The Iliad in a Nutshell: or Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice

by Homer

For other versions of this work, see Batrachomyomachia.

THE

ILIAD in a Nutshell:

OR,

Homer's BATTLE

OF THE

FROGS and MICE.

Illustrated with NOTES.

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THESE are the Divine Boldnesses which in their very Nature provoke Ignorance, and Short-sightedness to shew themselves. [Pope's Notes.

 

I will not only shew the Feats they do,
But give you all their Reasons for 'em too.⁠
[Prologue to the Rehearsal.

---

---

LONDON:

Printed for B. Barker, at the College-Arms near Dean's-Yard, Westminster; and Sold by J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, 1726.

 

to the
Right Honourable

JAMES,

Viscount Limerick.

 

⁠My Lord,

s Your Lordship does not esteem it any Accomplishment to forget whatever You learnt at the University, I hope it is no Presumption to inscribe to You the following Poem, translated from the Greek; Your Lordship will be a Judge, how much Latitude it is done with, as well as how far that Liberty is pardonable.

HOMER is by a few bold Men said to have many Faults: But most of the Criticks insist upon it, that where-ever any thing like an Error appears in that great Author, the Blame is to be charg'd wholly upon the Reader;

Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream.

I have endeavour'd to take in as many of his disputed Beauties as my Plan would admit, especially his Machinery, which I doubt not will be highly agreeable to all the Admirers of the Marvellous.

It is needless to attempt a labour'd Encomium of the Original, which is perhaps the best as well as oldest Burlesque in the World; since the Iliad, so necessary for understanding the Intention of it, is now in every English Reader's Hands. But howsoever this faint Imitation may be receiv'd by the World, my Experience of Your Lordship's Friendship assures me no Trifle will be unacceptable to You; which gives me an Opportunity of declaring my self, with all Sincerity and Gratitude,

Your most Obliged,

⁠and Obedient

⁠Humble Servant,

 

S. Wesley

 

The Iliad in a Nutshell:

OR,

Homer's BATTLE

OF THE

FROGS and MICE.

I.
our Aid^[1], ye Heav'n-born Muses^[2], hither bring,
Who sung the wandring Greek and Ilium's Wars,
Hard Argument for mortal Bard I sing
The Sport tumultuous of Revenger Mars.^[3]
5 How Mice renown'd with Frogs a War maintain'd
For Fame, for Vengeance, and for Empire strove
While each side sternly sought, yet neither gain'd
The hard-fought field; Mean-time sky-ruling Jove^[4]
In equal Ballance^[5] pois'd their Fortunes long;
10 Dire Arms, and Wounds, and Deaths shall fill th' advent'rous Song.

II.
⁠'Scap'd from Grimalkin's cruel rending claws
A thirsty Mouse sought the refreshing Flood;
His whiskers, downy Beard, and weary Paws
With liquid sweet delighted he bedew'd;
15 Him thus accosts^[6] a Native of the Streams,
O thou from foreign Realms arriving here,
With truth, for truth the virtuous well beseems,
Thy Name, thy Nation, and thy Rank declare;
My destin'd Guest, if thee I haply see,
20 A Guest for Monarchs fit, and not unworthy Me.

III.
⁠Me^[7] to great Peleus^[8] on the Banks of Po^[9],
The fair Hydromedusa^[10] joyful bore;
Me for their Lord, these watry Regions know,
And slime-born Frogs revere my dreaded Pow'r,
25 Physignathus^[11] my Name, resounded far.
Thee too, when first at near Approach I view'd
Those Arms uncouth, and Limbs design'd for War,
The Prince, the Stranger, and the Warrior shew'd.
Thy Person speaks thee great, 'tis regal all,
30 Thy Port and Mein august, thy Stature comely tall.^[12]

IV.
⁠The Stranger answ'ring spake, Psicharpax^[13] I
To Gods and Men throughout the World am known;
Where-e'er, or Foot can tread, or Wing can fly.
And is my Name unheard by thee alone?
35 By either Parent I of Monarchs spring,
Divine Troxartes^[14] is my Royal Sire,
Leichomyle^[15] the Daughter of a King
Maternal Honour^[16] claims———
Unparallel'd for wondrous Beauty she,
10 Matchless for scepter'd Rule, and wide Dominion he.

V.
⁠But since on solid Land I place my Bliss,
Since thou in Lakes or Marshes dost remain;
Can Friendship spring, where Likeness none there is?
Likeness the surest Link of Friendship's Chain.
45 Rich Meats my nicely judging Palate please,
And boards where choicest Delicates abound;
The creamy Curd, the roughly coated Cheese,
The well-fill'd Salver, beautifully round;
50 Delights of Man, and honey'd Cakes I love,
Ambrosial honey'd Cakes, Food for Saturnian Jove.

VI.
⁠What Man's inventive Luxury could find,
Have I unbought by Gold or Sweat enjoy'd;
Nor yet could Pleasure's charms unnerve my Mind
In acts of famous Chivalry employ'd.
55 When 'gainst my Foemen I advance my spear,
Opposing to their Ranks my sev'nfold shield;
I teach the Victor Warriour how to fear,
And hardy Vet'rans to my Prowess yield;
Nor shun I deadly Dangers glorious Sight,
60 Highest in Pow'r and Rule, and foremost in the Fight.

VII.
⁠Not Man himself, not Giant Man I dread,
But frequent to his Couch undaunted creep;
Insult triumphant o'er his pillow'd Head,
Assail his Hands, and interrupt his Sleep.
65 By Force unaided, he by secret Train
To work my Fate, his wily Engine bends;
Where proffer'd Banquet covers certain bane,
And Death insidious from a Wire depends.
My Steps with hostile ken Grimalkin eyes,
70 At me, with Talons arm'd, the Bird of Pallas flies.

VIII.
⁠Grimalkin most, so Jove ordains,^[17] I fear,
Of Elimouser^[18] fierce the fiercer Son,
Whose Malice ever watchful, ever near,
Retir'd to chinky Labyrinths I shun.
75 Impervious Creeks secure Retreat afford.
Your foreign Fare incurious I despise,
The watry Radish, and th' insipid Gourd,
And tastless Greens, which Frogs amphibious prize,
Danger might Change ensue; my present state
80 Unenvy'd let me keep, nor envy others Fate.

IX.
⁠Physignathus half smiling, soft reply'd,
Thy Princely Virtues thou hast largely told,
Thou seem'st in Meats to place peculiar Pride,
Land-bred, despising what the Waters hold!
85 Amphibious Frogs can greater Wonders show.
If now thou list a Journey new t'assay;
Countries remote and Manners strange to know,
Past without Peril is the watry way.
Plac'd on my Back, thou may'st securely ride
90 Whilst I with skilfull strokes dispart the yielding Tide.

X.
⁠He spoke, his Shoulders low the Monarch bends,
Psicharpax, clasping close his slimy Neck,
The proffer'd Seat light-vaulting soon ascends,
And rides triumphant o'er the Subject Lake.
95 While yet the Banks receding by degrees
Not quite conceal'd in rising Waters lay,
The Swimmer's, guise uncouth well-pleas'd he sees,
Whose Art and Strength united win his Way.
High o'er the swelling Waves his Limbs were spread,
100 Floated his Bosom prone, upheav'd his dewy Head.

XI.
⁠Soon as his native Land appear'd no more,
The trembling Mouse shook with unwonted Fears.
It booted nought his rashness to deplore,
Or shed with ill-tim'd Grief repentant Tears:
105 With strictest Gripe he clings, with shrilling plaints
Lamenting loud, the distant Shores he fills;
His fear-sick Heart with Throbs unusual pants,
Approaching Death his Soul with horror thrills.
To Gods supreme he sends his suppliant Pray'r,
110 Whose unavailing^[19] Sounds are 'sperst in idle Air.

XII.
⁠As erst^[20] Europa, on Phœnicia's strand,
Was mounted sportive on Saturnian Jove;
When swift th' enamour'd Bull forsook the Land,
Bearing to distant Crete his Freight of Love.
115 She wail'd her Country lost, nor hop'd Return,
For instant Death the rising Surges threat;
With trembling Hand she graspt his bending Horn,
High from the Waves she shrunk her quiv'ring Feet;
Shrieking unheard; nor Object meets her Eyes,
120 Save broad and boundless Seas, and wide expanded skies.

XIII.
⁠So far'd the Prince whom o'er th' extended Lake
Lightfoot Pelides on his Shoulders bare,^[21]
When lo! tremendous Sight! a crested Snake,
Whose blood-shot Eyes glar'd terrible from far.
125 Erect, with scales of Gold his Bosom glow'd,
While far behind his waving wreaths extend,
The Frog unmindful of his Godlike^[22] Load,
Deserts dismay'd his newly-chosen Friend,
His destin'd Guests; to shun th' unequal Foe,
130 Dives sudden to the Deep, and swims secure below.

XIV.
⁠Lost in a wild of Waves the Mouse divine^[23]
Deserted, helpless, comfortless, forlorn,
Now headlong sinks, emerges now supine,
And spurns th' unsolid Wave a while up-born.
135 Vain strugling, his enfeebled Strength impairs,
Striving t'avoid inevitable Fate;
But as his Force grows less, his moisten'd Hairs
His Limbs o'er-burthen with redoubled weight.
Yet e'er the flitting Life her Hold forsook,
140 Oft rising, sinking oft, these winged Words he spoke.

XV.
⁠Shalt thou Physignathus, Psicharpax slay,
Whom thou in equal Field durst never face;
Thy more than Match in ev'ry Martial Play,
In grapling stronger, fleeter for the Race?
145 My Death, Pelides may repent too late,
If injur'd Themis^[24] hear my dying Cries;
In Arms my Subjects may revenge my Fate,
For Thunder-loving Jove has righteous eyes.
Then thou^[25]—th' Abyss, his sinking Trunk receives,
150 His haughty Soul out-breath'd her Corse reluctant leaves.

XVI.
⁠Nigh the Lake's Marge a Mouse there haply stood
Leichopinax^[26], held by Psicharpax dear,
The Prince's cries re-ecchoing from the Flood,
With well-known Sounds pierc'd his attentive Ear.
155 Abundant Tears he shed, and mad with Grief
Howl'd dire, but silenc'd with redounding sighs
In hopes of Vengeance plac'd his sole Relief;
Quick to Troxartes King of Mice he flies,
Th' unwelcome News impatient to relate,
160 The Frog's unkingly Crime, and young Psicharpax' Fate.

XVII.
⁠Rage fir'd the King, tho' now the Ev'ning Sun
Hasted declining to his western Home,
Yet swift as Thought the sweet-voic'd Heralds run,
The Peers to summon to Troxartes' Dome;
165 Soon as the rosy finger'd Morn appear'd
To Gods immortal, and to mortal Man;
Up from his Couch divine Troxartes rear'd,
(His Nobles met) the great Consult began:
Paternal Care lour'd in his clouded Look,
170 While to th' Assembly thus th'up-rising Monarch spoke.

XVIII.
⁠Ye Mice belov'd, Lords, Nobles, Barons, Peers,
Slain is the Heir of our Imperial Throne;
War unprovok'd, the Publick justly fears,
Tho' yet the Stroke is fall'n on Me alone.
175 Three Sons, of nuptial Joys the Pledges dear,
From me their luckless Father have been rent
By Stars adverse: My first and eldest Care,
In Flow'r of Years, on youthful Play intent,
Whilst he his Cave incautious did forego,
180 By stern Grimalkin fell, our never-fated Foe,
bielos

XIX.
The next had liv'd, had not inhuman Man,
With novel Art hatch'd an accurst Device;
The treach'rous Door afforded entrance plain,
Avoidless Ruin to believing Mice,
185 By Men a Mouse-trap nam'd. This Engine dire,
My second Hope from Life and Empire tore;
Heedless he touch'd a latent magick Wire,
Down-fell self-clos'd th' irrevocable Door.
Imprison'd sure, when least suspecting Guile,
190 Dying he found too late th' inhospitable Wile.

XX.
⁠Psicharpax well-lov'd Prince, did yet remain
To Me, and to his fondling Mother dear,
Whom late Pelides King of Frogs has slain,
Nor Fun'ral Wailings^[27] can attend his Bier.
War, war at once, let all our Realms declare
195 If Wrongs provoke, or Thirst of Vengeance warms;
Instant our Swords and Lances we prepare,
Our Limbs adorning bright in temper'd Arms.
He spoke; the Mice obey their King's Commands,
200 Rage swell'd their glowing Breasts, and arm'd their mighty Hands.

XXI.
⁠From azure Heav'n alights destroying Mart,^[28]
Who Wars and Blood his savage pleasure made,
T'equip the Mice, and calls the needful Art
Of Vulcan,^[29] Lemnian Limper, to his aid:
205 Blacksmith divine! vast strokes on Anvils beat,
His Task incessant huge Pyracmon plies,
Whole Lemnos glows, till now the Work compleat,
Thick Groves of polish'd Needles bright arise:
Needles, that warlike Lances represent,
210 Needles, the brazen Gift of Mars armipotent.

XXII.
⁠Led^[30] by the God through Midnight's blackest gloom,
The Warrior Mice a bold Excursion make;
The Stalks of Beans,now past their flow'ry bloom,
Gnawn sheer for Greaves th' audacious Spoilers take:
215 Squadrons well-booted! Lo, a nobler Prey
The Trunk of Elimouser spread the Land:
Home they with Toil the spacious Hide convey,
Which Tychius, Prince of Leather-dressers, tann'd:
A Mouse far-fam'd; this for their Shields they bore,
220 As erst Nemean Spoils renown'd Alcides wore.

XXIII.
⁠Strong Nutshells Casks of Proof their Temples guard,
Nodded their Crests of Elimouser's Hair.
And now the valiant Mice for Fight prepar'd,
Thick-thronging, rush by thousands to the War.
225 So from an hollow'd Rock, at Spring's return,
The Bees their swarming Nations endless pour,
Which here by Winds disperst aloft are born,
There fall in Clusters on the vernal Flower.
A dreadful Gleam their polish'd Needles yield,
230 And auburn Nutshel Helms imbrown the verdant Field.

XXIV.
⁠Of hostile Armies rais'd and Dangers near
Fame to the Frogs the direful Tidings bore;
Physignathus, appall'd with guilty fear,
Summon'd his watry Legions to the Shore,
235 To learn the dreaded Truth; th' imperial Tent
Is rais'd on Land, the slimy Nobles meet,
Council august! when by Troxartes sent
Enter'd the Camp Embasichytrus^[31] great.
Grac'd with a Herald's Crown, a gallant Mouse,
240 More than his Sire renown'd, his Sire Tyroglyphus.^[32]

XXV.
⁠Intent, and silent stood the Lake-born Bands,
Ye Frogs amphibious, dauntless he begun,
Divine Troxartes King of Mice demands
Impartial Vengeance for his murder'd Son:
245 Whom late seduc'd by some deceitful Train
From Land, where subject Mice might help or hear,
Light-foot Pelides King of Frogs has slain,
Nor funeral Wailings^[33] can attend his Bier.
Or yield to Death deserv'd your guilty Guide,
250 Or proffer'd War accept: accept, and be defy'd.

XXVI.
⁠This spoke, retir'd Embasichytrus bold,
The watry Nation trembled at his Threat,
When strait t' enflame anew their Courage cold,
Light-foot Pelides started from his Seat.
255 No! by this^[34] Scepter's sacred Wood I swear,
Hereditary Pledge of Royal Power,
Which dying Peleus gave to me his Heir,
Which erst our great Progenitors had bore,
Through Centuries of Years deliver'd down
260 From Hydrocætes^[35] old, first Founder of our Throne.

XXVII.
⁠Slain by himself^[36] the Princely Mouse expir'd,
Nor fell untimely by your Monarch's Crime;
But near the Lake, while envious he admir'd
How youthful Tadpoles wanton'd in their prime,
265 Steer'd by their length of Tail; like them he sought
To swim, which Nature has to Mice deny'd;
Presumptuous Reptile! soon th' audacious Thought
Dear-rueing overwhelm'd in Waves he dy'd.
Nor War, nor Vengeance to his Ghost is due,
270 Like Fate should all expect, who dare to rival You.

XXVIII.
⁠Like Fate shall all the treach'rous Lineage end,
If prudent Frogs my timely Counsel take,
Rang'd on the Bank their Onset to attend,
Where the steep Brow hangs bending o'er the Lake.
275 His adverse Mouse each by the Helmet seize,
And suddain grapling cast him headlong down,
Safe will we leap the wonted Precipice
At once, and diving deep their Army drown
Oppress'd with weighty Mail, to swim unskill'd:
280 So shall we win with ease an uncontested Field.

XXIX.
⁠Laden with Spoils, victorious will we raise
A glorious Trophy for a Nation slain.
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.^[37]
While wav'ring Mars promoting bloody Jar,^[38]
290 Again from Heav'n descends, and arms them for the War.

XXX.
⁠With Mars the Trident-bearer Neptune went,
The Ocean's Sov'reign, and allotted Lord,^[39]
And friendly aid to Frogs amphibious lent,
For Frogs the watry Deities ador'd.
295 He bids the Seas produce their secret Store;
And lay their Treasures on the neighb'ring Strand:
The Seas obsequious^[40] on the Banks out pour,
Unnumber'd Cockle-shells, as thick as sand.
Distinct with Golden Specks of palest Red,
300 Rich various-colour'd Helms, to grace, and guard the Head.

XXXI.
⁠Breast-plates of Beets, of Mallows Greaves they chose,
Becoming arms for martial Frogs to wear.
Thick Leaves of Cabbage light their Shields compose,
Whose spongy Texture deads the thrilling Spear.
305 Their Lances stiff were sharply pointed Reeds
Erect, which far their Ev'ning Shadow cast.
Now sable-mantled Night advanc'd her Steeds,
The Deities back to Olympus hast.
Soft downy Slumber all the Gods o'erspread,
310 And Jove^[41] supreme reclin'd, unsleeping on his Bed.

XXXII.
⁠At length the Saffron-vested Morning shin'd,
To Gods and Men diffusing orient Light;
Saturnian Jove weigh'd in his prudent Mind
The various Fortunes of the future sight:
315 Events important! from his awful Throne,
His Purpose wise, the Thund'rer thus reveal'd.
Fly Hermes, heavenly Herald Maia's Son,
And particolour'd Iris, airy-heel'd.
Th' immortal Race to Council bid repair,
320 Summon'd from Heav'n and Hell, and Earth, and Sea, and Air.

XXXIII.
⁠The Subject Gods^[42] came at the Royal Call,
All that Ambrosia eat, and Nectar quaff'd:
Stern Murd'rer Mars, that shakes the guarded Wall,
Diana fair rejoicing in her Shaft,
325 Earth-shaking Neptune strong by Seas obey'd,
Far-shooting Phœbus golden hair'd unshorn,
Pallas etherial Spinster, blue-ey'd Maid,
And Venus laughter-loving Occan-born.
Vulcan fire-ruling Power in Lemnos own'd,
330 Empress of Heaven white-arm'd, great Juno golden-thron'd.

XXXIV.
⁠There too the Goddesses of Founts and Trees,
And yellow Ceres crown'd with Corn was seen,
The Nereids^[43] all, spawn of the fruitful Seas,
And beauteous Thetis, silver-footed Queen.
335 Fair-hair'd Latona, and Alcides strong,
Hebe, whose bloom celestial never fades,
Bacchus, the twice-born Victor ever-young,
Inexorable Pluto,^[44] King of Shades.
Sad Proserpine his melancholy Love,
340 And all the base-born^[45] Seed of Cloud-compelling Jove.

XXXV.
⁠Above the cold Olympus snowy height,
And leafy Ida's ever-verdant Hill,
Was built th'imperial Palace, Starry bright;
Whose vaulted Dome the Gods assembled fill:
345 The Seats^[46] of Heav'n, at Jove's commanding Nod,
Marshall'd themselves, miraculous to view!
Each golden Throne wrought by the Blacksmith God,
Spontaneous took its Rank in order due;
And silver Trevets for the Meaner throng,
350 Instinct with subtile Life, self-moving leap'd along.

XXXVI.
⁠Ye Pow'rs immortal, Male and Female hear,
The Royal Father said, and thither bend
Your sharpen'd Sight, where yonder Arms appear,
Say whether Nation shall the Gods befriend.
355 Speak you that purpose as auxiliars bold,
For Frogs or Mice to leave th' etherial Coasts;
Array'd and ardent for the Fight behold
The great, the warlike, the heroick Hosts!
So rang'd the Cloud-begotten Centaurs stood,
360 So frown'd on Phlegra's Plain, the Giant Earth-born Brood.

XXXVII.
⁠And thou dear Daughter of my lab'ring Brain,
Athenian Pallas, wilt thou rest secure,
And view the direful Shock the Wounds and Pain,
Which mortal Frogs from mortal Mice endure?
365 Or else to pious Mice afford thine Aid,
Who constant as thine annual Feast returns,
Have due attendance at thy Temple paid,
Where, whilst the consecrated Victim burns,
With mystick Dance,^[47] in Honour of the Day,
370 Circling thine Altars Verge, religiously they play?

XXXVIII.
⁠With answ'ring Words the blue-ey'd^[48] Maid replies,
To tread mine awful Courts the Mice presume;
To share, unbid my festal Sacrifice,
Allur'd with grateful Scent of holy Fume;
375 And oft from sacred Lamps the needful Oil
The sacrilegious Ravagers purloin,
And nibbling oft my flowr'y Garlands spoil;
Nor fears the puny Race my Pow'r Divine,
Nor Helm, nor Goat-skin Shield, nor Lance they dread,
380 But ev'n with Ordure vile prophane my Statues Head!

XXXIX.
⁠Tho' Wisdom's Pow'r could slight Disgrace alone,
With Loss embitter'd, 'tis severer far;
My Veil which flam'd with Gold, with Purple shone,
With impious gnawings barb'rously they mar,
385 Griev'd for the Work Divine, so rudely tore,
I courted venal Damsels by reward,
The num'rous Breaches instant to restore,
The num'rous Breaches artful they repair'd.
And now with Clamours loud demand their Hire,
390 Nor find I Gold to pay, just Reason for mine Ire.

XL.
⁠Nor yet can^[49] Frogs amphibious Succour claim,
Unwise, impertinent, loquacious kind!
When parch'd with Thirst from Battle erst I came,
To drink the Brook my Lips I low inclin'd.
395 Untimely paddling in the Bev'rage clear,
With gritty Mud they stain'd the promis'd Draught.
Nor less their grating Voice disturb'd mine Ear,
When spent with length of Toil for rest I sought;
They chas'd sweet Slumbers from my weary Sight,
And harshly croaking loud, prolong'd the tedious Night.

XLI.
⁠Mean-time, like Pains my throbbing Temples wound,
As Jove sustain'd from me his Daughter born,
Mother and Sire in one; nor rest I found,
Till crowing Cocks proclaim'd the welcom Morn.
405 For neither Army let Immortals fight,
Or needless tempt the Dangers of the Day;
Since Scenes^[50] of Death our heav'nly Minds delight,
Reclin'd securely we at distance stay.
I stay, desert that please their best Abode,
410 To meet such Foes in Arms is daring for a God!^[51]

XLII.
⁠She ended Speech, and all the list'ning Crowd,
In hollow Whispers, murmur'd an Assent;
Whom Jove addressing stern in Threatnings loud,
Shook with a Nod the brazen Firmament;
415 Whate'er rash God attempts Dissention now,
And dares with Me their Sov'reign to contend,
Let Styx infernal bind the solemn Vow,
Him headlong o'er Heav'n's Battlements I'll send;
Ev'n Juno' self shall from her Throne be driv'n,
420 Sister and Wife of Jove, Great Sultaness of Heav'n.

XLIII.
⁠Tho' more than^[52] Goddess lov'd, or Woman she,
Than Ceres beauteous Queen, with golden Hair;
Than Bacchus' Parent, Theban Semele,
Than Danae Acrisius' Daughter fair,
425 Of whom great Perseus sprung; tho' favour'd more
Than those whose double Births increas'd my Line;
She that of Phœnix' Blood descended bore
Minos the Just, and Radamanth divine:
She that on Lands and Seas long-wandring seen,
430 To Heav'n a Phœbus gave, to Woods a Huntress Queen.

XLIV.
⁠Juno more dear than ever Dame was dear,
If now with Mice or Frogs she dares to treat,
Sore will I scourge suspended high in Air,
And rack'd with pond'rous Anvils^[53] at her Feet.
435 When Hands resistless on my Queen I lay,
Inferior Gods, your due Submission learn.
Trembling the silent Deities obey.
Strait warlike Trumpets breath out Courage stern
Hornets,^[54] who sounding bid the Battles join,
440 While Jove from Cloudless Heav'n high-thundring gave the Sign.

XLV.
The Frog Hypsiboas^[55] the first advanc'd
His Jav'lin at Leichenor^[56] strong to throw;
The right-aim'd Spear his Shield and Bosom lanc'd,
Through pierc'd he fell to Earth, and groveling low,
445 Soil'd in the Dust his Hairs. Peleion^[57] brave,
By Mouse Troglodytes^[58] the next was struck,
Nor Cabbage Target could the Hero save,
Fix'd in his Breast the pointed Weapon shook.
Dark Clouds of Death his swimming eyes o'erspread,
450 Forth from her wounded Hold his Soul in terror fled.

XLVI.
⁠Artophagus^[59] at Polyphonus^[60] sent,
Nor miss'd the Mark design'd, a massy Spear;
The brazen point the sev'nfold Buckler rent,
And past the verdant Beet, nor staying there,
455 Transsix'd his swelling Chest. It chanc'd, a Stone
Lay near at hand, black, rugged, heavy, great,
This by Limnocharis^[61] with Fury thrown,
Crush'd fierce Troglodytes beneath its Weight.
Pierc'd by Seutlæus'^[62] Lance in fatal Hour,
460 Embasichytrus vast fell like a ruin'd Tow'r.

XLVII.
⁠Nor joy'd Seuthæus long, Isenor^[63] griev'd
Vow'd to revenge Embasichytrus slain;
But hasty Wrath his erring Hand deceiv'd,
The Spear wide swerving struck the distant Plain.
465 He snatch'd a Land-mark of enormous size,
The Burthen of the Field wherein it lay,
For twelve the tallest^[64] strongest modern Mice,
To lift or roul it might in vain assay.
As from an Engine shot, the Mill-stone flies
470 Full on Seutlæus' Neck, and Darkness vails his Eyes.

XLVIII.
⁠The Warrior Pternotroctes^[65] levell'd right
His glitt'ring Javelin 'gainst Limnisius'^[66] Head,
Which pierc'd his lifted Shield and Helmet bright,
And inmost Brain; the Soul in terror fled.
475 Crambophagus^[67] with suddain Fear dismay'd,
Leap'd the steep Bank to gain his native Lake;
But Pternotroctes' winged Weapon staid
His Flight, deep entring his inglorious Back.
Stretch'd on the Brink his lifeless Corse remain'd,
480 While Rays of purple Blood, the silver Water stain'd.

XLIX.
⁠Pternoglyphus^[68] by Calaminthius^[69] seen,
His Spear advancing, struck the Frog with dread,
Who shameless cast behind his Target green,
And div'd beneath the Waves with Coward speed.
485 Not so Hydrocharis,^[70] who wrathful threw
At Prince Pternophagus^[71] a rugged Stone;
Right at the destin'd Mark the Mill-stone flew;
Pierc'd to the Scull, and crackt the solid Bone,
Nor Nutshell Helm avail'd: wide was the Wound;
490 Brains through the Nostrils flow'd, and Blood distain'd the Ground.

L.
⁠Near Hand, to cruel Fate alas too nigh,
A harmless Frog Borborocates^[72] stood,
Who late escap'd his careful Parent's Eye,
New from his Tad-pole State, and left the Flood
495 For Glory: fairest of his Nation deem'd,
With every Gift of Cytherea grac'd:
This nought the stern Leichopinax esteem'd;
Whose strongly-darted Lance his Form defac'd,
Dead through the Liver struck he tumbled down,
500 While Streams of crimson Red new-dy'd his olive Brown.

LI.
⁠Prassophagus^[73] dragg'd with unseemly Spight
Cnissodioctes'^[74] Carcase o'er the Field;
The Mouse Psicharpax wrathful at the Sight,
To screen his Friend, oppos'd his ample Shield.
505 Prassophagus retiring, vainly thought
To shun, by quick Retreat, his speedy Foe,
Him thro' from Side to Side Psicharpax smote:
With utmost Fury rising to the Blow:
Prone down he fell; to Pluto's nether Skies,
510 Where Heroes Shades remain, his Soul unwilling flies.

LII.
⁠Pelobates^[75] drew by the Helmet's Thong
The Warrior Artotrogus^[76] through the Dust,
And choakt amid the Waves: nor triumpht long;
For strong Psicharpax through his Liver thrust
515 His Jav'lin's deadly Point. Pelusius view'd
The Wound amaz'd, but gath'ring Courage new,
Crafty a handful large of oily Mud
At fierce Psicharpax Murrion right he threw,
Which all bemir'd with Slime his manly Beard,
520 Nigh clos'd his open Eyes, and stifled Nose besmear'd.

LIII.
⁠The Mouse half blind and strangled, mad with Shame,
A Stone amidst his Foes at random hurl'd,
Which haply had he seen with Skill to aim,
Had sent some warrior Frog to Pluto's World;
525 The massy Stone Pelusius'^[77] Knee-pan broke,
Which fail'd, unable to support his Weight;
Pelides, King of Frogs, a second Stroke
Forbad, quick to prevent his Brother's Fate,
He pierc'd Psicharpax' Bowels, ent'ring in
530 Deep far behind his Back the pointed Reed was seen.

LIV.
⁠Forth from their bleeding Bed his Entrails flow'd,
And fell amid the Dust around his Feet.
With Torture leaning on his Spear he stood,
Till crowding Friends secur'd his slow Retreat.
535 A Lance at loud-voic'd Branchiazon^[78] thrown,
Transfix'd his Groin, his Thigh the Javelin's Head
Half sever'd from his Trunk,the Hand unknown,
And whose the Glory of so brave a Deed.
Hardly he limp'd from Fight, his Nerves disjoin'd,
540 And trail'd a wounded Length of dangling Leg behind.

LV.
⁠When lo! divine Troxartes King of Mice
Marches with sev'nfold Target up to Fight;
Instant the King of Frogs Pelides^[79] flies
With utmost Swiftness from his injur'd Sight.
545 With equal Steps the Mouse pursued the Chase;
Swift as Latona's Seed their Arrows shoot.
Still stood the wond'ring Hosts to view the Race,
For either Chief was known so light of Foot,
The Frog was oft^[80] by Waves unyielding born;
550 The Mouse by slender Ears of ripe unbending Corn.

LVI.
⁠Sitophagus^[81] but late had trembling fled
The Frog's terrific Voice, and mighty Arm,
Casting his Shield behind, his dastard Head
Shrowding in Reeds; no longer fearing Harm,
555 He now the watry Monarch flying found,
And struck his winged Heel with suddain Dart.
But good Prassæus^[82] soon reveng'd the Wound,
Transfix'd the Mouse, and tore his hairy Heart.
Pelides fell; e'er yet the fatal Stroke,
560 Incens'd Troxartes struck, the bleeding Hero spoke.

LVII.
⁠O King, if Gifts may move, of Jewels rare
My Ransom take, a rich and precious Hoard,
Which dying Peleus gave to me, his Heir;
Which erst my great Progenitors had stor'd,
565 Spoils of the Waters! Heaps of yellow Ore,
My willing Subjects for their Prince shall give:
Reject not then with Scorn the proffer'd Store.
Enchain me, let me serve, but let me live.
Better alive sad Slav'ry to sustain,
570 Than dead o'er all the Ghosts of Chiefs and Kings to reign.^[83]

LVIII.
⁠By Thee Psicharpax fell, the Mouse reply'd,
If Death so terrible appear, dye Thou.
With cruel Spear he lanc'd his naked Side,
Warm Streams of vital Blood his Arms o'erflow.
575 His panting Bosom heaves with dying Sighs,
Hard lab'ring to retain departing Breath;
At length he yields; black Darkness veils his Eyes,
Seal'd in eternal Sleep of Iron Death.
Nor strive the Frogs to screen their Leader slain,
580 From greedy Victor's Spoil, or Fun'ral Rites to gain.

LIX.
⁠Amidst the Press young Meridarpax^[84] fought
Artepibulus'^[85] Son, a Mouse divine!
Who breathing Wrath and righteous Vengeance sought
T'extirpate quite the Frogs perfidious Line.
585 On whom the Gods their various Gifts bestow'd;
Warlike as Mars,^[86] who shakes the guarded Wall,
As Neptune's wide his Chest and Shoulders broad,
As Jove majestick, as Alcides tall.
By Troops the warrior Frogs he slew with Ease,
590 Limnius,^[87] Hydrocharis, Peleus, Craugasides.^[88]

LX.
⁠Whilst dealing Death thus Meridarpax fares,
A secret Path his chosen Squadrons take,
And seize the num'rous Passes unawares,
Betwixt the croaking Host and neighbour Lake.
595 Now Slaughter reigns. Whole Show'rs of Weapons flow
On Meridarpax' leathern Shield in vain;
The Folds repel the Points. And surely now
His Hand impartial had the Nation slain,
Had not high Jove beheld the Frogs distrest,
600 And thus with gracious Lips his Offspring Gods addrest.

LXI.
⁠Hear, ev'ry Pow'r of Heaven, Air, Sea, and Hell!
Hear, ev'ry God, and ev'ry Goddess hear;
How strange to Sight! How wonderful to tell!
What Troops have fall'n by Meridarpax' Spear,
605 What numbers numberless! afflicted sore!
Say what of Arms or Council you prepare;
What Force can vie with Meridarpax' Pow'r?
What Slight effectual drive him from the War?
If not from Heav'n the Frogs Assistance find,
610 His fierce wide-wasting Arm, will quite destroy the Kind.

LXII.
⁠Pond'ring the Deities in Silence sat,
Hard was^[89] the Task, the desp'rate Field to win;
Nor Prophet Phœbus^[90] open'd the Debate,
Nor sage Minerva^[91] ventur'd to begin.
615 At length impatient Mars disclos'd his Mind,
Spoiler of Cities, stain'd with human Gore,
Scarcely so loud^[92] three thousand Warriors join'd,
Or shout when Fighting, or when wounded roar.
Thus from his brazen Chest the Murd'rer spoke,
620 Whilst rattling with his Voice, th' extended Welkin shook.

LXIII.
⁠Beware, for Gods by mortal Arms may smart,
And Wounds, and Pain, and Shame have oft endur'd.
Juno and Pluto felt Alcides' Dart,
Whom Pæons healing Medicines hardly cur'd.
625 Otus and Ephialtes dar'd confine,
Ev'n Me, for thirteen Moons in Prison bound;
Till Hermes stole me thence, sly Thief divine.
Nor Jove^[93] had milder Fate from Pallas found,
Had not a Giant timely Succour giv'n,
630 By Men Ægæon call'd, but Briareus in Heav'n.

LXIV.
⁠What single God can stand th'unequal Shock,
From Dangers^[94] past, Immortals, learn to fear.
Minerva self would sink beneath the Stroke,
And tinge with Ichor Meridarpax' Spear.^[95]
635 Heav'n's Magazines must arm us for the Charge.
All Arms are needful to repel the Foe;
Alcides' Club, Minerva's Lance and Targe,
My Sword, and Phœbe's and Apollo's Bow.
Saturnian Jove must lead us to the Field,
640 Arm'd with his vengeful Bolt, and Titan-quelling Shield.

LXV.
⁠That Goat-skin Shield wherewith of old he fought,
When proud Enceladus his Throne assail'd;
When Giants leagu'd their promis'd Empire sought,
And first-born Titans^[96] had almost prevail'd:
645 Such Light'ning keen, as erst Typhæus vast
Sorely dismay'd, and wounded forc'd retire,
When Flames so thick the mighty Thund'rer cast,
That scarcely from the wreck of horrid Fire,
Olympus summited with Snow was sav'd,
650 Scarce the superior Heav'n, Abode of Gods, brass-pav'd!

LXVI.
⁠Him Pallas answ'ring, spake. Let all remain
Here in their Heav'nly Seats reclin'd secure.
Without partaking, view the Wounds and Pain
Which mortal Frogs from mortal Mice endure.
655 But if our Sov'reign's all-commanding Will,
Is fixt to save them from triumphant Mice,
Lanch he his Thunder from yon neighbour Hill,
Or call to dreadful Fight some High Allies,
Whose Strength may turn the Fortune of the Day,
660 If Jove's high-thund'ring Arm should fail to part the Fray.

LXVII.
⁠She ended Speech, and cloud-compelling Jove
His three-forkt Thunder takes to part the Fight,
With Goat-skin Shield descending from above,
Swift, silent, black, and terrible as Night.
665 In suddain Darkness^[97] either Host he shrouds,
Harsh Thunders rowl, and blueish Light'nings blaze,
Yet not for loudest Peals or thickest Clouds
His Course impetuous Meridarpax stays.
Nor ceas'd the Din of War, tho' all around
670 Heav'n trembled from above, groan'd underneath the Ground.

LXVIII.
⁠As from a victim^[98] Bull the sever'd Meat,
To broil by Waiters on the Coals is lain,
Their Eyes devour the Food. They fasting yet
Impatient, turn the Steak, and turn again.
675 So now with disappointed Jove it far'd,
From Thought to Thought, from Place to Place he flies.
His Bolt^[99] he trusts not, nor ætherial Guard,
For Barrier to the Frogs, his high Allies
He calls: Sight more prodigious ne'er was shown
680 On Earth, that bears all Fruits, or Sea producing none.

LXIX.
⁠Dreadful Allies! What once their Gripe possest,
So fast they graspt with cruel-rending Claws,
It easier seem'd a Bone by Force to wrest
From Hell-born Cerberus' devouring Jaws,
685 Each Champions Mouth, or what for Mouth appears,
Yawns dismal, discontinuous, darksom, wide,
Wond'rously fenc't with sharply-grinding Sheers,
Whose Edges meeting temper'd Mail divide,
With seeming double Heads the Monster's threat,
690 Like Amphisbœna's dire in Afric's Noon-day Heat.

LXX.
⁠Hands had they none, yet what supplied the Place,
Unnumber'd Arms; scarce Briareus had more:
Which Mother Nature clad in jetty Case,
For tender Skin with Armour plated o'er.
695 Fixt in their Breasts their round black Eyeballs stood,
Their Chest with Rows of Bone were strongly barr'd;
Their Backs like malleable Anvils show'd,
Extended broad, smooth, solid, shining, hard;
Sure-proof, nor firmer Hardness could they take,
700 Tho' nine times dipp'd in Styx, inviolable Lake.

LXXI.
⁠Fit Instruments of Jove's avenging Ire,
Allies^[100] for Gods, tho' made of earthly Mould,
Not triple-form'd^[101] Chimæra half so dire,
Whom brave Bellerophon subdu'd of old.
705 Oblique, untoward, aukward did they crawl
Insidious, whither tending, hard to say:
Num'rous their Legs and Thighs, distorted all
Their Shells well-jointed to their Wills gave way.
Such Hinges fine not Vulcan's self could blame,
710 Nay, Vulcan's self from these his Armour learnt to frame.

LXXII.
⁠Forth from the Waves their horrid March they take,
By Man call'd Crabs: o'erpow'r'd the Mice are kill'd,
Who guard the Passes issuing from the Lake,
And Jove's Imperial Purpose is fulfill'd.
715 No Mortal strength their crusted Limbs could harm,
Or penetrate Dame Nature's Panoply;
The Mice in vain around the Monsters swarm,
Sawn clean asunder by their Sheers they die,
Which snapp'd their brittle Spears, and crash'd their Mails,
720 And cropt their forward Heads, and lopt their dragging Tails.

LXXIII.
⁠Not monstrous^[102] Foes, the King of Mice exclaim'd,
But Gods averse I fear, and hostile Jove;
Tho' Gods immortal might retire unblam'd,
Should Foes like these their heav'nly Valours prove.
725 To whom with winged Answer soon rejoin'd
Young Meridarpax, Gods submit to Fate;
Aright, O King, according to my Mind
Advis'd, retreat We. These retiring, straight
Their trembling Host fled headlong wing'd with Fear,
730 Last Meridarpax stalk'd, and sullen clos'd the Rear.

LXXIV.
⁠As when^[103] a sluggish Ass in Corn is found,
Whose Back has num'rous Staves already broke,
He now with Troops of Boys encompass'd round,
Impenetrably dull receives the Stroke.
735 Teiz'd, but not hurt, he stands their utmost Spight,
Nor Blows nor Shouts can urge him to return:
Weak are their Cries, and childish is their Might,
Serene he pastures on the bladed Corn.
At length, and scarce at length, he deigns to yield,
740 Driv'n sated with Repast slow-footing from the Field.

LXXV.
⁠The Muses knowing all things list not show
The Wailings for the Dead and fun'ral Rites,
To blameless^[104] Æthiopians must they go
To feast with Jove for twelve succeeding Nights,
745 Therefore abrupt thus End they—Let suffice
The Gods August Assembly to relate,
Heroick Frogs and Demigods of Mice,
Troxartes' Vengeance, and Pelides' Fate.
Hosts routed, Lakes of Gore, and Hills of slain,
750 An Iliad^[105], Work Divine!^[106] rais'd from a Day's Campaign.

FINIS.

 

ERRATA.

Page 3. v. 23. Note, for Self-Condemnation, read Self-Commendation. p. 8. v.90. for dispast, r. dispart. p.9. v. 97. for Swimmers, r. Swimmer's. p. 38. l. 457. for Lymnocharis, r. Limnocharis.

 

1. v. 1. Your Aid.] Bossu acquaints us the Invocation is necessary, because the Poet reports what he cannot be suppos'd to know, if some Deity had not inspir'd him; not that the Muse signifies any thing else, but the Qualifications requisite to Poetry.
2. Ibid. Muses.] The Poet to win the Attention of the Reader, and warning us he is about to relate something surprizing, invokes not one Muse, but the whole number.
3. v.4. Mars.] As the Invocation is address'd to the Gods, so the Proposition mentions them, and the Narration is full of them, and they occasion the Marvellous in Epic. Bossu.
4. v.8. Jove.] He has as much to do in the Commonwealth of Æsop, as the States of Homer, witness his appointing Kings over the Frogs. Id.
5. v.9. Ballance.] Æschylus wrote a Tragedy upon Jupiter's Scales, and Virgil copied them.
6. v. 15. Him thus accosts.] A Frog may as easily be supposed to speak as Xanthus the Horse of Achilles. Indeed the Epopæa assumes a liberty very like that of Æsop. The Discourse between Juno and Æolus, and what Neptune said to Zephyrus and Boreas have as little Truth and Probability as the Intercourse between the City and Country-mouse. Bossu.
7. v. 21. Me.] Self Commendation is very common in Epic Heroes, and Virgil makes Æneas say of himself, Sum pius.
8. Ibid. Peleus.] A Name from Mud.
9. Ibid. Po.] There were three Eridani, one in Heaven, another on Earth, and a third in Hell. That on Earth is here intended.
10. v. 17. Hydromedusa.] A Ruler in the Waters.
11. v. 25. Physignathus.] One who swells his Cheeks.
12. v. 30. Tall.] High Characters should be plac'd upon Bodies of the largest size, and finest make. Bossu.
13. v. 31. Psicharpax.] One who plunders Granaries.
14. v. 36. Troxartes.] A Bread-eater.
15. v. 37. Leichomyle.] A licker of Meal.
16. v. 38. Maternal Honour] The Hemisticks of Virgil have been much admir'd by some very learned Criticks, who seem to be of opinion, that a Verse is oftentimes the more perfect, the less 'tis finish'd.
17. v. 71. So Jove ordains.] Innumerable are the Instances of Warrior's charging their Fears upon the Gods, nothing less than immortals should ever stop a Diomede or Ajax.
    ⁠The like Excuse is used even by the Gods themselves, in favour of Offenders,
    Non tibi Tyndaridis facies invisa Lacænæ,
    Culpatusue Paris.
    
    
18. v. 72. Elimouser.] The Word Cat being very familiar, is avoided as too low. It is requisite also to inform the Curious, that not only Elimouser himself, but his Son Grimalkin was of that Species; for without this Caution, he might be thought of a different kind, which is very frequent in Poetry, witness Jupiter and his Offspring Sarpedon, and many others.
19. v. 110. Whose unavailing.] Prayers of good men are commonly successful in Epick, but Psicharpax had been guilty of great Indiscretion, to hazard his life for meer Curiosity.
20. v. 111. As erst.] Some say Homer has given the Gods such Manners, as turn them into mere swine, Bossu. Here Jupiter is chang'd into a Brute indeed, but into one of a nobler Species, tho' in Manners it must be own'd, inclin'd to lasciviousness.
21. 122. It is not strange to give Epithets to Persons upon Occasions which have no Relation to them. Boileau. As may appear even from Virgil himself sometimes.—Quem Pius Æneas dictis affatur amaris.
22. v. 127. God-like.
23. v. 131. Divine.] This Phrase is not us'd to signify Perfection, but some particular Qualification or Advantage. Patroclus is call'd equal to a God, when he is lighting a Fire. Eustathius.
24. v. 146.] Themis the Goddess of Justice.
25. v. 149. Then thou.] It was the Opinion of the Antients, that Heroes, just upon the point of Death, had the Gift of Prophecy.
26. v. 152. Leichopinax.] A licker of Dishes.
27. v. 193. Nor Funeral Wailings.] The Loss of Burial was esteem'd a very great Affliction, we have not any Records left concerning the Manner how Mice buried their Dead; an Enquiry into that Piece of Antiquity would be highly satisfactory to the Curious.
28. v. 201. Mart.] By an Archaisimus for Mars, see Spencer. He was the God of War, by whom Areithous had his Armour given him; allegorically he signifies Brutal Force.
29. v. 204. Vulcan.] The God of Fire, who made the Armour of Glaucus, Achilles, &c. It is the Happiness of a Poet to raise the obscurest Circumstances into the strongest Point of Light. Eustathius. Mars must be own'd as proper a Person to desire this Favour of Vulcan, in behalf of those who had never offended him, as Venus was in Virgil to desire it for her illegitimate Son. A Woman in these Days would not be very likely to prevail with her Spouse, by putting him in Mind that she had made him a Cuckold.
30. v. 211. Led.] An Epic Poet should order the Machines so, that his Action should stand in no need of them. How many Gods does Virgil make use of to raise a storm, which happened at the rising of Orion? 'Tis well observed, Dij nisi datâ occasione nocere non possunt. Bossu. Thus the Mice might have gnaw'd a few Bean-stalks without any Assistance from two Divinities, but then the Action had not been so fit for the Epopea.
31. v. 238. Embasichytrus.] A creeper into Pots.
32. v. 240. Tyroglyphus.] A Cheese-Scooper. The Antient Poets seem to have been endu'd by Apollo with the Property of knowing all Things past, present, and to come, which a careful Reader may perceive by their Writings. This was probably the very Mouse which was caught in a Trap by Taffy; and I wonder he was not named by the Author of Muscipula; who has also overlook'd another Testimony of the Antiquity of the Welsh in Virgil, who mentions Evans in his Æneid, Necnon Evantem Phrygium.
33. 248. Nor funeral Wailings.] Repetitions are best when left to the Reader's Pleasure to make whenever he sees occasion, by which he may deserve as much Reputation as the Author himself could have merited by those Flowers; if a long Book must needs be had, 'tis but going over any Part again and again, and the Work is done.
34. v.255. No! by this.] The Scepter was the solemn Oath of Kings; Virgil and Valerias Flaccus imitate Homer in making it so. It poetically acquaints us with the high Descent and hereditary Right of the Heroe.
35. v. 260. Hydrocætes.] One who lies in the Waters.
36. v. 261. Slain by himself.] It cannot be deny'd that Physignathus swears to a Lie; but it must be consider'd, says Bossu, The great Art of Kings is the Mystery of Dissimulation. This is the Charater which the Greek Poet gives Ulysses, and it is represented as a true and solid Virtue, and commended by Minerva herself.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. v. 292. Allotted Lord.] Jupiter the eldest Brother had the East, Pluto the West, and Neptune the Sea.
40. v. 297. The Seas obsequious.] See the Note upon the arming the Mice l. 211. To which may be added this fine Remark of the last cited Author. To express Physical Truths poetically, we must not say Salt preserves dead Bodies, or Flies fill them with Maggots; but that Achilles fearing the hot Season might taint the Carcase of his Friend, gets his Mother Thetis, Goddess of the Sea, which is salt, to perfume it with Ambrosia.
41. 310. And Jove.] It would be a Search worthy of some learned Critick, to find why Jupiter went to Bed, when he knew he should not sleep,
42. v. 321. The Subject Gods.] Poets divided the Divine Attributes as it were into so many Persons, because the Infirmity of a Human Mind cannot sufficiently conceive, and explain so much Power and Action in a Simplicity so great and indivisible as that of God: And perhaps they were jealous of the Advantages they reap'd from such excellent, and refin'd Learning, and which they thought the vulgar part of Mankind was not worthy of Bossu.
43. v. 331. There too.] v. 333. The Nereids.] Neptune and the rest of the watry Deities are present at the Council of the Gods; because Waters supply the Air with Vapours, and by that means pass into the Æther: See Eustathius on the Subject, who will also give you the Reasons of most of the Epithets here apply'd to the Gods.
44. v. 338. Pluto.] He was not introduc'd into Homer's Assembly; but as that seems a hardship upon one who is honour'd with the Title of Jupiter, as well as his elder Brother, he is here admitted into the Council.
45. v. 340. And all the base-born.] Homer always expresses a great kindness for Bastards, of which we need desire no stronger Proof than his filling Heaven with them. On the other side he makes Marriage and Discord inseparable, and Jupiter and Juno are for ever scolding. Here not the Moral, but the Allegory is to be observed.
46. v. 345. The Seats.] Vulcan's Workmanship being animated, does not deviate at all from Probability; because a God can do more difficult Things than these, and all Matter will obey him. Besides Aristotle assures us, the Wonderful is the distinguishing Character of Epic, and proceeds therein even to the Unreasonable. A Remark as just and well-grounded as any in his whole Art of Poetry.
47. v. 369. With mystick Dance.] The reputable Dancing among the Antients was said by some to be invented by Minerva.
48. v. 371. Blue-ey'd.] The Greek might be translated owl-ey'd; but that would not be so agreeable to the modern Gothick Taste, as it was to the antient Simplicity.
49. v. 391. Nor yet can.] Observe the Character of Prudence, who acquits neither Side, and refuses to engage on either with any Disadvantage to her self.
50. v. 407. Since Scenes.] The harmony of all things springs from Discord; wherefore Jupiter was diverted at the Disagreement of the Gods themselves, so other Immortals may be suppos'd pleas'd with the Battle of Frogs and Mice.
51. v. 410. Daring for a God.] This is to be understood allegorically. The honest old Archbishop of Thessalonica ingenuously acquaints us in his Comment upon the first Iliad, that Allegory was invented in order to solve the Absurdities which would otherwise appear in the antient Writers. And I must once for all inform my Reader, if he finds any Passage he cannot well account for, he must take it for granted, There is an Allegory in it.
52. v. 421. Tho' more than.] Jove in the Iliad makes this Speech to Juno. A man's Love to the Sex in general, may be no ill Recommendation to a particular Woman, even to a virtuous Matron; tho' I fancy it could never make him more in favour with his own Wife, whatever Influence it might have on the Wife of another, unless Nature was a very different Thing in Homer's time from what it is in our degenerate Age.
53. v.434. Pond'rous Anvils.] The Physical meaning seems very apparent. Juno the Air has two Elements, Earth and Water at her Feet, call'd Anvils, because in them only Arts are exercised. The Moral intimates, that good Housewives should stay at home. Dacier. There is another Moral equally plain, over-look'd by the learned French Woman, viz. That Husbands upon extraordinary Occasions, may bestow upon their Wives corporal Correction. If the fair Sex now think this brutal, 'tis merely out of false Delicacy.
54. v. 439. Hornets.] Flies might have done well enough for Trumpeters. Minerva in the 17th Iliad inspires Menelaus with the Courage of a Flie, which Comparison has nothing of Meanness in it; however a Hornet is more heroical.
55. v. 441. Hypsiboas.] A loud Bawler.
56. v. 442. Leichenor.] A Name from licking.
57. v. 445. Peleion.] A Name of the same signification with Pelides. The Son of Peleus, i.e. Mud.
58. v. 446. Troglodytes.] One who runs into Holes.
59. v. 451. Artophagus.] One who feeds on Bread.
60. v. 451. Polyphonus.] A great Babbler.
61. v. 457. Limnocharis.] One who loves the Lake.
62. v. 459. Seutlæus.] Call'd from the Beets.
63. v. 461. Isenor.] One equal to a Man; for a Mouse may as easily be supposed equal to a Man, as a Man equal to a God.
64. v. 465. For twelve the tallest.] The Opinion of a Degeneracy of human Size and Strength in the Process of Ages, has been very general. Virgil makes a farther Allowance. In this way of thinking it will appear that Frogs and Mice were not such despicable Animals heretofore as they are at present, either as to their bodily or intellectual Accomplishments.
65. v. 471. Pternotroctes.] A Bacon-eater.
66. v. 472. Limnisius.] Call'd from the Lake.
67. v. 475. Crambophagus.] A Cabbage-eater.
68. v. 481. Pternoglyphus.] A Bacon-scooper.
69. v. 481. Calaminthius.] From the Herb.
70. v. 485. Hydrocharis.] Who loves the Water.
71. v. 486. Pternophagus.] A Bacon-eater.
72. v. 492. Borborocates.] Who lies in the Mud.
73. v. 501. Prassophagus.] An Eater of Garlick.
74. v. 502. Cnissodioctes.] One who follows the Steam of Kitchins.
75. v. 511. Pelobates.] Who walks in the Dirt.
76. v. 512. Artotrogus.] See Artophagus and Troxartes.
77. v. 525. Pelusius.] From Mud.
78. v. 535. Branchiazon.] Croaking.
79. v. 543. Pelides.] This Name alludes not only to Pelos, Mud, but to Achilles also, the Son of Thetis so call'd. It is no Disgrace for a Hero to fly, especially having Guilt upon his Spirits.
80. v. 549. The Frog was oft.] The Greek Poet illustrates the Swiftness of Ericthonius's Mares, by describing them as running over the standing Corn and Surface of Waters, without making any Impression. And the Latin one says the same of Camilla; which is a certain Sign of Homer's Excellency. Now a Frog is as likely to be born upon the Waters, as a Heroine; and a Mouse is not altogether so heavy as a Mare.
81. v. 551. Sitophagus.] An Eater of Wheat.
82. v. 557. Prassæus.] Call'd from Garlick.
83. v. 570. It it no wonder the Heroes are so unwilling to die when the Poet provides no better Entertainment for them in the next World, than the worst they could meet with in this.
84. v. 581. Meridarpax.] One who plunders his Share.
85. v. 582. Artepibulus.] One who has designs upon Bread.
86. v. 586. Warlike as Mars.] When Plutarch blam'd the comparing one Man to several Deities, that Censure was not pass'd upon Homer as a Poet, but by Plutarch as a Priest: And no modern fine Gentleman can think the worse of any thing for its being disapproved by a Priest in his Sacerdotal Capacity.
87. v. 590. Limnius.] A Name of the same Import with Limnisius, call'd from rhe Lake.
88. Ibid. Craugasides.] From Croaking.
89. v. 612. Hard was.] Neptune, in Il. 13. supposes the Assistance of Jupiter himself might be useless to the Trojans; and no wonder therefore if it might be ineffectual to have the Succour of any inferior Divinities.
90. v. 613. Nor Prophet Phœbus.] Apollo being nothing but Destiny, ought not to side with either Part before Jupiter declares himself.
91. v. 614. Nor sage Minerva.] It is agreeable also to the Character of Wisdom to hear others speak first.
92. v. 618. Scarcely so loud.] This Hyperbole, strong as it is, yet is not extravagant. The Voice is not Human, but that of a Deity; and the Comparison being taken from an Army, renders it more natural with respect to the God of War. So Polyphemus, a mere Mortal, shook the whole Isle of Sicily with his Cries.
93. v. 628. Nor Jove.] Thetis brought up this Succour to Jupiter; that is, the watry Element taking its natural Place, put an end to that Combat of the Elements, which is signified by the Wars of the Gods.
94. v. 632. From Dangers.] Tully and Longinus, say Homer, makes Mortals of his Gods, not of the inferior ones only. Pythagoras and Plato tax him with Impiety on this Account, in whose Times the Gods were reckon'd altogether as corporeal as in our Poet's Age. Bossu owns the learned Men of Antiquity, either out of Pride, Envy, or Error, have gone upon wrong Grounds in a Matter of the highest Importance, and deceiv'd almost all Mankind with deform'd and dangerous Figures, instead of necessary and solid Truths.
95. v. 634. Corporeal Deities being subject to Pains, is not inconsistent with true Theology; nay, Bossu assures us, even the Adultery of Mars and Venus contains a very moral Lesson. Tho' how to reconcile this with what I have just quoted out of him, I cannot comprehend, without the help of some new Allegory.
96. v. 644. First born Titans.] If Homer held Birth-right to be Divine, 'tis plain it was on Earth only. The Titans were Rebels because they were conquer'd; but had they gain'd the Victory, they would have had at least as much Right to the Sov'reignty of Heaven as ever Jupiter was possess'd of. The Poet was no Friend to Passive-Obedience; and the Patrons of Resistance may prove their Point most irrefragably out of his Poem.
97. v. 665. In suddain Darkness.] When the Author has a mind to save any Hero in Distress, he brings in some God to steal him away in a Cloud. A Conduct imitated by almost all his Commentators; who when their favourite Writer is in any Danger, constantly raise a Dust, that the Poet may escape in the Obscurity.
98. v. 971. As from a Victim.] To judge rightly of Comparisons, we are not to examine if the Subjects from whence they are deriv'd, be great or little, noble or familiar, but if the Image produc'd be clear and lively.
99. v. 677. His Bolt.] Homer's Allegory is not to be accounted for without a deep Insight into the Egyptian and Hieroglyphical Learning. Tho' his best Translator affirms he probably us'd old Traditions as Embellishments of Poetry only, neither taking care to explain them to the Reader, nor perhaps diving into their mystick Meanings himself. Yet the best Critick upon him says, These Tales, unless taken allegorically, are entirely Atheistical, and contrary to Decency. A celebrated Author blames Spencer for making his Moral too obvious, a Fault which the most malicious Carper can never charge Homer with. A far greater Genius is requisite to understand his Fables, than open Morality has need of. It requires much stronger Teeth to crack the Shell than to eat the Kernel.
100. v. 702. Allies.] At least as capable of assisting him against the Mice, as Briareas, to protect him against the Gods.
101. v. 703. Not triple-form'd.] Chimæra was feign'd to have the Head of a Lion, the Body of a Goat, and the Tail of a Dragon, because a Mountain to call'd had Lions at the top, Goats in the middle, and Serpents at the bottom. Tho' some of the Antients thought it no Fiction.
102. v. 721. Not monstrous.] It becomes not a Hero to fear any thing but the Gods; the old Mouse first advises a Retreat, and then the young one complies, as Diomede did with the Counsel of Nestor.
103. v. 731. As when.] An Ass was not always such a Fool of a Beast as he is now; for other Animals as well as Men, degenerate: However, if it might be thought too low a Comparison for a Man, I hope it is not too mean for a Mouse.
104. v. 743. To blameless.] The Gods are represented as Feasting in Æthiopia before the Scenes of War are open'd in the Iliad, and return thither at the Close. The Æthiopians are said to be the Inventors of Pomps, Sacrifices, and other Honours paid to the Gods. Macrobius tells us, Jupiter means the Sun, and the number Twelve denotes the twelve Signs.
105. v. 750. An Iliad.] Homer's Iliad does not take up fifty Days, so that it was but a strange Complement to a great General,to say he had furnish'd Matter for an Iliad in one Campaign or half Year.
106. Ibid. Work Divine!] Madam Dacier seems to have almost as much regard for Homer as the Bible, as tho' she were willing they should stand or fall together; and with Wit equal to her Piety, she proves the Poet blameless by Texts of Scripture. Nothing could go beyond this, except the Fancy of our Countryman, who held Homer and Solomon to be the same Person.
     ⁠I think it proper at my taking Leave of my Reader, to acquaint him, there is a general Moral runs through this whole Work; which I will not suppose him so ignorant as not to discern. 'Tis of a quite different Nature from the above-mention'd Allegories; to which sort of Beauties may be applied, with the Alteration of new into old, that celebrated Couplet,
     This new Way of Wit does so surprize,
     Men lose their Wits in wond'ring where it lies.