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.
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.