The Diverting History of John Gilpin

“The Diverting History of John Gilpin” is a comic poem written by the English poet and hymn writer William Cowper (1731–1800), first published anonymously in the Public Advertiser in 1782 and subsequently under the title “The Task” in the same publication in 1785.^[1]

The poem is based on the real-life story of a linen-draper named Beyer,^[2] as told to Cowper by his friend Lady Austen.^[1] For a time it was the “most popular poem in England”, due at least in part to the readings delivered by the acclaimed actor John Henderson, at Freemasons’ Hall in 1785.^[3]

Poem

This is a condensed version, in which some verses are omitted; a link to the text of the full poem can be found at the end of this article.

John Gilpin was a citizen
    Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he
    Of famous London town.

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.

...

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;

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.

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

But finding soon a smoother road	
  Beneath his well-shod feet,	
The snorting beast began to trot,	
  Which galled him in his seat.	
 
So, ‘Fair and softly,’ John he cried,
  But John he called 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 grasped the mane with both his hands,	
  And eke with all his might.

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!’

At Edmonton his loving wife	
  From the balcony spied	
Her tender husband, wondering 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 let me scrape the dirt away	
  That hangs upon your face;
And stop and eat, for well you may	
  Be in a hungry case.’	
 
Said John, ‘It is my wedding day,	
  And all the world would stare,	
If wife should dine at Edmonton,
  And I should dine at Ware.’

And now the turnpike gates again	
  Flew open in short space;	
The toll-men thinking, as before,	
  That Gilpin rode a race.	
 
And so he did, and won it too,
  For he got first to town;	
Nor stopped till where he had got up	
  He did again get down.	
 
Now let us sing, Long live the King!	
  And Gilpin, long live he!
And when he next doth ride abroad	
  May I be there to see!

External links

• Full text of the poem from Project Gutenberg.