Page:Batrachomyomachia, or, the Battle of the Frogs and Mice.djvu/14

To what the Mice propose, ye Frogs! attend
And hear the Message which by me they send:
They, to revenge Psicharpax, whom your Lord
Drown'd in the Deep, regardless of his Word,
Defy th' assembled Forces you can boast,
And dare the noblest of your armed Host.

He ceas'd; and frowning from the Place retir'd:
His threatning Speech the listning Audience fir'd:
At length, with Words like these the ^[1]Monarch rose
To hush their Murmurs, and their Wrath compose.

Friends! not to me Psicharpax ows his Death,
Nor did I see him lab'ring out his Breath.
Like us to pass the Stream the Hero try'd,
And for his Boldness in the Stream he dy'd.
Yet these aloud for Vengeance call, and bring
Their impious Arms against your blameless King,
Route then, ye Warriors! all your Thoughts employ,
To combat, conquer, and the Race destroy.
But first to what I counsel lend an Ear;
Let all our Legions on the Banks appear

1. Physignathus.

Arm'd