BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE.
[Ex edit. Frid. August, Wolf. Halæ, Saxon, 1784]
E la terra se scosse e l'ampio seno
De l'oceano a suoi divini accenti,
Ei cominciò dal di che fu ripieno
Di topi il mondo e di ranocchi spenti.
Tassoni, Secchia Rapita, c. ii, s. 43.
De l'oceano a suoi divini accenti,
Ei cominciò dal di che fu ripieno
Di topi il mondo e di ranocchi spenti.
Tassoni, Secchia Rapita, c. ii, s. 43.
And the earth trembled, and the boundless breast
Of ocean at his accents' heavenly tone,
Beginning from that day, when Mice unblest
And Frogs in death through all the world were strown.
Of ocean at his accents' heavenly tone,
Beginning from that day, when Mice unblest
And Frogs in death through all the world were strown.
Awake my song1,—and ye, sweet minstrels, won
By holiest prayer, oh! leave your Helicon—
I woo ye to my heart,—and bless the strain
Trac'd on the tablets that these knees sustain.
—For wild the deeds, and fearful they record,
—Death's iron din and war's relentless lord,—
Then, on the ear of nations far away,
Thunder the tale—how erst, in mail'd array,
'Gainst legion'd Frogs the Mice triumphant stood,
And shamed in might the giants' earth-born brood2;
By holiest prayer, oh! leave your Helicon—
I woo ye to my heart,—and bless the strain
Trac'd on the tablets that these knees sustain.
—For wild the deeds, and fearful they record,
—Death's iron din and war's relentless lord,—
Then, on the ear of nations far away,
Thunder the tale—how erst, in mail'd array,
'Gainst legion'd Frogs the Mice triumphant stood,
And shamed in might the giants' earth-born brood2;
