Forthwith from out the death-trump's thrilling throat,
Twang'd the smart gnats and peal'd the battle note;
While heaven's Arch-ruler, from the clouds afar,
Thunder'd amain and flash'd the sign of war11".
Lickero first, far flaming in the van,
Smote Croaker, night upon the spear-point ran.
Thro' yawning paunch, and wounded midriff thrust,
Headlong he fell, and darkened in the dust
His downy crest—he fell with dismal clang;
Loud on his corse his slackened harness rang.
Next did bold Hole-peep wound the son of Mud,
Fix'd in his breast the sturdy spear-staff stood:
He fell—death's iron bonds the chief enchain'd;
Forth flew the soul12, the clay-cold limbs remain'd.
Then thro' poor Pot-pry drove sir Beet his dart,
Thro' Beet great Tuck-loaf, swoln with rage at heart;
Then prince Bawlero thro' mid-paunch he cleft,
Prone fell the chief, the soul his carcase left.
But when fair Lake-love spied Bawlero's fate,
He battered Hole-peep with a millstone's weight
Full on the neck—dim shades his eyeballs seal;
Then at the slayer with his glittering steel
Lickero aim'd, the steel his life-blood drank;
The which when Champ-kail vision'd, from the bank
He sprang, and sought the shrouding waves,—in vain!
Lickero smites, he falls nor breathes again;
Red roll the waves in blood, his outstretch'd form
Pants on the beach all bleeding fresh and warm.
Then on the bank did Pool13 poor Cheese-scoop smite,
Then Rush Paw-bacon eyed, and winged his flight
Twang'd the smart gnats and peal'd the battle note;
While heaven's Arch-ruler, from the clouds afar,
Thunder'd amain and flash'd the sign of war11".
Lickero first, far flaming in the van,
Smote Croaker, night upon the spear-point ran.
Thro' yawning paunch, and wounded midriff thrust,
Headlong he fell, and darkened in the dust
His downy crest—he fell with dismal clang;
Loud on his corse his slackened harness rang.
Next did bold Hole-peep wound the son of Mud,
Fix'd in his breast the sturdy spear-staff stood:
He fell—death's iron bonds the chief enchain'd;
Forth flew the soul12, the clay-cold limbs remain'd.
Then thro' poor Pot-pry drove sir Beet his dart,
Thro' Beet great Tuck-loaf, swoln with rage at heart;
Then prince Bawlero thro' mid-paunch he cleft,
Prone fell the chief, the soul his carcase left.
But when fair Lake-love spied Bawlero's fate,
He battered Hole-peep with a millstone's weight
Full on the neck—dim shades his eyeballs seal;
Then at the slayer with his glittering steel
Lickero aim'd, the steel his life-blood drank;
The which when Champ-kail vision'd, from the bank
He sprang, and sought the shrouding waves,—in vain!
Lickero smites, he falls nor breathes again;
Red roll the waves in blood, his outstretch'd form
Pants on the beach all bleeding fresh and warm.
Then on the bank did Pool13 poor Cheese-scoop smite,
Then Rush Paw-bacon eyed, and winged his flight
