"But let me scrape the dirt away Said John, "It is my wedding-day, So, turning to his horse, he said, "I am in haste to dine; 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast! Whereat his horse did snort, as he And galloped off with all his might, Away went Gilpin, and away Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw Into the country far away, She pulled out half-a-crown; And thus unto the youth she said "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, But, not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away Went postboy at his heels, The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road With postboy scampering in the rear, "Stop thief! stop thief!—a highwayman:" And all and each that passed that way And now the turnpike gates again The toll-men thinking, as before, And so he did, and won it too, Nor stopped till where he had got up Now let us sing, Long live the king! And when he next doth ride abroad POEMS ADDED BY THE AUTHOR IN SUBSEQUENT EDITIONS OF HIS WORKS ON THE DEATH OF MRS. THROCKMORTON'S BULLFINCH YE Nymphs, if e'er your eyes were red Her favourite, even in his cage Where Rhenus strays his vines among The honours of his ebon poll Were brighter than the sleekest mole, With which Aurora decks the skies, Above, below, in all the house, Well latticed, but the grate, alas! But smooth with wands from Ouse's side, Night veiled the pole. All seemed secure ; Subsistence to provide, A beast forth sallied on the scout, Long backed, long tailed, with whiskered snout, He, entering at the study door, And something in the wind Just then, by adverse fate impressed, |