sir walter raleigh to his son

three things there be that prosper up apace,

and flourish while they grow asunder far;

but on a day, they meet all in a place,

and when they meet, they one another mar.

and they be these: the wood, the weed, the wag:

the wood is that that makes the gallows tree;

the weed is that that strings the hangman's bag;

the way, my pretty knave, betokens thee.

now mark, dear boy- while these assemble not,

green springs the tree, hemp grows, the wag is wild;

but when they meet, it makes the timber rot,

it frets the halter, and it chokes the child.

- sir walter raleigh