A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last, WILLIAM COWPER ENGLAND, 1731-1800 The Diverting History of John Gilpin John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, 5 10 15 20 "To-morrow is our wedding day, And we will then repair "My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, "I do admire And you are she, my dearest dear, "I am a linendraper bold, As all the world doth know, Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well said; We will be furnished with our own, 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 Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Where they did all get in; Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folks so glad, The stones did rattle underneath, As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side And up he got, in haste to ride, For saddletree 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 Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came downstairs, "Good lack!" quoth he-"yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, Now see him mounted once again Full slowly pacing o'er the stones, But finding soon a smoother road "So, fair and softly," John he cried, But John he cried in vain; That trot became a gallop soon, In spite of curb and rein. So stooping down, as needs he must Who cannot sit upright, He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort 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 set out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern |