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When the ’squire came home & found Cat’skin there
He was in amaze, and began for to swear,
For two nights at this ball has been a lady,
The sweatest 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 have sworn it had been Cat-skins bodily.
Next night to this ball he did go once more,
Then she asked his mother to go as before,
And having a bason of water in hand,
She threw it on Cat-skins as I understand.
Shaking her wet ears, out of doors she did run,
And dressed herself, when this thing she had done,
To see this ball acted, she then went her ways,
To see her fine dancing all gave her the praise.
And having concluded, this young ’squire he,
Said, from whence do you come? pray lady, tell me,
Her answer was, Sir, you shall soon know the same,
From the sign of the bason of water I came.
So homeward she hurry’d as fast as might be,
This young ’squire he then was resolved to see,
Whereto the belonged; then following Cat-skin,
Into an old straw house he saw her creep in.
He said, O! brave Cat-skin, I find it is thee,
These three nights together hath so charmed me:
Thou art the sweatest creature my eyes e’er beheld,
With joy and contentment my heart it is fill'd.
Thou art the cooks scullion, but as I have life,
Grant me but thy love, I’ll make thee my wife:
And you shall have maids to be at your call.
Sir, that cannot be, I have 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;
