The dogs did bark, the children screamed,
Up flew the windows all;

And

every soul cried out, "Well done!" As loud as he could bawl.

Away went Gilpin-who but he ?

His fame soon spread around;
"He carries weight!" "He rides a race!"
""Tis for a thousand pound!"

And still, as fast as he drew near,
"Twas 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.

At Edmonton, his loving wife

From the balcony spied

Her tender husband, wondering much

66

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 !"

But yet his horse was not a whit

Inclined to tarry there;

For why ?-his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.

So like an arrow swift he flew,
Shot by an archer strong;
So did he fly-which brings me to
The middle of my song.

Away went Gilpin, out of breath,
And sore against his will,
Till, at his friend the calender's,
His horse at last stood still.

The calender, amazed to see

His neighbour 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 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.

66

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.
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,

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

The youth did ride, and soon did meet
John coming back amain;

Whom in a trice he tried to stop
By catching at his rein;

But not performing what he meant,
And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him faster run.

Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels,

The postboy's horse right glad to miss
The lumbering of the wheels.

Six gentlemen upon the road,

Thus seeing Gilpin fly,

With postboy scampering in the rear,

They raised the hue and cry :

"Stop thief! stop thief!-a highwayman!"

Not one of them was mute;

And all and each that passed that way
Did join in the pursuit.

And now the turnpike-gates again
Flew open in short space;
The toll-men thinking as before,
That Gilpin rode a race.

And so he did, and won it too,
For he got first to town;

Nor stopped till where he had got up
He did again get down.

Now let us sing long live the King, And Gilpin, long live he;

And when he next doth ride abroad, May I be there to see !

THE TASK.

IN SIX BOOKS.

1785.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The history of the following production is briefly this: A lady, fond of blank vers, demanded a poem of that kind from the Author, and gave him the SOFA for a subject. He obeyed; and, having much leisure, connected another subject with it; and, pursuing the train of thought to which his situation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair-a Volume.

In the poem on the subject of Education, he would be very sorry to stand suspected of having aimed his censure at any particular school. His objections are such as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omission even of such discipline as they are susceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand parents, mourning under the bitterest of all disappointments, attest the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular instance of it.

BOOK I. THE SOFA.
ARGUMENT.

Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the sofa--A schoolboy's ramble-A walk in the country-The scene described-Rural sounds as well as sights delightfulAnother walk-Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected-Colonnades commenced-Alcove, and the view from it-The wilderness-The grove-The thresher -The necessity and the benefits of exercise-The works of nature superior to, and in some instances inimitable by, art-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure-Change of scene sometimes expedient-A common described, and the character of crazy Kate introduced-Gipsies-The blessings of civilized lifeThat state most favourable to virtue-The South Sea Islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai-His present state of mind supposed-Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities-Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured-Fête champêtre-The book concludes with a reflection on the effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures.

I SING the Sofa. I who lately sang

Truth, Hope, and Charity, and touch'd with awe
The solemn chords, and with a trembling hand,
Escaped with pain from that adventurous flight,
Now seek repose upon an humbler theme;