_King._ Oh! stay, and leave me not uncertain thus! And, whilst thou tellest me what's like my fate, Oh! teach me how I may avert it too! Curs'd be the man who first a simile made! Curs'd ev'ry bard who writes--So have I seen! Those whose comparisons are just and true, And those who liken things not like at all. The devil is happy that the whole creation Can furnish out no simile to his fortune. SCENE IV. KING, QUEEN. _Queen._ What is the cause, my Arthur, that you steal Thus silently from Dollallolla's breast? Why dost thou leave me in the dark alone,[173] When well thou know'st I am afraid of sprites? _King._ Oh, Dollallolla! do not blame my love! I hoped the fumes of last night's punch had laid Thy lovely eyelids fast; but, oh! I find There is no power in drams to quiet wives; Each morn, as the returning sun, they wake, And shine upon their husbands. _Queen._ Think, oh, think! What a surprise it must be to the sun, Rising, to find the vanish'd world away. What less can be the wretched wife's surprise When, stretching out her arms to fold thee fast, She found her useless bolster in her arms. Think, think, on that.--Oh! think, think well on that![174] I do remember also to have read In Dryden's Ovid's Metamorphoses,[175] That Jove in form inanimate did lie With beauteous Danaë: and, trust me, love, I fear'd the bolster might have been a Jove.[176] _King._ Come to my arms, most virtuous of thy sex! Oh, Dollallolla! were all wives like thee, So many husbands never had worn horns. Should Huncamunca of thy worth partake, Tom Thumb indeed were blest.--Oh, fatal name For didst thou know one quarter what I know, Then wouldst thou know--alas! what thou wouldst know! _Queen._ What can I gather hence? Why dost thou speak Like men who carry rareeshows about? "Now you shall see, gentlemen, what you shall see." O, tell me more, or thou hast told too much. SCENE V. KING, QUEEN, NOODLE. _Nood._ Long life attend your majesties serene, Great Arthur, king, and Dollallolla, queen! Lord Grizzle, with a bold rebellious crowd, Advances to the palace, threat'ning loud, Unless the princess be deliver'd straight, And the victorious Thumb, without his pate, They are resolv'd to batter down the gate. SCENE VI. KING, QUEEN, HUNCAMUNCA, NOODLE. _King._ See where the princess comes! Where is Tom Thumb? _Hunc._ Oh! sir, about an hour and half ago He sallied out t' encounter with the foe, And swore, unless his fate had him misled, From Grizzle's shoulders to cut off his head, And serve't up with your chocolate in bed.