And not thus be staying

The forest away in,

In the hope that a nibble may end in a bite.

For this Abbot was such a strict disciplinarian

That roast beef he scorned as the foulest of carrion.

His food was the coarsest of bread, and boil'd rice,

And half-dirty water, which could not be nice.

And had he but known that the friar ate trout,

Would have made a most terrible riot and rout;

And would not have been quiet