But as they did lodge at an inn by the way,
A thief in the house, with an evil intent,
To rob the port-mantua immediately went:
But the thief was amazed when he could not find
No clothes, gold or silver, or ought to his mind:
But only a letter, the which he did read,
And put an end to this desperate deed.
The cruel knight wrote to his brother that day,
To make the young innocent damsel away
With sword or with poison, that very same night,