So shall his 'venture happily be sped,
While like a rubbish-sack I lie in bed;
And when this jape is told another day,
I shall be called a fool, or a cokenay!
I will adventure somewhat, too, in faith:
'Weak heart, worse fortune,' as the proverb saith."

And up he rose at once, and softly went
Unto the cradle, as 'twas his intent,
And to his bed's foot bare it, with the brat.
The wife her routing ceased soon after that,
And woke, and left her bed; for she was pained
With nightmare dreams of skies that madly rained.
Eastern astrologers and clerks, I wis,
In time of Apis tell of storms like this.
Awhile she stayed, and waxeth calm in mind;
Returning then, no cradle doth she find,
And gropeth here and there--but she found none.
"Alas," quoth she, "I had almost misgone!
I well-nigh stumbled on the clerks a-bed:
Eh benedicite! but I am safely sped.
And on she went, till she the cradle found,
While through the dark still groping with her hand.

Meantime was heard the beating of a wing,
And then the third cock of the morn 'gan sing.
Allen stole back, and thought, "Ere that it dawn
I will creep in by John that lieth forlorn."
He found the cradle in his hand, anon.
"Gude Lord!" thought Allen, "all wrong have I gone!