Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheel, Were never folk so glad, The stones did rattle underneath As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side For saddle-tree scarce reached had he, When turning round his head he saw So down he came, for loss of time 'Twas long before the customers Good lack quoth he, yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul, Each bottle had a curling ear, And hung a bottle on each side Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak well brushed 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, That trot became a gallop soon In spite of curb and rein. So stooping down, as needs he must He grasped the mane with both his hands His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin neck or nought, He little dreamt when he set out The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern A bottle swinging at each side The dogs did bark, the children screamed, And every soul cried out, Well done! Away went Gilpin- who but he ; And still as fast as he drew near, 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 Thus all through merry Islington And there he threw the Wash about At Edmonton his loving wife Her tender husband, wondering much Stop, stop, John Gilpin !—Here's the house— The dinner waits and we are tired: Said Gilpin-so am I. But yet his horse was not a whit For why? his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew So did he fly-which brings me to Away went Gilpin, out of breath, Till at his friend's the Callender's The Callender 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 bare-headed you are come, Or why you come at all? Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit In merry guise he spoke I came because your horse would come: My hat and wig will soon be here, They are upon the road. The Callender, right glad to find Whence straight he came with hat and wig, A hat not much the worse for wear, He held them up, and in his turn But let me scrape the dirt away Said John-It is my wedding-day, So turning to his horse, he said, 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort as he And galloped off with all his might Away went Gilpin, and 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 The youth did ride, and soon did meet Whom in a trice he tried to stop But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away The post-boy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road With post-boy scampering in the rear, Stop thief, stop thief-a highwayman! And now the turnpike gates again And so he did, and won it too, Nor stopped till where he had got up Now let us sing, Long live the king, And when he next doth ride abroad, THE DISTRESSED TRAVELLERS; OR, LABOUR IN VAIN. AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG, TO A TUNE NEVER SUNG BEFORE. I. I SING of a journey to Clifton, We would have performed if we could, Poor Mary and me through the mud; Stuck in the mud, Oh, it is pretty to wade through a flood! II. So away we went, slipping and sliding, |