Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/183

Rh Nor saw the gasping of his latest breath. He, vain of youth, our art of swimming tried, And venturous, in the lake the wanton died. To vengeance now by false appearance led, They point their anger at my guiltless head. But wage the rising war by deep device, And turn its fury on the crafty mice. Your king directs the way; my thoughts elate With hopes of conquest, form designs of fate. Where high the banks their verdant surface heave, And the steep sides confine the sleeping wave, There, near the margin, clad in armour bright, Sustain the first impetuous shocks of fight: Then, where the dancing feather joins the crest, Let each brave frog his obvious mouse arrest; Each strongly grasping, headlong plunge a foe, Till countless circles whirl the lake below; Down sink the mice in yielding waters drown'd; Loud flash the waters; and the shores resound: The frogs triumphant tread the conquer'd plain, And raise their glorious trophies of the slain.

He spake no more: his prudent scheme imparts Redoubling ardour to the boldest hearts. Green was the suit his arming heroes chose, Around their legs the greaves of mallows close; Green were the beets about their shoulders laid, And green the colewort, which the target made; Form'd of the varied shells the waters yield, Their glossy helmets glisten'd o'er the field;