The
Frogmousiad.
Once on a
time, escaped from the claws of Pussy, a Mouse1
Stood at the brink of a pond, his thirsty muzzle to souse2
Deep in the sweet fresh water ; when, looking up from below,3
Organ-voiced Mud-king’s son beheld him, and shouted “ What ho !4
Friend, who are you ? Who’s your father ? What brings you here to this strand
?5
Don’t let me catch you fibbing : the simple truth I demand.6
If I should find you worthy, I’ll take you home as a guest,7
Royally feast you, and load you with gifts the richest and best.8
Puff-cheek’s my name—I’m a King, and over this marshy domain,9
Honoured by all the Frogs in power undisputed I reign.10
Monarch of Mud was my father, who wooed the fair Puddle-Princess11
Wooed and made her his Queen in a bower of green watercress.12
Thou too bearest thyself like a chieftain and warrior bold,13
Tell me then of thy birth, and thy family record unfold.”14
Then did the Mouse make answer : “ Why ask me ? the annals of Fame15
Far and wide have distinguished our race : Crumb-snatcher’s my name,16
Son of the brave Loaf-nibbler : my mother too was a Queen,17
Lick-flour, daughter of Gnaw-ham : on scraps of the richest cuisine18
Daintily fattened was I, and with figs, and apples, and cake.19
Friendship with me I wonder that you’re proposing to make :20
You live down in the water, while I on the bountiful land21
All the goodies of men’s desserts can daily command—22
Finest of rolls, mixed biscuits, cheese-cakes, bacon and ham—23
Primest of Stilton, with pâtés de foie, and heavenly jam.24
None of your green-stuff for me, your duck-meat, or wish-washy weed.25
Such is the trash, I believe, on which pond-inhabitants feed.”26
Puff-cheek answered him gently, with smile extremely polite,27
“ More than enough, my friend, thou boastest a rare appetite.28
We too know what’s what, and can skip (thank goodness) beyond29
These familiar waters : we’re not confined to a pond.30
You know only the land : if you’d like to see how we fare,31
Jump on my back, and hold tight, I’ll give you a pleasure-trip rare.”32
Lightly upon the back thus kindly offered, in haste33
Leaped little Mouse, and the Frog’s podgy neck securely embraced ;34
Pleasant awhile was the ride, for Puff-cheek’s swimming was brave,35
While the banks were still near ; but when the darkening wave36
Splashed up around, the Mouse wept sore, and in very despair37
Tightened the grip of his paws, and tore his velvety hair,38
Blaming his folly and rashness, as thoughts of a watery bier39
Struck his poor little heart with an icy shudder of fear.40
Suddenly, close beside them—oh, monstrous terrible sight !—41
Rose a snake with its towering crest o’er the waters upright :42
Down in a trice went Puff-cheek, to seek his safety below :43
Little he recked of his comrade, if he could escape from the foe.44
Poor little comrade ! he squeaked, and kicked, and struggled amain—45
Sank underneath the billow, then rose to the surface again—46
Then, as his water-logged fur was dragging him down to the death,47
Thus to a final effort he summoned his faltering breath :—48
“ Anger of gods to escape thou shalt surely never make shift,49
Puff-cheek, casting me thus like shipwrecked sailor adrift :50
Never on land for me couldst thou have been nearly a match,51
Wretch, in a contest athletic, wrestling, or toeing the scratch ;52
But, as there’s justice in heaven, for this thy wat’ry device53
Penalty dear shalt thou pay to th’ avenging army of Mice.”54
So the water closed o’er him, and down to the bottom he sank.55
Lick-trencher saw him drown, as he sat on the slippery bank,56
Saw, and cried aloud ; then homeward speeding like fire57
Told the sad tale to his friends, and roused their deadliest ire.58
Then to the halls of Loaf-nibbler, the aged father, forlorn,59
Bade he the heralds summon assembly at earliest morn,60
While on the pitiless wave Crumb-snatcher’s motionless form61
Lay without life outspread, the sport of billow and storm.62
Summoned in haste they came, and to them the sorrowing sire,63
Mourning his offspring lost, thus spake in terrible ire :—64
“ Friends, though on me alone unmeasured calamities fall,65
Yet not alone I grieve : there is woe and wailing for all.66
Thrice have I been bereaved : one son on my threshold, in vain67
Flying for life, by the merciless Cat was o’ertaken and slain68
And by the craft of men ensnaring innocent Mice69
Yet another was caught in an engine of novel device :70
Now, too, a third has perished, his mother’s darling and mine,71
Drowned in the fathomless deep by Puff-cheek’s cruel design.72
Come then, arm ye for vengeance, and issue forth to the fight,73
Warriors bravely equipped and harnessed in panoply bright.”74
So at his bidding they armed them : and first, with vigorous haste75
Splitting the verdant bean-pod, in greaves their legs they encased ;76
Next their bodies in well-stitched jerkins of leather arrayed,77
Cunningly stript from the corpse of Grimalkin recently flayed :78
Each had the central lid of a lamp for his circular shield—79
Each for a spear the burnished length of a needle to wield—80
Each on his head for helmet a walnut’s ponderous shell :—81
So they went forth equipped the foe to attack and repel.82
But when the Frogs perceived their gathering troops from afar,83
Straightway they rose from the water and called a council of war :84
And, as they gravely debated, a herald to audience came,85
Son of the mighty Cheese-scraper himself, Pot-searcher by name,86
Big with a message of battle, and thus he delivered the same :—87
“ Listen, ye Frogs, I come from the outraged nation of Mice,88
Bringing you stern defiance : so arm your host in a trice.89
Slain by Puff-cheek your King, Crumb-snatcher’s corpse from the wave90
Calls on his country for vengeance ; and so we challenge your brave91
Champions to battle.” He spake : in their ears that utterance shrill92
Rang, and raised in their valiant hearts an answering thrill :93
Then as they muttered reproaches, the King arose to explain :—94
“ Friends, not mine is the guilt : no innocent Mouse have I slain :95
Not in my sight did he perish. But on the treacherous marge96
Sporting he met his death : shall they lay on your monarch the charge97
Basely accusing the guiltless ? At once then let us debate98
How these treacherous Mice we can wholly annihilate.99
My advice is to arm ourselves, and stand in a rank100
On the brink of the pond at the steepest slope of the bank ;101
Then, as they rush upon us, to seize each foe by the helm,102
And in the watery deep their encumbered bodies o’erwhelm.103
So shall we raise our trophy, and make our victory known,104
Drowning the famed Mouse-heroes, who only swim like a stone.”105
Such were the words of the King ; and his lieges in haste to obey106
Stripped them leaves of the mallow to guard their shanks in the fray,107
Breastplates the broad green beet, and the cabbage furnishes shields,108
While for spear a bulrush’s length each champion wields,109
And for a visor dons the untenanted shell of a snail :—110
Thus they stood on the bank arrayed in ponderous mail,111
Poising their terrible spears, resolved at no peril to quail.112
Then the King of the Gods called his council up in the sky,113
Bade them the gathering crowds and doughty heroes espy,114
And with a smile demanded : “ The side of the Frogs who will take ?115
Who will befriend the Mice ? ” And thus to Minerva he spake :—116
“ Thou, my daughter, wilt go and give aid to the Mice, without doubt ;117
Creatures who in thy temple are always scamp’ring about,118
Picking up sundry scraps and sniffing the roast sacrifice.”119
“ Father, indeed you’re mistaken,” replied Minerva, “ these Mice.120
No friends of mine I reckon : they are such mischievous scamps,121
Gnawing the sacred garlands, and sipping the oil of the lamps :122
Worse too than this have they done—they gnawed great holes in a shawl123
Which I had lately woven, the closest, finest of all124
Both in warp and in woof. But for all their mischievous pranks125
I’m not going to help their foes : for I owe them no thanks,126
Ill-natured brutes ! who lately, when I’d come home tired out127
After fighting all day, made such a detestable rout,128
Croaking all night, that I couldn’t sleep, not the least little bit,129
Lying till cock-crow awake, with my poor head ready to split.130
Nay—let us hold our hands, nor join in this terrible fray :131
Some of us might get wounded, for sharp are their weapons, and they132
Fight at close quarters, I ween, and even a god will defy.133
’Twill be a safer pastime to watch them here in the sky.”134
So she advised, and the gods considered her argument sound.135
Then, as the warriors mustered below on the battle-ground,136
Came the gnats with their trumpets, to sound the onset of war,137
While the thunder-signal of Jove resounded afar.138
First with his lance at rest Harsh-croaker wounded to death,139
Lick-gravy stationed in front, and pierced the source of his breath
;140
Headlong he fell, and laid his delicate fur in the dust.141
Him to avenge Pop-in-hole his spear irresistible thrust142
Into the breast of Mud-son, who fell in death to the ground,143
While from his lifeless trunk the spirit escaped through the wound.144
Likewise fell Marsh-tenor, whom Nibble-roll pierced to the heart ;145
But Bog-dandy, as soon as he saw that spirit depart,146
Smote Pop-in-hole on the throat with a boulder mighty of size,147
Smote, and severed the spine, so that darkness clouded his eyes.148
Thus they slew one another ; and some on the slippery bank149
Breathed their last, while some ’neath the wave in agony sank150
Trampled were all the rushes, and strewn with corpses the shore151
Fouled with carnage the field, and the waters crimsoned with gore.152
Yet did the conflict rage—the blameless Mud-wallower
died153
Pierced by Lick-trencher’s lance, and his soul to the shadow-land hied :154
But Bog-trotter avenged him—a compress of glutinous mud155
Right in the face of the foe he hurled, and a sickening thud156
Followed the deadly aim ; half-blinded, scarce able to stand,157
Yet invigored by wrath, the foe in hiw muscular hand158
Lifting on high a mighty boulder that burdened the land,159
Smote Bog-trotter amain with a crashing blow on the shank,160
So that the limb was shattered, and down in the dust he sank.161
Then Fits-croaker arose and drove his glittering spear162
Into Scrap-filcher’s heart, and closed his earthly career.163
But there was one young champion of irresistible might,164
Blameless Cake-sniffer’s son, the bold Bun-ravager
hight :165
He was a host in himself, and like Mars in his menacing frown166
Leading the conquering Mice through the battle he ranged up and down,167
And on the brink of the pond he solemnly swore to efface168
From creation’s record the whole Batrachian race.169
Then the King of the Gods, on Olympus’ towering hill,170
Pitied the suffering Frogs, and thus he uttered his will,171
Shaking his awful head :— “ Methinks this is going too far,172
If Bun-ravager’s pride should control the issues of war.173
Slaughter all Frogs indeed ! Come, Mars and Minerva, and stay174
This o’erweening boaster from thus concluding the fray !”175
So spake the King of Gods, and thus answered Juno his Queen :176
“ Might of Minerva or Mars will scarce avail us, I ween,177
Now the vanquished to save. Let thy lightning terribly flash,178
Wherewith thou into atoms the rebel giants didst dash.”179
Then at her word he let loose the consuming fiery levin180
And with his thundering shook the firm foundation of heaven,181
So that all nations trembled : only the Mice undismayed182
More than ever resolved their triumph should not be delayed.183
But the decrees of Fate were against their arrogant boast :184
Sent by the gods there came another more terrible host—185
Sidelong and all-awry the eight-legged monstrosities marched,186
Hard were their backs as anvils of steel, and graspingly arched187
Nipper-armed claws before them—with eyes in their breasts flashing fire—188
Sherd-like things that no weapon could wound, no labour could tire—189
Crabs they are vulgarly called. These fell on the army of Mice,190
Nipping and snapping asunder their toes and tails in a trice,191
Routing them all in a panic, and driving them mangled and maimed192
Till they slunk slowly back to their holes, curtailed and ashamed.193
Thus as the wearied Sun ’neath Ocean extinguished his ray,194
All the noise of battle died out with the ending of day.195