When Betty, screaming, came down stairs The wine is left behind!" 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 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 Who cannot sit upright, He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, And eke with all his might. His horse, who never in that sort What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin, neck or naught; He little dreamt, when he set out, The wind did blow the cloak did fly, Like streamer long and gay; 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, Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, "Well done! " As loud as he could bawl. Away went Gilpin - who but he? And still as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down Down ran the wine into the road, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he seem'd to carry weight, With leathern girdle braced; For all might see the bottle-necks Still dangling at his waist. Thus all through merry Islington Of Edmonton so gay;. And there he threw the wash about At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wondering much To see how he did ride. "Stop, stop, John Gilpin! here's the house," They all at once did cry; "The dinner waits, and we are tired: Said Gilpin "So am I!" But yet his horse was not a whit For why? his owner had a house Full ten miles off, at Ware. So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin out of breath, Till at his friend's the calender's The calender, amazed to see 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, Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, "I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here, The calender, right glad to find But to the house went in; Whence straight he came with hat and wig, A wig that flow'd behind, A hat not much the worse for wear He held them up, and in his turn My head is twice as big as yours, |