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.

The Calender, amazed to see

His neighbour in such trim,

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 bare-headed you are come,

Or why you come at all?'

Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit,
And loved a timely joke;
And thus unto the Calender
In merry guise he spoke :

'I came, because your horse would come;
‘And, if I well forbode,

'My hat and wig will soon be here,

'They are upon the road.'

The Calender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin,
Return'd him not a single word,
But to the house went in;

149 whit, bit

164 accosted, spoke to 174 forbode, prophecy 178 pin, humour

Whence straight he came, with hat and wig,

A wig that flow'd behind;

A hat not much the worse for wear;
Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and in his turn
Thus show'd his ready wit :
'My head is twice as big as yours,
'They therefore needs must fit.

'But let me scrape the dirt away,
'That hangs upon your face;
'And stop and eat, for well you may
6 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!'

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 gallop'd off with all his might,
As he had done before.

Away went Gilpin, and away

Went Gilpin's hat and wig;
He lost them sooner than at first,
For why?-they were too big.
201 bootless, vain

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
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 frighten'd steed he frighten'd more,
And made him faster run.

Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels,

The postboy's horse right glad to miss

The lumbering of the wheels.

Six gentlemen upon the road
Thus seeing Gilpin fly,

With postboy scampering in the rear,
They raised the hue and cry:—

'Stop thief!—stop 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 so 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 sing, Long live the King,
And Gilpin, long live he;

And, when he next doth ride abroad,

May I be there to see!

W. Cowper

* II *

WILLIAM AND MARGARET

'TWAS at the silent, solemn hour
When night and morning meet;
In glided Margaret's grimly ghost,
And stood at William's feet.

Her face was like an April morn,
Clad in a wintry cloud;
And clay-cold was her lily hand,
That held her sable shroud.

So shall the fairest face appear

When youth and years are flown :
Such is the robe that kings must wear,
When death has reft their crown.

Her bloom was like the springing flower,
That sips the silver dew;

The rose was budded in her cheek,
Just opening to the view.

But love had, like the cankerworm,
Consumed her early prime:

The rose grew pale, and left her cheek;
She died before her time.

12 reft, taken

'Awake!' she cried, 'thy true Love calls,

'Come from her midnight grave;

"Now let thy pity hear the maid,

'Thy love refused to save!

'This is the dumb and dreary hour,
"When injured ghosts complain;
'When yawning graves give up their dead,
'To haunt the faithless swain.

'Bethink thee, William, of thy fault,
'Thy pledge and broken oath!
‘And give me back my maiden-vow,
‘And give me back my troth,

'Why did you promise love to me,
'And not that promise keep?

'Why did you swear my eyes were bright, 'Yet leave those eyes to weep?

'How could you say my face was fair,
'And yet that face forsake?
'How could you win my virgin heart,
'Yet leave that heart to break?

'Why did you say my lip was sweet,
'And made the scarlet pale?
‘And why did I, young witless maid!
'Believe the flattering tale?

'That face, alas! no more is fair,

'Those lips no longer red :

'Dark are my eyes, now closed in death, 'And every charm is fled.

'The hungry worm my sister is ;

'This winding-sheet I wear : 'And cold and weary lasts our night,

'Till that last morn appear.

28 swain, lover 32 troth, promise 48 charm, beauty