The Diverting History of John Gilpin: Shewing how He Went Further Than He Intended, and Came Safe Home AgainHoughton, Mifflin, 1906 - 37 pages On his wedding anniversary, John Gilpin sets out to join his wife for a celebration, but the horse runs away with him. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ADDITIONAL VERSES Ballads became BEGUN Bell belt blow Book bottle bring calender carries weight chaise child children three clear climb cloak comes back customers dear dine DIVERTING HISTORY door doth drew Edmonton famous fast flew flowed frighted gallop gates haste hat and wig head heard HISTORY OF JOHN Hone's horse horse's husband intended John Gilpin John he cried leathern Library London long live loss loud loving wife mane merry mind neck needs never o'er play pleasure popular postboy Quoth race rein Returned ride right glad road round safe screamed SEAVER seen short side sing snort soon sore soul spouse stay steed stones Stop thief Street sung Tell threw town trice trot turning turnpike Twas twice unto VERSES AND NOTES Ware Wash wedding day wheels whip wine wonder YORK youth
Popular passages
Page 39 - 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 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 faster 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.
Page 21 - John he cried, But John he cried in vain, That trot became a gallop soon In spite of curb and rein. 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.
Page 37 - So, turning to his horse, he said, " I am in haste to dine ; 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine." Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast ! For which he paid full dear; For, while he spake, a braying ass Did sing most loud and clear; Whereat his horse did snort, as he Had heard a lion roar, And galloped off with all his might, As he had done before.
Page 29 - Said Gilpin — So am I ! But yet his horse was not a whit Inclined to tarry there ; For why? — his owner had a house Full ten miles off, at Ware. So like an arrow swift he flew, Shot by an archer strong ; So did he fly — which brings me to The middle of my song. Away went Gilpin out of breath, And sore against his will, Till at his friend the calender's His horse at last stood still.
Page 27 - The bottles twain, behind his back, were shattered at a blow. Down ran the wine into the road, most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke as they had basted been. But still he...
Page 12 - And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton All in a chaise and pair. My sister, and my sister's child, Myself, and children three, Will fill the chaise ; so you must ride On horseback after we.
Page 35 - But let me scrape the dirt away, That hangs upon your face; And stop and eat, for well you may Be in a hungry case." Said John, "It is my wedding-day, And all the world would stare If wife should dine at Edmonton, And I should dine at Ware.
Page 23 - 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 The bottles he had slung ; A bottle swinging at each side, 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!
Page 41 - Stop thief! stop thief! — a highwayman!" Not one of them was mute; And all and each that passed 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.
Page 23 - His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got Did wonder more and more.