Millions of giants crowd his chariot-wheels, Giants to whom the giants in Guildhall Are infant dwarfs. They frown, and foam, and roar, So some cock-sparrow in a farmer's yard Hops at the head of a huge flock of turkeys. Dood. When Goody Thumb first brought this Thomas forth, The Genius of our land triumphant reign'd; Then, then, oh, Arthur, did thy genius reign! Nood. They tell me it is whisper'd in the books By Merlin's art begot, hath not a bone Dood. Then 'tis a gristle of no mortal kind; Nood. Sure he was sent express From heaven to be the pillar of our State. And as a mountain once brought forth a mouse, And cry, “Tom Thumb is come, and if you are Naughty, will surely take the child away!" Nood. But hark these trumpets speak the King's approach. Dood. He comes most luckily for my petition. (Flourish.), KING, QUEEN, GRIZZLE, NOODLE, DOODLE, FOODLE. King. Let nothing but a face of joy appear; The man who frowns this day shall lose his head, That he may have no face to frown withal. Smile, Dollallolla. Ha! what wrinkled sorrow Hangs, sits, lies, frowns upon thy knitted brow? Whence flow those tears fast down thy blubber'd cheeks, Like a swoln gutter gushing through the streets? Queen. Excess of joy, my lord, I've heard folks say, Gives tears as certain as excess of grief. King. If it be so, let all men cry for joy, Till my whole court be drowned with their tears; And leave me nothing but the sea to rule. Queen (aside). Though I already half-seas over am, With arrack punch, 'fore George, I'll see it out! Of rum and brandy I'll not taste a drop. King. Though rack, in punch, eight shillings be a quart, 'And rum and brandy be no more than six, Rather than quarrel, you shall have your will. (Trumpers.) But, ha! the warrior comes, the great Tom Thumb; The little hero, giant-killing boy, Preserver of my kingdom, is arrived. TOM THUMB to them, with ATTENDANTS, OFFICERS, GLUMDALCA and other PRISONERS. King. Oh, welcome, most, most welcome to my arms! What gratitude can thank away the debt Your valour lays upon me? Queen. Oh, ye gods! (Aside.) Thumb. When I'm not thank'd at all, I'm thank'd enough. I've done my duty, and I've done no more. Queen. Was ever such a Godlike creature seen? (Aside.) King. Thy modesty's a candle to thy merit; It shines itself, and shows thy merit, too. But say, my boy, where didst thou leave the giants? Thumb. My liege, without the castle gates they stand, The castle gates too low for their admittance. King. What look they like? Thumb. Like nothing but themselves. Queen. And sure thou art like nothing but thyself. King. Enough! the vast idea fills my soul. (Aside.) Thumb. Then were the gods mistaken. She is not A woman, but a giantess, whom we, With much ado, have made a shift to haul Within the town; for she is by a foot Shorter than all her subject giants were. Glum. We yesterday were both a queen and wife; Queen. Oh, happy state of giantism, where husbands Glum. But then, to lose them all in one black day; Me widow'd of them all! My worn-out heart, Queen. Madam, believe I view your sorrows with a woman's eye; But learn to bear them with what strength you may. Drawn out before you, and you then shall choose Glum. Madam, I am Your most obedient and most humble servant. King. Think, mighty princess, think this court your own, Nor think the landlord me, this house my inn; Thumb. I ask not kingdoms-I can conquer those; For what I've done, and what I mean to do, Be still, my soul. (Aside.) Thumb. My heart is at the threshold of your mouth, 'And waits its answer there. Oh, do not frown! I've try'd to Reason's tune to tune my soul, But love did overwind and crack the string. Though Jove in thunder had cry'd out, You shan't! King. It is resolv'd-the princess is your own. King. Tom Thumb! Odzooks! my wide-extended realm Knows not a name so glorious as Tom Thumb ! Let Macedonia Alexander boast, Let Rome her Cæsars and her Scipios show, Her Messieurs France, let Holland boast Mynheers, |