Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE

DIVERTING HISTORY

OF

JOHN GILPIN;

SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HẾ

INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN.

JOHN GILPIN was a citizen

Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he
Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's fpoufe faid to her dear
Though wedded we have been

Thefe twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have feen.

To-morrow is our wedding-day,'

And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton All in a chaife and pair.

My fifter, and my fifter's child,
Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaife; fo you
On horfeback after we.

must ride

He foon replied—I do admire
Of womankind but one,

And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it fhall be done.

I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know, And my good friend the calender Will lend his horse to go.

Quoth Mrs Gilpin-That's well faid
And, for that wine is dear,
We will be furnish'd with our own,
Which is both bright and clear.

John Gilpin kifs'd his loving wife;
O'erjoy'd was he to find

That, though on pleasure fhe was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaife was brought, yet was not allow'd

But

To drive up to the door, least all
Should fay that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaife was ftay'd,
Where they did all get in;

Six precious fouls, and all agog

To dafh through thick and thin!

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folk fo glad,

The ftones did rattle underneath

As if Cheapfide were mad.

John Gilpin at his horfe's fide
Seiz'd faft the flowing mane,
And up he got, in hafte to ride,
But foon came down again;

For faddle-tree fcarce reach'd had he,
His journey to begin,

When, turning round his head, he faw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for lofs of time,
Although it griev'd him fore;

Yet lofs of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the customers Were fuited to their mind,

When Betty screaming came down stairs"The wine is left behind!"

Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercife.

Now miftrefs Gilpin (careful foul!)
Had two stone bottles found,

To hold the liquor that she lov'd,
And keep it fafe and found.

Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew,
And hung a bottle on each fide,
To make his balance true.

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.

1

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
Beneath his well-fhod feet,
The fnorting beast began to trot,
Which gall'd him in his feat.

So, Fair and foftly, John he cried,
But John he cried in vain ;
That trot became a gallop foon,
In fpite of curb and rein.

« PreviousContinue »