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_ ACT II - SCENE V
SCENE V.--GRIZZLE, HUNCAMUNCA.
[1]Griz.
Oh! Huncamunca, Huncamunca, oh!
Thy pouting breasts, like kettle-drums of brass,
Beat everlasting loud alarms of joy;
As bright as brass they are, and oh, as hard.
Oh! Huncamunca, Huncamunca, oh!
[Footnote 1:
This beautiful line, which ought, says Mr W----,
to be written in gold, is imitated in the New
Sophonisba:
Oh! Sophonisba; Sophonisba, oh!
Oh! Narva; Narva, oh!
The author of a song called Duke upon Duke hath improved it:
Alas! O Nick! O Nick, alas!
Where, by the help of a little false spelling, you
have two meanings in the repeated words.]
Hunc.
Ha! dost thou know me, princess as I am,
[1]That thus of me you dare to make your game?
[Footnote 1:
Edith, in the Bloody Brother, speaks to her lover
in the same familiar language:
Your grace is full of game.]
Griz.
Oh! Huncamunca, well I know that you
A princess are, and a king's daughter, too;
But love no meanness scorns, no grandeur fears;
Love often lords into the cellar bears,
And bids the sturdy porter come up stairs.
For what's too high for love, or what's too low?
Oh! Huncamunca, Huncamunca, oh!
Hunc.
But, granting all you say of love were true,
My love, alas! is to another due.
In vain to me a suitoring you come,
For I'm already promised to Tom Thumb.
Griz.
And can my princess such a durgen wed?
One fitter for your pocket than your bed!
Advised by me, the worthless baby shun,
Or you will ne'er be brought to bed of one.
Oh take me to thy arms, and never flinch,
Who am a man, by Jupiter! every inch.
[1]Then, while in joys together lost we lie,
I'll press thy soul while gods stand wishing by.
[Footnote 1:
Traverse the glitt'ring chambers of the sky,
Borne on a cloud in view of fate I'll lie,
And press her soul while gods stand wishing by.
--_Hannibal_.]
Hunc.
If, sir, what you insinuate you prove,
All obstacles of promise you remove;
For all engagements to a man must fall,
Whene'er that man is proved no man at all.
Griz.
Oh! let him seek some dwarf, some fairy miss,
Where no joint-stool must lift him to the kiss!
But, by the stars and glory! you appear
Much fitter for a Prussian grenadier;
One globe alone on Atlas' shoulders rests,
Two globes are less than Huncamunca's breasts;
The milky way is not so white, that's flat,
And sure thy breasts are full as large as that.
Hunc.
Oh, sir, so strong your eloquence I find,
It is impossible to be unkind.
Griz.
Ah! speak that o'er again, and let the[1] sound
From one pole to another pole rebound;
The earth and sky each be a battledore,
And keep the sound, that shuttlecock, up an hour:
To Doctors' Commons for a licence I
Swift as an arrow from a bow will fly.
[Footnote 1:
Let the four winds from distant corners meet,
And on their wings first bear it into France;
Then back again to Edina's proud walls,
Till victim to the sound th' aspiring city falls.
--_Albion Queens_.]
Hunc.
Oh, no! lest some disaster we should meet
'Twere better to be married at the Fleet.
Griz.
Forbid it, all ye powers, a princess should
By that vile place contaminate her blood;
My quick return shall to my charmer prove
I travel on the [1]post-horses of love.
[Footnote 1:
I do not remember any metaphors so frequent in the tragic
poets as those borrowed from riding post:
The gods and opportunity ride post.--_Hannibal_.
----Let's rush together,
For death rides post!--_Duke of Guise_.
Destruction gallops to thy murder post.--_Gloriana_.]
Hunc.
Those post-horses to me will seem too slow
Though they should fly swift as the gods, when they
Ride on behind that post-boy, Opportunity. _
Read next: Act 2 - Scene 6
Read previous: Act 2 - Scene 4
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