The Works of William Cowper :: :: University of Virginia Library

Descend all Helicon into my breast!
Oh every virgin of the tuneful choir
Breathe on my song which I have newly traced
In tables open'd on my knees, a song
Of bloodiest note—terrible deeds of Mars
Well worthy of the ears of all mankind,
Whom I desire to teach, how, erst, the Mice
Assail'd the Frogs, mimicking in exploit
The prowess of the giant race earth-born.
The rumour once was frequent in the mouths
Of mortal men, and thus the strife began.

A thirsty Mouse (thirsty with fear and flight
From a cat's claws) sought out the nearest lake,
Where dipping in the flood his downy chin,
He drank delighted. Him the frog far-famed
Limnocharis espied, and thus he spake.

Who art thou, stranger? Whence hast thou arrived
On this our border, and who gave thee birth?

288

Beware thou trespass not against the truth;
Lie not! for should I find thy merit such
As claims my love, I will conduct thee hence
To my abode, where gifts thou shalt receive
Liberal and large, with hospitable fare.
I am the King Physignathus , revered
By the inhabitants of all this pool,
Chief of the frogs for ever. Me, long since,
Peleus begat, embracing on the banks
Of the Eridanus my mother fair,
Hydromedusa . Nor thee less than King
Or leader bold in fight thy form proclaims,
Stout as it is, and beautiful.—Dispatch—
Speak therefore, and declare thy pedigree.

He ceased, to whom Psycharpax thus replied.
Illustrious sir! wherefore hast thou enquired
My derivation, known to all, alike
To Gods and men, and to the fowls of heaven?
I am Psycharpax, and the dauntless Chief
Troxartes is my sire, whose beauteous spouse
Daughter of Pternotroctes brought me forth,
Lichomyle by name. A cave of earth
My cradle was, and, in my youngling state,
My mother nourish'd me with almonds, figs,
And delicacies of a thousand names.
But diverse as our natures are, in nought

289

Similar, how alas! can we be friends?
The floods are thine abode, while I partake
With man his sustenance. The basket stored
With wheaten loaves thrice kneaded, 'scapes not me,
Nor wafer broad, enrich'd with balmy sweets,
Nor ham in slices spread, nor liver wrapt
In tunic silver-white, nor curds express'd
From sweetest milk, nor, sweeter still, the full
Honeycomb, coveted by Kings themselves,
Nor aught by skilful cook invented yet
Of sauce or seasoning for delight of man.
I am brave also, and shrink not at sound
Of glorious war, but rushing to the van,
Mix with the foremost combatants. No fear
Of man himself shakes me, vast as he is,
But to his bed I steal, and make me sport
Nibbling his fingers' end, or with sharp tooth
Fretting his heel so neatly that he sleeps
Profound the while, unconscious of the bite.
Two things, of all that are, appal me most,
The owl and cat. These cause me many a pang.
As does the hollow gin insidious, fair
In promises, but in performance foul,
Engine of death! yet most of all I dread
Cats, nimble mousers, who can dart a paw
After me, enter at what chink I may.
But to return—your diet, parsley, kail,
Beet, radish, gourd, (for, as I understand,
Ye eat no other) are not to my taste.

Him then with smiles answer'd Physignathus.

290

Stranger! thou vauntest much thy dainty fare,
But, both on shore and in the lake we boast
Our dainties also, and such sights as much
Would move thy wonder; for by gift from Jove
We leap as well as swim, can range the land
For food, or diving, seek it in the Deep.
Would'st thou the proof? 'tis easy—mount my back—
There cling as for thy life, and thou shalt share
With rapture the delights of my abode.

He said, and gave his back. Upsprang the mouse
Lightly, and with his arms enfolded fast
The Frog's soft neck. Pleased was he, at the first,
With view of many a creek and bay, nor less
With his smooth swimming on whose back he rode.
But when, at length, the clear wave dash'd his sides,
Then, fill'd with penitential sorrows vain
He wept, pluck'd off his hair, and gathering close
His hinder feet, survey'd with trembling heart
The novel sight, and wish'd for land again.
Groans follow'd next, extorted groans, through stress
Of shivering fear, and, with extended tail
Drawn like a long oar after him, he pray'd
For land again; but, while he pray'd, again
The clear wave dash'd him. Much he shriek'd, and much
He clamour'd, and, at length thus sorrowing, said.

Oh desperate navigation strange! not thus
Europa floated to the shores of Crete
On the broad back of her enamour'd bull.

And now, dread spectacle to both, behold

291

An Hydra! on the lake with crest erect
He rode, and right toward them. At that sight
Down went Physignathus, heedless alas!
Through fear, how great a Prince he should destroy.
Himself, at bottom of the pool escaped
The dreadful death; but, at his first descent
Dislodged, Psycharpax fell into the flood.
There, stretch'd supine, he clench'd his hands, he shriek'd,
Plunged oft, and lashing out his heels afar,
Oft rose again, but no deliverance found.
At length, oppress'd by his drench'd coat, and soon
To sink for ever, thus he prophecied.

Thou hast released thy shoulders at my cost,
Physignathus! unfeeling as the rock,
But not unnoticed by the Gods above.
Ah worst of traitors! on dry land, I ween,
Thou hadst not foil'd me, whether in the race
Or wrestling-match, or at whatever game.
Thou hast by fraud prevail'd, casting me off
Into the waters; but an eye divine
Sees all. Nor hope thou to escape the host
Of Mice, who shall, ere long, avenge the deed.

So saying, he sank and died; whom, while he sat
Reposing on the lake's soft verge, the Mouse
Lichopinax observed; aloud he wail'd,
And flew with those sad tidings to his friends.
Grief, at the sound, immeasurable seized

292

On all, and by command, at dawn of day
The heralds call'd a council at the house
Of brave Troxartes, father of the Prince
Now lost, a carcase now, nor nigh to land
Weltering, but distant in the middle pool.
The multitude in haste convened, uprose
Troxartes for his son incensed, and said,

Ah friends! although my damage from the Frogs
Sustain'd be greatest, yet is yours not small.
Three children I have lost, wretch that I am,
All sons. A merciless and hungry cat
Finding mine eldest son abroad, surprised
And slew him. Lured into a wooden snare,
(New machination of unfeeling man
For slaughter of our race, and named a trap)
My second died. And now, as ye have heard,
My third, his mother's and my darling, him
Physignathus hath drown'd in yon abyss.
Haste therefore, and in gallant armour bright
Attired, march forth, ye Mice, now seek the foe.

So saying, he roused them to the fight, and Mars
Attendant arm'd them. Splitting first the pods
Of beans which they had sever'd from the stalk
With hasty tooth by night, they made them greaves.
Their corslets were of platted straw, well lined
With spoils of an excoriated cat.
The lamp contributed its central tin,
A shield for each. The glittering needle long
Arm'd every gripe with a terrific spear,
And auburn shells of nuts their brows enclosed.

293

Thus arm'd the Mice advanced, of whose approach
The Frogs apprized, emerging from the lake,
All throng'd to council, and considering sat
The sudden tumult and its cause. Then came,
Sceptre in hand, an herald. Son was he
Of the renown'd Tyroglyphus , and call'd
Embasichytrus . Charged he came to announce
The horrors of approaching war, and said—

Ye Frogs! the host of Mice send you by me
Menaces and defiance. Arm, they say,
For furious fight; for they have seen the Prince
Psycharpax weltering on the waves, and drown'd
By King Physignathus. Ye then, the Chiefs
And leaders of the host of Frogs, put on
Your armour, and draw forth your bands to battle!

He said, and went. Then were the noble Frogs
Troubled at that bold message, and while all
Murmur'd against Physignathus, the King
Himself arising, thus denied the charge.

My friends! I neither drown'd the Mouse, nor saw
His drowning. Doubtless, while he strove in sport
To imitate the swimming of the Frogs,
He sank and died. Thus, blame is none in me,
And these injurious slanders do me wrong.
Consult we, therefore, how we may destroy
The subtle Mice, which thus we will perform.
Arm'd and adorn'd for battle, we will wait
Their coming where our coast is most abrupt.

294

Then, soon as they shall rush to the assault,
Seizing them by the helmet, as they come,
We will precipitate them, arms and all,
Into the lake; unskilful as they are
To swim, their suffocation there is sure,
And we will build a trophy to record
The great Mouse-massacre for evermore.

So saying, he gave commandment, and all arm'd.
With leaves of mallows each his legs incased,
Guarded his bosom with a corslet cut
From the green beet, with foliage tough of kail
Fashion'd his ample buckler, with a rush
Keen-tipt, of length tremendous, fill'd his gripe,
And on his brows set fast a cockle-shell.
Then on the summit of the loftiest bank
Drawn into phalanx firm they stood, all shook
Their quivering spears, and wrath swell'd every breast.

Jove saw them, and assembling all the Gods
To council in the skies, Behold, he said,
Yon numerous hosts, magnanimous, robust,
And rough with spears, how like the giant race
They move, or like the Centaurs! smiling, next,
He ask'd, of all the Gods, who favour'd most
The Mice, and who the Frogs? but at the last,
Turning toward Minerva, thus he spake.

The Mice, my daughter, need thee; goest thou not
To aid thy friends the Mice, inmates of thine,
Who to thy temple drawn by savoury steams
Sacrifical, and day by day refresh'd
With dainties there, dance on thy sacred floor?

295

So spake the God, and Pallas thus replied.
My father! suffer as they may, the Mice
Shall have no aid from me, whom much they wrong,
Marring my wreaths, and plundering of their oil
My lamps.—But this, of all their impious deeds,
Offends me most, that they have eaten holes
In my best mantle, which with curious art
Divine, I wove, light, easy, delicate;
And now, the artificer whom I employ'd
To mend it, clamouring demands a price
Exorbitant, which moves me much to wrath,
For I obtain'd on trust those costly threads,
And have not wherewithal to pay the arrear.
Nor love I more the Frogs, or purpose more
To succour even them, since they not less,
Dolts as they are, and destitute of thought,
Have incommoded me. For when, of late,
Returning from a fight weary and faint
I needed rest, and would have slept, no sleep
Found I, those ceaseless croakers of the lake
Noisy, perverse, forbidding me a wink.
Sleepless, and with an aching head I lay
Therefore until the crowing of the cock.
By my advice, then, O ye Gods, move not
Nor interfere, favouring either side,
Lest ye be wounded; for both hosts alike
Are valiant, nor would scruple to assail
Even ourselves. Suffice it, therefore, hence
To view the battle, safe, and at our ease.

She ceased, and all complied. Meantime, the hosts

296

Drew nearer, and in front of each was seen
An herald, gonfalon in hand; huge gnats
Through clarions of unwieldy length sang forth
The dreadful note of onset fierce, and Jove
Doubled the signal, thundering from above.

First, with his spear Hypsiboas assail'd
Lichenor . Deep into his body rush'd
The point, and pierced his liver. Prone he fell,
And all his glossy down with dust defiled.
Then, Troglodytes hurl'd his massy spear
At Pelion , which he planted in his chest.
Down dropp'd the Frog, night whelm'd him, and he died.
Seutlæus , through his heart piercing him, slew
Embasichytrus. Polyphonus fell
Pierced through his belly by the spear of bold
Artophagus , and prone in dust expired.
Incensed at sight of Polyphonus slain,
Limnocharis at Troglodytes cast
A mill-stone weight of rock; full on the neck
He batter'd him, and darkness veil'd his eyes.
At him Lichenor hurl'd a glittering lance,
Nor err'd, but pierced his liver. Trembling fled
Crambophagus at that dread sight, and plunged
Over the precipice into the lake,
Yet even there found refuge none, for brave

297

Lichenor following, smote him even there.
So fell Crambophagus, and from that fall
Never arose, but reddening with his blood
The wave, and wallowing in the strings and slime
Of his own vitals, near the bank expired.
Limnisius on the grassy shore struck down
Tyroglyphus ; but at the view alone
Of terrible Pternoglyphus appall'd,
Fled Calaminthius , cast away his shield
Afar, and headlong plunged into the lake.
Hydrocharis with a vast stone assail'd
The King Pternophagus ; the rugged mass
Descending on his poll, crush'd it; the brain
Oozed through his nostrils drop by drop, and all
The bank around was spatter'd with his blood.
Lichopinax with his long spear transpierced
Borborocoites ; darkness veil'd his eyes.
Prassophagus with vengeful notice mark'd
Cnissodioctes ; seizing with one hand
His foot, and with the other hand his neck,
He plunged, and held him plunged, till drown'd he died.
Psycharpax standing boldly in defence
Of his slain fellow-warriors, urged his spear
Right through Pelusius ; at his feet he fell,
And, dying, mingled with the Frogs below.

298

Resentful of his death, the mighty Frog
Pelobates an handful cast of mud
Full at Psycharpax; all his ample front
He smear'd, and left him scarce a glimpse of day.
Psycharpax, at the foul dishonour, still
Exasperate more, upheaving from the ground
A rock that had incumber'd long the bank,
Hurl'd it against Pelobates; below
The knees he smote him, shiver'd his right leg
In pieces, and outstretch'd him in the dust.
But him Craugasides , who stood to guard
The fallen Chief, assail'd; with his long lance
He prick'd Psycharpax at the waist! the whole
Keen-pointed rush transpierced his belly, and all
His bowels following the retracted point,
O'erspread the ensanguined herbage at his side.
Soon as Sitophagus , a crippled mouse,
That sight beheld, limping, as best he could,
He left the field, and, to avoid a fate
Not less tremendous, dropp'd into a ditch.
Troxartes grazed the instep of the bold
Physignathus, who at the sudden pang
Startled, at once leap'd down into the lake.
Prasseus , at the sight of such a Chief
Floating in mortal agonies enraged,
Sprang through his foremost warriors, and dismiss'd
His pointed rush, but reach'd not through his shield
Troxartes, baffled by the stubborn disk.

There was a Mouse, young, beautiful and brave

299

Past all on earth, son of the valiant Chief
Artepibulus . Like another Mars
He fought, and Meridarpax 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.

300

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,
Sideling in gait, their mouths with pincers arm'd,
Shell-clad, crook-knee'd, protruding far before
Long hands, and horns, with eye-balls in the breast,
Legs in quaternion ranged on either side,
And Crabs their name. They, seizing by his leg,
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.

The beauty of the lake.

The pouter.

Of or belonging to mud.

Governess of the waters.

The crumb-catcher.

The bread eater.

The bacon-eater.

The licker of mill-stones.

The dish-licker.

A cheese-rasper.

The explorer of pots and pipkins.

The loud-croaker.

One addicted to licking.

A creeper into holes and crannies.

Offspring of the mud.

A feeder on beet.

The noisy.

The bread-eater.

The cabbage eater.

Of the lake.

The cheese-scraper.

The ham-scraper.

So call'd from the herb calamint.

One whose delight is in water.

The bacon-eater.

The sleeper in the mud.

The garlic-eater.

The savoury-steam-hunter.

The muddy.

The mud-walker.

The hoarse-croaker.

The cake-eater.

One who deals much in garlic.

One who lies in wait for bread.

The scrap-catcher.