Page:Batrachomyomachia, or, the wonderfull and bloudy Battell betweene Frogs and Mice.djvu/48

By this rare stratagem and brave devise,
We shall their malice and great pride abate:
Thus shall we conquer corner-creeping Mice,
Which would annoy our peace and quiet state.
^[1]And thus with trophies and triumphing play,
We will like victors crowne our heads with bay.
Then arme your selves, brave mates, with speare & shield
"God, and great Neptune grant us winne the field.

Here did he end, and scarce he made an end,
But all the Frogs, from greatest to the least,
For these ensuing warres their studies bend
To get such weapons as befit them best:
^[2]First to their thighes green Malow they do wrap,
Which hang down like a bag or butchers flap.
Beets, like a cloke, upon their backe they don,
Which serves for brest-plate and habergion.

A Cockles shell for sallet they prepare,
T'award their heads from blowes amid the field:
In their left hands these water-souldiers bare
A leafe of Colewort for a trusty shield,
And in their right (for all parts armed were)
They tosse a bulrush for a pike or speare.
Along the shore they march in this aray,
Mad with fell rage, yet glad to see this day.

1. Addidit invalida robur fæcundia causæ.
2. The armour and weapons of the Frogs.

Thus