midnight
O Lord , at that time I remember the earth seemed ready to open , and me thought I saw at hell gate the Dog Cerberus ready to devour mee , and then I verily beleeved , that Meroe did not spare my throat , mooved with pitty , but rather cruelly pardoned mee to bring mee to the Gallowes . Wherefore I returned to my chamber , and there devised with my selfe in what sort I should finish my life . But when I saw that fortune should minister unto mee no other instrument than that which my bed profered me , I said , O bed , O bed , most dear to me at this present , which hast abode and suffered with me so many miseries , judge and arbiter of such things as were done here this night , whome onely I may call to witnesse for my innocency , render -LRB- I say -RRB- unto me some wholesome weapon to end my life , that am most willing to dye . And therewithal I pulled out a piece of the rope wherewith the bed was corded , and tyed one end thereof about a rafter by the window , and with the other end I made a sliding knot , and stood upon my bed , and so put my neck into it , and leaped from the bed , thinking to strangle my selfe and so dye , behold the rope beeing old and rotten burst in the middle , and I fell down tumbling upon Socrates that lay under : And even at that same very time the Hostler came in crying with a loud voyce , and sayd , Where are you that made such hast at midnight , and now lies wallowing abed ? Whereupon -LRB- I know not whether it was by my fall , or by the great cry of the Hostler -RRB- Socrates as waking out of sleepe , did rise up first and sayd , It is not without cause that strangers do speake evill of all such Hostlers , for this Catife in his comming in , and with his crying out , I thinke under a colour to steale away something , hath waked me out of a sound sleepe . Then I rose up joyfull with a merry countenance , saying , Behold good Hostler , my friend , my companion and my brother , whom thou didst falsly affirme to be slaine by mee this might . And therewithall I embraced my friend Socrates and kissed him : but hee smelling the stinke of the pisse wherewith those Hagges had embrued me , thrust me away and sayd , Clense thy selfe from this filthy odour , and then he began gently to enquire , how that noysome sent hapned unto mee .