Chapter 46

GLUMDALCA, _cum suis_.

_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, His mother milk'd the cow; And yet the way to get a son This couple knew not how, Until such time the good old man To learned Merlin goes, And there to him, in great distress, In secret manner shows How in his heart he wish'd to have A child, in time to come, To be his heir, though it may be No bigger than his thumb: Of which old Merlin was foretold That he his wish should have; And so a son of stature small The charmer to him gave.

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: Amazement swallows up my sense, And in the impetuous whirl of circling fate Drinks down my reason.--_Persian Princess_. ]

[Footnote 2: I have outfaced myself. What! am I two? Is there another me?--_King Arthur_. ]

_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.