The story of John Gilpin was told to Cowper by his friend, Lady Austen,
who had heard it when a child. The poet, upon whom the tale made a deep
impression, eventually turned it into this ballad, which was first
published anonymously in the _Public Advertiser_ for November 14, 1782.
It became popular at once, and is to-day probably the most widely known
of the author's works. It is written in the conventional ballad metre,
and preserves many expressions characteristic of the primitive English
ballad style.
[1] 3. =Eke=; also.
[2] 11. =Edmonton= is a suburb a few miles directly north of London.
[3] 16. =After we.= John Gilpin's wife does not hesitate to sacrifice
grammar for the sake of rime.
[4] 23. =Calender=; one who operates a calender, a machine for giving
cloth or paper a smooth, glossy surface.
[5] 39. =Agog=; eager.
[6] 44. =Cheapside= was one of the most important of the old London
streets.
[7] 49. The =saddletree= is the frame of the saddle.
[8] 115. =Carries weight.= The bottles seem to resemble the weights
carried in horse races by the jockeys.
[9] 133. =Islington=, now part of London, was then one of its suburbs.
[10] 152. =Ware= is a town about fifteen miles north of London.
[11] 178. =Pin=; mood.
[12] 222. =Amain=; at full speed.
[13] 236. =The hue and cry=; a term used to describe the rousing of the
people in pursuit of a rogue.