Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

i S 6 ANCIENT SONGS
This ladye fearing of no harme,
Ouey'd her mothers will;
And prefentl/e ihe halted home, 35
Her pleafure to fulfill.
She ftreight into the kitchen went,
Her mefTage for to tell;
And there me fpied the mafter-cook,
Who did with malice fwelL 40
Nowe, mafter-cook, it muft be foe,
Do that which I thee tell
You needes muft drefTe the milk-white doe,
Which you do knowe full well.
Then ftreight his cruell bloodye hands, 45
He on the ladye layd;
Who quivering and fhaking ftands,
While thus to her he fayd:
Thou art the doe, that I muft drefTe ;
See here, behold my knife ; 50
For it is pointed prefently
To ridd thee of thy life.
O then, cried out the fcnllion-boye*
As loud as loud might bee :
O fave he, life, good mafter-cook, 55
AncL make your pyes of mee
:
!
For