Afore me! It is so very late,
That we may call it early by and by.

Not to be a-bed after midnight is to be up betimes.

To go to bed after midnight is to go to bed betimes

4 am—if I’m ever up that early, it’s because I’m up that late.

It's too early to go, but it's never too late to leave.

Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.