Too good for him had been a great deal worse;
For it was a perilous beast above all,
And eke had he cond the shepheard's call,
And oft in the night came to the sheep-cote,
And called Lowder, with a hollow throat,
As if the old man self had been:
The dog his master's voice did it ween,
Yet half in doubt he opened the door,
And ran out as he was wont of yore.
No sooner was out, but, swifter than thought,