He held them up, and in his turn But let me scrape the dirt away Said John, it is my wedding-day, So turning to his horse, he said, 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine. Ah luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallop'd off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away He lost them sooner than at first; Now mistress Gilpin, when she saw Her husband posting down Into the country far away, She pull'd out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said, That drove them to the Bell, This shall be yours, when you bring back My husband safe and well. The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road With postboy scampering in the rear, Stop thief! stop thief!-a highwayman And all and each that pass'd that way 252 THE HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN. And now the turnpike gates again And so he did, and won it too, Nor stopp'd till where he had got up Now let us sing, long live the king, And, when he next doth ride abroad, THE YEARLY DISTRESS; OR, TITHING TIME AT STOCK IN ESSEX. Verses addressed to a Country Clergyman complaining of the Disagreeableness of the Day annually appointed for receiving the Dues at the Parsonage. COME, ponder well, for 'tis no jest, The priest he merry is and blithe He then is full of frights and fears, For then the farmers come, jog, jog, Each heart as heavy as a log, To make their payments good, In sooth, the sorrow of such days Is not to be express'd, When he that takes and he that pays Now all unwelcome at his gates And well he may, for well he knows So in they come-each makes his leg, And not to quit a score. And how does miss and madam do, The little boy and all?' 'All tight and well. And how do you, Good Mr. What-d'ye-call?' The dinner comes, and down they sit: One wipes his nose upon his sleeve, Yet, not to give offence or grieve, |