Yestrene the priest in haly band
Me joind wi Fairly deir;

For her sake let us part in peace,
And neir meet mair in weir.'
"Oh king of hevin, what seimly speech
A featour's lips can send !
And art thou he wha baith my sons
Brocht to a bluidy end?

Haste, mount thy steid, or I sall licht
And meit thee on the plain;

For by my forbere's saul we neir
Sall part till ane be slayne."

Now mind thy aith,' syne Draffan stout
To Allan leudly cryd,

Wha drew the shynand blade bot dreid And perc'd his masters syde.

Law to the bleiding eard he fell,
And dethe sune clos'd his eyne.
"Draffan, till now I did na ken
Thy dethe cold muve my tein.
I wold to Chryste thou valiant youth,
Thou wert in life again;

May ill befa my ruthles wrauth

That brocht thee to sic pain!

Fairly, anes a my joy and pryde,
Now a my grief and bale,
Ye maun wi haly maidens byde
Your deidly faut to wail.
To Icolm beir ye Draffan's corse,
And dochter anes sae deir,
Whar she may pay his heidles luve
Wi mony a mournfu teir."

JANES.COOPER.SR.

John Gilpin.

[The Diverting History of John Gilpin, showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again,' was written, as probably every reader knows, by William Cowper. The story was related to him by Lady Austen, who had heard it in her childhood, and made so vivid an impression upon the poet, that the next morning he told her the ludicrous incident had kept him awake with laughter during the night, and that he had converted it into a ballad. It first appeared, anonymously, in the Public Advertiser,' 1782; and, with the help of the public recitations given of it by Henderson the comedian, with all the humour his comic powers could throw into it, speedily obtained, and has ever since enjoyed, unrivalled popularity. It was first published, as Cowper's avowed production, in the second volume of his 'Poems."]

J

A train-band captain eke was he

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.

To-morrow is our wedding day,
And we will then repair
Unto the Bell at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.

My sister, and my sister's child,
Myself and children three,

Will fill the chaise; so you must ride
On horseback after we.

He soon replied, I do admire
Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear;
Therefore it shall be done.

I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender
Will lend his horse to go.

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said;
And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnisht with our own,
Which is both bright and clear.

John Gilpin kist his loving wife;
O'erjoyed was he to find

That, though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaise was brought,

But yet was not allowed

To drive up to the door, lest all

Should say that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stayed,
Where they did all get in;

Six precious souls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,

Were never folk so glad;

The stones did rattle underneath,

John Gilpin at his horse's side
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride;
But soon came down again;

For saddle-tree scarce reacht had he,
His journey to begin,

When, turning round his head, he saw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for loss of time,
Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind;

When Betty screaming came down stairs, 'The wine is left behind!'

Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me,

My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercise.

Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul,
Had two stone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she loved,
And keep it safe and sound.

Each bottle had a curling ear,
Through which the belt he drew,
And hung a bottle on each side,
To make his balance true.

Then over all, that he might be
Equipt from top to toe,

His long red cloak, well brusht and neat,
He manfully did throw.

Now see him mounted once again

Upon his nimble steed,

Full slowly pacing o'er the stones
With caution and good heed.

But finding soon a smoother road
Beneath his well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,

So, fair and softly, John he cried,
But John he cried in vain;
That trot became a gallop soon,
In spite of curb and rein.

So stooping down, as needs he must
Who cannot sit upright,

He graspt the mane with both his hands,
And eke with all his might.

His horse, which never in that sort
Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back had got
Did wonder more and more.

Away went Gilpin, neck or nought;
Away went hat and wig;

He little dreamt when he set out
Of running such a rig.

The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,
Like streamer long and gay,
Till, loop and button failing both,
At last it flew away.

Then might all people well discern
The bottles he had slung;
A bottle swinging at each side,

As hath been said or sung.

The dogs did bark, the children screamed,

Up flew the windows all;

And every soul cried out, Well done!
As loud as he could bawl.

Away went Gilpin-who but he?
His fame soon spread around;
He carries weight! he rides a race!
"Tis for a thousand pound!

And still, as fast as he drew near,
'Twas wonderful to view
How in a trice the turnpike men
Their gates wide open threw.

And now, as he went bowing down
His reeking head full low,

The bottles twain behind his back