MERCATOR, vigiles oculos ut fallere possit, Nomine sub ficto trans mare mittit opes; Lene sonat liquidumque meis Euphelia chordis, Sed solam exoptant te, mea vota, Chlöe. II. Ad speculum ornabat nitidos Euphelia crines, Cum dixit mea lux, Heus, cane, sume lyram. Namque lyram juxta positam cum carmine vidit, Suave quidem carmen dulcisonamque lyram. III. Fila lyræ vocemque paro, suspiria surgunt, IV. Subrubet illa pudore, et contrahit altera frontem, Me torquet mea mens conscia, psallo, tremo; Atque Cupidineâ dixit Dea cincta coronâ, Heu! fallendi artem quam didicêre parum. THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN: Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, To-morrow is our wedding-day, My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, I do admire Of womankind but one, And you are she, my dearest dear, I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, And my good friend the calender Will lend his horse to go. Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said; John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife; That though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allow'd . To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Six precious souls, and all agog -To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folks so glad, The stones did rattle underneath, As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side Seized fast the flowing mane, And up he got, in haste to ride, For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, When, turning round his head, he saw So down he came; for loss of time, Would trouble him much more. 'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came down stairs, 'The wine is left behind!' Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword, Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, Now see him mounted once again Full slowly pacing o'er the stones, But finding soon a smoother road So, Fair and softly, John he cried, So stooping down, as needs he must, He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; He little dreamt, when he set out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, Well done! Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he seem'd to carry weight, With leathern girdle braced; For all might see the bottle-necks Still dangling at his waist. |