The Diverting History of John Gilpin Showing How He Went Farther Than He Intended, and John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band Captain eke was he Of famous London town. John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, 66 Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we To-morrow is our wedding day,! My sister and my sister's child, He soon replied, "I do admire I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, In Merry Mood In Merry And my good friend the Calender Mood Quoth Mrs. Gilpin,-" That's well said, We will be furnish'd with our own, John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife; That though on pleasure she was bent, She had a frugal mind. The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allow'd To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, The stones did rattle underneath As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side, For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, His journey to begin, When, turning round his head, he saw So down he came; for loss of time, "T was long before the customers When Betty screaming, came downstairs, "The wine is left behind!" "Good lack!" quoth he, "yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword Now mistress Gilpin, careful soul! Each bottle had a curling ear, Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side, Then over all, that he might be In Merry Mood In Merry His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, Now see him mounted once again Full slowly pacing o'er the stones But, finding soon a smoother road So "Fair and softly," John he cried, So stooping down, as needs he must He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin, neck or nought, He little dreamt when he set out Of running such a rig! The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Till, loop and button failing both, At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern A bottle swinging at each side, As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, And ev'ry soul cried out, "Well done!" Away went Gilpin-who but he? His fame soon spread around "He carries weight!" "He rides a race! ""T is for a thousand pound! 66 And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, In Merry |