nd there did beat with his wings, and croaked in such
manner that this old usurer thought he should have presently died for fear.
This was but a preparation to what he did intend; for presently after he
appeared before him at his bed's feet, in the shape of a ghost, with a
torch in his hand. At the sight of this the old usurer would have risen out
of his bed, and have leaped out of the window, but he was stayed by Robin
Good-fellow, who spake to him thus--

If thou dost stir out of thy bed,
I do vow to strike thee dead.
I do come to do thee good;
Recall thy wits and starkled[8] blood.
The money which thou up dost store
In soul and body makes thee poor.
Do good with money while you may;
Thou hast not long on earth to stay.
Do good, I say, or day and night
I hourly thus will thee affright.
Think on my words, and so farewell,
For being bad I live in hell.

Having said thus he vanished away and left this usurer in great terror of
mind; and for fear of being frighted again with this ghost, he turned very
liberal, and lived amongst his neighbours as an honest man should do.

HOW ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW LOVED A WEAVER'S WIFE,
AND HOW THE WEAVER WOULD HAVE DROWNED HIM

One day Robin Good-fellow, walking through the street, found at the door
sitting a pretty woman: this woman was wife to the weaver, and was
a-winding of quills[9] for her husband. Robin liked her so well, that for
her sake he became servant to her husband, and did daily work at the loom;
but all the kindness that he showed was but lost, for his mistress would
show him no favour, which made him many times to exclaim against the whole
sex in satirical songs; and one day being at work he sung this, to the tune
of _Rejoice Bag-pipes_--

Why should my love now wax
Unconstant, wavering, fickle, unstaid?
With nought can she me tax:
I ne'er recanted what I once said.
I now do see, as nature fades,
And all her works decay,
So women all, wives, widows, maids,
From bad to worse do stray.

As herbs, trees, roots, and plants
In strength and growth are daily less,
So all things have their wants:
The heavenly signs move and digress;
And honesty in women's hearts
Hath not her former being:
Their thoughts are ill, like other parts,
Nought else in them's agreeing.

I sooner thought thunder
Had power o'er the laurel wreath,
Than she, women's wonder,
Such perjured thoughts should live