Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/175



To fill my rising song with sacred fire, Ye tuneful Nine, ye sweet celestial quire! From Helicon's embowering height repair, Attend my labours, and reward my prayer. The dreadful toils of raging Mars I write, The springs of contest, and the fields of fight; How threatening mice advanc'd with warlike grace, And wag'd dire combats with the croaking race. Not louder tumults shook Olympus' towers, When earth-born giants dar'd immortal powers. These equal acts an equal glory claim, And thus the Muse records the tale of fame.

Once on a time, fatigu'd and out of breath, And just escap'd the stretching claws of death, A gentle mouse, whom cats pursu'd in vain, Fled swift of foot across the neighb'ring plain, Hung o'er a brink, his eager thirst to cool, And dipt his whiskers in the standing pool; When near a courteous frog advanc'd his head, And from the waters, hoarse-resounding, said,