And still, as fast as he drew near,

"T was 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 bottles twain behind his back
Were shattered at a blow.

Down ran the wine into the road,
Most piteous to be seen,

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

But still he seemed to carry weight,

With leathern girdle braced;
For all might see the bottle-necks
Still dangling at his waist.

Thus all through merry Islington
These gambols he did play,
Until he came unto the Wash

Of Edmonton so gay;

And there he threw the Wash about
On both sides of the way,
Just like unto a trundling mop,

Or a wild goose at play.

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15

20

At Edmonton his loving wife,

From the balcony spied

Her tender husband, wondering much

To see how he did ride.

Stop, stop, John Gilpin! Here's the house!"

They all at once did cry;

The dinner waits, and we are tired";

Said Gilpin, "So am I!"

The calender, amazed to see

His neighbor in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,
And thus accosted him;

ee

What news? what news? your tidings tell ;

Tell me you must and shallSay why bareheaded you are come,

Or why you come at all?"

Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit
And loved a timely joke;

And thus unto the calender
In merry guise he spoke:

"I came because your horse would come,
And, if I well forebode,

My hat and wig will soon be here—
They are upon the road.”

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

Returned him not a single word,

But to the house went in;

Whence straight he came with hat and wig;

A wig that flowed behind,

A hat not much the worse for wear,

Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and in his turn
Thus showed his ready wit:
"My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.

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15

20

"But let me scrape the dirt away
That hangs upon your face;

And stop and eat, for well you may
Be in a hungry case."

Said John, "It is my wedding-day,
And all the world would stare,
If wife should dine at Edmonton,
And I should dine at Ware."

So turning to his horse, he said,
"I am in haste to dine;

'Twas for your pleasure you came here;
You shall go back for mine."

Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast!
For which he paid full dear;
For, while he spake, a braying ass
Did sing most loud and clear;

Whereat his horse did snort, as he
Had heard a lion roar,

And galloped off with all his might,
As he had done before.

Away went Gilpin, and away
Went Gilpin's hat and wig;
He lost them sooner than at first;
For why?-they were too big.