HOMER in a Nutshell.
19
But Heav'n's grand Sov'reign saw the coming Stroak,
And melting into Pitty Silence broke,
With solemn Nod: See there, ye Gods, see there
Th' attempts of bloody-minded Scamblefare!
Minerva—Mars—stoop with a rapid Flight,
And drive the fell Insulter from the Fight!
Thus Jove: To whom the God of Arms, Not I,
Nor She, nor all our Peers throughout the Sky
Can aid the Frogs: However we may try.
If our Joint-Pow'rs the Mischief cann't remove,
Still our Benignity we shall approve———
Or what if downward you a Bolt shou'd dart,
A sputt'ring Bolt forg'd with laborious Art?
Such as on Phlægra's execrable Plain
Besieg'd your vext Divinity did rain,
When the tall Brood which Earth's damp Caverns bore,
You riveted to Mountains whence their Arms they tore.
He say'd. The Son of Saturn rising hurl'd
A Lemnian Shaft, and stunn'd the upper World.
Down from the rocking Orbs the Tempest came,
Usher'd by Preludes of diffusive Flame.
At first both Armies fear: Yet this Device
Affrights not from Hostilities the Mice,
The Froggish Name t' extinguish boldly bent,
But squeamish Jove averse to their Intent,
Puissant Succours to the Buff-coats lent.
Deform'd, ungainly, awkward, sideling Sholes,
Testaceous Tenants of the slimy Holes,
Waving four slender Feet on either side,
With jetty Claws and rocky Shoulders wide:
And melting into Pitty Silence broke,
With solemn Nod: See there, ye Gods, see there
Th' attempts of bloody-minded Scamblefare!
Minerva—Mars—stoop with a rapid Flight,
And drive the fell Insulter from the Fight!
Thus Jove: To whom the God of Arms, Not I,
Nor She, nor all our Peers throughout the Sky
Can aid the Frogs: However we may try.
If our Joint-Pow'rs the Mischief cann't remove,
Still our Benignity we shall approve———
Or what if downward you a Bolt shou'd dart,
A sputt'ring Bolt forg'd with laborious Art?
Such as on Phlægra's execrable Plain
Besieg'd your vext Divinity did rain,
When the tall Brood which Earth's damp Caverns bore,
You riveted to Mountains whence their Arms they tore.
He say'd. The Son of Saturn rising hurl'd
A Lemnian Shaft, and stunn'd the upper World.
Down from the rocking Orbs the Tempest came,
Usher'd by Preludes of diffusive Flame.
At first both Armies fear: Yet this Device
Affrights not from Hostilities the Mice,
The Froggish Name t' extinguish boldly bent,
But squeamish Jove averse to their Intent,
Puissant Succours to the Buff-coats lent.
Deform'd, ungainly, awkward, sideling Sholes,
Testaceous Tenants of the slimy Holes,
Waving four slender Feet on either side,
With jetty Claws and rocky Shoulders wide:
Their
