But let me fcrape the dirt away

That hangs upon your face; And ftop and eat, for well you may Be in a hungry cafe.

Said John, It is my wedding-day,

And all the world would ftare,

If wife fhould dine at Edmonton
And I fhould dine at Ware.

So turning to his horfe, he faid,
I am in hafte to dine;

Twas for your pleasure you came here, ·
You fhall go back for mine.

Ah lucklefs fpeech, and bootlefs boast!
For which he paid full dear;

For while he spake, a braying ass

Did fing most loud and clear;

Whereat his horse did fnort as he

Had heard a lion roar,

And gallop'd off with all his might,
As he had done before.

Away went Gilpin, and away

Went Gilpin's hat and wig;

He

He loft them fooner than at first,

For why? they were too big.

Now, Miftrefs Gilpin, when she saw

Her husband posting down

Into the country far away,

She pull'd out half-a-crown :

And thus unto the youth fhe faid

That drove them to the Bell,

This fhall be your's when you bring back
My husband safe and well.

The youth did ride, and foon did meet
John coming back amain,
Whom in a trice he tried to ftop
By catching at his rein!

But not performing what he meant,
And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him fafter run.

Away went Gilpin, and away

Went Poft-boy at his heels,

The Poft-boy's horse right glad to miss

The lumb'ring of the wheels.

Six

Six gentlemen upon the road

Thus feeing Gilpin fly,

With Poft-boy scamp'ring in the rear,
They rais'd the hue and cry :

Stop thief! ftop thief-a highwayman!

Not one of them was mute;

And all and each that pafs'd that way
Did join in the purfuit :

And now the turnpike gates again

Flew open in short space,
The toll-men thinking, as before,

That Gilpin rode a race.

And fo he did, and won it too,
For he got first to town,

OTHE

1781

Nor ftopp'd 'till where he had got up
He did again get down.

Now let us fing, long live the king,
And Gilpin, long live he;

And when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to fee!

DLE

EIAN

FINI S.