He loft them fooner than at first,
For why? they were too big.

Now, Mistress Gilpin, when she faw
Her husband posting down

Into the country far away,

She pull'd out half-a-crown:

And thus unto the youth fhe faid
That drove them to the Bell,

This shall be your's when you bring back
My husband safe and well.

The youth did ride, and foon did meet

John coming back amain,

Whom in a trice he tried to stop
By catching at his rein;

But not performing what he meant,
And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him fafter run.

Away went Gilpin, and away

Went post-boy at his heels,

The post-boy's horse right glad to miss

The lumb'ring of the wheels.

'Twas long before the customers

Were fuited to their mind,.

When Betty screaming came down stairs, "The wine is left behind."

Good lack! quoth heyet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty fword

When I do exercife.

Now Mistress Gilpin, careful foul !
Had two stone bottles found,

To hold the liquor that the lov'd,.
And keep it fafe and found.

Each bottle had a curling ear,

Through which the belt he drew,

And hung a bottle on each fide,
To make his balance true.

Then over all, that he might be

Equipp'd from top to toe,

His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat,

He manfully did throw.

Now fee him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,

Full

<

Full flowly pacing o'er the ftones
With caution and good heed.

But finding foon a fmoother road
Beneath his well-fhod feet,

The fnorting beast began to trot,
Which gall'd him in his feat.

So, Fair and foftly, John he cried,
But John he cried in vain,
That trot became a gallop foon,
In spite of curb and rein.

So ftooping down, as needs he must
Who cannot fit upright,

He grafp'd the mane with both his hands,.
And eke with all his might.

What thing upon his back had got
Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin neck or nought,
Away went hat and wig ;

He little dreamt, when he fet out,

Of running such a rig.

The

Six gentlemen upon the road

Thus feeing Gilpin fly,

With post-boy scamp'ring in the rear,
They rais'd the hue and cry:

Stop thief! ftop thief!-a highwayman!

Not one of them was mute;

And all and each that pass'd that way ́

Did join in the pursuit:

And now the turnpike gates again

Flew open in short space,

The toll-men thinking, as before,

That Gilpin rode a race.

And fo he did, and won it too,

For he got first to town,

Nor stopp'd 'till where he had got up

He did again get down.

Now let us fing, long live the king,
And Gilpin, long live he;

And when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to see !

FINIS.