8
ΒΑΤRΑΧΟΜΥΟΜΑΧΙΑ.
The shales they broke ope, Bootehaling by night,
And eat the beanes: Their Iacks; Art exquisite
Had showne in them; being Cats-skins, euery where
Quilted with quills: Their fencefull bucklers were,
The middle rounds of Can'sticks; but their speare
A huge long Needle was; that could not beare
The braine of any; but be Mars his owne
Mortall inuention. Their heads arming Crowne
Was vessel to the kirnell of a nut:
And thus the Mise, their powers in armour put.
This, the frogs hearing; From the water, all
Issue to one place; and a councell call
Of wicked war; consulting what should be
Cause to this murmure, and strange mutinie.
While this was question'd; neere them made his stand
An Herald with a Scepter in his hand,
([1]Embasichytrus calld) that fetcht his kinde,
From [2]Tyroglyphus, with the mightie minde;
Denouncing ill-nam'd war, in these high termes;
O Frogs? the Mise, sends threats to you of armes
And bid me bid ye Battell; and fixt fight;
Their eies all wounded with Psycharpax sight,
Floting your waters, whom your king hath kild.
And therefore all prepare for force of field,
You that are best borne, whosoeuer held.
This said; he seuer'd; his speech firing th'eares
Of all the Mise; but frees'd the Frogs with feares,
Themselues conceiting guiltie; whom the King
And eat the beanes: Their Iacks; Art exquisite
Had showne in them; being Cats-skins, euery where
Quilted with quills: Their fencefull bucklers were,
The middle rounds of Can'sticks; but their speare
A huge long Needle was; that could not beare
The braine of any; but be Mars his owne
Mortall inuention. Their heads arming Crowne
Was vessel to the kirnell of a nut:
And thus the Mise, their powers in armour put.
This, the frogs hearing; From the water, all
Issue to one place; and a councell call
Of wicked war; consulting what should be
Cause to this murmure, and strange mutinie.
While this was question'd; neere them made his stand
An Herald with a Scepter in his hand,
([1]Embasichytrus calld) that fetcht his kinde,
From [2]Tyroglyphus, with the mightie minde;
Denouncing ill-nam'd war, in these high termes;
O Frogs? the Mise, sends threats to you of armes
And bid me bid ye Battell; and fixt fight;
Their eies all wounded with Psycharpax sight,
Floting your waters, whom your king hath kild.
And therefore all prepare for force of field,
You that are best borne, whosoeuer held.
This said; he seuer'd; his speech firing th'eares
Of all the Mise; but frees'd the Frogs with feares,
Themselues conceiting guiltie; whom the King
Thus
