first dear infant his wife did him bear, It was a young daughter of beauty most rare.
He said to his wife, 'Had this child been a boy, 'Twould have pleased me better, and increased my joy, If the next be the same sort, I declare, Of what I'm possessed it shall have no share.'
In twelve months' time after, this woman, we hear, Had another daughter of beauty most clear; And when that he knew it was but a female, Into a bitter passion he presently fell,
Saying, 'Since this is of the same sort as the first, In my habitation she shall not be nursed; Pray let her be sent into the countrie, For where I am, truly, this child shall not be.'
With tears his dear wife unto him did say, 'Husband, be contented, I'll send her away.' Then to the countrie with speed her did send, For to be brought up by one was her friend.
Although that her father he hated her so, He a good education on her did bestow; And with a gold locket, and robes of the best, This slighted young damsel was commonly dressed.
And when unto stature this damsel was grown, And found from her father she had no love shown, She cried, 'Before I will lay under his frown, I'm resolved to travel the country around.'
PART II.
But now mark, good people, the cream of the jest, In what sort of manner this creature was dressed; With cat-skins she made her a robe, I declare, The which for her covering she daily did wear.
Her own rich attire, and jewels beside, Then up in a bundle by her they were tied, And to seek her fortune she wandered away; And when she had travelled a cold winter's day,
In the evening-tide she came to a town, Where at a knight's door she sat herself down, For to rest herself, who was tired sore; - This noble knight's lady then came to the door.
This fair creature seeing in such sort of dress, The lady unto her these words did express: 'Whence camest thou, girl, and what wouldst thou have?' She said, 'A night's rest 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; And there she was gazed on from highest to least.
And, being well warmed, her hunger was great, They gave her a plate of good food for to eat, And then to an outhouse this creature was led, Where with fresh straw she soon made her a bed.
And when in the morning the daylight she saw, Her riches and jewels she hid in the straw; And, being very cold, she then did retire Into the kitchen, and stood by the fire.
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 used 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,
Ballad: THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN.
[THE following version of this ancient English ballad has been collated with three copies. In some editions it is called CATSKIN'S GARLAND; OR, THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN. The story has a close similarity to that of CINDERELLA, and is supposed to be of oriental origin. Several versions of it are current in Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Wales. For some account of it see PICTORIAL BOOK OF BALLADS, ii. 153, edited by Mr. J. S. Moore.]
PART 1.
YOU fathers and mothers, and children also, Draw near unto me, and soon you shall know The sense of my ditty, and I dare to say, The like's not been heard of this many a day.
The subject which to you I am to relate, It is of a young squire of vast estate; The first dear infant his wife did him bear, It was a young daughter of beauty most rare.
He said to his wife, 'Had this child been a boy, 'Twould have pleased me better, and increased my joy, If the next be the same sort, I declare, Of what I'm possessed it shall have no share.'
In twelve months' time after, this woman, we hear, Had another daughter of beauty most clear; And when that he knew it was but a female, Into a bitter passion he presently fell,
Saying, 'Since this is of the same sort as the first, In my habitation she shall not be nursed; Pray let her be sent into the countrie, For where I am, truly, this child shall not be.'
With tears his dear wife unto him did say, 'Husband, be contented, I'll send her away.' Then to the countrie with speed her did send, For to be brought up by one was her friend.
Although that her father he hated her so, He a good education on her did bestow; And with a gold locket, and robes of the best, This slighted young damsel was commonly dressed.
And when unto stature this damsel was grown, And found from her father she had no love shown, She cried, 'Before I will lay under his frown, I'm resolved to travel the country around.'
PART II.
But now mark, good people, the cream of the jest, In what sort of manner this creature was dressed; With cat-skins she made her a robe, I declare, The which for her covering she daily did wear.
Her own rich attire, and jewels beside, Then up in a bundle by her they were tied, And to seek her fortune she wandered away; And when she had travelled a cold winter's day,
In the evening-tide she came to a town, Where at a knight's door she sat herself down, For to rest herself, who was tired sore; - This noble knight's lady then came to the door.
This fair creature seeing in such sort of dress, The lady unto her these words did express: 'Whence camest thou, girl, and what wouldst thou have?' She said, 'A night's rest 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; And there she was gazed on from highest to least.
And, being well warmed, her hunger was great, They gave her a plate of good food for to eat, And then to an outhouse this creature was led, Where with fresh straw she soon made her a bed.
And when in the morning the daylight she saw, Her riches and jewels she hid in the straw; And, being very cold, she then did retire Into the kitchen, and stood by the fire.
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 used 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,