Thumb. Oh, Noodle! hast thou seen a day like this? [1] The unborn thunder rumbles o'er our heads, [2] As if the gods meant to unhinge the world, And heaven and earth in wild confusion hurl; Yet will I boldly tread the tott'ring ball. [Footnote 1: Unborn thunder rolling in a cloud.—Conq. of Granada. ] [Footnote 2: Were heaven and earth in wild confusion hurl'd, Should the rash gods unhinge the rolling world, Undaunted would I tread the tott'ring ball, Crush'd, but unconquer'd, in the dreadful fall. —Female Warrior. ] 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 mystick getting of Tom Thumb. [1] His father was a ploughman plain, Thou'st heard the past—look up and see the future. [Footnote 1: See the History of Tom Thumb, page 2.] Thumb. [1] Lost in amazement's gulf, my senses sink; See there, Glumdalca, see another [2] me! [Footnote 1: [Footnote 2: Glum. Oh, 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, [1] For, lo! a sight more glorious courts thy eyes. See from afar a theatre arise; There ages, yet unborn, shall tribute pay To the heroick actions of this day; Then buskin tragedy at length shall chuse Thy name the best supporter of her muse. [Footnote 1: The character of Merlin is wonderful throughout; but most so in this prophetick part. We find several of these prophecies in the tragick authors, who frequently take this opportunity to pay a compliment to their country, and sometimes to their prince. None but our author (who seems to have detested the least appearance of flattery) would have past by such an opportunity of being a political prophet.] Thumb. Enough: let every warlike musick sound, We fall contented, if we fall renown'd. |