Once on a time the cock and the hen went out into the hazel-wood to
pick nuts; and so the hen got a nutshell in her throat, and lay on her
back, flapping her wings.
Off went the cock to fetch water for her; so he came to the Spring and
said:
“Dear good friend Spring give me a drop of water, that I may give it to
Dame Partlet, my mate, who lies at death’s door in the hazel-wood.”
But the Spring answered:
“You’ll get no water from me until I get leaves from you.”
So the Cock ran to the Linden, and said:
“Dear good friend Linden, give me some of your leaves, the leaves I’ll
give to the Spring, and the Spring’ll give me water to give to Dame
Partlet my mate, who lies at death’s door in the hazel-wood.”
“You’ll get no leaves from me”, said the Linden, “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.”