IAIN GILPIN.

Iain Gilpin bha 'n a bhùirdeiseach,
Bu mhòir a chliù, 's a nì;

Gu-n robh e uair 'n a cheannard-ceud,
'Am baile-mòr an righ.

Thuirt bean Iain Ghilpin là r'a gràdh,
"M' aighear thu 's mo chiall,
Ged tha sinn fichead bliadhna pòsd',
Là féill cha d' ghabh sinn riamh.

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"'S e 'màireach là co'-ainm ar bainns'
'S théid sinn gu sùgradh mach,
Sìos gus an ruig sinn Edmonton,
'An carbad le dà each,

"Mo phiuthar 'us a leanabh beag,
Mi féin 's mo thriùir le chéil',
'S a' charbad théid, 'us leanaidh tus'
A' marcachd as ar déigh."

"A bhean mo ghaoil!" ghrad fhreagair e, "Dhuit féin gu-n d'thug mi gràdh

Os ceann gach té a tha fo'n ghréin, 'Us gheibh thu mar is àill.

"Tha mise 'm mharsanda gu beachd, Mar's aithne do gach neach;

'S mo charaid maith, Tom Calender, Bheir iasad dhomh d'a each."

"Piseach ort," ars' is', "a ghràidh,
'Us o'n tha 'm fion eo daor,
Gu-n toir mi leam mo shearrag féin,
O'n tha e maith, 'us saor."

Thug Iain sgailce pòige dh' i,
Mar b' àbhaist dha gu tric;

Oir bha e subhach, toilichte,
I bhi co chrìonna, ghlic.

The morning came, the chase was brought,
But yet was not allow'd

To drive up to the door, least all
Should say that she was proud.

So three doors off the chaise was stay'd,
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 folks so glad,
The stones did rattle underneath,

As if Cheapside were mad.

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 reach'd 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 luck!" quoth he, "yet bring it meMy 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.

Thàinig an carbad 'nuas gu moch
'S a' mhaduinn, mar a gheall;
'S air falbh 'na dheann-ruith ghabh e leò,
Troimh eabar, 'us troimh pholl.

Bu shiùbhlach luath na cuibhleachan,
'S a' chuip mu chluas nan each,

Le gleadhraich shaoileadh tu gu-n robh
An cabhsair as a bheachd.

Sheas Iain Gilpin taobh an eich,
'Us ghlac e 'mhuing gu deas;
Ach 's gann a fhuair e suas gu h-àrd.
'N uair b'éigin teachd air ais.

Cha luaithe ràin' e'n diollaid shuas,
'S a shuidh e air an each,

Na chunnaic e triùir cheannaichean
D'a bhùth a' dol a steach.

Theirinn e, 's cha b'ann d'a dheòin,
Oir bha e dian gu falbh;
Ach leis an t-sannt cha dùraichdeadh
An sgillinn-ruadh a chall.

Bu mhailiseach na ceannaichean,
Bha greis mu-n robh iad réidh;
'N sin Beati ghlaodh a mach gu h-àrd,
"Dh' fhàgadh am fion 'n 'ur déigh!"

"Nall e!" ars' Iain, "'s maith an t-àm;
Thoir dhomh a nuas mo chrios,
Crios leathair mo dheagh chlaidheimh ghéir,
'N uair bha mi 'm shaighdear deas."

Bha aig bean Ghilpin, (làmh a' ghrùinnd!) Dà shearraig làidir ghlas,

'S am b' àbhaist di an deoch a b' fhearr A chumail teann fo ghlais.

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
Equipp'd from top to toe,

His long red cloak, well brush'd 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,
Which gall'd him in his seat.

"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 grasp'd the mane with both his hands,
And eke with all his might.

His horse, who 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 dogs did bark, the children scream'd,

Up flew the windows all;

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

Bha aig gach searraig dhiubh fa leth,
Dà chluais tre'n deach' an crios;
Chroch e iad mar sin r'a thaobh,
Fear dhiubh air gach leis.

'N a dheaghaidh sin, a chum 's gu-m biodh
E sgeadaichte le sgoinn,

A chleòca maiseach sgàrlaid ghabh,

'Us thilg e air a dhruim.

Faic e nis 'n a dhiollaid shuas,

Air muin an steud eich dhuinn,
Ag imeachd air a' chabhsair chruaidh
Gu socrach, 'us gu ciùin.

Ach 'n uair a fhuair e'n t-slighe réidh
Fo 'bhrògaibh cruidheach cruaidh,
Le sitrich dh' fhalbh gu trotan garbh
A shàraich Iain truaigh.

"Gu réidh," ars' Iain, "deas dé, 'eich dhuinn;" Ach labhair e gun fheum,

O throtan chaidh gu dian-ruith luath,
Gun suim de mhuiseal sréin',

Chrom e sìos, mar dh' im'reas iad
Nach urrainn suidhe suas,
Ghlac e muing an eich gu teann,
'S e 'dol a nis 'n a luath's.

An t-each a mhothaich air a dhruim
Uallach cho deacair ùr,

Theich e le geilt; 's mar theich e, dh' fhàg

An saoghal air a chùl.

Air falbh chaidh Iain 'n a shradaibh dearg,
Air falbh chaidh 'n ad 's a' ghruag;

Is beag a shaoil an duine còir

Dol air a leithid de ruaig.

Chaidh coin gu tathunn, 's clann gu sgriach,
Bha cinn a mach 'n an ceud',

'Us ghlaodh gach aon, le 'uile neart,

'S tu féin an gille-steud!"