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 neaty

He manfully did throw.

So, fair and foftly, John he cried,,DAT

But John he cried in vain ; . .

That trot became a gallop foon,

In fpite of curb and rein.

J

So ftooping down, as needs he mufti A

Who cannot fit upright,

He grafp'd the mane with both his hands,

And eke with all his might.

His

His horfe, who never in that fort
Had handled been before,

What thing upon his back had got
Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin, neck or nought,
Away went hat and wig;

He little dreamt, when he fat out,
Of running such a rig.

The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,
Like ftreamers long and gay,
Till, loop and button failing both,
At least 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 they could bawl.

Away went Gilpin-who but he;

His fame foon spread aroundHe carries weight! he rides a race!

'Tis for a thousand pound.

And

And fill as faft as he drew nearocade: 1
'Twas wonderful to view other vahugi Tola
How in a trice the turnpike meno vsi e "7"
Their gates wide open threw.

And now as he went bowing down
His reeking head full low,
The bottles twain behind his back

Were fhatter'd at a blow.

1

Down ran the wine into the road,

Moft piteous to be feen,.

Which made his horfes flanks to smoke
As they had bafted been.

But ftill he feem'd to carry weight,.
With leathern girdle brac❜d;
For all might fee the bottle-necks.
Still dangling at his waist.

Thus all through merry flington.
Thefe gambols he did play,

And till he came into the Wash

Of Edmonton fo gay.

And there he threw the wash abouts o

On both fides of the way,

Juft like unto a trundling mop,
Or a wild goofe at play.

A

At.

At Edmonton his loving wife
From balcony efpied

Her tender husband, wond'ring much

To fee how he did ride.

བ ། f,...

Stop, flop, John Gilpin! here's the houfe

The dinner waits, and we are tir'd;

Said Gilpin So am I.

But yet his horfe was not a whit

Inclin❜d to tarry there;

For why? his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.

So like an arrow fwift he flew,
Shot by an archer ftrong;

So did he fly-which brings me to
The middle of my song.

Away went Gilpin, out of breath,

And fore against his will,

Till at his friend', the callender's
His horfe at lafl flood ftill.

The callender, amaz'd to fee
His neighbour in fuch trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,

And thus accofted him.

What

What news! what news! your tidings tell,

Tell me you must and shal!—

Say why bare-headed you are come,
Or why you come at all ?

Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit.
And lov'd a timely joke:

And thus unto the callender
In merry guife he fpoke:

I came because your horse would come
And, if I well forbode,

My hat and wig will foon be here,
They are upon the road.

The callender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin,
Return'd him not a fingle word,
But to the house went in:

Whence ftrait he came with hat and wig
A wig that flow'd behind,

A hat not much the worfe for wear,
Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and in his turn
Thus fhew'd his ready wit:
My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.

But