With a good cheer enough to furnish every old room, And old liquor able to make a cat speak, and man dumb; Like an old courtier of the queen's, With an old falconer, huntsman, and a kennel of hounds, That never hawk'd nor hunted but in his own grounds, Who like a wise man kept himself within his own bounds, And when he died gave every child a thousand good pounds; Like an old courtier of the queen's, And the queen's old courtier. Old Song LXXV JOHN GILPIN John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, 'To-morrow is our wedding-day, And we will then repair All in a chaise and pair. 'My sister and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, 'I do admire And you are she, my dearest dear, 'I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, 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 allowed 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, Were never folk so glad; The stones did rattle underneath, John Gilpin, at his horse's side, For saddle-tree scarce reach'd 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 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 !) To hold the liquor that she loved, 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 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, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, 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, 'Twas wonderful to view How in a trice the turnpike men And now, as he went bowing down The bottles twain behind his back |