_Par._ Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing; For, if I guess right, Tom Thumb this night Shall give a being to a new Tom Thumb. _Thumb._ It shall be my endeavour so to do. _Hunc._ Oh! fie upon you, sir, you make me blush. _Thumb._ It is the virgin's sign, and suits you well: I know not where, nor how, nor what I am;[150] I'm so transported, I have lost myself.[151] _Hunc._ Forbid it, all ye stars, for you're so small, That were you lost, you'd find yourself no more. So the unhappy sempstress once, they say, Her needle in a pottle, lost, of hay; In vain she look'd, and look'd, and made her moan. For ah, the needle was for ever gone. _Par._ Long may they live, and love, and propagate, Till the whole land be peopled with Tom Thumbs! So, when the Cheshire cheese a maggot breeds,[152] Another and another still succeeds: By thousands and ten thousands they increase, Till one continued maggot fills the rotten cheese. SCENE X. NOODLE, _and then_ GRIZZLE. _Nood._ Sure, Nature means to break her solid chain,[153] Or else unfix the world, and in a rage To hurl it from its axletree and hinges; All things are so confused, the king's in love, The queen is drunk, the princess married is. _Griz._ Oh, Noodle! Hast thou Huncamunca seen? _Nood._ I've seen a thousand sights this day, where none Are by the Wonderful Pig himself outdone. The king, the queen, and all the court, are sights. _Griz._ D--n your delay, you trifler! are you drunk, ha?[154] I will not hear one word but Huncamunca. _Nood._ By this time she is married to Tom Thumb. _Griz._ My Huncamunca![155] _Nood._ Your Huncamunca, Tom Thumb's Huncamunca, every man's Huncamunca. _Griz._ If this be true, all womankind are curst. _Nood._ If it be not, may I be so myself. _Griz._ See where she comes! I'll not believe a word Against that face, upon whose ample brow[156] Sits innocence with majesty enthroned. GRIZZLE, HUNCAMUNCA. _Griz._ Where has my Huncamunca been? See here. The licence in my hand! _Hunc._ Alas! Tom Thumb. _Griz._ Why dost thou mention him? _Hunc._ Ah, me! Tom Thumb. _Griz._ What means my lovely Huncamunca? _Hunc._ Hum? _Griz._ Oh! speak. _Hunc._ Hum! _Griz._ Ha! your every word is hum: You force me still to answer you, Tom Thumb.[157] Tom Thumb--I'm on the rack--I'm in a flame. Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb--you love the name;[158] So pleasing is that sound, that, were you dumb, You still would find a voice to cry Tom Thumb. _Hunc._ Oh! be not hasty to proclaim my doom! My ample heart for more than one has room: A maid like me Heaven form'd at least for two. I married him, and now I'll marry you.[159]