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

47. He held them up, and in his turn Thus showed his ready wit:

4S.

"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
Be in a hungry case."

49. 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."

50. 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."

51. Ah, luckless speech and bootless 1 boast!
For which he paid full dear;
For while he spake a braying ass
Did sing most loud and clear;

52. Whereat his horse did snort, as he
Had heard a lion roar,

And galloped off with all his might,
As he had done before.

1 bootless, useless.

53. Away went Gilpin, and away
Went Gilpin's hat and wig:
He lost them sooner than at first;
For why? they were too big.

54. Now, Mistress Gilpin, when she saw Her husband posting down

Into the country far away,

She pulled out half-a-crown;

55. 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."

56. The youth did ride, and soon did meet
John coming back amain; 1
Whom in a trice he tried to stop
By catching at his rein;

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

58. Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels;

The postboy's horse right glad to miss
The lumbering of the wheels.

59. Six gentlemen upon the road, Thus seeing Gilpin fly

1 amain, with full force.

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

60. "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.

61. And now the turnpike-gates again
Flew open in short space,
The tollmen thinking as before
That Gilpin rode a race.

62. And so he did; and won it too,
For he got first to town;

Nor stopped till where he had got up
He did again get down.

63. 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!

1. AFTER my first voyage, I designed to spend the rest of my days at Bagdad; but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and I put to sea a sec

ond time, with merchants of known honor. We embarked on board a good ship, and after recommending ourselves to God set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged commodities with great profit.

2. One day we landed on an island covered with several sorts of fruit-trees, but we could see neither man nor beast. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them. Whilst some diverted themselves with gathering flowers and fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good meal, and afterwards fell asleep. How long I slept I can not tell, but when I awoke I perceived the ship under sail at such a distance that I soon lost sight of her.

3. In this sad condition I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times for not being content with the produce of my first voyage, which might have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my repentance came too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, in order that by an extensive view I might the better judge of my situation.

4. When I gazed towards the sea I could see nothing but sky and water; but, looking over the land, I beheld something white, and, coming down, I took what pro vision I had left, and went towards it, the distance being so great that I could not distinguish what it was. As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious height and extent; and when I came up