22
Sideways they started at the sight,
and whisk'd the gig half round;
Then 'cross the crowded market place
they flew with furious bound.
First o'er a heap of crockry ware,
the rapid car they whirl'd;
And jugs and mugs, and pots and pans
in fragments wide were hurl'd.
A booth stood near with tempting cakes,
and grocery richly fraught;
All Birmingham on t'other side
the dazzel'd optics caught.
With active wing the nimble steeds
rush'd through the pass between,
And scarcely touch'd; the car behind
got through not quite so clean :
For while one wheel one stall engaged,
its fellow took the other--
Dire was the clash, down fell the booths,
and made a dreadful pother.
Nuts, oranges, and gingerbread,
and figs here roll'd around;
And scissars, knives, and thimbles there,
bestrewed the glittering ground.
The fall of boards, the shouts and cries,
urged on the horses faster;
And as they flew at every step
they caused some new disaster.
