I little thought you'd still be able

To stump about your farm and stable;
Your years have run to a great length;
I wish you joy, though, of your strength!"

"Hold!" says the farmer, "not so fast! I have been lame these four years past." "And no great wonder," Death replies; "However, you still keep your eyes; And, sure to see one's loves and friends, For legs and arms would make amends."

"Perhaps," says Dodson, "so it might, But latterly I've lost my sight." "This is a shocking tale, 'tis true; But still there's comfort left for you: Each strives your sadness to amuse; I warrant you hear all the news." "There's none," cries he; "and if there were, I'm grown so deaf, I could not hear." "Nay, then," the spectre stern rejoined,

"These are unjustifiable yearnings;

If you are lame, and deaf, and blind,

You've had your three sufficient warnings;

So come along; no more we'll part,"
He said, and touched him with his dart.

And now old Dodson, turning pale,
Yields to his fate. So ends my tale.

W. B. Rhodes

Bombastes Furioso

CHARACTERS

'ARTAXOMINOUS, King of Uto- ARMY: A long Drummer, a

pia.

FUSBOS, Minister of State.

GENERAL BOMBastes.

ATTENDANTS.

short Fifer, and two (some

times three) Soldiers of different dimensions.

DISTAFFINA.

SCENE I. Interior of the Palace.

The KING in his chair of state. A table set out with punchbowl, glasses, pipes, etc. ATTENDANTS on each side.

TRIO-" Tekeli."

Ist Atten. What will your Majesty please to wear? Or blue, green, red, black, white, or brown. 2d Atten. D'ye choose to look at the bill of fare?

King.
2d Atten.

(Showing long bill.)

Get out of my sight, or I'll knock you down. Here is soup, fish, or goose, or duck, or fowl,

or pigeons, pig, or hare!

Ist Atten. Or blue, or green, or red, or black, or white,

King.

or brown.

What will your Majesty, etc.

Get out of my sight, etc.

(Exeunt ATTENDANTS.)

Enter FUSBOS, and kneels to the KING.

Fusbos. Hail, Artaxominous, yclep'd the Great!
I come, an humble pillar of thy state,

Pregnant with news. But ere that news I tell,
First let me hope your Majesty is well.

King. Rise, learned Fusbos-rise, my friend, and know We are but middling-that is, so, so!

Fusbos. Only so, so! Oh, monstrous, doleful thing! Is it the mulligrubs affects the king?

Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy,

Do the blue devils your repose annoy?

King. Nor mulligrubs nor devils blue are here,

But yet we feel ourselves a little queer.

Fusbos. Yes, I perceive it in that vacant eye,
The vest unbutton'd, and the wig awry;
So sickly cats neglect their fur-attire,

And sit and mope beside the kitchen fire.

King. Last night, when undisturb'd by state affairs, Moist'ning our clay, and puffing off our cares,

Oft the replenish'd goblet did we drain,

And.drank and smok'd, and smok'd and drank again!
Such was the case, our very actions such,

Until at length we got a drop too much.

Fusbos. So when some donkey on the Blackheath Road, Falls, overpower'd, beneath his sandy load;

The driver's curse unheeded swells the air,

Since none can carry more than they can bear.

King. The sapient Doctor Muggins came in haste,

Who suits his physic to his patient's taste;

He, knowing well on what our heart is set,

Hath just prescrib'd, “To take a morning whet ";

The very sight each sick'ning pain subdues.
Then sit, my Fusbos, sit, and tell thy news.

Fusbos (sits). Gen'ral Bombastes, whose resistless force Alone exceeds by far a brewer's horse,

Returns victorious, bringing mines of wealth!

King. Does he, by Jingo? Then we'll drink his health! (Drum and fife.) Fusbos. But hark! With loud acclaim, the fife and drum Announce your army near; behold, they come !

Enter BOMBASTES, attended by one DRUMMER, one FIFER, and two SOLDIERS, all very materially differing in size. They march round the stage and back.

Bombas. Meet me this ev'ning at the Barley Mow;
I'll bring your pay-you see I'm busy now.
Begone, brave army, and don't kick up a row.

(Exeunt SOLDIERS.)

(To the KING.) Thrash'd are your foes.

silken string,

Worn by their chief, I as a trophy bring;

This watch and

I knock'd him down, then snatch'd it from his fob.
"Watch! watch!" he cried, when I had done the job.
"My watch is gone!" says he. Says I, "Just so;
Stop where you are; watches were made to go."

King. For which we make you Duke of Strombelo.

(BOMBASTES kneels; the KING dubs him with a pipe, and then presents the bowl.)

From our own bowl here drink, my soldier true;

And if you'd like to take a whiff or two,

He whose brave arm hath made our foes to crouch,
Shall have a pipe from this our royal pouch.

Bombas (arises). Honours so great have all my toils repaid,

My liege, and Fusbos, here's "Success to trade."

Fusbos. Well said, Bombastes! Since thy mighty blows Have given a quietus to our foes,

Now shall our farmers gather in their crops,

And busy tradesmen mind their crowded shops.
The deadly havoc of war's hatchet cease;

Now shall we smoke the calumet of peace.

King. I shall smoke short-cut; you smoke what you please. Bombas. Whate'er your Majesty shall deign to name, Short cut or long to me is all the same.

Bombas and Fusbos. In short, so long as we your favours claim,

Short cut or long, to us is all the same.

King. Thanks, gen'rous friends! Now list whilst I impart How firm you're lock'd and bolted in my heart;

So long as this here pouch a pipe contains,

Or a full glass in that there bowl remains,

To you an equal portion shall belong;

This do I swear. And now let's have a song.
Fusbos. My liege shall be obeyed.

Bombas.

(Advances and attempts to sing.)
Fusbos, give place;

You know you haven't got a singing face;
Here nature, smiling, gave the winning grace.

SONG "Hope Told a Flattering Tale."

Hope told a flattering tale,

Much longer than my arm,

That love and pots of ale

In peace would keep me warm.