Now by a raven of great strength Away he thence was borne, And carried in the carrions beake Even like a graine of corne, Unto a giants castle top, In which he let him fall, Where soone the giant swallowed up His body, cloathes and all. But in his stomach did Tom Thumbe So great a rumbling make, That neither day nor night he could The smallest quiet take, Untill the giant had him spewd Three miles into the sea, Whereas a fish soone tooke him up And bore him thence away. Which lusty fish was after caught And to king Arthur sent, Where Tom was found, and made his dwarfe, Whereas his dayes he spent Long time in lively jollity, Belov'd of all the court, And none like Tom was then esteem'd Among the noble sort. Amongst his deedes of courtship done, His highnesse did command, That he should dance a galliard brave Upon his queenes left hand. The which he did, and for the same The king his signet gave, Which Tom about his middle wore Long time a girdle brave. Now after this the king would not Abroad for pleasure goe, But still Tom Thumbe must ride with him, Plac'd on his saddle-bow. Where on a time when as it rain'd, Tom Thumbe most nimbly crept In at a button hole, where he Within his bosome slept. And being neere his highnesse heart, He crav'd a wealthy boone, A liberall gift, the which the king Commanded to be done, For to relieve his fathers wants, And mothers, being old; Which was so much of silver coin As well his armes could hold. And so away goes lusty Tom, With three pence on his backe, A heavy burthen, which might make His wearied limbes to cracke. So travelling two dayes and nights, With labour and great paine, He came into the house whereas His parents did remaine; Which was but halfe a mile in space From good king Arthurs court, The which in eight and forty houres He went in weary sort. But comming to his fathers doore, He there such entrance had As made his parents both rejoice, And he thereat was glad. His mother in her apron tooke Her gentle sonne in haste, And by the fier side, within A walnut shell, him plac'd: Whereas they feasted him three dayes Upon a hazell nut, Whereon he rioted so long He them to charges put; And thereupon grew wonderous sicke, Through eating too much meate, Which was sufficient for a month For this great man to eate. But now his businesse call'd him foorth, King Arthurs court to see, Whereas no longer from the same He could a stranger be. But yet a few small April drops, Which settled in the way, His long and weary journey forth Did hinder and so stay. Until his carefull father tooke A hollow straw in sport, And with one blast blew this his sonne Into king Arthurs court. Now he with tilts and turnaments Was entertained so, That all the best of Arthurs knights Did him much pleasure show.