Down ran the wine into the road,
      Most piteous to be seen,
    Which made the horse’s flanks to smoke,
      As they had basted been.

    [Illustration]

    But still he seemed to carry weight. 
      With leathern girdle braced;
    For all might see the bottle-necks
      Still dangling at his waist.

    [Illustration]

    Thus all through merry Islington
      These gambols he did play,
    Until he came unto the Wash
      Of Edmonton so gay;

    And there he threw the wash about
      On both sides of the way,
    Just like unto a trundling mop,
      Or a wild goose at play.

    [Illustration]

    At Edmonton his loving wife
      From the balcony spied
    Her tender husband, wondering much
      To see how he did ride.

    “Stop, stop, John Gilpin!—­Here’s the house!”
       They all at once did cry;
    “The dinner waits, and we are tired;”
       Said Gilpin—­“So am I!”

    [Illustration]

    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.

    [Illustration]

    Away went Gilpin, out of breath,
      And sore against his will,
    Till at his friend the calender’s
      His horse at last stood still.

    [Illustration]

    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 bareheaded 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 forebode,
    My hat and wig will soon be here,
      They are upon the road.”

    The calender, right glad to find
      His friend in merry pin,
    Returned him not a single word,
      But to the house went in;

    Whence straight he came with hat and wig,
      A wig that flowed behind,
    A hat not much the worse for wear,
      Each comely in its kind.

    [Illustration]

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

    [Illustration]

    “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.”