SCENE IV.

KING, QUEEN.

_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 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 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 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 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.