10 15 20 'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came downstairs, "Good lack!" quoth he- "yet bring it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword When I do exercise." 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. HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN "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, Of running such a rig. The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern A bottle swinging at each side, The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, And every soul cried out, "Well done!" Away went Gilpin who but he? 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, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he seem'd to carry weight, With leathern girdle braced; 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:" 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, Shot by an archer strong; So did he fly - which brings me to 10 15 20 5 10 15 20 Away went Gilpin out of breath, His horse at last stood still. The calender, amazed to see His neighbor in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him: "What news? what news? your tidings tell; Tell me you must and shall Say why bareheaded you are come, Or why you come at all?" Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And thus unto the calender "I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here, The calender, right glad to find But to the house went in; |