For The Batrachomoumachia Batracmoumacia Introduction The Beginning Lines 56 - 102 Lines 103 - 159 Lines 160 - 209 Lines 210 - 267 Lines 268 - 303 Go Home |
When the Heralds called this out from the walls the mice came from the fields to the house of Bread-Gnawer. The unhappy father of Crumb-Filcher whose dead body was floating on his back in the lake. The poor wretch was no longer near the banks, instead he had floated into the middle of the lake. As the mice came hastily by daybreak, Bread-Gnawer stood up angered by the death his son, and gave this speech; "Oh beloved Mice, I have suffered much despair at the hands of the frogs. They have attempted a wrong on all of us. I myself am even more upset since now I have lost three sons. The first one was killed by a thief, one of the hostile weasels. He was stolen from outside our mouse hole. The other was picked up by many harsh men, being foolish the young child discovered the wooden baited trap. The third was dearest to me and cherished by his mother. Puff-Cheek drowned him left him floating in that lake. Let us now get ready and we will go upon, we will sort their bodies and make them work the harness." After saying these unkind things everyone of the mice began to equip themselves. Ares the one who cares for war helped equip them. First they equipped themselves with greaves on both thighs by breaking up bean pods by the lot, and fashioning them well, they gnawed on them through the night. Then they made breast plates fashioned from fine flax. And then they skillfully made spear-headed javelins, for the beautiful work of Ares, and their helmet was a chick-pea shell to cover their temples. Then the mice were in arms. As the frogs became aware of this, they rose up from the water and came together from around the land as one in a council of war. They themselves were standing and shouting, wondering why the mice were preparing for war with them. Then an ambassador came with a pledge, and bearing a staff in his paws. He was Pot-Visitor the son of the great hearted Cheese-Scooper was the messenger who brought the news of the evil war, and told them this. "Oh frogs this is a warning to you from the mice, for you to prepare for both war and fighting. For we saw Crumb-Filcher slain, by your king Puff-Cheek. As he announced his speech and his words sunk into their ears, the hearts of the lordly frogs were disturbed. Then the one being blamed, Puff-Cheek rose up and said; " Oh friends, I myself did not kill the mouse, nor did I see him die. He was swimming and playing by the lake imitating the ways of frogs. I myself am not to blame for this wicked deed. Come now Council because of this we must utterly seek and destroy these crafty mice. For I have a tactic which I believe to be the best. Let us arrange our bodies in arms and let us all stand in front of the highest ridge. Where it is steep and rugged. When they declare they will rush us we will let them charge us. As they have come nearer, we will grab them by their helmets and throw them both down the ridge and into the lake. We will win the war by drowning them in the water since they are not able to swim." Lines 160 to 209 |