Away went Gilpin, out of breath, The Callender amazed to see And thus accosted him "What news? what news? your tidings tell, Tell me you must and shallSay why bare-headed you are come, Or why you come at all?" Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit "I came because your horse would come; And if I well forbode, My hat and wig will soon be here, The Callender, right glad to find Whence straight he came with hat and wig, A hat not much the worse for wear, He held them up, and in his turn "My head is twice as big as yours, But let me scrape the dirt away Said John-"It is my wedding-day, So turning to his horse, he said, 'T was for your pleasure you came here, 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 66 That drove them to the Bell, This shall be yours when you bring back My husband safe and well." The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away 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!" Not one of them was mute, 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, Nor stopp'd till where he had got up He did again get down. Now let us sing, Long live the king, And when he next doth ride abroad, COWPER. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, Which he beside the rivulet, In playing there, had found: He came to ask what he had found, Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, 66 "'T is some poor fellow's skull," said he, Who fell in the great victory. "I find them in the garden, 66 Now tell us what 't was all about," And little Wilhemine looks up, C 2 "Now tell us all about the war, "It was the English," Kaspar cried, 66 But what they fought each other for, "My father lived at Blenheim then, So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then, And new-born baby, died; But things like that, you know, must be, At every famous victory. "They say it was a shocking sight, After the field was won; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that, you know, must be, After a famous victory. "Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, 66 And our good Prince Eugene." Why, 't was a very wicked thing!" Said little Wilhelmine; "Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he, It was a famous victory. |