Page:Popular tales from the Norse (1912).djvu/565

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE COCK AND HEN A-NUTTING.
379

"until I get a red ribbon with a golden edge from you."

So the cock ran to the Virgin Mary.

"Dear good Virgin Mary, give me a red ribbon with a golden edge, and I'll give the red ribbon to the Linden, the Linden'll give me leaves, the leaves I'll give to the Spring, the Spring'll give me water, and the water I'll give to Dame Partlet my mate, who lies at death's door in the hazel-wood."

"You'll get no red ribbon from me," answered the Virgin Mary, "until I get shoes from you."

So the Cock ran to the Shoemaker and said,—

"Dear good friend Shoemaker, give me shoes, and I'll give the shoes to the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary'll give me a red ribbon, the red ribbon I'll give to the Linden, the Linden'll give me leaves, the leaves I'll give to the Spring, the Spring'll give me water, the water I'll give to Dame Partlet my mate, who lies at death's door in the hazel-wood."

"You'll get no shoes from me," said the Shoemaker, "until I get bristles from you."

So the Cock ran to the Sow and said,—

"Dear good friend Sow, give me bristles, the bristles I'll give, to the Shoemaker, the Shoemaker'll give me shoes, the shoes I'll give to the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary'll give me a red ribbon, the red ribbon I'll give to the Linden, the Linden'll give me leaves, the leaves I'll give to the Spring, the Spring'll give me water, the water I'll give to Dame Partlet my mate, who lies at death's door in the hazel-wood."

"You'll get no bristles from me," said the Sow, "until I get corn from you."