HOMER in a Nutshell.
9
Sirs, 'tis a publick Wound. Not I'm alone
Depriv'd of th' Heir and Collegue of my Throne.
My Subjects too have lost a mighty stay:
I miss my Child, but their Defender They———
Curst Fate of a declining Sire! To see
Of three brave Sons the sad Catastrophe!
My First by tabby Cannibal destroy'd,
My Second into Wooden Death decoy'd!
And now the hopefull'st of my Stem is found
By a false Monarch in his Marshes drown'd.
To Arms, to Arms! Th' Occasion checks Delay:
Old as I am my self will lead the way.
Depriv'd of th' Heir and Collegue of my Throne.
My Subjects too have lost a mighty stay:
I miss my Child, but their Defender They———
Curst Fate of a declining Sire! To see
Of three brave Sons the sad Catastrophe!
My First by tabby Cannibal destroy'd,
My Second into Wooden Death decoy'd!
And now the hopefull'st of my Stem is found
By a false Monarch in his Marshes drown'd.
To Arms, to Arms! Th' Occasion checks Delay:
Old as I am my self will lead the way.
Scarce the gray Sage had clos'd his trembling Lips,
When from the Clouds the God of Battle slips,
And with rich Arms the zealous Wight equips.
A Coat of Mail to cover Back and Side,
He plaited from a Snake's forsaken Hide.
Dry Pescods, whose green Embryos once had lin'd
Their Bellies, now around their Shanks they bind.
Flat Cockle-shells on Gravel-Walk new lay'd
Impenetrable, radiant Corslets made.
Nor sought th' assiduous Band in vain for Shields,
A Brazier's Shop a thousand Save-alls yields.
A Foot of Wire each haughty Pikeman trails,
And at their Hips hang (four a Penny) Nails.
Helmets of Acorn-cups their Fronts protect,
With Tags of Silk and waving Plume bedeckt.
When from the Clouds the God of Battle slips,
And with rich Arms the zealous Wight equips.
A Coat of Mail to cover Back and Side,
He plaited from a Snake's forsaken Hide.
Dry Pescods, whose green Embryos once had lin'd
Their Bellies, now around their Shanks they bind.
Flat Cockle-shells on Gravel-Walk new lay'd
Impenetrable, radiant Corslets made.
Nor sought th' assiduous Band in vain for Shields,
A Brazier's Shop a thousand Save-alls yields.
A Foot of Wire each haughty Pikeman trails,
And at their Hips hang (four a Penny) Nails.
Helmets of Acorn-cups their Fronts protect,
With Tags of Silk and waving Plume bedeckt.
Ap-
