Page:Collected poems vol 2 de la mare.djvu/159

 And that ravenous Thief he climbed up even higher,
 * Till into a chamber small

He crept where lay poor Robin's beauteous Children,
 * Lovelier in sleep withal.

Oh, fairer was their hair than gold of Goblet,
 * Beyond Silver their cheeks did shine,

And their little hands that lay upon the linen
 * Made that Thief's hard heart to pine.

But though a moment there his hard heart faltered,
 * Eftsoones he took them twain,

And slipped them into his Bag with all his Plunder,
 * And soft stole down again.

Spoon, Platter, Goblet, Ducats, Dishes, Trinkets,
 * And those two Children dear,

A-quaking in the clinking and the clanking,
 * And half bemused with fear,

He carried down the stairs into the Courtyard,
 * But there he made no stay,

He just tied up his Garters, took a deep breath,
 * And ran like the wind away.

Past Forest, River, Mountain, River, Forest —
 * He coursed the whole night through,