Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Full flowly pacing o'er the stones

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 fpite of curb and rein.

So ftooping down, as needs he must

Who cannot fit upright,

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

His horse, 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 such a rig.

[blocks in formation]

The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,

Like streamer 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.

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 aroundHe carries weight! he rides a race! 'Tis for a thousand pound!

Bnd 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

The bottles twain behind his back

Were fhatter'd at a blow.

Down ran the wine into the road,

Moft piteous to be feen,

Which made his horse's flanks to smoke
As they had bafted been.

But ftill he feem'd to carry weight,

With leathern girdle brac'd ;
For all might fee the bottle-necks
Still dangling at his waist.

Thus all through merry Iflington
These gambols he did play,

And till he came unto the Wash

Of Edmonton fo gay.

And there he threw the wash about

On both fides of the way,

Just like unto a trundling mop,

Or a wild goofe at play.

At Edmonton his loving wife

From the balcony fpied

Her tender husband, wond'ring much

To fee how he did ride.

[blocks in formation]

Stop, ftop, 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 horfe was not a whit
Inclin'd to tarry there;

For why? his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.

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 fore against his will,

Till at his friend's the Callender's

His horfe at laft ftood ftill.

The Callender, amaz'd to fee

His neighbour in such trim,

Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,

And thus accofted him :

What news! what news! your tidings tell,

Tell me you must and shall

Say

Say why bare-headed you are come,
Or why you come at all?

Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit,
And lov'd a timely joke;

And thus unto the Callender

In merry guife he spoke:

I came because your horfe would come;
And, if I well forebode,

My hat and wig will foon be here,
They are upon the road.

The Callender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin,

Return'd him not a fingle word,

But to the house went in;

Whence ftrait he came with hat and wig,
A wig that flow'd behind,

A hat not much the worfe for wear,
Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and, in his turn,
Thus fhow'd his ready wit,

My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.

But

« AnteriorContinuar »