Her tender husband, wond'ring much Stop, stop, John Gilpin-Here's the houseThey all at once did cry; The dinner waits, and we are tir'd; Said Gilpin-So am I! But yet his horse was not a whit For why?-his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin out of breath, The calender, amaz'd to see His neighbour in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him: 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, 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 He held them up, and in its turn But let me scrape the dirt away Said John, it is my wedding day, And all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmonton, So turning to his horse, he said, 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine. Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast, Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallop'd off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now mistress Gilpin, when she saw Into the country far away, She pull'd 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 The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road, With postboy scamp'ring in the rear, 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 That Gilpin rode a race. And so he did, and won it too, For he got first to town; |