John Gilpin kifs'd his loving wife;
O'erjoy'd was he to find

That, though on pleasure the was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaife was brought,
But yet was not allow'd

To drive up to the door, left all
Should fay that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stay'd
Where they did all get in;

Six precious fouls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin!

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folk fo glad,

The ftones did rattle underneath

As if Cheapfide were mad.

John Gilpin at his horse's fide

Seiz'd faft the flowing mane, And up he got, in hafte to ride, But foon came down again;

For faddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,
His journey to begin,

When, turning round his head, he faw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for lofs of time,
Although it griev'd him fore;
Yet lofs of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the cuftomers Were fuited to their mind,

When Betty screaming came down stairs"The wine is left behind!"

Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trufty fword

When I do exercise.

Now mistress Gilpin (careful fou!!)
Had two ftone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she lov'd,
And keep it fafe and found.

Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew,
And hung a bottle on each fide,
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 neat, He manfully did throw.

Now fee him mounted once again

Upon his nimble fteed,

Full flowly pacing o'er the ftones
With caution and good heed!

But, finding foon, a smoother road
Beneath his well-fhod feet,

The fnorting beast began to trot,
Which gall'd him in his feat.

So, Fair and foftly, John he cried,
But John he cried in vain;

That trot became a gallop foon,
In spite of curb and rein.

So, ftooping down, as needs he muft

Who cannot fit upright,

He grafp'd the mane with both his hands,
And eke with all his might.

His horfe, who never in that fort
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 fet out,
Of running fuch a rig!

The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,

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

At laft it flew away.

Then might all people well difcern
The bottles he had flung;

A bottle fwinging at each fide,
As hath been faid or fung.

1

The dogs did bark, the children fcream'd, Up flew the windows all;

And ev'ry foul cried out-Well done!

As loud as he could bawl.

Away went Gilpin-who but he?
His fame foon spread around-
He carries weight! he rides a race!
'Tis for a thousand pound!

And ftill, 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 fhatter'd at a blow.

Down ran the wine into the road,

Moft piteous to be seen,

Which made his horfe's flanks to fmoke

As they had bafted been.