Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/378

342 For the first, indeed, a most hateful weasel slew, having snatched him away, catching him outside his hole. But another, in turn, ruthless men brought to his doom, having, by a new art, discovered a wooden engine, which they call a trap, being a destruction to mice. The third was beloved by me and his revered mother—him has Puff-Cheeks suffocated, leading him into the deep. But come, let us be armed, and go forth against them, having equipped our bodies in variegated arms.arms." [sic]

Thus having spoken, he persuaded them all to be armed, and them did Mars, who has a care for war, urge on [to the fight]. First indeed they placed greaves around their shins, having broken off, and deftly worked, green bean [shells], which they themselves, coming by night, had devoured. And they had breastplates made of reed-strengthened skins, which, having stripped a weasel, they had skillfully made. But their shield was the boss of a lamp, while their spear was a good long needle, the all-brazen work of Mars. But the helmet on their foreheads was the shell of a nut.

Thus indeed were the mice armed; but when the frogs perceived [it], they swam up out of the water, and coming into one place, they assembled a council concerning evil war. But while they were considering whence [was] the tumult, and what the gathering, a herald came near, bearing a staff in his hands, Pot-Stalker, the son of great-souled Cheese-Scooper, bearing news of the evil report of war, and he spoke thus: