 | The Night Raven |  |
A Rogue in the Stockes.
A base rude rascall of the Roguish crew,For misdemeanors that by him there grew,
Set by the heeles (according to desert)
Made himselfe merry with this knauish part:
The night obscure, as darke as night could be,
Hearing one come, Stand, who goes there? quoth he:
The fellow (seeing neither watch nor bill)
Reply'd an honest man, that meanes no ill:
Sirra (quoth he) I heere protest and sweare
As I am Constable, step one foote neare;
And in the stocks thou shalt till morning sit,
Or I my selfe, will for thee furnish it,
The fellow backe againe his course did take,
With all the hast that both his legs could make,
Supposing t'was some Constable in's rage,
Whose fury was no lesse, then stocks or cage.
| The Night Raven | |