Act 4 — Bombastes Furioso.

The King in his chair of state.—A table set out with punchbowl, glasses, pipes, &c.—Attendants on each side. Trio.—"Tekeli." 1st Atten. What will your majesty please to wear? Or blue, green, red, black, white, or brown? 2nd Atten. D'ye choose to look at the bill of fare? [Showing long bill. King. Get out of my sight, or I'll knock you down. 2nd Atten. Here is soup, fish, or goose, or duck, or fowl, or pigeons, pig, or hare! 1st Atten. Or blue, or green, or red, or black, or white, or brown, What will your Majesty, &c. King. Get out of my sight, &c. [Exeunt Attendants. Enter Fusbos, and kneels to the King. Fusbos. Hail, Artaxominous! yclep'd the Great! I come, an humble pillar of thy state, Pregnant with news—but ere that news I tell, First let me hope your Majesty is well. King. Rise, learned Fusbos! rise, my friend, and know We are but middling—that is, so so! Fusbos. Only so so! Oh, monstrous, doleful thing! Is it the mulligrubs affects the king? Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy, Do the blue devils your repose annoy? King. Nor mulligrubs nor devils blue are here, But yet we feel ourselves a little queer. Fusbos. Yes, I perceive it in that vacant eye, The vest unbutton'd, and the wig awry; So sickly cats neglect their fur-attire, And sit and mope beside the kitchen fire. King. Last night, when undisturb'd by state affairs, Moist'ning our clay, and puffing off our cares, Oft the replenish'd goblet did we drain, And drank and smok'd, and smok'd and drank again! Such was the case, our very actions such, Until at length we got a drop too much. Fusbos. So when some donkey on the Blackheath Road, Falls, overpower'd, beneath his sandy load; The driver's curse unheeded swells the air, Since none can carry more than they can bear. King. The sapient Doctor Muggins came in haste, Who suits his physic to his patient's taste; He, knowing well on what our heart is set, Hath just prescrib'd, "To take a morning whet;" The very sight each sick'ning pain subdues. Then sit, my Fusbos, sit and tell thy news. Fusbos [sits.] Gen'ral Bombastes, whose resistless force Alone exceeds by far a brewer's horse, Returns victorious, bringing mines of wealth! King. Does he, by jingo? then we'll drink his health! [Drum and Fife. Fusbos. But hark! with loud acclaim, the fife and drum Announce your army near; behold, they come! Enter Bombastes, attended by one Drummer, one Fifer, and two Soldiers, all very materially differing in size.—They march round the stage and back. Bombas. Meet me this ev'ning at the Barley Mow; I'll bring your pay—you see I'm busy now: Begone, brave army, and don't kick up a row. [Exeunt Soldiers. [To the King.] Thrash'd are your foes—this watch and silken string, Worn by their chief, I as a trophy bring; I knock'd him down, then snatch'd it from his fob; "Watch, watch," he cried, when I had done the job. "My watch is gone," says he—says I, "Just so; Stop where you are—watches were made to go." King. For which we make you Duke of Strombelo. [Bombastes kneels; the King dubs him with a pipe, and then presents the bowl. From our own bowl here drink, my soldier true, And if you'd like to take a whiff or two, He whose brave arm hath made our foes to crouch, Shall have a pipe from this our royal pouch. Bombas. [rises.] Honours so great have all my toils repaid! My liege, and Fusbos, here's "Success to trade". Fusbos. Well said, Bombastes! Since thy mighty blows, Have given a quietus to our foes, Now shall our farmers gather in their crops, And busy tradesmen mind their crowded shops The deadly havoc of war's hatchet cease; Now shall we smoke the calumet of peace. King. I shall smoke short-cut, you smoke what you please. Bombas. Whate'er your Majesty shall deign to name, Short cut or long to me is all the same. } Bombas.{ In short, so long, as we your favours claim, { Short cut or long, to us is all the same. Fusbos. { King. Thanks, gen'rous friends! now list whilst I impart How firm you're lock'd and bolted in my heart; So long as this here pouch a pipe contains, Or a full glass in that there bowl remains, To you an equal portion shall belong; This do I swear, and now—let's have a song. Fusbos. My liege shall be obeyed. [Advances and attempts to sing. Bombas. Fusbos, give place, You know you haven't got a singing face; Here nature, smiling, gave the winning grace. Song.—"Hope told a flatt'ring Tale." Hope told a flattering tale, Much longer than my arm, That love and pots of ale In peace would keep me warm: The flatt'rer is not gone, She visits number one: In love I'm monstrous deep. Love! odsbobs, destroys my sleep, Hope told a flattering tale, Lest love should soon grow cool; A tub thrown to a whale, To make the fish a fool: Should Distaffina frown, Then love's gone out of town; And when love's dream is o'er, Then we wake and dream no more. [Exit. [The King evinces strong emotions during the song, and at the conclusion starts up. Fusbos. What ails my liege? ah! why that look so sad? King [coming forward.] I am in love! I scorch, I freeze, I'm mad! Oh, tell me, Fusbos, first and best of friends, You, who have wisdom at your fingers' ends, Shall it be so, or shall it not be so? Shall I my Griskinissa's charms forego, Compel her to give up the regal chair, And place the rosy Distaffina there? In such a case, what course can I pursue? I love my queen, and Distaffina too. Fusbos. And would a king his general supplant? I can't advise, upon my soul I can't. King. So when two feasts, whereat there's nought to pay, Fall unpropitious on the self-same day, The anxious Cit each invitation views, And ponders which to take or which refuse: From this or that to keep away is loth, And sighs to think he cannot dine at both. [Exit. Fusbos. So when some school-boy, on a rainy day, Finds all his playmates will no longer stay, He takes the hint himself—and walks away. [Exit.

Enter the King. King. I'll seek the maid I love, though in my way A dozen gen'rals stood in fierce array! Such rosy beauties nature meant for kings; Subjects have treat enough to see such things.

Enter Distaffina. Distaf. This morn, as sleeping in my bed I lay, I dreamt (and morning dreams come true they say), I dreamt a cunning man my fortune told, And soon the pots and pans were turned to gold! Then I resolv'd to cut a mighty dash; But, lo! ere I could turn them into cash, Another cunning man my heart betray'd, Stole all away, and left my debts unpaid. Enter the King. And pray, sir, who are you, I'd wish to know? King. Perfection's self, oh, smooth that angry brow! For love of thee, I've wander'd thro' the town, And here have come to offer half a crown. Distaf. Fellow! your paltry offer I despise; The great Bombastes' love alone I prize. King. He's but a general—damsel, I'm a king; Distaf. Oh, sir, that makes it quite another thing. King. And think not, maiden, I could e'er design A sum so trifling for such charms as thine. No! the half crown that ting'd thy cheeks with red, And bade fierce anger o'er thy beauties spread, Was meant that thou should'st share my throne and bed. Distaf. [aside.] My dream is out, and I shall soon behold The pots and pans all turn to shining gold. King [puts his hat down to kneel on.] Here, on my knees (those knees which ne'er till now To man or maid in suppliance bent) I vow Still to remain, till you my hopes fulfil, Fixt as the Monument on Fish Street Hill. Distaf. [kneels.] And thus I swear, as I bestow my hand, As long as e'er the Monument shall stand, So long I'm yours—— King. Are then my wishes crown'd? Distaf. La, sir! I'd not say no for twenty pound; Let silly maids for love their favours yield, Rich ones for me—a king against the field. Song.—"Paddy's Wedding." Queen Dido at Her palace gate Sat darning of her stocking O; She sung and drew The worsted through, Whilst her foot was the cradle rocking O; (For a babe she had By a soldier lad, Though hist'ry passes it over O); "You tell-tale brat, I've been a flat, Your daddy has proved a rover O. What a fool was I To be cozen'd by A fellow without a penny O; When rich ones came, And ask'd the same, For I'd offers from never so many O; But I'll darn my hose, Look out for beaux, And quickly get a new lover O; Then come, lads, come, Love beats the drum, And a fig for Æneas the rover O." King. So Orpheus sang of old, or poets lie, And as the brutes were charmed, e'en so am I. Rosy-cheek'd maid, henceforth my only queen, Full soon shalt thou in royal robes be seen; And through my realm I'll issue this decree, None shall appear of taller growth than thee: Painters no other face portray—each sign O'er alehouse hung shall change its head for thine. Poets shall cancel their unpublish'd lays, And none presume to write but in thy praise. Distaf. [fetches a bottle and glass.] And may I then, without offending, crave My love to taste of this, the best I have? King. Were it the vilest liquor upon earth, Thy touch would render it of matchless worth; Dear shall the gift be held that comes from you; Best proof of love [drinks],'tis full-proof Hodges' too; Through all my veins I feel a genial glow, It fires my soul—— Bombastes [within.] Ho, Distaffina, ho! King. Heard you that voice? Distaf. O yes, 'tis what's his name, The General; send him packing as he came. King. And is it he? and doth he hither come? Ah me! my guilty conscience strikes me dumb: Where shall I go? say, whither shall I fly? Hide me, oh hide me from his injur'd eye! Distaf. Why, sure you're not alarm'd at such a thing? He's but a general, and you're a king. [King conceals himself in a closet in flat. Enter Bombastes. Bombas. Lov'd Distaffina! now by my scars I vow, Scars got—I haven't time to tell you how; By all the risks my fearless heart hath run, Risks of all shapes from bludgeon, sword, and gun. Steel traps, the patrole, bailiff shrewd, and dun; By the great bunch of laurel on my brow, Ne'er did thy charms exceed their present glow! Oh! let me greet thee with a loving kiss—— [Sees the hat. Why, what the devil!—say, whose hat is this? Distaf. Why, help your silly brains, that's not a hat. Bombas. No hat? Distaf. Suppose it is, why, what of that? A hat can do no harm without a head! Bombas. Whoe'er it fits, this hour I doom him dead; Alive from hence the caitiff shall not stir—— [Discovers the King. Your most obedient, humble servant; sir. King. Oh, general, oh! Bombas. My much-loved master, oh! What means all this? King. Indeed I hardly know—— Distaf. You hardly know?—a very pretty joke, If kingly promises so soon are broke! Arn't I to be a queen, and dress so fine? King. I do repent me of the foul design: To thee, my brave Bombastes, I restore Pure Distaffina, and will never more Through lane or street with lawless passion rove, But give to Griskinissa all my love. Bombas. No, no, I'll love no more; let him who can Fancy the maid who fancies ev'ry man. In some lone place I'll find a gloomy cave, There my own hands shall dig a spacious grave. Then all unseen I'll lay me down and die, Since woman's constancy is—all my eye. Trio.—"O Lady Fair!" Dislaf. O, cruel man! where are you going? Sad are my wants, my rent is owing. Bombas. I go, I go, all comfort scorning; Some death I'll die before the morning. Distaf. Heigho, heigho! sad is that warning— Oh, do not die before the morning! King. I'll follow him, all danger scorning; He shall not die before the morning. Bombas. I go, I go, &c. Distaf. Heigho, heigho, &c. King. I'll follow him, &c. [They hold him by the coat-tails, but he gradually tugs them off.