175 180 185 190 195 200 "I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here:- The calender, right glad to find Returned him not a single word, But to the house went in; Whence straight he came with hat and wig; A hat not much the worse for wear, 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 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 She pulled out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said, "This shall be yours when you bring back The youth did ride, and soon did meet But not performing what he meant Away went Gilpin, and away The postboy's horse right glad to miss Six gentlemen upon the road, With postboy scampering in the rear, They raised the hue and cry: Biographical: poet. HELPS TO STUDY William Cowper, 1731-1800, was a famous English His poems range from religious to humorous subjects. "the postboy's horse right glad to miss the lumbering of the wheels'' HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX ROBERT BROWNING I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; 5 Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace 'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; 15 At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Düffeld, 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!" At Aershot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, 20 And against him the cattle stood black every one, 25 And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So, we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; 40 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!" "How they'll greet us!"-and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; 45 And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim. 35 Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, 50 Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. 55 And all I remember is—friends flocking round As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; 60 Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. |