SCENE I.--_The Palace.

DOODLE, NOODLE.

_Doodle._ Sure such a day[65] as this was never seen! The sun himself, on this auspicious day, Shines like a beau in a new birthday suit: This down the seams embroidered, that the beams. All nature wears one universal grin.

_Nood._ This day, O Mr. Doodle, is a day. Indeed!--a day, we never saw before.[66] The mighty Thomas Thumb victorious comes;[67] Millions of giants crowd his chariot wheels, Giants! to whom the giants in Guildhall[68] Are infant dwarfs. They frown, and foam, and roar, While Thumb, regardless of their noise, rides on. So some cock-sparrow in a farmer's yard, Hops at the head of an huge flock of turkeys.

_Dood._ When Goody Thumb first brought this Thomas forth, The Genius of our land triumphant reign'd; Then, then, O Arthur! did thy Genius reign.

_Nood._ They tell me it is whisper'd[69] in the books Of all our sages, that this mighty hero, By Merlin's art begot, hath not a bone Within his skin, but is a lump of gristle.

_Dood._ Then 'tis a gristle of no mortal kind; Some god, my Noodle, stept into the place Of Gaffer Thumb, and more than half begot[70] This mighty Tom.

_Nood._ Sure he was sent express[71] From Heaven to be the pillar of our state. Though small his body be, so very small A chairman's leg is more than twice as large, Yet is his soul like any mountain big; And as a mountain once brought forth a mouse, So doth this mouse contain a mighty mountain.[72]

_Dood._ Mountain indeed! So terrible his name, The giant nurses frighten children with it,[73] 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.[74]

_Dood._ He comes most luckily for my petition. [_Flourish._