Past all on earth, son of the valiant Chief
Artepibulus. Like another Mars
He fought, and Meridarpax 35 was his name,
A Mouse, among all Mice without a peer.
Glorying in his might on the lake's verge
He stood with other Mouse none at his side,
And swore to extirpate the whole croaking race.
Nor doubted any but he should perform
His dreadful oath, such was his force in arms,
Had not Saturnian Jove with sudden note
Perceived his purpose; with compassion touch'd
Of the devoted Frogs the Sovereign shook
His brows, and thus the Deities address'd.
I see a prodigy, ye Powers divine!
And, with no small amazement smitten, hear
Prince Meridarpax menacing the Frogs
With general extirpation. Haste-be quick-
Dispatch we Pallas terrible in fight,
Not her alone, but also Mars, to quell
With force combined the sanguinary Chief.
So spake the Thunderer, and thus Mars replied. Neither the force of Pallas, nor the force
Of Mars, O Jove! will save the destined Frogs
From swift destruction. Let us all descend
To aid them, or, lest all suffice not, grasp
And send abroad thy biggest bolt, thy bolt
Tempestuous, terrour of the Titian race,
By which those daring enemies thou slew'st,
And didst coerce with adamantine chains
Enceladus, and all that monstrous brood.
34 One who lies in wait for bread. 35 The scrap-catcher.
BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE.
He said, and Jove dismiss'd the smouldering bolt. At his first thunder, to its base he shook The vast Olympian. Then-whirling about His forky fires, he launch'd them to the ground, And, as they left the Sovereign's hand, the heart Of every Mouse quaked, and of every Frog. Yet ceased not, even at that shock, the Mice From battle, but with double ardour flew To the destruction of the Frogs, whom Jove From the Olympian heights snow-crown'd again Viewing, compassionated their distress,
And sent them aids. Sudden they came. Broad-back'd
They were, and smooth like anvils, sickle-claw'd, 370
Sideling in gait, their mouths with pincers arm'd,
Shell-clad, crook-knee'd, protruding far before
Long hands, and horns, with eye-ba' in the breast,
Legs in quaternion ranged on either de,
And Crabs their name. They, seizing by his leg, 375
His arm, his tail a Mouse, cropp'd it, and snapp'd
His polish'd spear. Appall'd at such a foe
The miserable Mice stood not, but fled
Heartless, discomfited. And now, the sun
Descending, closed this warfare of a day.
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