Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) To hold the liquor that she loved, 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, Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; He little dreamt, when he set out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Like streamer long and gay, Till, loop and button failing both, Then might all people well discern The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, And every soul cried out, Well done! Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down 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; Thus all through merry Islington And there he threw the wash about At Edmonton his loving wife Her tender husband, wondering much Stop, stop, John Gilpin !-Here's the house- The dinner waits, and we are tired; Said Gilpin-So am I! But yet his horse was not a whit For why?-his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin out of breath, The calender, amazed to see His neighbour in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him: What news? what news? your tidings tell; Tell me you must and shall Say why bareheaded you are come, Or why you come at all? Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely joke; And thus unto the calender In merry guise he spoke : I came because your horse would come; And, if I well forebode, My hat and wig will soon be here, The calender, right glad to find But to the house went in; Whence straight he came with hat and wig; A wig that flow'd behind, A hat not much the worse for wear, He held them up, and in his turn But let me scrape the dirt away, Said John, It is my wedding-day, So turning to his horse, he said, 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, Ah luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallop'd off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now mistress Gilpin when she saw She pull'd out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said This shall be yours, when you bring back The youth did ride, and soon did meet Whom in a trice he tried to stop, But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road, With postboy scampering in the rear, Stop thief! stop thief!-a highwayman! Not one of them was mute; And all and each that pass'd that way Did join in the pursuit. And now the turnpike gates again Flew open in short space; The toll-men thinking as before, That Gilpin rode a race. |