Frogs and Mice.
Sweet cakes, fat puddings, curds, creame, are our meate,
With bacon-flitches hanging in the house,
Delicious hony-sops which gods doe eate,
Are victuals onely for the gallant Mouce.
No pleasant juncates, no tooth-tempting fare,
Which huswives locke up with no slender care,
[1]Yea, no delights the kitchen doth containe,
But in the danger of our teeth remaine.
With bacon-flitches hanging in the house,
Delicious hony-sops which gods doe eate,
Are victuals onely for the gallant Mouce.
No pleasant juncates, no tooth-tempting fare,
Which huswives locke up with no slender care,
[1]Yea, no delights the kitchen doth containe,
But in the danger of our teeth remaine.
Pale feare of death could never make me flye,
Nor safegard of my life to leave the fight.
"True valour will with honour rather dye,
"Then like a coward live and take his flight.
But like a Souldier stout, and Captaine bold,
Still in the for most ranke my place I hold,
Where I enact such wonders with my blade,
[2]That troupes I send to death and dusky shade.
Nor safegard of my life to leave the fight.
"True valour will with honour rather dye,
"Then like a coward live and take his flight.
But like a Souldier stout, and Captaine bold,
Still in the for most ranke my place I hold,
Where I enact such wonders with my blade,
[2]That troupes I send to death and dusky shade.
The might of bourly man I doe not dread,
Though other creatures live within his feare:
Oft dare I bite his hand, and scratch his head,
When he the silent night in sleepe doth weare.
[3]I scorne his gins and his alluring bayt,
Set to intrap us closely by deceit:
Yet if therein the basest Mouse doe fall,
In our revenge his meate shall pay for all.
Though other creatures live within his feare:
Oft dare I bite his hand, and scratch his head,
When he the silent night in sleepe doth weare.
[3]I scorne his gins and his alluring bayt,
Set to intrap us closely by deceit:
Yet if therein the basest Mouse doe fall,
In our revenge his meate shall pay for all.
Onely
