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O fill my rifing Song with facred Fire,

Ye tuneful Nine, ye fweet Celefial Quire! From Helicon's imbow'ring Height repair, Attend my Labours, and reward my Pray'r. 5 The dreadful Tails of raging Mars I write, The Springs of Conteft, and the Fields of Fight; How threatning Mice advanc'd with warlike Grace, And wag'd dire Combats with the croaking Race. Not louder Tumults fhook Olympus' Tow'rs, " 10 When Earth-born Giants dar'd Immortal Pow'rs. Thefe equal Acts an equal Glory claim,

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3 And thus the Mafe records the Tale of Fame.

Once on a Time, fatigu'd and out of Breath, And just efcap'd the stretching Claws of Death, 15 A Gentle Mouse, whom Cats purfu'd in vain, Flies fwift-of-foot across the neighb'ring Plain, Hangs o'er a Brink, his eager Thirst to cool, And dips his Whiskers in the standing Pool ; When near a courteous Frog advanc'd his Head, 20 And from the Waters, hoarfe refounding faid,

What art thou, Stranger? What the Line you boaft? What Chance hath caft thee painting on our Coaft? With ftricteft Truth let all thy Words

agree, Nor let me find a faithlefs Moufe in thee. 25 If worthy Friendship, proffer'd Friendship take, And entring view the pleasurable Lake: Range o'er my Palace, in my Bounty share, And glad return from hofpitable Fare.

This Silver Realm extends beneath my Sway,
30 And me, their Monarch, all its Frogs obey.
Great Phyfignathus I, from Peleus' Race,
Begot in fair Hydromedufe Embrace,

Where by the nuptial Bank that paints his Side,
The fwift Eridanus delights to glide,

35 Thee too, thy Form, thy Strength, and Port proclaim
A fcepter'd King; a Son of Martial Fame;
Then trace thy Line, and aid my guessing Eyes.
Thus ceas'd the Frog, and thus the Monfe replies.

Known

FROGS and MICE.

Known to the Gods, the Men, the Birds that fly 40 Thro' wild Expanses of the midway Sky,

My Name refounds; and if unknown to thee,
The Soul of Great Pfycarpax lives in me,

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Of brave Troxartas' Line, whofe fleeky Down tha

In Love comprefs'd Lyckomile the brown.

45 My Mother fhe, and Princess of the Plains.

Where e're her Father Pternotroctas reigns:

Born where a Cabin lifts its airy Shed,

With Figs, with Nuts, with vary'd Dainties fed.

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But fince our Natures nought in common know,
50 From what Foundation can a Friendship grow?
These curling Waters o'er thy Palace roll ;
But Man's high Food fupports my Princely Soul.
In vain the circled Loaves attempt to lie

Conceal'd in Flaskets from my curious Eye, 55 In vain the Tripe that boafts the whiteft Hue, In vain the giled Bacon fhuns my View,

In vain the Cheeses, Ofspring of the Pale,

Or honey'd Cakes, which Gods themfelves regale,
And as in Arts I fhine, in Arms I fight,

60 Mix'd with the braveft, and unknown to Flight.
Tho large to mine the humane Form appear,
Not Man himself can fmite my Soul with Fear.
Sly to the Bed with filent Steps I go,

Attempt his Finger, or attack his Toe,

65 And fix indented Wounds with dext'rous Skill, Sleeping he feels, and only seems to feel.

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Yet have we Foes which direful Dangers caufe,

Grim Orls with Talons arm'd, and Cats with Claws,
And that falfe Trap, the Den of filent Fate,

70 Where Death his Ambufh plants around the Bait ;
All-dreaded thefe, and dreadful o'er the reft
The potent Warriours of the tabby Veft,
If to the dark we fly, the Dark they trace,
And rend our Heroes of the nilling Race.
75 But me, nor Stalks, nor watrifh Herbs delight,
Nor can the crimfon Radifh charm my Sight,
The Lake-refounding Frogs felected Fare,
Which not a Moufe of any Tafte can bear.

As thus the downy Prince his Mind'expreft, 80 His Answer thus the croaking King addreft. al

Thy Words luxuriant on thy Dainties rove,
And, ftranger, we can boast of bounteous Fove
We fport in Water, or we dance on Land,

And born amphibious, Food from both command. 85 But truft thy felf where Wonders ask thy View, And fafely tempt thofe Seas, I'll bear thee through,

Afcend my Shoulders, firmly keep thy Seat,

And reach my marthy Court, and feaft in State.

He faid, and leant his Back; with nimble Bound 90 Leaps the light Moufe, and claps his Arms around, Then wond'ring floats, and fees with glad Survey The winding Banks diffemble Ports at Sea.

CETEOU ITCE.

But when aloft the curling Water rides,

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And wets with azure Waves his downy Sides, 95 His Thoughts grow conscious of approaching Woe, His idle Tears with vain Repentance flow,

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His Locks he rends, his trembling Feet he rears,
Thick beats his Heart with unaccuftom'd Fears;
He fighs, and chill'd with Danger, longs for Shore:
100 His Tail extended forms a fruitlefs Oar,

Half-drench'd in liquid Death his Pray'rs he fpake,
And thus bemoan'd him from the dreadful Lake.

So pafs'd Europa thro' the rapid Sea,
Trembling and fainting all the vent'rous Way ;
105 With oary Feet the Bull triumphant rode,
And fafe in Crete depos'd his lovely Load.
Ah fafe at last! may thus the Frog support
My trembling Limbs to reach his ample Court.

As thus he forrows, Death ambiguous grows, 10 Lo! from the Deep a Water-Hydra rofe;

He rolls his fanguin'd Eyes, his Bofom heaves,
And darts with active Rage along the Waves.
Confus'd the Monarch fees his hiffing Foe,

And dives to fhun the fable Fates below.

115 Forgetful Frog! The Friend thy Shoulders bore,
Unskill'd in Swimming, floats remote from Shore,
He grafps with fruitlefs Hands to find Relief.
Supinely falls, and grinds his Teeth with Grief,

Plunging