So like an arrow swift he flew, Shot by an archer strong, Away went Gilpin out of breath, The calendrer, amazed to see His neighbour in such trim. "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 In merry guiset he spoke : "I come, because your horse would come, "And, if I well forebode, (6 My hat and wig will soon be here The calendrer right glad to find But to the house went in. * 66 Timely "at the right time, seasonable. +"Guise "-manner, mood. Whence strait 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, "If wife should dine at Edmonton 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, As he had done before. * "Case "-condition, state. "Bootless"-useless, unavailing. "Whereat "-at which. Away went Gilpin, and away Went Gilpin's hat and wig, He lost them sooner than at first- Now Mrs. Gilpin, when she saw She pulled out half a crown. And thus unto the youth she said, "This shall be your's, when you bring back, The youth did ride, and soon did meet John coming back amain,* But not performing what he meant, And gladly would have done, And made him faster run. Away went Gilpin, and away Went post boy at his heels, The post boy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road, With post boy scamp'ring in the rear They rais'd the hue and cry.† *" Amain "—with vehemence, vigorously. +"Hue and Cry "-properly, the term used in law to express the pursuit of a thief or other delinquent. C "Stop thief!" "Stop thief!" "A highwayman!" Not one of them was mute, And all, and each, that pass'd 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 stopp'd 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, END OF PART I. *This was written in the reign of George the Third, THE ADVENTURES OF THE CELEBRATED LONDON LINEN-DRAPER, JOHN GILPIN & FAMILY. PART II. THE DINNER AT THE "BELL," AND THE DISASTERS OF MRS. GILPIN AND FAMILY, ON THEIR RETURN TO And now we've told of Gilpin's race And shown how he did ride, We'll tell also what strange mishap, Befel his comely bride. His dame, who lov'd her spouse right well, As plainly doth appear, Was almost fright'd from her wits, When he rode by to Ware. Finding John Gilpin could not stop, Like to a tender wife, She wrung her hands in piteous sort, |