The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, 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? "He carries weight!"-" He rides a race !" "'Tis for a thousand pound!" And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down Down ran the wine into the road, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But, still, he seem'd to carry weight, Thus all through merry Islington Of Edmonton so gay. And, there, he threw the wash about, At Edmonton his loving wife, Her tender husband, wondering much 66 To see how he did ride. Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! here's the house" They all at once did cry; "The dinner waits; and we are tir'd:" Said Gilpin-" So am I." But yet his horse was not a whit So, like an arrow, swift he flew, Away went Gilpin, out of breath, Till at his friend's the callender's The callender, amaz'd to see Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, "What news? what news? your tidings tell; "Tell me you must and shall Say why bare-headed you are come, "Or why you come at all ?" Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, "I came because your horse would come; The callender, right glad to find But to the house went in ; Whence strait he came with hat and wig ;- A hat not much the worse for wear;- He held them up, and in his turn, 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! Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallop'd off, with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Went Gilpin's hat and wig! She pull'd out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said That drove them to the Bell, "This shall be your's when you bring back "My husband safe and well." The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away Went post-boy at his heels;— Six gentlemen upon the road With post-boy scamp'ring 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; That Gilpin rode a race. And so he did,' and won it too'! Nor stopp'd,' till where he first got up Now let us sing, Long live the king, And Gilpin long live he; And when he next doth ride abroad, THE STAMMERER: A COMIC ILLUSTRATION. Altered from ALLAN RAMSAY, by JOHN THELWALL,* Ramsay was, in his juvenile days, a Fellow of an Easy Club; the My easy friends, since ye think fit There liv'd a manting lad in Fife But (tho', in speech, so chain'd of tongue) Would trill and carol, as he went, With strength of voice and heart's content, One day his father's kiln he watch'd, *This amiable and talented lecturer, after a life of great vicissitude, and many "hair breadth 'scapes," died in 1834, at Bath, in the 70th year of his age, esteemed and respected by all who knew him. The highly-gifted author of the finest pastoral drama in the world, "The Gentle Shepherd," was born in Lanarkshire, and died at his house, "Ramsay Lodge," in Edinburgh, on the 7th of January, 1758, aged 72. |