Page:Batrachomyomachia, or, the wonderfull and bloudy Battell betweene Frogs and Mice.djvu/49

Thus whil'st both armies did prepare to fight,
^[1]Almighty Iove, eternall, without end,
Invites the gods into his palace bright,
Whence ratling thunder, & bright flames descend:
And pointing with his finger downe below,
To them these puissant warriours doth he show,
Stout as the Centaures or the Gyants great,
Which once assai'd to pull Jove from his seat.

^[2]Whom when the gods together did behold,
Marching like Pigmie-Braggarts in aray,
And sternly shake their speares like champions bold,
As though no terrour could their hearts dismay,
They made the court of heavn with laughter ring;
Such pleasure and delight the sight did bring.
Then smiling Iove (deep silence kept a space)
Lift up his voyce, and spoke with royall grace:

If Frogs and Mice (quoth he) their patrons have,
Chast daughter Pallas, my ^[3]Bellona deere,
Tell us which side thou wilt protect and save,
Shall not the gallant Mice be victors here?
Great store of them within thy temples dwell,
Allured thither by the tempting smell,
Which still amounteth from thy sacrifice.
Pallas againe did answer in this wise:

1. A counsell assembled in heaven.
2. Aspiciunt oculus superi mortalia instis.
3. Goddesse of warre.

Great