My friends! I neither drown'd the Mouse, nor saw
His drowning. Doubtless, while he strove in sport 181
To imitate the swimming of the Frogs,
He sank and died. Thus, blame is none in me,
And these injurious sland'rers do me wrong.
Consult we, therefore, how we may destroy 185
The subtle Mice, which thus we will perform.
Arm'd and adorn'd for battle, we will wait
Their coming where our coast is most abrupt.
Then, soon as they shall rush to the assault,
Seizing them by the helmet, as they come, 190
We will precipitate them, arms and all,
Into the lake; unskilful as they are
To swim, their suffocation there is sure,
And we will build a trophy to record
The great Mouse-massacre for evermore. 195
So saying, he gave commandment, and all arm'd.
With leaves of mallows each his legs incased,
Guarded his bosom with a corslet cut
From the green beet, with foliage tough of kail
Fashion'd his ample buckler, with a rush 200
Keen-tipt, of length tremendous, fill'd his gripe,
And on his brows set fast a cockle-shell.
Then, on the summit of the loftiest bank
Drawn into phalanx firm they stood, all shook
Their quiv'ring spears, and wrath swell'd ev'ry breast.
Jove saw them, and assembling all the Gods 206
To council in the skies, behold, he said,
Yon
