TOM THUMB THE GREAT, _a little hero with a great soul, something violent in his temper, which is a little abated by his love for_ HUNCAMUNCA. GHOST OF GAFFER THUMB, _a whimsical sort of ghost_. LORD GRIZZLE, _extremely zealous for the liberty of the subject, very choleric in his temper, and in love with_ HUNCAMUNCA. MERLIN, _a conjuror, and in some sort father to_ TOM THUMB. NOODLE, DOODLE, _courtiers in place, and consequently of that party that is uppermost_. FOODLE, _a courtier that is out of place, and consequently of that party that is undermost_. BAILIFF, AND FOLLOWER, _of the party of the plaintiff_. PARSON, _of the side of the church_. QUEEN DOLLALLOLLA, _wife to_ KING ARTHUR, _and mother to_ HUNCAMUNCA, _a woman entirely faultless, saving that she is a little given to drink, a little too much a virago towards her husband, and in love with_ TOM THUMB. THE PRINCESS HUNCAMUNCA, _daughter to their_ MAJESTIES KING ARTHUR _and_ QUEEN DOLLALLOLLA, _of a very sweet, gentle, and amorous disposition, equally in love with_ LORD GRIZZLE _and_ TOM THUMB, _and desirous to be married to them both_. GLUMDALCA, _of the giants, a captive queen, beloved by the king, but in love with_ TOM THUMB. CLEORA, MUSTACHA, _maids of honour in love with_ NOODLE _and_ DOODLE. Courtiers, Guards, Rebels, Drums, Trumpets, Thunder and Lightning. SCENE.--THE COURT OF KING ARTHUR, AND A PLAIN THEREABOUTS. * * * * * ACT I. 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.