Page:Homer in a Nutshell, or, His War Between the Frogs and the Mice - Parker (1700).djvu/18

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Appointed thus through Labyrinths of Grass,
The Warriors to their Expedition pass.

Mean while preventing Fame, of eager Flight
As Northern Blasts, pernicious as their Blight,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$A sprouting Ill, on her own Vitals fed,
At first a Dwarf, in Cells and Grotto's bred,
But soon the yielding Clouds receive her Head;
With Noise, and Lies, and Obloquys ne'r cloy'd,
All Ears, all Eyes, all Tongue, and All employ'd,
Alarms th' amphibious People of the Lake:
To Shoar the terrify'd Musicians make.
Grave Magistrates in a long rev'rend Train
Hop to the shining Capitol a main,
The noisy Mob expecting all around
Th' event of Consultations so profound.
But e'r th' august Assembly deep had div'd
Into the Meaning, from the Mice arriv'd
A valiant Herald, portly Mumblebun,
Magnanimous Lapcustard's eldest Son,
Who boldly thus the Senators addrest,

My Lords, my Master wou'd ha' scorn'd t'infest
Your happy State; but not to prosecute
So foul a Fact wou'd make him Party to't.
On him the Guilt of Murder must devolve,
Did he not now by Force of Arms resolve
You Prince to punish, who but yesternight,
Spight of all National and Private Right,

Be-