The Works of Henry Fielding Part 24

[Footnote 2: These quotations are more usual in the comick than in the tragick writers.]

[Footnote 3: "This distress," says Mr D--, "I must allow to be extremely beautiful, and tends to heighten the virtuous character of Dollallolla, who is so exceeding delicate, that she is in the highest apprehension from the inanimate embrace of a bolster. An example worthy of imitation for all our writers of tragedy."]

_King_. Come to my arms, most virtuous of thy s.e.x!

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 would'st thou know--Alas! what thou would'st know!

_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.

SCENE V.--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.

SCENE VI.--KING, QUEEN, HUNCAMUNCA, NOODLE.

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

_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 b.l.o.o.d.y fray; Though men and giants should conspire with G.o.ds, [1] He is alone equal to all these odds.

[Footnote 1: "Credat Judaeus Appella, Non ego,"

says Mr D--. "For, pa.s.sing over the absurdity of being equal to odds, can we possibly suppose a little insignificant fellow--I say again, a little insignificant fellow--able to vie with a strength which all the Samsons and Herculeses of antiquity would be unable to encounter?" I shall refer this incredulous critick to Mr Dryden's defence of his Almanzor; and, lest that should not satisfy him, I shall quote a few lines from the speech of a much braver fellow than Almanzor, Mr Johnson's Achilles:

Though human race rise in embattled hosts, To force her from my arms--Oh! son of Atreus!

By that immortal pow'r, whose deathless spirit Informs this earth, I will oppose them all.--_Victim_.

_Queen_. He is, indeed,[1] a helmet to us all; 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.

[Footnote 1: "I have heard of being supported by a staff," says Mr D., "but never of being supported by a helmet." I believe he never heard of sailing with wings, which he may read in no less a poet than Mr Dryden:

Unless we borrow wings, and sail through air.

--_Love Triumphant_.

What will he say to a kneeling valley?

----I'll stand Like a safe valley, that low bends the knee To some aspiring mountain. --_Injured Love_.

I am ashamed of so ignorant a carper, who doth not know that an epithet in tragedy is very often no other than an expletive. Do not we read in the New Sophonisba of "grinding chains, blue plagues, white occasions, and blue serenity?" Nay, it is not the adjective only, but sometimes half a sentence is put by way of expletive, as, "Beauty pointed high with spirit," in the same play; and, "In the lap of blessing, to be most curst," in the Revenge.

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 found [1] No enemy to fight withal.

[Footnote 1: A victory like that of Almanzor: Almanzor is victorious without fight.--_Conq. of Granada_.

_Food_. Yet I, Methinks, would willingly avoid this day, [1] This first of April, to engage our foes.

[Footnote 1: Well have we chose an happy day for fight; For every man, in course of time, has found Some days are lucky, some unfortunate.--_King Arthur_.

_Griz_. This day, of all the days of th' year, I'd choose, For on this day my grandmother was born.

G.o.ds! I will make Tom Thumb an April-fool; [1] Will teach his wit an errand it ne'er knew, And send it post to the Elysian shades.

[Footnote 1: We read of such another in Lee: Teach his rude wit a flight she never made, And send her post to the Elysian shade.--_Gloriana_.

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

_Griz_. [1] What friends we have, and how we came so strong, I'll softly tell you as we march along.

[Footnote 1: These lines are copied verbatim in the Indian Emperor.]

SCENE VIII.--_Thunder and Lightning_.--TOM THUMB, GLUMDALCA, _c.u.m suis_.

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

[1] The unborn thunder rumbles o'er our heads, [2] As if the G.o.ds 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: