Meanwhile, four years after the production of "Tom Thumb" came the "Chrononhotonthologos" of Henry Carey, author of "Sally in our Alley." This also is a burlesque tragedy, but the travestie is purely general. No individual play is directly satirised; the satire is aimed at a whole class of dramas--the same class as that which had suggested the composition of "Tom Thumb."
To-night our comic muse the buskin wears, And gives herself no small romantic airs; Struts in heroics, and in pompous verse Does the minutest incidents rehearse; In ridicule's strict retrospect displays The poetasters of these modern days, Who with big bellowing bombast rend our ears, Which, stript of sound, quite void of sense appears; Or else their fiddle-faddle numbers flow, Serenely dull, elaborately low.
"Chrononhotonthologos" is a short piece, in one act and seven scenes. It is described in its sub-title as "the most tragical tragedy that ever was tragedised by any company of tragedians," and it bears out the description tolerably well. When the curtain rises, there enter two courtiers of Queerummania--Rigdum-Funnidos and Aldiborontiphoscophornio. Says the latter to the former:--
Aldiborontiphoscophornio! Where left you Chrononhotonthologos?
Chrononhotonthologos is the king, and we learn that he is in his tent, in a kind of waking slumber. Presently he enters, very much put out that he should be so inclined to doze, and very angry, consequently, with the God of Sleep. Says he:--
Sport not with Chrononhotonthologos, Thou idle slumb'rer, thou detested Somnus;
and "exits in a huff." Whereupon the two courtiers, who have retired, re-enter:--
_Rigdum._ The King is in a most cursed passion! Pray who is the Mr. Somnus he's so angry withal?
_Aldi._ The son of Chaos and of Erebus, Incestuous pair! brother of Mors relentless, Whose speckled robe, and wings of blackest hue, Astonish all mankind with hideous glare: Himself, with sable plumes, to men benevolent Brings downy slumbers and refreshing sleep.
_Rigdum._ This gentleman may come of a very good family, for aught I know; but I would not be in his place for the world.
_Aldi._ But lo! the king his footsteps this way bending, His cogitative faculties immers'd In cogibundity of cogitation.