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.

140

At Edmonton his loving wife

From the balcony spied
Her tender husband, wondering much

To see how he did ride.

“Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! — Here's the house!” 145

They all at once did cry;
The dinner waits, and we are tired;"
Said Gilpin “So am I!”

150

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.

155

Away went Gilpin out of breath,

And sore against his will,
Till at his friend the calender's

His horse at last stood still.

160

The calender, amazed to see

His neighbor in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,

And thus accosted him:

“What news ? what news? your tidings tell; 165

Tell me you must and shall
Say why bareheaded you are come,

Or why you come at all ?"

170

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 forbode,
My hat and wig will soon be here,

They are upon the road.”

175

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.

185

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.

190

“But let me scrape the dirt away

That hangs upon your face;
And stop and eat, for well you may

Be in a hungry case.”

a

Said John, “It is my wedding day,

And all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmonton,

And should dine at Ware."

195

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."

200

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;

205

Whereat his horse did snort, as he

Had heard a lion roar,
And galloped off with all his might,

As he had done before.

210

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;

215

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."

220

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;

225

But not performing what he meant,

And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,

And made him faster run.

230

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 cryo:

235

“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.

240

And now the turnpike gates again

Flew open in short space;
The toll-men thinking as before,

That Gilpin rode a race.

245

And so he did, and won it too,

For he got first to town;
Nor stopped till where he did get 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 seeo!

250

ON THE GRASSHOPPER

HAPPY songster, perched above, On the summit of the grove, Whom a dew drop cheers to sing, With the freedom of a king.