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He spoke, the shouting Frogs their Monarch praise,
Pitch'd on the Bank, determin'd to remain;
285 Forth from the Waves the num'rous Squadrons move,
Eager their liquid Fortresses to leave.
Such was the Will of Counsel-giving Jove,
And sage Minerva, practis'd to deceive.[1]
While wav'ring Mars promoting bloody Jar,[2]
290 Again from Heav'n descends, and arms them for the War.
Pitch'd on the Bank, determin'd to remain;
285 Forth from the Waves the num'rous Squadrons move,
Eager their liquid Fortresses to leave.
Such was the Will of Counsel-giving Jove,
And sage Minerva, practis'd to deceive.[1]
While wav'ring Mars promoting bloody Jar,[2]
290 Again from Heav'n descends, and arms them for the War.
- ↑ v. 288. Practis'd to deceive.] Minerva persuaded the Trojans to break the League; for which Breach afterwards Hector fell by Poetical Justice, whom she cheated and told Lies to in the Shape of Deiphobus, to betray him into the Hands of Achilles; but Prudence consists, we are told, in Dissimulation.
- ↑ v. 289. While wav'ring Mars.] It is the Business of this God ever to fortify the weaker Side, to keep up the Broil; he is call'd wav'ring, because Victory is always changing Parties.
- ↑ v. 292. Allotted Lord.] Jupiter the eldest Brother had the East, Pluto the West, and Neptune the Sea.
And
