TRANSLATION OF

PRIOR'S

CHLOE AND EUPHELIA.

I.
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, Chloe.

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,

Et miscept numeris murmura mesta meis, Dumque tuæ memoro laudes, Euphelia, formæ, Tota anima interea pendet ab ore Chlöes.

IV. Subrubet illa pudore, et contrahit altera frontem,

Me torquet mea mens conscia, psallo, tremo; Atque Cupidinea dixit Dea cincta corona,

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

Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he

Of famous London town.
John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,

Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we

No holiday have seen.
To-morrow is our wedding day,

And we will then repair
Unto the Bell at Edmonton,

All in a chaise and pair.
My sister, and my sister's child,

Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaise ; so you must ride

On horseback after we.
He soon replied, I do admire

Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,

Therefore it shall be done.
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;

And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnish'd with our own,

Which is both bright and clear.
John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife;

O’erjoyed was he to find,
That though on pleasure she was bent,

She had a frugal mind.
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,

Where they did all get in;
Six precious souls, and all agog
- To dash through thick and thin.
Smack went the whip, round went the wlieels,

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,

But soon came down again;
For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,

His journey to begin,
When, turning round his head, he saw

Three customers come in.
So down he came; for loss of time,

Although it grieved him sore;
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,

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 heyet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise,
In which I bear my trusty sword,

When I do exercise.
Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul!)

Had two stone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she loved,

And keep it safe and sound. Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side,

To make his balance true. Then over all, that he might be

Equipp'd from top to toe,
His long red cloak, well brush'd and deat,

He manfully did throw.
Now see him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones,

With caution and good heed.
But finding soon a smoother road

Beneath his well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,

Which gall'd him in his seat.
So, Fair and softly, John he cried,

But John he cried in vain;
That trot became a gallop soon,

In spite of curb and rein.
So stooping down, as needs he must,

Who cannot sit upright,
He grasp'd the mane with both his hands,

And eke with all his might.
His horse, who never in that sort

Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back had got

Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin, neck or nought;

Away went hat and wig;
He little dreamt, when he set out,

Of running such a rig.
The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,

Like streamer long and gay,
Till, loop and button failing both,

At last it flew away.
Then might all people well discern

The bottles he had slung;
A bottle swinging at each side,

As hath been said or sung.
The dogs did bark, the children scream'd,

Up flew the windows all ;
And every soul cried out, Well done!

As loud as he could bawl.
Away went Gilpin--who but he?

His fame soon spread around,
He carries weight! he rides a race!

'Tis for a thousand pound!
And still, as fast as he drew near,

'Twas wonderful to view, How in a trice the turnpike men

Their gates wide open threw.
And now, as he went bowing down

His reeking head full low,
The bottles twain behind his back

Were shatter'd at a blow.
Down ran the wine into the road,

Most piteous to be seen,
Which made his horse's flauks 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.