Down ran the wine into the road, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke But still he seemed to carry weight, Thus all through merry Islington And there he threw the Wash about Or a wild goose at play. At Edmonton his loving wife Her tender husband, wondering much Stop, stop, John Gilpin!-Here's the house They all aloud did cry; The dinner waits, and we are tired: Said Gilpin-So am I! But yet his horse was not a whit Inclined to tarry there; So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin out of breath, The calender, amazed to see What news? what news? your tidings tell- Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, I came because your horse would come; The calender, right glad to find But to the house went in. 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! For, while he spake, a braying ass 593 Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallopt off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw Her husband posting down Into the country far away, She pulled out half-a-crown; And thus unto the youth she said, This shall be yours when you bring back The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant, 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 scampering in the rear, Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman! And all and each that passed that way And now the turnpike gates again Flew open in short space; The tollmen thinking as before And so he did, and won it too, Now let us sing, long live the king, And, when he next doth ride abroad, [In Hone's Table Book,' ii. 79, the three following stanzas are stated to have been found, in the handwriting of Cowper, among the papers of Mrs. Unwin.' In the opinion of Mr. Hone's correspondent 'they evidently formed part of an intended episode to the Diverting History of John Gilpin.' They are not given in any edition of the poet's works.] Then Mrs. Gilpin sweetly said But having climbed unto the top, But sate, to every passer by, A spectacle and show: Who said, 'Your spouse and you this day Both show your horsemanship, And if you stay till he comes back |