 | The Night Raven |  |
Three fearefull Theeues.
A Gentleman, lying awake in's bed,Hauing good Christian motions in his head,
How he had spent the day, worse then he should,
Omitting to performe the good he would,
Committing those things which he ought not doe,
As Sathan, World, and Flesh, did vrge him to.
Vnder his lodging very close and neare,
A conference twixt certaine theeues did heare.
Quoth one of them, my counsell pray imbrace,
Let's breake in heere, this is the weakest place.
No said another, I doe doubt we shall
Finde this so strong, that heer's a double wall.
Then quoth the third, breake out the iron barrs
For too long lingring all our businesse marrs:
We must not onely heere this night abide,
For we haue houses to attempt beside.
The Gentleman vnto the window goes,
And thus he spake, vnto his theeuing foes;
My friends (quoth he) forbeare this quoyle to keep,
And come anon, I am not yet a sleepe.
When they heard this, away with feare they fled,
And he securely, did returne to bed.
| The Night Raven | |