Yestrene the priest in haly band For her sake let us part in peace, Haste, mount thy steid, or I sall licht For by my forbere's saul we neir Now mind thy aith,' syne Draffan stout Wha drew the shynand blade bot dreid And perc'd his masters syde. Law to the bleiding eard he fell, May ill befa my ruthles wrauth That brocht thee to sic pain! Fairly, anes a my joy and pryde, JANES.COOPER.SR. John Gilpin. [The Diverting History of John Gilpin, showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again,' was written, as probably every reader knows, by William Cowper. The story was related to him by Lady Austen, who had heard it in her childhood, and made so vivid an impression upon the poet, that the next morning he told her the ludicrous incident had kept him awake with laughter during the night, and that he had converted it into a ballad. It first appeared, anonymously, in the Public Advertiser,' 1782; and, with the help of the public recitations given of it by Henderson the comedian, with all the humour his comic powers could throw into it, speedily obtained, and has ever since enjoyed, unrivalled popularity. It was first published, as Cowper's avowed production, in the second volume of his 'Poems."] J A train-band captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, To-morrow is our wedding day, My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, I do admire I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said; John Gilpin kist his loving wife; That, though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allowed To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stayed, Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folk so glad; The stones did rattle underneath, John Gilpin at his horse's side For saddle-tree scarce reacht had he, When, turning round his head, he saw So down he came; for loss of time, 'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind; When Betty screaming came down stairs, 'The wine is left behind!' Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul, Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak, well brusht and neat, Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, 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 graspt the mane with both his hands, His horse, which never in that sort Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; He little dreamt when he set out The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children screamed, Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, Well done! Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down The bottles twain behind his back |