John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife, That though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, To drive up to the door, lest all So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip! round went the wheel! Were never folk so glad, The stones did rattle underneath As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, When turning round his head he saw So down he came, for loss of time 'Twas long before the customers 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 trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul, Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak well brush'd and neat Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o'er the stones But finding soon a smoother road So, "Fair and softly," John he cried, So stooping down, as needs he must He grasp'd the mane with both his hands His horse, who never in that sort Away went Gilpin neck or nought, He little dreamt when he set out 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!" As loud as he could bawl. Away went Gilpin-who but he? 66 His fame soon spread around- And still as fast as he drew near, And now as he went bowing down The bottles twain behind his back Down ran the wine into the road, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke But still he seem'd to carry weight, Thus all through merry Islington And there he threw the wash about At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wondering much "Stop, stop, John Gilpin !-here's the house"-They all at once did cry, "The dinner waits, and we are tired:" 66 Said Gilpin " So am I." But yet his horse was not a whit Inclined to tarry there, For why? his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew So did he fly-which brings me to Away went Gilpin, out of breath, Till at his friend's the Callender's The Callender, amazed to see His neighbour in such trim, "What news? what news? your tidings tell, Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, In merry guise he spoke "I came because your horse would come; And if I well forbode, My hat and wig will soon be here, The Callender, right glad to find Whence straight he came with hat and wig, He held them up, and in his turn "My head is twice as big as yours, |