And serve you for your sacred victuals’ sake?”
Pallas replied: “O Father, never I
Will aid the Mice in any misery.
So many mischiefs by them I have found,
Eating the cotton that my distaffs crown’d, 20
My lamps still haunting to devour the oil.
But that which most my mind eats, is their spoil
Made of a veil, that me in much did stand,
On which bestowing an elaborate hand,
A fine woof working of as pure a thread;
Such holes therein their petulancies fed
That, putting it to darning, when ’twas done,
The darner a most dear pay stood upon
For his so dear pains, laid down instantly;
Or, to forbear, exacted usury. 21
So, borrowing from my fane the weed I wove,
I can by no means th’ usurous darner move
To let me have the mantle to restore.
And this is it that rubs the angry sore
Of my offence took at these petulant Mice.
Nor will I yield the Frogs’ wants my supplies,
For their infirm minds that no confines keep;
For I from war retir’d, and wanting sleep,
All leap’d ashore in tumult, nor would stay
Till one wink seized mine eyes, and so I lay
Sleepless, and pain’d with headache, till first light
The cock had crow’d up. Therefore, to the fight
Let no God go assistant, lest a lance
Wound whosoever offers to advance,
Or wishes but their aid, that scorn all foes;
Should any God’s access their spirits oppose.
Sit we then pleased to see from heaven their fight.”
She said, and all Gods join’d in her delight.
And now both hosts to one field drew the jar,
Both heralds bearing the ostents of war.
And then the wine-gnats, 22 that shrill trumpets sound,
Terribly rung out the encounter round;
Jove thund’red; all heaven sad war’s sign resounded.
And first Hypsiboas 23 Lichenor 24 wounded,
Standing th’ impression of the first in fight.
His lance did in his liver’s midst alight,
Along his belly. Down he fell; his face
His fall on that part sway’d, and all the grace
Of his soft hair fil’d with disgraceful dust.
Then Troglodytes 25 his thick javelin thrust
In Pelion’s 26 bosom, bearing him to ground,
Whom sad death seiz’d; his soul flew through his wound.
Seutlæus 27 next Embasichytros slew,
His heart through-thrusting. Then Artophagus 28 threw
His lance at Polyphon, 29 and struck him quite
Through his mid-belly; down he fell upright,
And from his fair limbs took his soul her flight.
Limnocharis, 30 beholding Polyphon
Thus done to death, did, with as round a stone
As that the mill turns, Troglodytes wound,
Near his mid-neck, ere he his onset found;
Whose eyes sad darkness seiz’d. Lichenor 31 cast
A flying dart off, and his aim so placed
Upon Limnocharis; that sure he thought 32
The wound he wish’d him; nor untruly wrought
The dire success, for through his liver flew
The fatal lance; which when Crambophagus 33 knew,
Down the deep waves near shore he, diving, fled;
But fled not fate so; the stern enemy fed
Death with his life in diving; never more
The air he drew in; his vermilion gore
Stain’d all the waters, and along the shore
He laid extended; his fat entrails lay
(By his small guts’ impulsion) breaking way
Out at his wound. Limnisius 34 near the shore
Destroy’d Tyroglyphus. Which frighted sore
The soul of Calaminth, 35 seeing coming on,
For wreak, Pternoglyphus; 36 who got him gone
With large leaps to the lake, his target thrown
Into the waters. Hydrocharis 37 slew
King Pternophagus, 38 at whose throat he threw
A huge stone, strook it high, and beat his brain
Out at his nostrils. Earth blush’d with the stain
His blood made on her bosom. For next prise,
Lichopinax to death did sacrifice
Borboroccetes’ 39 faultless faculties;
His lance enforced it; darkness closed his eyes.
On which when Prassophagus 40 cast his look,
Cnissodioctes 41 by the heels he took,
Dragg’d him to fen from off his native ground,
Then seized his throat, and soused him till he drown’d
But now Psicharpax wreaks his fellows’ deaths,
And in the bosom of Pelusius 42 sheaths,
In centre of his liver, his bright lance.
He fell before the author of the chance;
His soul to hell fled. Which Pelobates 43
Taking sad note of, wreakfully did seize
His hand’s gripe full of mud, and all besmear’d
His forehead with it so, that scarce appear’d
The light to him. Which certainly incensed
His fiery spleen; who with his wreak dispensed
No point of time, but rear’d with his strong hand
A stone so massy it oppress’d the land,
And hurl’d it at him; when below the knee
It strook his right leg so impetuously
It piecemeal brake it; he the dust did seize,
Upwards everted. But Craugasides 44
Revenged his death, and at his enemy
Discharged a dart that did his point imply
In his mid-belly. All the sharp-pil’d spear
Got after in, and did before it bear
His universal entrails to the earth,
Soon as his swoln hand gave his jav’lin birth.
Sitophagus, 45 beholding the sad sight,
Set on the shore, went halting from the fight,
Vex’d with his wounds extremely; and, to make
Way from extreme fate, leap’d into the lake.
Troxartes strook, in th’ instep’s upper part,
Physignathus; who (privy to the smart
His wound imparted) with his utmost haste
Leap’d to the lake, and fled. Troxartes cast
His eye upon the foe that fell before,
And, seeing him half-liv’d, long’d again to gore
His gutless bosom; and, to kill him quite,
Ran fiercely at him. Which Prassseus’ 46 sight
Took instant note of, and the first in fight
Thrust desp’rate way through, casting his keen lance
Off at Troxartes; whose shield turn’d th’ advance
The sharp head made, and check’d the mortal chance.
Amongst the Mice fought an egregious
Young springall, and a close-encount’ring Mouse,
Pure Artepibulus’s 47 dear descent;
A prince that Mars himself show’d where he went.
(Call’d Meridarpax, 48) of so huge a might,
That only he still domineer’d in fight
Of all the Mouse-host. He advancing close
Up to the lake, past all the rest arose
In glorious object, and m
ade vaunt that he
Came to depopulate all the progeny
Of Frogs, affected with the lance of war.
And certainly he had put on as far
As he advanced his vaunt, he was endu’d
With so unmatch’d a force and fortitude,
Had not the Father both of Gods and men
Instantly known it, and the Frogs, even then
Given up to ruin, rescued with remorse.
Who, his head moving, thus began discourse:
“No mean amaze affects me, to behold
Prince Meridarpax rage so uncontroll’d,
In thirst of Frog-blood, all along the lake.
Come therefore still, and all addression make,
Despatching Pallas, with tumultuous Mars,
Down to the field, to make him leave the wars,
How potently soever he be said 49
Where he attempts once to uphold his head.”
Mars answer’d: “O Jove, neither She nor I,
With both our aids, can keep depopulacy
From off the Frogs! And therefore arm we all,
Even thy lance letting brandish to his call
From off the field, that from the field withdrew
The Titanois, the Titanois that slew,
Though most exempt from match of all earth’s Seeds,
So great and so inaccessible deeds
It hath proclaim’d to men; bound hand and foot
The vast Enceladus; and rac’d by th’ root
The race of upland Giants.” This speech past,
Saturnius a smoking lightning cast
Amongst the armies, thund’ring then so sore,
That with a rapting circumflex he bore
All huge heaven over. But the terrible ire
Of his dart, sent abroad, all wrapt in fire,
(Which certainly his very finger was)
Amazed both Mice and Frogs. Yet soon let pass
Was all this by the Mice, who much the more
Burn’d in desire t’ exterminate the store
Of all those lance-loved soldiers. Which had been,
If from Olympus Jove’s eye had not seen
The Frogs with pity, and with instant speed
Sent them assistants. Who, ere any heed
Was given to their approach, came crawling on
With anvils on their backs, that, beat upon 50
Never so much, are never wearied yet;
Crook-paw’d, and wrested on with foul cloven feet,
Tongues in their mouths, 51 brick-back’d, all over bone,
Broad shoulder’d, whence a ruddy yellow shone,
Distorted, and small-thigh’d; had eyes that saw
Out at their bosoms; twice four feet did draw
About their bodies; strong-neck’d, whence did rise
Two heads; nor could to any hand be prise;
They call them lobsters; that ate from the Mice
Their tails, their feet, and hands, and wrested all
Their lances from them, so that cold appall
The wretches put in rout, past all return.
And now the Fount of Light forbore to burn
Above the earth; when, which men’s laws commend,
Our battle in one day took absolute end.
THE END OF HOMER’S BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE.
ENDNOTES.
1 Intending men: being divided from all other creatures by the voice; μέροψ, being a periphrasis, signifying voce divisus, of μείρω (μείρομαι) divido, and ὅψ, ὁπός, vox.
2 Φυσίγναθος, Genas et buccas inflans.
3 Πηλεύς, qui ex luto nascitur.
4 ‘ϒδρομέδουνα. Aquarum regina.
5 The river Po, in Italy.
6 Ψιχάρπαξ. Gather-crum, or ravish-crum,
7 Shear-crust.
8 Lick-mill.
9 Bacon-flitch-devourer, or gnawer.
10 Τανύπεπλος. Extenso et prourisso peploamictus. A metaphor taken from ladies’ veils, or trains, and therefore their names are here added.
11 ῞Ηπατα λευκοχίτωνα. Livering puddings white-skinn’d.
12 Παντοδαποι̑σιν. Whose common exposition is only variis, when it properly signifies ex omni solo.
13 Στονόεσσαν, of στενός, angutstus.
14 Lickdish.
15 Ευ͒ τ᾽ ἀσκήσαντες, ab ἀσκέω, elaboratè concinno.
16 Enter-pot, or search-pot.
17 Cheese-miner. Qui caseum rodendo cavat.
18 Μιμούμενος. Aping, or imitating us.
19 Boots of war.
20 Στέμματα, Lanas, eo quod colus cingant seu coronent. Which our learned sect translate eating the crowns that Pallas wore.
21 Τόκος. Partus, et id quod partu edidit mater. Metap. hic appellatur fænus quod ex usurâ ad nos redit.
22 Κώνωψ. Culex vinarius.
23 Loud-mouth.
24 Kitchen-vessel licker.
25 Hole-dweller. Qui foramina subit.
26 Mud-born.
27 Beet-devourer.
28 The great bread eater.
29 Πολύφωνον. The great-noise-maker, shrill or big-voiced.
30 The lake-lover.
31 Qui lambit culinaria vasa.
32 Τιτύσκομαι intentissime dirigo ut certum ictum inferam.
33 The cabbage-eater.
34 Paludis incola. Lake-liver.
35 Qui in calaminthâ, herbâ palustri, habitat.
36 Bacon-eater.
37 Qui aquis delectatur.
38 Collop-devourer.
39 Mud-sleeper.
40 Leek or scallion lover.
41 Kitchen-smell haunter, or hunter.
42 Fenstalk.
43 Qui per lutum it.
44 Vociferator.
45 Eat-corn.
46 Scallion-devourer.
47 Bread-betrayer.
48 Scrap, or broken-meat-eater.
49 Κρατερός, validus seu potens in retineudo.
50 Νωτάκμονες. Incudes ferentes, or anvil-backed. ῞Ακμων. Incus, dicta per syncopen quasi nullis ictibus fatigetur.
51 Ψαλίδοστομος. Forcipem in ore habens.
THE HOMERIC HYMNS
CONTENTS
A HYMN TO APOLLO
A HYMN TO HERMES
A HYMN TO VENUS
TO THE SAME
BACCHUS, OR THE PIRATES
TO MARS
TO DIANA
TO VENUS
TO PALLAS
TO JUNO
TO CERES
TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS
TO LION-HEARTED HERCULES
TO ÆSCULAPIUS
TO CASTOR AND POLLUX
TO MERCURY
TO PAN
TO VULCAN
TO PHŒBUS
TO NEPTUNE
TO JOVE
TO VESTA
TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO
TO BACCHUS
TO DIANA
TO PALLAS
TO VESTA AND MERCURY
TO EARTH, THE MOTHER OF ALL
TO THE SUN
TO THE MOON
TO CASTOR AND POLLUX
TO MEN OF HOSPITALITY
EPIGRAMS
TO CUMA
IN HIS RETURN TO CUMA
UPON THE SEPULCHRE OF MIDUS CUT IN BRASS, IN THE FIGURE OF A VIRGIN
CUMA REFUSING HIS OFFER TO ETERNIZE THEIR STATE, THOUGH BROUGHT THITHER BY THE MUSES
AN ASSAY OF HIS BEGUN ILIADS
TO THESTOR’S SON 1
INQUISITIVE OF HOMER ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THINGS
TO NEPTUNE
TO THE CITY ERYTHRÆA
TO MAR
INERS
THE PINE
TO GLAUCUS WHO WAS SO MISERABLY SPARING THAT HE FEARED ALL MEN’S ACCESS TO HIM
AGAINST THE SAMIAN MINISTRESS, OR NUN
WRITTEN ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
THE FURNACE CALLED IN TO SING BY POTTERS
EIRESIONE, OR, THE OLIVE BRANCH
TO CERTAIN FISHER BOYS PLEASING HIM WITH INGENIOUS RIDDLES
THE TRANSLATOR’S EPILOGUE
A HYMN TO APOLLO
I will remember and express the praise
Of heaven’s Far-darter, the fair King of days,
Whom even the Gods themselves fear when he goes
Through Jove’s high house; and when his goodly bows
He goes to bend, all from their thrones arise,
And cluster near, t’ admire his faculties.
Only Latona stirs not from her seat
Close by the Thund’rer, till her Son’s retreat
From his dread archery; but then she goes,
Slackens his string, and shuts his quiver close,
And (having taken to her hand his bow,
From off his able shoulders) doth bestow
Upon a pin of gold the glorious tiller,
The pin of gold fix’d in his father’s pillar.
Then doth She to his throne his state uphold,
Where his great Father, in a cup of gold,
Serves him with nectar, and shows all the grace
Of his great son. Then th’ other Gods take place;
His gracious mother glorying to bear
So great an archer, and a son so clear.
All hail, O blest Latona! to bring forth
An issue of such all-out-shining worth,
Royal Apollo, and the Queen that loves
The hurls of darts. She in th’ Ortygian groves,
And he in cliffy Delos, leaning on
The lofty Oros, and being built upon
By Cynthus’ prominent, that his head rears
Close to the palm that Inops’ fluent cheers.
How shall I praise thee, far being worthiest praise,
O Phœbus? To whose worth the law of lays
In all kinds is ascrib’d, if feeding flocks
By continent or isle. All eminent’st rocks
Did sing for joy, hill-tops, and floods in song
Did break their billows, as they flow’d along
To serve the sea; the shores, the seas, and all
Did sing as soon as from the lap did fall
Of blest Latona thee the joy of man.
Her child-bed made the mountain Cynthian
In rocky Delos, the sea-circled isle,
On whose all sides the black seas brake their pile,
And overflow’d for joy, so frank a gale
The Complete Poetical Works of George Chapman Page 165