Part 7 (1/2)

Unto a giant's castle top, In which he let him fall; Where soon the giant swallowed up His body, clothes, and all.

But soon the giant spat him out, Three miles into the sea; Whereas a fish soon took him up, And bore him thence away.

Which l.u.s.ty fish was after caught, And to king Arthur sent; Where Tom was found, and made his dwarf, Whereas his days he spent.

Long time in lively jollity, Belov'd of all the court; And none like Tom was then esteem'd, Among the n.o.ble sort.

Amongst his deeds of courts.h.i.+p done, His highness did command, That he should dance a galliard brave Upon his queen's left hand.

The which he did, and for the same The king his signet gave, Which Tom about his middle wore, Long time a girdle brave.

How, after this, the king would not Abroad for pleasure go But still Tom Thumb must ride with him, Placed on his saddle-bow.

Whereon a time when, as it rain'd, Tom Thumb most nimbly crept In at a b.u.t.ton-hole, where he Within his bosom slept.

And being near his highness' heart, He crav'd a wealthy boon, A liberal gift, the which the king Commanded to be done.

For to relieve his father's wants, And mother's, being old; Which was, so much of silver coin As well his arms could hold.

And so away goes l.u.s.ty Tom, With threepence on his back, A heavy burthen, which might make His wearied limbs to crack.

So travelling two days and nights, With labour and great pain, He came into the house whereat His parents did remain;

Which was but half a mile in s.p.a.ce From good king Arthur's court, The which, in eight and forty hours, He went in weary sort.

But coming to his father's door, He there such entrance had As made his parents both rejoice, And he thereat was glad.

His mother in her ap.r.o.n took Her gentle son in haste, And by the fire-side, within A walnut-sh.e.l.l him placed;

Whereas they feasted him three days Upon a hazel-nut, Whereon he rioted so long, He them to charges put;

And thereupon grew wond'rous sick, Through eating too much meat, Which was sufficient for a month For this great man to eat.

But now his business call'd him forth King Arthur's court to see, Whereas no longer from the same He could a stranger be.

But yet a few small April drops Which settled in the way, His long and weary journey forth Did hinder and so stay.

Until his careful father took A birding trunk in sport, And with one blast, blew this his son Into king Arthur's court.

Now he with tilts and tournaments Was entertained so, That all the best of Arthur's knights Did him much pleasure show:

As good Sir Lancelot du Lake, Sir Tristain, and Sir Guy; Yet none compar'd with brave Tom Thumb For knightly chivalry.

In honour of which n.o.ble day, And for his lady's sake, A challenge in king Arthur's court Tom Thumb did bravely make.

'Gainst whom these n.o.ble knights did run, Sir Chinon and the rest, Yet still Tom Thumb, with matchless might, Did bear away the best.

At last Sir Lancelot du Lake In manly sort came in, And with this stout and hardy knight A battle did begin.