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The Diverting History of John Gilpin Quotes by William Cowper: Context & Meanings

1 quotation linked to The Diverting History of John Gilpin by or associated with William Cowper, with source notes, explanations and related topics.

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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!

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“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!”

William Cowper

Voice: Poetic speaker · Narrator of “The Diverting History of John Gilpin”

Meaning & context

The narrator closes Gilpin’s chaotic runaway ride by converting the mishap into communal amusement and a playful wish to witness the spectacle again.

Source details

The Diverting History of John Gilpin, closing stanza, represented by Project Gutenberg #23753. This is comic narrator voice at the end of Cowper’s ballad, not a serious political statement despite the conventional “long live the king” flourish.

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