Chapter 11

Tom Thumb,Huncamunca.Thumb.Where is my princess? where's my Huncamunca?Where are those eyes, those cardmatches of love,That light up all with love my waxen soul?[132]Where is that face which artful nature madeIn the same moulds where Venus' self was cast?[133]Hunc.Oh! what is music to the ear that's deaf,[134]Or a goose-pie to him that has no taste?What are these praises now to me, since IAm promised to another?Thumb.Ha! promised?Hunc.Too sure; 'tis written in the book of fate.Thumb.Then I will tear away the leaf[135]Wherein it's writ; or, if fate won't allowSo large a gap within its journal-book,I'll blot it out at least.

Tom Thumb,Huncamunca.

Thumb.Where is my princess? where's my Huncamunca?Where are those eyes, those cardmatches of love,That light up all with love my waxen soul?[132]Where is that face which artful nature madeIn the same moulds where Venus' self was cast?[133]

Thumb.Where is my princess? where's my Huncamunca?

Where are those eyes, those cardmatches of love,

That light up all with love my waxen soul?[132]

Where is that face which artful nature made

In the same moulds where Venus' self was cast?[133]

Hunc.Oh! what is music to the ear that's deaf,[134]Or a goose-pie to him that has no taste?What are these praises now to me, since IAm promised to another?

Hunc.Oh! what is music to the ear that's deaf,[134]

Or a goose-pie to him that has no taste?

What are these praises now to me, since I

Am promised to another?

Thumb.Ha! promised?

Hunc.Too sure; 'tis written in the book of fate.

Thumb.Then I will tear away the leaf[135]Wherein it's writ; or, if fate won't allowSo large a gap within its journal-book,I'll blot it out at least.

Thumb.Then I will tear away the leaf[135]

Wherein it's writ; or, if fate won't allow

So large a gap within its journal-book,

I'll blot it out at least.

Scene VII.

Glumdalca,Tom Thumb,Huncamunca.Glum.I need not ask if you are Huncamunca,[136]Your brandy-nose proclaims——Hunc.I am a princess;Nor need I ask who you are.Glum.A giantess;The queen of those who made and unmade queens.Hunc.The man whose chief ambition is to beMy sweetheart, hath destroy'd these mighty giants.Glum.Your sweetheart? Dost thou think the man who onceHath worn my easy chains will e'er wear thine?Hunc.Well may your chains be easy, since, if fameSays true, they have been tried on twenty husbands.The glove or boot, so many times pull'd on,[137]May well sit easy on the hand or foot.Glum.I glory in the number, and when ISit poorly down, like thee, content with one,Heaven change this face for one as bad as thine.Hunc.Let me see nearer what this beauty isThat captivates the heart of men by scores.[Holds a candle to her face.Oh! Heaven, thou art as ugly as the devil.Glum.You'd give the best of shoes within your shopTo be but half so handsome.Hunc.Since you comeTo that, I'll put my beauty to the test:[138]Tom Thumb, I'm yours, if you with me will go.Glum.Oh! stay Tom Thumb, and you alone shall fillThat bed where twenty giants used to lie.Thumb.In the balcóny that o'erhangs the stage,I've seen a puss two 'prentices engage;One half-a-crown does in his fingers hold,The other shows a little piece of gold;She the half-guinea wisely does purloin,And leaves the larger and the baser coin.Glum.Left, scorn'd, and loath'd for such a chit as this;I feel the storm that's rising in my mind,[139]Tempests and whirlwinds rise, and roll, and roar.I'm all within a hurricane, as ifThe world's four winds were pent within my carcase.[140]Confusion,[141]horror, murder, gripes, and death!

Glumdalca,Tom Thumb,Huncamunca.

Glum.I need not ask if you are Huncamunca,[136]Your brandy-nose proclaims——

Glum.I need not ask if you are Huncamunca,[136]

Your brandy-nose proclaims——

Hunc.I am a princess;Nor need I ask who you are.

Hunc.I am a princess;

Nor need I ask who you are.

Glum.A giantess;The queen of those who made and unmade queens.

Glum.A giantess;

The queen of those who made and unmade queens.

Hunc.The man whose chief ambition is to beMy sweetheart, hath destroy'd these mighty giants.

Hunc.The man whose chief ambition is to be

My sweetheart, hath destroy'd these mighty giants.

Glum.Your sweetheart? Dost thou think the man who onceHath worn my easy chains will e'er wear thine?

Glum.Your sweetheart? Dost thou think the man who once

Hath worn my easy chains will e'er wear thine?

Hunc.Well may your chains be easy, since, if fameSays true, they have been tried on twenty husbands.The glove or boot, so many times pull'd on,[137]May well sit easy on the hand or foot.

Hunc.Well may your chains be easy, since, if fame

Says true, they have been tried on twenty husbands.

The glove or boot, so many times pull'd on,[137]

May well sit easy on the hand or foot.

Glum.I glory in the number, and when ISit poorly down, like thee, content with one,Heaven change this face for one as bad as thine.

Glum.I glory in the number, and when I

Sit poorly down, like thee, content with one,

Heaven change this face for one as bad as thine.

Hunc.Let me see nearer what this beauty isThat captivates the heart of men by scores.[Holds a candle to her face.Oh! Heaven, thou art as ugly as the devil.

Hunc.Let me see nearer what this beauty is

That captivates the heart of men by scores.

[Holds a candle to her face.

Oh! Heaven, thou art as ugly as the devil.

Glum.You'd give the best of shoes within your shopTo be but half so handsome.

Glum.You'd give the best of shoes within your shop

To be but half so handsome.

Hunc.Since you comeTo that, I'll put my beauty to the test:[138]Tom Thumb, I'm yours, if you with me will go.

Hunc.Since you come

To that, I'll put my beauty to the test:[138]

Tom Thumb, I'm yours, if you with me will go.

Glum.Oh! stay Tom Thumb, and you alone shall fillThat bed where twenty giants used to lie.

Glum.Oh! stay Tom Thumb, and you alone shall fill

That bed where twenty giants used to lie.

Thumb.In the balcóny that o'erhangs the stage,I've seen a puss two 'prentices engage;One half-a-crown does in his fingers hold,The other shows a little piece of gold;She the half-guinea wisely does purloin,And leaves the larger and the baser coin.

Thumb.In the balcóny that o'erhangs the stage,

I've seen a puss two 'prentices engage;

One half-a-crown does in his fingers hold,

The other shows a little piece of gold;

She the half-guinea wisely does purloin,

And leaves the larger and the baser coin.

Glum.Left, scorn'd, and loath'd for such a chit as this;I feel the storm that's rising in my mind,[139]Tempests and whirlwinds rise, and roll, and roar.I'm all within a hurricane, as ifThe world's four winds were pent within my carcase.[140]Confusion,[141]horror, murder, gripes, and death!

Glum.Left, scorn'd, and loath'd for such a chit as this;

I feel the storm that's rising in my mind,[139]

Tempests and whirlwinds rise, and roll, and roar.

I'm all within a hurricane, as if

The world's four winds were pent within my carcase.[140]

Confusion,[141]horror, murder, gripes, and death!

Scene VIII.

King,Glumdalca.King.Sure never was so sad a king as I![142]My life is worn as ragged as a coat[143]A beggar wears; a prince should put it off.To love a captive and a giantess![144]Oh love! oh love! how great a king art thou!My tongue's thy trumpet, and thou trumpetest,Unknown to me, within me. Oh, Glumdalca![145]Heaven thee design'd a giantess to make,But an angelic soul was shuffled in.I am a multitude of walking griefs,[146]And only on her lips the balm is foundTo spread a plaster that might cure them all.[147]Glum.What do I hear?King.What do I see?Glum.Oh!King.Ah!Glum.Ah! wretched queen![148]King.Oh! wretched king!Glum.Ah![149]King.Oh!

King,Glumdalca.

King.Sure never was so sad a king as I![142]My life is worn as ragged as a coat[143]A beggar wears; a prince should put it off.To love a captive and a giantess![144]Oh love! oh love! how great a king art thou!My tongue's thy trumpet, and thou trumpetest,Unknown to me, within me. Oh, Glumdalca![145]Heaven thee design'd a giantess to make,But an angelic soul was shuffled in.I am a multitude of walking griefs,[146]And only on her lips the balm is foundTo spread a plaster that might cure them all.[147]

King.Sure never was so sad a king as I![142]

My life is worn as ragged as a coat[143]

A beggar wears; a prince should put it off.

To love a captive and a giantess![144]

Oh love! oh love! how great a king art thou!

My tongue's thy trumpet, and thou trumpetest,

Unknown to me, within me. Oh, Glumdalca![145]

Heaven thee design'd a giantess to make,

But an angelic soul was shuffled in.

I am a multitude of walking griefs,[146]

And only on her lips the balm is found

To spread a plaster that might cure them all.[147]

Glum.What do I hear?

King.What do I see?

Glum.Oh!

King.Ah!

Glum.Ah! wretched queen![148]

King.Oh! wretched king!

Glum.Ah![149]

King.Oh!

Scene IX.

Tom Thumb, Huncamunca, Parson.Par.Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing;For, if I guess right, Tom Thumb this nightShall give a being to a new Tom Thumb.Thumb.It shall be my endeavour so to do.Hunc.Oh! fie upon you, sir, you make me blush.Thumb.It is the virgin's sign, and suits you well:I know not where, nor how, nor what I am;[150]I'm so transported, I have lost myself.[151]Hunc.Forbid it, all ye stars, for you're so small,That were you lost, you'd find yourself no more.So the unhappy sempstress once, they say,Her needle in a pottle, lost, of hay;In vain she look'd, and look'd, and made her moan.For ah, the needle was for ever gone.Par.Long may they live, and love, and propagate,Till the whole land be peopled with Tom Thumbs!So, when the Cheshire cheese a maggot breeds,[152]Another and another still succeeds:By thousands and ten thousands they increase,Till one continued maggot fills the rotten cheese.

Tom Thumb, Huncamunca, Parson.

Par.Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing;For, if I guess right, Tom Thumb this nightShall give a being to a new Tom Thumb.

Par.Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing;

For, if I guess right, Tom Thumb this night

Shall give a being to a new Tom Thumb.

Thumb.It shall be my endeavour so to do.

Hunc.Oh! fie upon you, sir, you make me blush.

Thumb.It is the virgin's sign, and suits you well:I know not where, nor how, nor what I am;[150]I'm so transported, I have lost myself.[151]

Thumb.It is the virgin's sign, and suits you well:

I know not where, nor how, nor what I am;[150]

I'm so transported, I have lost myself.[151]

Hunc.Forbid it, all ye stars, for you're so small,That were you lost, you'd find yourself no more.So the unhappy sempstress once, they say,Her needle in a pottle, lost, of hay;In vain she look'd, and look'd, and made her moan.For ah, the needle was for ever gone.

Hunc.Forbid it, all ye stars, for you're so small,

That were you lost, you'd find yourself no more.

So the unhappy sempstress once, they say,

Her needle in a pottle, lost, of hay;

In vain she look'd, and look'd, and made her moan.

For ah, the needle was for ever gone.

Par.Long may they live, and love, and propagate,Till the whole land be peopled with Tom Thumbs!So, when the Cheshire cheese a maggot breeds,[152]Another and another still succeeds:By thousands and ten thousands they increase,Till one continued maggot fills the rotten cheese.

Par.Long may they live, and love, and propagate,

Till the whole land be peopled with Tom Thumbs!

So, when the Cheshire cheese a maggot breeds,[152]

Another and another still succeeds:

By thousands and ten thousands they increase,

Till one continued maggot fills the rotten cheese.

Scene X.

Noodle,and thenGrizzle.Nood.Sure, Nature means to break her solid chain,[153]Or else unfix the world, and in a rageTo hurl it from its axletree and hinges;All things are so confused, the king's in love,The queen is drunk, the princess married is.Griz.Oh, Noodle! Hast thou Huncamunca seen?Nood.I've seen a thousand sights this day, where noneAre by the Wonderful Pig himself outdone.The king, the queen, and all the court, are sights.Griz.D—n your delay, you trifler! are you drunk, ha?[154]I will not hear one word but Huncamunca.Nood.By this time she is married to Tom Thumb.Griz.My Huncamunca![155]Nood.Your Huncamunca,Tom Thumb's Huncamunca, every man's Huncamunca.Griz.If this be true, all womankind are curst.Nood.If it be not, may I be so myself.Griz.See where she comes! I'll not believe a wordAgainst that face, upon whose ample brow[156]Sits innocence with majesty enthroned.Grizzle, Huncamunca.Griz.Where has my Huncamunca been? See here.The licence in my hand!Hunc.Alas! Tom Thumb.Griz.Why dost thou mention him?Hunc.Ah, me! Tom Thumb.Griz.What means my lovely Huncamunca?Hunc.Hum?Griz.Oh! speak.Hunc.Hum!Griz.Ha! your every word is hum:You force me still to answer you, Tom Thumb.[157]Tom Thumb—I'm on the rack—I'm in a flame.Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb—you love the name;[158]So pleasing is that sound, that, were you dumb,You still would find a voice to cry Tom Thumb.Hunc.Oh! be not hasty to proclaim my doom!My ample heart for more than one has room:A maid like me Heaven form'd at least for two.I married him, and now I'll marry you.[159]Griz.Ha! dost thou own thy falsehood to my face?Think'st thou that I will share thy husband's place?Since to that office one cannot suffice,And since you scorn to dine one single dish on,Go, get your husband put into commission.Commissioners to discharge (ye gods! it fine is)The duty of a husband to your highness.Yet think not long I will my rival bear,Or unrevenged the slighted willow wear;The gloomy, brooding tempest, now confinedWithin the hollow caverns of my mind,In dreadful whirl shall roll along the coasts,Shall thin the land of all the men it boasts,And cram up ev'ry chink of hell with ghosts.[160]So have I seen, in some dark winter's day,[161]A sudden storm rush down the sky's highway,Sweep through the streets with terrible ding-dong,Gush through the spouts, and wash whole clouds along.The crowded shops the thronging vermin screen,Together cram the dirty and the clean,And not one shoe-boy in the street is seen.Hunc.Oh, fatal rashness! should his fury slayMy hapless bridegroom on his wedding-day,I, who this morn of two chose which to wed,May go again this night alone to bed.So have I seen some wild unsettled fool,[162]Who had her choice of this and that joint-stool,To give the preference to either loth,And fondly coveting to sit on both,While the two stools her sitting-part confound,Between 'em both fall squat upon the ground.

Noodle,and thenGrizzle.

Nood.Sure, Nature means to break her solid chain,[153]Or else unfix the world, and in a rageTo hurl it from its axletree and hinges;All things are so confused, the king's in love,The queen is drunk, the princess married is.

Nood.Sure, Nature means to break her solid chain,[153]

Or else unfix the world, and in a rage

To hurl it from its axletree and hinges;

All things are so confused, the king's in love,

The queen is drunk, the princess married is.

Griz.Oh, Noodle! Hast thou Huncamunca seen?

Nood.I've seen a thousand sights this day, where noneAre by the Wonderful Pig himself outdone.The king, the queen, and all the court, are sights.

Nood.I've seen a thousand sights this day, where none

Are by the Wonderful Pig himself outdone.

The king, the queen, and all the court, are sights.

Griz.D—n your delay, you trifler! are you drunk, ha?[154]I will not hear one word but Huncamunca.

Griz.D—n your delay, you trifler! are you drunk, ha?[154]

I will not hear one word but Huncamunca.

Nood.By this time she is married to Tom Thumb.

Griz.My Huncamunca![155]

Nood.Your Huncamunca,Tom Thumb's Huncamunca, every man's Huncamunca.

Nood.Your Huncamunca,

Tom Thumb's Huncamunca, every man's Huncamunca.

Griz.If this be true, all womankind are curst.

Nood.If it be not, may I be so myself.

Griz.See where she comes! I'll not believe a wordAgainst that face, upon whose ample brow[156]Sits innocence with majesty enthroned.

Griz.See where she comes! I'll not believe a word

Against that face, upon whose ample brow[156]

Sits innocence with majesty enthroned.

Grizzle, Huncamunca.

Griz.Where has my Huncamunca been? See here.The licence in my hand!

Griz.Where has my Huncamunca been? See here.

The licence in my hand!

Hunc.Alas! Tom Thumb.

Griz.Why dost thou mention him?

Hunc.Ah, me! Tom Thumb.

Griz.What means my lovely Huncamunca?

Hunc.Hum?

Griz.Oh! speak.

Hunc.Hum!

Griz.Ha! your every word is hum:You force me still to answer you, Tom Thumb.[157]Tom Thumb—I'm on the rack—I'm in a flame.Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb—you love the name;[158]So pleasing is that sound, that, were you dumb,You still would find a voice to cry Tom Thumb.

Griz.Ha! your every word is hum:

You force me still to answer you, Tom Thumb.[157]

Tom Thumb—I'm on the rack—I'm in a flame.

Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb—you love the name;[158]

So pleasing is that sound, that, were you dumb,

You still would find a voice to cry Tom Thumb.

Hunc.Oh! be not hasty to proclaim my doom!My ample heart for more than one has room:A maid like me Heaven form'd at least for two.I married him, and now I'll marry you.[159]

Hunc.Oh! be not hasty to proclaim my doom!

My ample heart for more than one has room:

A maid like me Heaven form'd at least for two.

I married him, and now I'll marry you.[159]

Griz.Ha! dost thou own thy falsehood to my face?Think'st thou that I will share thy husband's place?Since to that office one cannot suffice,And since you scorn to dine one single dish on,Go, get your husband put into commission.Commissioners to discharge (ye gods! it fine is)The duty of a husband to your highness.Yet think not long I will my rival bear,Or unrevenged the slighted willow wear;The gloomy, brooding tempest, now confinedWithin the hollow caverns of my mind,In dreadful whirl shall roll along the coasts,Shall thin the land of all the men it boasts,And cram up ev'ry chink of hell with ghosts.[160]So have I seen, in some dark winter's day,[161]A sudden storm rush down the sky's highway,Sweep through the streets with terrible ding-dong,Gush through the spouts, and wash whole clouds along.The crowded shops the thronging vermin screen,Together cram the dirty and the clean,And not one shoe-boy in the street is seen.

Griz.Ha! dost thou own thy falsehood to my face?

Think'st thou that I will share thy husband's place?

Since to that office one cannot suffice,

And since you scorn to dine one single dish on,

Go, get your husband put into commission.

Commissioners to discharge (ye gods! it fine is)

The duty of a husband to your highness.

Yet think not long I will my rival bear,

Or unrevenged the slighted willow wear;

The gloomy, brooding tempest, now confined

Within the hollow caverns of my mind,

In dreadful whirl shall roll along the coasts,

Shall thin the land of all the men it boasts,

And cram up ev'ry chink of hell with ghosts.[160]

So have I seen, in some dark winter's day,[161]

A sudden storm rush down the sky's highway,

Sweep through the streets with terrible ding-dong,

Gush through the spouts, and wash whole clouds along.

The crowded shops the thronging vermin screen,

Together cram the dirty and the clean,

And not one shoe-boy in the street is seen.

Hunc.Oh, fatal rashness! should his fury slayMy hapless bridegroom on his wedding-day,I, who this morn of two chose which to wed,May go again this night alone to bed.So have I seen some wild unsettled fool,[162]Who had her choice of this and that joint-stool,To give the preference to either loth,And fondly coveting to sit on both,While the two stools her sitting-part confound,Between 'em both fall squat upon the ground.

Hunc.Oh, fatal rashness! should his fury slay

My hapless bridegroom on his wedding-day,

I, who this morn of two chose which to wed,

May go again this night alone to bed.

So have I seen some wild unsettled fool,[162]

Who had her choice of this and that joint-stool,

To give the preference to either loth,

And fondly coveting to sit on both,

While the two stools her sitting-part confound,

Between 'em both fall squat upon the ground.

SceneI.—King Arthur'sPalace.

Ghost[163](solus). Hail! ye black horrors of midnight's midnoon!Ye fairies, goblins, bats, and screech-owls, hail!And, oh! ye mortal watchmen, whose hoarse throatsTh' immortal ghosts dread croakings counterfeit,All hail!—Ye dancing phantoms, who, by day,Are some condemn'd to fast, some feast in fire,Now play in churchyards, skipping o'er the graves,To the loud music of the silent bell,[164]All hail!

Ghost[163](solus). Hail! ye black horrors of midnight's midnoon!

Ye fairies, goblins, bats, and screech-owls, hail!And, oh! ye mortal watchmen, whose hoarse throatsTh' immortal ghosts dread croakings counterfeit,All hail!—Ye dancing phantoms, who, by day,Are some condemn'd to fast, some feast in fire,Now play in churchyards, skipping o'er the graves,To the loud music of the silent bell,[164]All hail!

Ye fairies, goblins, bats, and screech-owls, hail!

And, oh! ye mortal watchmen, whose hoarse throats

Th' immortal ghosts dread croakings counterfeit,

All hail!—Ye dancing phantoms, who, by day,

Are some condemn'd to fast, some feast in fire,

Now play in churchyards, skipping o'er the graves,

To the loud music of the silent bell,[164]

All hail!

Scene II.

King,Ghost.King. What noise is this? What villain dares,At this dread hour, with feet and voice profane,Disturb our royal walls?Ghost.One who defiesThy empty power to hurt him; one who dares[165]Walk in thy bedchamber.King.Presumptuous slave!Thou diest.Ghost.Threaten others with that word:I am a ghost, and am already dead.[166]King. Ye stars! 'tis well. Were thy last hour to come,This moment had been it; yet by thy shroud[167]I'll pull thee backward, squeeze thee to a bladder,Till thou dost groan thy nothingness away.Thou fly'st! 'Tis well.[Ghostretires.I thought what was the courage of a ghost![168]Yet, dare not, on thy life—Why say I that,Since life thou hast not?—Dare not walk againWithin these walls, on pain of the Red Sea.For, if henceforth I ever find thee here,As sure, sure as a gun, I'll have thee laid——Ghost.Were the Red Sea a sea of Hollands gin,The liquor (when alive) whose very smellI did detest, did loathe—yet, for the sakeOf Thomas Thumb, I would be laid therein.King.Ha! said you?Ghost.Yes, my liege, I said Tom Thumb,Whose father's ghost I am—once not unknownTo mighty Arthur. But, I see, 'tis true,The dearest friend, when dead, we all forget.King.'Tis he—it is the honest Gaffer Thumb.Oh! let me press thee in my eager arms,Thou best of ghosts! thou something more than ghost!Ghost.Would I were something more, that we againMight feel each other in the warm embrace.But now I have th' advantage of my king,For I feel thee, whilst thou dost not feel me.[169]King.But say, thou dearest air,[170]oh! say what dread,Important business sends thee back to earth?Ghost.Oh! then prepare to hear—which but to hearIs full enough to send thy spirit hence.Thy subjects up in arms, by Grizzle led,Will, ere the rosy-finger'd morn shall opeThe shutters of the sky, before the gateOf this thy royal palace, swarming spread.So have I seen the bees in clusters swarm,[171]So have I seen the stars in frosty nights,So have I seen the sand in windy days,So have I seen the ghosts on Pluto's shore,So have I seen the flowers in spring arise,So have I seen the leaves in autumn fall,So have I seen the fruits in summer smile,So have I seen the snow in winter frown.King.D—n all thou hast seen!—dost thou, beneath the shapeOf Gaffer Thumb, come hither to abuse meWith similes, to keep me on the rack?Hence—or, by all the torments of thy hell,I'll run thee through the body, though thou'st none.[172]Ghost.Arthur, beware! I must this moment hence,Not frighted by your voice, but by the cocks!Arthur, beware, beware, beware, beware!Strive to avert thy yet impending fate;For, if thou'rt kill'd to-day,To-morrow all thy care will come too late.

King,Ghost.

King. What noise is this? What villain dares,At this dread hour, with feet and voice profane,Disturb our royal walls?

King. What noise is this? What villain dares,

At this dread hour, with feet and voice profane,

Disturb our royal walls?

Ghost.One who defiesThy empty power to hurt him; one who dares[165]Walk in thy bedchamber.

Ghost.One who defies

Thy empty power to hurt him; one who dares[165]

Walk in thy bedchamber.

King.Presumptuous slave!Thou diest.

King.Presumptuous slave!

Thou diest.

Ghost.Threaten others with that word:I am a ghost, and am already dead.[166]

Ghost.Threaten others with that word:

I am a ghost, and am already dead.[166]

King. Ye stars! 'tis well. Were thy last hour to come,This moment had been it; yet by thy shroud[167]I'll pull thee backward, squeeze thee to a bladder,Till thou dost groan thy nothingness away.Thou fly'st! 'Tis well.[Ghostretires.I thought what was the courage of a ghost![168]Yet, dare not, on thy life—Why say I that,Since life thou hast not?—Dare not walk againWithin these walls, on pain of the Red Sea.For, if henceforth I ever find thee here,As sure, sure as a gun, I'll have thee laid——

King. Ye stars! 'tis well. Were thy last hour to come,

This moment had been it; yet by thy shroud[167]

I'll pull thee backward, squeeze thee to a bladder,

Till thou dost groan thy nothingness away.

Thou fly'st! 'Tis well.[Ghostretires.

I thought what was the courage of a ghost![168]

Yet, dare not, on thy life—Why say I that,

Since life thou hast not?—Dare not walk again

Within these walls, on pain of the Red Sea.

For, if henceforth I ever find thee here,

As sure, sure as a gun, I'll have thee laid——

Ghost.Were the Red Sea a sea of Hollands gin,The liquor (when alive) whose very smellI did detest, did loathe—yet, for the sakeOf Thomas Thumb, I would be laid therein.

Ghost.Were the Red Sea a sea of Hollands gin,

The liquor (when alive) whose very smell

I did detest, did loathe—yet, for the sake

Of Thomas Thumb, I would be laid therein.

King.Ha! said you?

Ghost.Yes, my liege, I said Tom Thumb,Whose father's ghost I am—once not unknownTo mighty Arthur. But, I see, 'tis true,The dearest friend, when dead, we all forget.

Ghost.Yes, my liege, I said Tom Thumb,

Whose father's ghost I am—once not unknown

To mighty Arthur. But, I see, 'tis true,

The dearest friend, when dead, we all forget.

King.'Tis he—it is the honest Gaffer Thumb.Oh! let me press thee in my eager arms,Thou best of ghosts! thou something more than ghost!

King.'Tis he—it is the honest Gaffer Thumb.

Oh! let me press thee in my eager arms,

Thou best of ghosts! thou something more than ghost!

Ghost.Would I were something more, that we againMight feel each other in the warm embrace.But now I have th' advantage of my king,For I feel thee, whilst thou dost not feel me.[169]

Ghost.Would I were something more, that we again

Might feel each other in the warm embrace.

But now I have th' advantage of my king,

For I feel thee, whilst thou dost not feel me.[169]

King.But say, thou dearest air,[170]oh! say what dread,Important business sends thee back to earth?

King.But say, thou dearest air,[170]oh! say what dread,

Important business sends thee back to earth?

Ghost.Oh! then prepare to hear—which but to hearIs full enough to send thy spirit hence.Thy subjects up in arms, by Grizzle led,Will, ere the rosy-finger'd morn shall opeThe shutters of the sky, before the gateOf this thy royal palace, swarming spread.So have I seen the bees in clusters swarm,[171]So have I seen the stars in frosty nights,So have I seen the sand in windy days,So have I seen the ghosts on Pluto's shore,So have I seen the flowers in spring arise,So have I seen the leaves in autumn fall,So have I seen the fruits in summer smile,So have I seen the snow in winter frown.

Ghost.Oh! then prepare to hear—which but to hear

Is full enough to send thy spirit hence.

Thy subjects up in arms, by Grizzle led,

Will, ere the rosy-finger'd morn shall ope

The shutters of the sky, before the gate

Of this thy royal palace, swarming spread.

So have I seen the bees in clusters swarm,[171]

So have I seen the stars in frosty nights,

So have I seen the sand in windy days,

So have I seen the ghosts on Pluto's shore,

So have I seen the flowers in spring arise,

So have I seen the leaves in autumn fall,

So have I seen the fruits in summer smile,

So have I seen the snow in winter frown.

King.D—n all thou hast seen!—dost thou, beneath the shapeOf Gaffer Thumb, come hither to abuse meWith similes, to keep me on the rack?Hence—or, by all the torments of thy hell,I'll run thee through the body, though thou'st none.[172]

King.D—n all thou hast seen!—dost thou, beneath the shape

Of Gaffer Thumb, come hither to abuse me

With similes, to keep me on the rack?

Hence—or, by all the torments of thy hell,

I'll run thee through the body, though thou'st none.[172]

Ghost.Arthur, beware! I must this moment hence,Not frighted by your voice, but by the cocks!Arthur, beware, beware, beware, beware!Strive to avert thy yet impending fate;For, if thou'rt kill'd to-day,To-morrow all thy care will come too late.

Ghost.Arthur, beware! I must this moment hence,

Not frighted by your voice, but by the cocks!

Arthur, beware, beware, beware, beware!

Strive to avert thy yet impending fate;

For, if thou'rt kill'd to-day,

To-morrow all thy care will come too late.

Scene III.

King,solus.King.Oh! stay, and leave me not uncertain thus!And, whilst thou tellest me what's like my fate,Oh! teach me how I may avert it too!Curs'd be the man who first a simile made!Curs'd ev'ry bard who writes—So have I seen!Those whose comparisons are just and true,And those who liken things not like at all.The devil is happy that the whole creationCan furnish out no simile to his fortune.

King,solus.

King.Oh! stay, and leave me not uncertain thus!And, whilst thou tellest me what's like my fate,Oh! teach me how I may avert it too!Curs'd be the man who first a simile made!Curs'd ev'ry bard who writes—So have I seen!Those whose comparisons are just and true,And those who liken things not like at all.The devil is happy that the whole creationCan furnish out no simile to his fortune.

King.Oh! stay, and leave me not uncertain thus!

And, whilst thou tellest me what's like my fate,

Oh! teach me how I may avert it too!

Curs'd be the man who first a simile made!

Curs'd ev'ry bard who writes—So have I seen!

Those whose comparisons are just and true,

And those who liken things not like at all.

The devil is happy that the whole creation

Can furnish out no simile to his fortune.

SceneIV.

King, Queen.Queen.What is the cause, my Arthur, that you stealThus silently from Dollallolla's breast?Why dost thou leave me in the dark alone,[173]When well thou know'st I am afraid of sprites?King.Oh, Dollallolla! do not blame my love!I hoped the fumes of last night's punch had laidThy lovely eyelids fast; but, oh! I findThere is no power in drams to quiet wives;Each morn, as the returning sun, they wake,And shine upon their husbands.Queen.Think, oh, think!What a surprise it must be to the sun,Rising, to find the vanish'd world away.What less can be the wretched wife's surpriseWhen, stretching out her arms to fold thee fast,She found her useless bolster in her arms.Think, think, on that.—Oh! think, think well on that![174]I do remember also to have readIn Dryden's Ovid's Metamorphoses,[175]That Jove in form inanimate did lieWith beauteous Danaë: and, trust me, love,I fear'd the bolster might have been a Jove.[176]King.Come to my arms, most virtuous of thy sex!Oh, Dollallolla! were all wives like thee,So many husbands never had worn horns.Should Huncamunca of thy worth partake,Tom Thumb indeed were blest.—Oh, fatal nameFor didst thou know one quarter what I know,Then wouldst thou know—alas! what thou wouldst know!Queen.What can I gather hence? Why dost thou speakLike men who carry rareeshows about?"Now you shall see, gentlemen, what you shall see."O, tell me more, or thou hast told too much.

King, Queen.

Queen.What is the cause, my Arthur, that you stealThus silently from Dollallolla's breast?Why dost thou leave me in the dark alone,[173]When well thou know'st I am afraid of sprites?

Queen.What is the cause, my Arthur, that you steal

Thus silently from Dollallolla's breast?

Why dost thou leave me in the dark alone,[173]

When well thou know'st I am afraid of sprites?

King.Oh, Dollallolla! do not blame my love!I hoped the fumes of last night's punch had laidThy lovely eyelids fast; but, oh! I findThere is no power in drams to quiet wives;Each morn, as the returning sun, they wake,And shine upon their husbands.

King.Oh, Dollallolla! do not blame my love!

I hoped the fumes of last night's punch had laid

Thy lovely eyelids fast; but, oh! I find

There is no power in drams to quiet wives;

Each morn, as the returning sun, they wake,

And shine upon their husbands.

Queen.Think, oh, think!What a surprise it must be to the sun,Rising, to find the vanish'd world away.What less can be the wretched wife's surpriseWhen, stretching out her arms to fold thee fast,She found her useless bolster in her arms.Think, think, on that.—Oh! think, think well on that![174]I do remember also to have readIn Dryden's Ovid's Metamorphoses,[175]That Jove in form inanimate did lieWith beauteous Danaë: and, trust me, love,I fear'd the bolster might have been a Jove.[176]

Queen.Think, oh, think!

What a surprise it must be to the sun,

Rising, to find the vanish'd world away.

What less can be the wretched wife's surprise

When, stretching out her arms to fold thee fast,

She found her useless bolster in her arms.

Think, think, on that.—Oh! think, think well on that![174]

I do remember also to have read

In Dryden's Ovid's Metamorphoses,[175]

That Jove in form inanimate did lie

With beauteous Danaë: and, trust me, love,

I fear'd the bolster might have been a Jove.[176]

King.Come to my arms, most virtuous of thy sex!Oh, Dollallolla! were all wives like thee,So many husbands never had worn horns.Should Huncamunca of thy worth partake,Tom Thumb indeed were blest.—Oh, fatal nameFor didst thou know one quarter what I know,Then wouldst thou know—alas! what thou wouldst know!

King.Come to my arms, most virtuous of thy sex!

Oh, Dollallolla! were all wives like thee,

So many husbands never had worn horns.

Should Huncamunca of thy worth partake,

Tom Thumb indeed were blest.—Oh, fatal name

For didst thou know one quarter what I know,

Then wouldst thou know—alas! what thou wouldst know!

Queen.What can I gather hence? Why dost thou speakLike men who carry rareeshows about?"Now you shall see, gentlemen, what you shall see."O, tell me more, or thou hast told too much.

Queen.What can I gather hence? Why dost thou speak

Like men who carry rareeshows about?

"Now you shall see, gentlemen, what you shall see."

O, tell me more, or thou hast told too much.

SceneV.

King, Queen, Noodle.Nood.Long life attend your majesties serene,Great Arthur, king, and Dollallolla, queen!Lord Grizzle, with a bold rebellious crowd,Advances to the palace, threat'ning loud,Unless the princess be deliver'd straight,And the victorious Thumb, without his pate,They are resolv'd to batter down the gate.

King, Queen, Noodle.

Nood.Long life attend your majesties serene,Great Arthur, king, and Dollallolla, queen!Lord Grizzle, with a bold rebellious crowd,Advances to the palace, threat'ning loud,Unless the princess be deliver'd straight,And the victorious Thumb, without his pate,They are resolv'd to batter down the gate.

Nood.Long life attend your majesties serene,

Great Arthur, king, and Dollallolla, queen!

Lord Grizzle, with a bold rebellious crowd,

Advances to the palace, threat'ning loud,

Unless the princess be deliver'd straight,

And the victorious Thumb, without his pate,

They are resolv'd to batter down the gate.

Scene VI.

King,Queen,Huncamunca,Noodle.King.See where the princess comes! Where is Tom Thumb?Hunc.Oh! sir, about an hour and half agoHe sallied out t' encounter with the foe,And swore, unless his fate had him misled,From Grizzle's shoulders to cut off his head,And serve't up with your chocolate in bed.King.'Tis well, I found one devil told us both.Come, Dollallolla, Huncamunca, come;Within we'll wait for the victorious Thumb:In peace and safety we secure may stay,While to his arm we trust the bloody fray;Though men and giants should conspire with gods,He is alone equal to all these odds.[177]Queen.He is, indeed, a helmet to us all;[178]While he supports we need not fear to fall;His arm despatches all things to our wish,And serves up ev'ry foe's head in a dish.Void is the mistress of the house of care,While the good cook presents the bill of fare;Whether the cod, that northern king of fish,Or duck, or goose, or pig, adorn the dish,No fears the number of her guests afford,But at her hour she sees the dinner on the board.

King,Queen,Huncamunca,Noodle.

King.See where the princess comes! Where is Tom Thumb?

Hunc.Oh! sir, about an hour and half agoHe sallied out t' encounter with the foe,And swore, unless his fate had him misled,From Grizzle's shoulders to cut off his head,And serve't up with your chocolate in bed.

Hunc.Oh! sir, about an hour and half ago

He sallied out t' encounter with the foe,

And swore, unless his fate had him misled,

From Grizzle's shoulders to cut off his head,

And serve't up with your chocolate in bed.

King.'Tis well, I found one devil told us both.Come, Dollallolla, Huncamunca, come;Within we'll wait for the victorious Thumb:In peace and safety we secure may stay,While to his arm we trust the bloody fray;Though men and giants should conspire with gods,He is alone equal to all these odds.[177]

King.'Tis well, I found one devil told us both.

Come, Dollallolla, Huncamunca, come;

Within we'll wait for the victorious Thumb:

In peace and safety we secure may stay,

While to his arm we trust the bloody fray;

Though men and giants should conspire with gods,

He is alone equal to all these odds.[177]

Queen.He is, indeed, a helmet to us all;[178]While he supports we need not fear to fall;His arm despatches all things to our wish,And serves up ev'ry foe's head in a dish.Void is the mistress of the house of care,While the good cook presents the bill of fare;Whether the cod, that northern king of fish,Or duck, or goose, or pig, adorn the dish,No fears the number of her guests afford,But at her hour she sees the dinner on the board.

Queen.He is, indeed, a helmet to us all;[178]

While he supports we need not fear to fall;

His arm despatches all things to our wish,

And serves up ev'ry foe's head in a dish.

Void is the mistress of the house of care,

While the good cook presents the bill of fare;

Whether the cod, that northern king of fish,

Or duck, or goose, or pig, adorn the dish,

No fears the number of her guests afford,

But at her hour she sees the dinner on the board.

Scene VII.—Plain.

Grizzle, Foodle, Rebels.Griz.Thus far our arms with victory are crown'd;For, though we have not fought, yet we have foundNo enemy to fight withal.[179]Food.Yet I,Methinks, would willingly avoid this day,This first of April to engage our foes.[180]Griz.This day, of all the days of the year, I'd choose,For on this day my grandmother was born.Gods! I will make Tom Thumb an April-fool;Will teach his wit an errand it ne'er knew,[181]And send it post to the Elysian shades.Food.I'm glad to find our army is so stout,Nor does it move my wonder less than joy.Griz.What friends we have, and how we came so strong,[182]I'll softly tell you as we march along.

Grizzle, Foodle, Rebels.

Griz.Thus far our arms with victory are crown'd;For, though we have not fought, yet we have foundNo enemy to fight withal.[179]

Griz.Thus far our arms with victory are crown'd;

For, though we have not fought, yet we have found

No enemy to fight withal.[179]

Food.Yet I,Methinks, would willingly avoid this day,This first of April to engage our foes.[180]

Food.Yet I,

Methinks, would willingly avoid this day,

This first of April to engage our foes.[180]

Griz.This day, of all the days of the year, I'd choose,For on this day my grandmother was born.Gods! I will make Tom Thumb an April-fool;Will teach his wit an errand it ne'er knew,[181]And send it post to the Elysian shades.

Griz.This day, of all the days of the year, I'd choose,

For on this day my grandmother was born.

Gods! I will make Tom Thumb an April-fool;

Will teach his wit an errand it ne'er knew,[181]

And send it post to the Elysian shades.

Food.I'm glad to find our army is so stout,Nor does it move my wonder less than joy.

Food.I'm glad to find our army is so stout,

Nor does it move my wonder less than joy.

Griz.What friends we have, and how we came so strong,[182]I'll softly tell you as we march along.

Griz.What friends we have, and how we came so strong,[182]

I'll softly tell you as we march along.

Scene VIII.—Thunder and Lightning.

Tom Thumb, Glumdalca,cum suis.Thumb.Oh, Noodle! hast thou seen a day like this?The unborn thunder rumbles o'er our heads,[183]As if the gods meant to unhinge the world,[184]And heaven and earth in wild confusion hurl;Yet will I boldly tread the tott'ring ball.Merl.Tom Thumb!Thumb.What voice is this I hear?Merl.Tom Thumb!Thumb.Again it calls.Merl.Tom Thumb!Glum.It calls again.Thumb.Appear, whoe'er thou art; I fear thee not.Merl.Thou hast no cause to fear—I am thy friend,Merlin by name, a conjuror by trade,And to my art thou dost thy being owe.Thumb.How?Merl.Hear, then, the mystic getting of Tom Thumb.His father was a ploughman plain,His mother milk'd the cow;And yet the way to get a sonThis couple knew not how,Until such time the good old manTo learned Merlin goes,And there to him, in great distress,In secret manner showsHow in his heart he wish'd to haveA child, in time to come,To be his heir, though it may beNo bigger than his thumb:Of which old Merlin was foretoldThat he his wish should have;And so a son of stature smallThe charmer to him gave.[185]Thou'st heard the past—look up and see the future.Thumb.Lost in amazement's gulf, my senses sink;[186]See there, Glumdalca, see another me![187]Glum.O, sight of horror! see, you are devour'dBy the expanded jaws of a red cow.Merl.Let not these sights deter thy noble mind,For, lo! a sight more glorious courts thy eyes.[188]See from afar a theatre arise;There ages, yet unborn, shall tribute payTo the heroic actions of this day;Then buskin tragedy at length shall chooseThy name the best supporter of her muse.Thumb.Enough: let every warlike music sound.We fall contented, if we fall renown'd.

Tom Thumb, Glumdalca,cum suis.

Thumb.Oh, Noodle! hast thou seen a day like this?The unborn thunder rumbles o'er our heads,[183]As if the gods meant to unhinge the world,[184]And heaven and earth in wild confusion hurl;Yet will I boldly tread the tott'ring ball.

Thumb.Oh, Noodle! hast thou seen a day like this?

The unborn thunder rumbles o'er our heads,[183]

As if the gods meant to unhinge the world,[184]

And heaven and earth in wild confusion hurl;

Yet will I boldly tread the tott'ring ball.

Merl.Tom Thumb!

Thumb.What voice is this I hear?

Merl.Tom Thumb!

Thumb.Again it calls.

Merl.Tom Thumb!

Glum.It calls again.

Thumb.Appear, whoe'er thou art; I fear thee not.

Merl.Thou hast no cause to fear—I am thy friend,Merlin by name, a conjuror by trade,And to my art thou dost thy being owe.

Merl.Thou hast no cause to fear—I am thy friend,

Merlin by name, a conjuror by trade,

And to my art thou dost thy being owe.

Thumb.How?

Merl.Hear, then, the mystic getting of Tom Thumb.

His father was a ploughman plain,His mother milk'd the cow;And yet the way to get a sonThis couple knew not how,Until such time the good old manTo learned Merlin goes,And there to him, in great distress,In secret manner showsHow in his heart he wish'd to haveA child, in time to come,To be his heir, though it may beNo bigger than his thumb:Of which old Merlin was foretoldThat he his wish should have;And so a son of stature smallThe charmer to him gave.[185]

His father was a ploughman plain,

His mother milk'd the cow;

And yet the way to get a son

This couple knew not how,

Until such time the good old man

To learned Merlin goes,

And there to him, in great distress,

In secret manner shows

How in his heart he wish'd to have

A child, in time to come,

To be his heir, though it may be

No bigger than his thumb:

Of which old Merlin was foretold

That he his wish should have;

And so a son of stature small

The charmer to him gave.[185]

Thou'st heard the past—look up and see the future.

Thumb.Lost in amazement's gulf, my senses sink;[186]See there, Glumdalca, see another me![187]

Thumb.Lost in amazement's gulf, my senses sink;[186]

See there, Glumdalca, see another me![187]

Glum.O, sight of horror! see, you are devour'dBy the expanded jaws of a red cow.

Glum.O, sight of horror! see, you are devour'd

By the expanded jaws of a red cow.

Merl.Let not these sights deter thy noble mind,For, lo! a sight more glorious courts thy eyes.[188]See from afar a theatre arise;There ages, yet unborn, shall tribute payTo the heroic actions of this day;Then buskin tragedy at length shall chooseThy name the best supporter of her muse.

Merl.Let not these sights deter thy noble mind,

For, lo! a sight more glorious courts thy eyes.[188]

See from afar a theatre arise;

There ages, yet unborn, shall tribute pay

To the heroic actions of this day;

Then buskin tragedy at length shall choose

Thy name the best supporter of her muse.

Thumb.Enough: let every warlike music sound.We fall contented, if we fall renown'd.

Thumb.Enough: let every warlike music sound.

We fall contented, if we fall renown'd.

Scene IX.

Lord Grizzle, Foodle, Rebels,on one side;Tom Thumb, Glumdalca,on the other.Food.At length the enemy advances nigh,I hear them with my ear, and see them with my eye.[189]Griz.Draw all your swords: for liberty we fight,And liberty the mustard is of life.[190]Thumb.Are you the man whom men famed Grizzle name?Griz.Are you the much more famed Tom Thumb?[191]Thumb.The same.Griz.Come on, our worth upon ourselves we'll prove;For liberty I fight.Thumb.And I for love.[A bloody engagement between the two armies; drums beating, trumpets sounding, thunder, lightning, They fight off and on several times. Some fall.GrizzleandGlumdalcaremain.Glum.Turn, coward, turn; nor from a woman fly.Griz.Away—thou art too ignoble for my arm.Glum.Have at thy heart.Griz.Nay, then I thrust at thine.Glum.You push too well; you've run me through the body,And I am dead.Griz.Then there's an end of one.Thumb.When thou art dead, then there's an end of two.Villain.[192]Griz.Tom Thumb!Thumb.Rebel!Griz.Tom Thumb!Thumb.Hell!Griz.Huncamunca!Thumb.Thou hast it there.Griz.Too sure I feel it.Thumb.To hell then, like a rebel as you are,And give my service to the rebels there.Griz.Triumph not, Thumb, nor think thou shalt enjoyThy Huncamunca undisturb'd; I'll sendMy ghost to fetch her to the other world;[193]It shall but bait at heaven, and then return.[194]But, ha! I feel death rumbling in my brains:[195]Some kinder sprite knocks softly at my soul,[196]And gently whispers it to haste away.I come, I come, most willingly I come.So when some city wife, for country air,To Hampstead or to Highgate does repair,Her to make haste her husband does implore,And cries, "My dear, the coach is at the door:"With equal wish, desirous to be gone,She gets into the coach, and then she cries—"Drive on!"Thumb.With those last words he vomited his soul,[197]Which, like whipt cream, the devil will swallow down.[198]Bear off the body, and cut off the head,Which I will to the king in triumph lug.Rebellion's dead, and now I'll go to breakfast.

Lord Grizzle, Foodle, Rebels,on one side;Tom Thumb, Glumdalca,on the other.

Food.At length the enemy advances nigh,I hear them with my ear, and see them with my eye.[189]

Food.At length the enemy advances nigh,

I hear them with my ear, and see them with my eye.[189]

Griz.Draw all your swords: for liberty we fight,And liberty the mustard is of life.[190]

Griz.Draw all your swords: for liberty we fight,

And liberty the mustard is of life.[190]

Thumb.Are you the man whom men famed Grizzle name?

Griz.Are you the much more famed Tom Thumb?[191]

Thumb.The same.

Griz.Come on, our worth upon ourselves we'll prove;For liberty I fight.

Griz.Come on, our worth upon ourselves we'll prove;

For liberty I fight.

Thumb.And I for love.

[A bloody engagement between the two armies; drums beating, trumpets sounding, thunder, lightning, They fight off and on several times. Some fall.GrizzleandGlumdalcaremain.

Glum.Turn, coward, turn; nor from a woman fly.

Griz.Away—thou art too ignoble for my arm.

Glum.Have at thy heart.

Griz.Nay, then I thrust at thine.

Glum.You push too well; you've run me through the body,And I am dead.

Glum.You push too well; you've run me through the body,

And I am dead.

Griz.Then there's an end of one.

Thumb.When thou art dead, then there's an end of two.Villain.[192]

Thumb.When thou art dead, then there's an end of two.

Villain.[192]

Griz.Tom Thumb!

Thumb.Rebel!

Griz.Tom Thumb!

Thumb.Hell!

Griz.Huncamunca!

Thumb.Thou hast it there.

Griz.Too sure I feel it.

Thumb.To hell then, like a rebel as you are,And give my service to the rebels there.

Thumb.To hell then, like a rebel as you are,

And give my service to the rebels there.

Griz.Triumph not, Thumb, nor think thou shalt enjoyThy Huncamunca undisturb'd; I'll sendMy ghost to fetch her to the other world;[193]It shall but bait at heaven, and then return.[194]But, ha! I feel death rumbling in my brains:[195]Some kinder sprite knocks softly at my soul,[196]And gently whispers it to haste away.I come, I come, most willingly I come.So when some city wife, for country air,To Hampstead or to Highgate does repair,Her to make haste her husband does implore,And cries, "My dear, the coach is at the door:"With equal wish, desirous to be gone,She gets into the coach, and then she cries—"Drive on!"

Griz.Triumph not, Thumb, nor think thou shalt enjoy

Thy Huncamunca undisturb'd; I'll send

My ghost to fetch her to the other world;[193]

It shall but bait at heaven, and then return.[194]

But, ha! I feel death rumbling in my brains:[195]

Some kinder sprite knocks softly at my soul,[196]

And gently whispers it to haste away.

I come, I come, most willingly I come.

So when some city wife, for country air,

To Hampstead or to Highgate does repair,

Her to make haste her husband does implore,

And cries, "My dear, the coach is at the door:"

With equal wish, desirous to be gone,

She gets into the coach, and then she cries—"Drive on!"

Thumb.With those last words he vomited his soul,[197]Which, like whipt cream, the devil will swallow down.[198]Bear off the body, and cut off the head,Which I will to the king in triumph lug.Rebellion's dead, and now I'll go to breakfast.

Thumb.With those last words he vomited his soul,[197]

Which, like whipt cream, the devil will swallow down.[198]

Bear off the body, and cut off the head,

Which I will to the king in triumph lug.

Rebellion's dead, and now I'll go to breakfast.

Scene X.

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