4
ΒΑΤΡΑΧΟΜΥΟΜΑΧΙΑ.
Sweet sleepe shall holde his owne, in euery eie
Where my tooth takes his tartest libertie:
But two there are, that alwaies, far and neare
Extremely still, controule my force with feare;
(The Cat, and Night-Hawke) who much skathe confer
On all the Outraies, where for food I erre.
Together with the [1]streights-still-keeping Trap;
Where lurkes deceiptfull and set-spleend Mishap.
But most of all the Cat constraines my feare;
Being euer apt t'assault me euery where:
For by that hole, that hope saies, I shall scape,
At that hole euer, she commits my Rape.
The best is yet, I eat no pot-herb grasse,
Nor Raddishes; nor Coloquintida's:
Nor Still-greene; Beetes, nor Parsley: which you make
Your dainties still, that liue vpon the lake.
The Frog replide: Stranger? your boasts creepe all
Vpon their bellies; though to our liues fall;
Much more miraculous meates, by lake and land:
Ioue tendring our liues with a twofold hand;
Enabling vs to leape ashore for food,
And hide vs strait in our retreatfull flood:
Which if your will serue; you may proue with ease.
Ile take you on my shoulders: which fast sease,
If safe arriuall at my house y'intend.
He stoopt; and thither spritelie did ascend,
Clasping his golden necke, that easie seat
Gaue to his sallie: who was iocund yet;
Where my tooth takes his tartest libertie:
But two there are, that alwaies, far and neare
Extremely still, controule my force with feare;
(The Cat, and Night-Hawke) who much skathe confer
On all the Outraies, where for food I erre.
Together with the [1]streights-still-keeping Trap;
Where lurkes deceiptfull and set-spleend Mishap.
But most of all the Cat constraines my feare;
Being euer apt t'assault me euery where:
For by that hole, that hope saies, I shall scape,
At that hole euer, she commits my Rape.
The best is yet, I eat no pot-herb grasse,
Nor Raddishes; nor Coloquintida's:
Nor Still-greene; Beetes, nor Parsley: which you make
Your dainties still, that liue vpon the lake.
The Frog replide: Stranger? your boasts creepe all
Vpon their bellies; though to our liues fall;
Much more miraculous meates, by lake and land:
Ioue tendring our liues with a twofold hand;
Enabling vs to leape ashore for food,
And hide vs strait in our retreatfull flood:
Which if your will serue; you may proue with ease.
Ile take you on my shoulders: which fast sease,
If safe arriuall at my house y'intend.
He stoopt; and thither spritelie did ascend,
Clasping his golden necke, that easie seat
Gaue to his sallie: who was iocund yet;
Seeing
- ↑ Στενόεσσαν, of στενος, Augustus.
