_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._ SCENE II. KING, QUEEN, GRIZZLE, NOODLE, DOODLE, FOODLE. _King._ Let nothing but a face of joy appear;[75] The man who frowns this day shall lose his head, That he may have no face to frown withal. Smile Dollallolla--Ha! what wrinkled sorrow Hangs, sits, lies, frowns upon thy knitted brow?[76] Whence flow those tears fast down thy blubber'd cheeks, Like a swoln gutter, gushing through the streets? _Queen._ Excess of joy, my lord, I've heard folks say,[77] Gives tears as certain as excess of grief. _King._ If it be so, let all men cry for joy, Till my whole court be drowned with their tears;[78] Nay, till they overflow my utmost land, And leave me nothing but the sea to rule. _Dood._ My liege, I a petition have here got. _King._ Petition me no petitions, sir, to-day: Let other hours be set apart for business. To-day it is our pleasure to be drunk.[79] And this our queen shall be as drunk as we. _Queen._ (Though I already[80] half-seas over am) If the capacious goblet overflow With arrack punch----'fore George! I'll see it out: Of rum and brandy I'll not taste a drop. _King._ Though rack, in punch, eight shillings be a quart, And rum and brandy be no more than six, Rather than quarrel you shall have your will. [_Trumpets._ But, ha! the warrior comes--the great Tom Thumb, The little hero, giant-killing boy, Preserver of my kingdom, is arrived. SCENE III. TOM THUMB _to them, with_ OFFICERS, PRISONERS, _and_ ATTENDANTS. _King._ Oh! welcome most, most welcome to my arms.[81] What gratitude can thank away the debt Your valour lays upon me? _Queen._ Oh! ye gods![82] [_Aside._ _Thumb._ When I'm not thank'd at all, I'm thank'd enough.[83] I've done my duty, and I've done no more. _Queen._ Was ever such a godlike creature seen? [_Aside._ _King._ Thy modesty's a candle[84] to thy merit, It shines itself, and shows thy merit too. But say, my boy, where didst thou leave the giants? _Thumb._ My liege, without the castle gates they stand, The castle gates too low for their admittance. _King._ What look they like? _Thumb._ Like nothing but themselves.