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 dreamnt, 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 screamed,

Up flew the windows all,

soul cried out, "Well done!"

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And every

As loud as he could bawl.

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Away went Gilpin-who but he !

His fame soon spread around,—

"He carries weight!-he rides a race!

'Tis for a thousand pound!"

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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 shattered at a blow.

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From the balcony espied

Her tender husband, wondering much

To see how he did ride.

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"Stop, stop, John Gilpin !-Here's the house!"

They all at once did cry;

"The dinner waits, and we are tired."

'Wash, a brook which runs into the Lea.

So like an arrow swift he flew,

Shot by an archer strong;

So did he fly-which brings me to

The middle of my song.

Away went Gilpin, out of breath,

And sore against his will,

Till at his friend the calender's

His horse at last stood still.

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;

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His friend in merry pin,

Return'd him not a single word,

But to the house went in;

Whence straight he came with hat and wig,

A wig that flowed behind,

A hat not much the worse for wear,

Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and in his turn
Thus showed his ready wit:
"My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.
"But let me scrape the dirt away
That hangs upon your face;

And stop and eat, for well you may
Be in a hungry case."

Said John, "It is my wedding-day,

And all the world would stare,

If wife should dine at Edmonton,
And I should dine at Ware."

So turning to his horse, he said,

"I am in haste to dine;

'Twas for your pleasure you came here,
You shall go back for mine."

Ah, luckless speech and bootless boast!
For which he paid full dear;

For, while he spake, a braying ass

Did sing most loud and clear.

Whereat his horse did snort, as he

Had heard a lion roar,

As he had done before.

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And galloped off with all his might,

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Away went Gilpin, and away

Went Gilpin's hat and wig;

He lost them sooner than at first-
For why?-they were too big.

Now Mrs. Gilpin, when she saw

Her husband posting down

Into the country far away,
She pulled out half-a-crown;

D

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And thus unto the youth she said,

That drove them to the Bell,

"This shall be yours when you bring back

My husband safe and well."

The youth did ride, and soon did meet

John coming back amain,

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"Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman!"