But went to sleep; when presently a sound,

From something that had tumbled, rang around,

Awoke his wife, who ran below,

That what had happened she might clearly know.

No fool in such adventures was our Wight:

The opportunity he would not slight,

But played the husband well: no, no, I'm wrong;

He played it ill:—too oft, too much, too long;

For whosoe'er would wish to do it well,

Should softly go:—the gentle most excel.