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HISTORY

JOHN

OF

GIL PIN

SHEWING, HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND GAME SAFE HOME

AGAIN.

OHN Gilpin was a citizen

JOH

Of credit and renown,

A train-band Captain eke was he

Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.

To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair

Unto the Bell at Edmonton

All in a chaife and pair.

My

My fifter and my fifter's child,

Myself and children three,

Will fill the chaife, fo you must ride.
On horfeback after we.

He foon replied, I do admire
Of womankind but one,

And you are fhe, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.

I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know,

And my good friend the Callender
Will lend his horfe to go.

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well faid;
And for that wine is dear,

We will be furnish'd with our own,'

Which is both bright and clear.

John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife;

O'erjoy'd was he to find

That, though on pleasure she was bent,

She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaife was brought,

But

yet was not allow'd

Το

To drive up to the door, left all
Should say that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stay'd,
Where they did all get in,

Six precious fouls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,
Were never folk so glad,

The ftones did rattle underneath

As if Cheapfide were mad.

John Gilpin at his horse's fide

Seiz'd fast the flowing mane,

And up he got in hafte to ride,
But foon came down again;

For faddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,
His journey to begin,

When, turning round his head, he faw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for lofs of time,
Although it griev'd him fore,

Yet lofs of pence, full well he knew,

Would trouble him much more.

'Twas

'Twas long before the customers

Were fuited to their mind,、

When Betty screaming came down stairs, "The wine is left behind."

Good lack! quoth heyet bring it me,
My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercife.

Now Mistress Gilpin, careful foul!?
Had two stone bottles found,

To hold the liquor that the lov'd,.
And keep it fafe and found.

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 neat,

He manfully did throw.

Now fee him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,

Full

Full flowly pacing o'er the ftones
With caution and good heed.

But finding foon a smoother road
Beneath his well-fhod feet,

The fnorting beast began to trot,
Which gall'd him in his feat.

So, Fair and foftly, John he cried,
But John he cried in vain,
That trot became a gallop foon,
In spite of curb and rein.

So ftooping down, as needs he must
Who cannot fit upright,

He grafp'd the mane with both his hands,.
And eke with all his might.

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 fet out,

Of running such a rig.

The

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