King. [1] 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 [2] 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? [Footnote 1: Phraortes, in the Captives, seems to have been acquainted with King Arthur: Proclaim a festival for seven days' space, ] [Footnote 2: Repentance frowns on thy contracted brow.—Sophonisba. Hung on his clouded brow, I mark'd despair.—Ibid. —A sullen gloom Queen. [1]Excess of joy, my lord, I've heard folks say, Gives tears as certain as excess of grief. [Footnote 1: Plato is of this opinion, and so is Mr Banks: Behold these tears sprung from fresh pain and joy. King. If it be so, let all men cry for joy, [1]Till my whole court be drowned with their tears; Nay, till they overflow my utmost land, And leave me nothing but the sea to rule. [Footnote 1: These floods are very frequent in the tragick authors: Near to some murmuring brook I'll lay me down, Pouring forth tears at such a lavish rate, One author changes the waters of grief to those of joy: ——These tears, that sprung from tides of grief, Another: Turns all the streams of heat, and makes them flow One drowns himself: ——Pity like a torrent pours me down, Cyrus drowns the whole world: Our swelling grief Dood. My liege, I a petition have here got. King. Petition me no petitions, sir, to-day: [Footnote 1: An expression vastly beneath the dignity of tragedy, says I would be drunk with death.—Mithridates. The author of the New Sophonisba taketh hold of this monosyllable, and uses it pretty much to the same purpose: The Carthaginian sword with Roman blood I would ask Mr D—s which gives him the best idea, a drunken king, or a drunken sword? Mr Tate dresses up King Arthur's resolution in heroick: Merry, my lord, o' th' captain's humour right, Lee also uses this charming word: Love's the drunkenness of the mind.—Gloriana. ] Queen. (Though I already[1] half seas over am) [Footnote 1: Dryden hath borrowed this, and applied it improperly: I'm half seas o'er in death.—Cleomenes ] 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. [Trumpets. But, ha! the warrior comes—the great Tom Thumb, The little hero, giant-killing boy, Preserver of my kingdom, is arrived. |