Then, over all, that he might be Equipp'd from top to toe, His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, He manfully did throw. Now fee him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full flowly pacing o'er the ftones With caution and good heed! But, finding foon a smoother road The fnorting beast began to trot, So, Fair and foftly, John he cried, That trot became a gallop foon, In spite of curb and rein. So, ftooping down, as needs he must Who cannot fit upright, He grafp'd the mane with both his hands, And eke with all his might. His horse, who never in that fort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; He little dreamt, when he fet out, Of running fuch a rig! The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Till, loop and button failing both, At laft it flew away. Then might all people well difcern The bottles he had flung; A bottle fwinging at each fide, As hath been faid or fung. The dogs did bark, the children fcream'd, Up flew the windows all; And ev'ry foul cried out-Well done! As loud as he could bawl. Away went Gilpin-who but he? He carries weight! he rides a race! And now, as he went bowing down His reeking head full low, The bottles twain behind his back Were shatter'd at a blow. Down ran the wine into the road, Moft piteous to be seen, Which made his horfe's flanks to fmoke As they had bafted been. But ftill he feem'd to carry weight, For all might fee the bottle-necks Thus all through merry Iflington And till he came unto the Wash Of Edmonton fo gay. And there he threw the wash about On both fides of the way, Just like unto a trundling mop, At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wond'ring much To fee how he did ride. Stop, ftop, John Gilpin !-Here's the house They all at once did cry; The dinner waits, and we are tir’d: Said Gilpin-So am I ! But yet his horse was not a whit Inclin'd to tarry there; For why?-his owner had a house Full ten miles off, at Ware. |