(speaking, of course, in regard to his mental disease, as distinct from his mind itself) should have written perhaps the most humorous poem in the language. It originated as follows:-"With the hope of diverting his mind, during an unusually severe attack of gloom, Lady Austen related to him one day the history of Gilpin, which she had heard in her childhood. The tale made a vivid impression; and the next morning he told her that the ludicrous incident had convulsed him with laughter during the night, and that he had embodied the whole in a ballad." The Biverting History of John Gilpin. "JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band Captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, To-morrow is our wedding-day, My sister and my sister's child, He soon replied,-I do admire I am a linen draper bold, As all the world doth know; Quoth Mrs. Gilpin-That's well said; John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife; That, though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, To drive up to the door, lest all So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Six precious souls, and all agog, To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip,-round went the wheels, The stones did rattle underneath, For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, When, turning round his head, he saw So down he came; for loss of time, 'Twas long before the customers When Betty screaming came down stairs, Good lack! quoth he; yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul, Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o'er the stones, So, 'Fair and softly,' John he cried, So stooping down, as needs he must He grasp'd the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort What thing upon his back had got Away went Gilpin, neck or nought, He little dreamt when he set out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Till, loop and button failing both, Then might all people well discern A bottle swinging at each side, The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, And every soul cried out-Well done! Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, And now, as he went bowing down The bottles twain behind his back Down ran the wine into the road, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke But still he seem'd to carry weight, And there he threw the wash about At Edmonton, his loving wife Her tender husband, wond'ring 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. But yet his horse was not a whit For why? his owner had a house So like an arrow swift he flew, Away went Gilpin, out of breath, Till at his friend the Calender's The Calender, amazed to see Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, 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 I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here, The Calender, right glad to find Whence straight he came with hat and wig; A hat not much the worse for wear, He held them up, and in his turn Said John-It is my wedding-day, So, turning to his horse, he said- 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, Ah! luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort, as he And gallop'd off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw Into the country far away, She pull'd out half-a-crown; |