Full flowly pacing o'er the stones With caution and good heed. But finding foon a smoother road So, Fair and foftly, John he cried, That trot became a gallop foon, So ftooping down, as needs he must Who cannot fit upright, He grafp'd the mane with both his hands, 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, He little dreamt, when he fet 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, Then might all people well difcern A bottle fwinging at each fide, As hath been faid or fung. The dogs did bark, the children fcream'd, 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, How in a trice the turnpike-men 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 But ftill he feem'd to carry weight, With leathern girdle brac'd ; Thus all through merry Iflington 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. 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 For why? his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin, out of breath, 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, Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And thus unto the Callender In merry guife he spoke: I came because your horfe would come; My hat and wig will foon be here, The Callender, right glad to find Return'd him not a fingle word, But to the house went in; Whence ftrait he came with hat and wig, A hat not much the worfe for wear, He held them up, and, in his turn, My head is twice as big as yours, But |