إ

"What news? what news? your tidings tell;

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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 ;

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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.

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;

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Whereat his horse did snort, as he

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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.

Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw
Her husband posting down

Into the country far away,

She pulled out half-a-crown;

And thus unto the youth she said

That drove them to the Bell,

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"This shall be yours, when you bring back My husband safe and well."

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१९

Stop thief! stop thief! - a highway-man !"

Not one of them was mute;

And all and each that passed that way